The globe-independent. (Hagerstown, Md.) 1943-19??, 1947-10-16

in the ground" sings your boy at
school or at play, and SO have you
at some time sung of that persons
end. Harpers' Ferry is of course in
West Virginia, but John Brown and
his unsuccessful plans, almost cen
fury ago, we're largely carried out
in Washington County.
In the Fall of 1858, young man,
John f. Cook, appeared in Washing
ton County as a book seller, under
the assumed name of Stearnes.
Cook was the son of a prominent
Connecticut man, and had been Civ
en- an education to prepare him to be
a lawyer. But he did not care for
law and his love for rowing and adj
venture led him from home and
eventually into the underground
movement to free the slaves through
an instruction It is not likely that
anyone will ever know just how
widespread this movement actually
was, but it had supporters in Kansas,
the New England states and Canada,
Cook came into our county and
for one whole year went his way
quietly, arousing no suspicion. But
he was becoming intimately aquaint-
ed with the people, and their slaves,
and the lay of the land. No doubt
the following story could have been
repeated many, many times, if the
slaves had not been afraid to tell
In Tilghmanton, one fall evening
near the time of the uprising, Cook,
masquerading as Stearnes, the book
seller, knocked at the door of quiet
family. The family brought copies
of the books, on the life of Washing
ton, and the life of Napoleon, and
then cheerfully provided the stran-
ger with a nights lodging upon his
request. At the supper table, Cook
made an extensive and elaborate
prayer when asked to say grace.
Later in the evening, he sought an
opportunity to speak with the slaves.
This visit was given little or no
thought until after the stranger was
found to be one of John Browns
lead men Then the slaves revealed
the nature of the conservation Cook
held with them; he had proposed
that the slaves, when they would
later hear of a general rebellion Of
the slaves, should STAY their owners
and flee for their liberty. These
slaves, as it happened in many cases,
were Loyalty devoted to their mas
ters, and rejected any such thought
with horror
The arrival and movements of the
other members of the gang will
never be fixed as to date. Their
presence and activities were so in
conspicuous that few people connect
ed them with the first reports of the
uprising.
One well remembered event con-
cerned Brown himself Posing as
Smith. Brown and his son APP
preached Judge Jacob Fiery in his
field in July of 1889 Smith (Brown)
told Judge Fiery that he had been
forced to move further south by his
health, that he was interested in
mining ore, and that he would like
to locate in that section. He no
doubt knew that Judge Fiery had
been appointed administrator Of the
estate of DR.. r. F. Kennedy. So
this farm was rented in all good
faith to the stranger.
There is very peculiar sidelight
in the life of John Brown which he
showed several visitors to the farm.
John Brown seemed to be extremely
religious. Before he would engage
in any business deal, such as pur-
chasing cattle, he always went into
the house and prayed. This same
thing was noticed in the life of Cook.
A poem found in the old house after
the raid was over, revealed the be-
lief, held by many people besides
Brown, that it was Browns Cod
given calling to free the slaves. If it
were not for Browns methods, he
might have gone down in history as
a great man.
During the three months after
Brown rented the farm, weapons of
all kinds were received from sup
porters and sympathizers all over
the country Many of these were
sent to men of Browns company in
Chambersburg, whence they were
hauled to the old Kennedy home
stead. These weapons were securely
Grated, and all inquiries about the
many wagonloads of boxes arriving
at the farm were successfully an
swered by explaining that it was
mining equipment. Besides collect
ing weapons from outsiders, Brown
and his men were making crude