Year: 1879

By the kindness of the gentleman to
whom had letters I was the only news
paper man inside the guards that sur
rounded the scaffold. The newspaper
reporters were placed on slight rise of
ground. in perfect view. but where they
could hear nothing. The reason assign
ed for this was that Brown had determ-


ined to make speech of an incendiary
character. To prevent this they determ-
ined, if he made speech, it should be
to the military and to the officials who
would be within hearing distance. 1t
was thought best that some one of North
ern residents in the shape of newspaper
correspondent should be present, to the
end that is a speech was concocted for
Brown, and published as if he had spok-
en- it, there might be written evidence
of It's falsity. I happened to be the per-
son selected, and stood within a few feet
of the gallows when the execution took
place. Brown was brought to the place


of execution-an open field near the


town-in wagon, seated on his coffin.


He was neatly dressed in his every day


apparel. His long, white beard and fine


face-for he had fine one-gave him
truly patriarchal appearance. No one
seeing him at that moment could suppose
him to be bound malefactor on his way


to the gallows. without hope of a reprieve.


None of the early martyrs of the Chris


tian Church ever met death with more
of seeming stoical Indifference. Brought
up with fixed and firm belief that he
had been doing Gods work, he believed


the course he pursued, the shedding of
innocent blood, the taking the property
of his enemies, and that the death he
would die had been traced by an AL
mighty hand in the beginning, and
naught could change that decree; and
hence he would pass from earth to heav-
en- as one that God had selected for this
particular work, and the change from
earth to bliss immortal would more than
compensate him for the pain of strangu-
lation. The gallows was surrounded in
front by the cadets of the Military Insti-
tute. the West Point of Virginia. They
were fine looking youths of from 16 to
20 years of age, dressed in blue pants
and red-fannel shirts. Behind them
were picked companies of volunteer in
fantry, other companies forming the sides
and rear of the hollow square. in the
center of which was the gallows. Al
proper points the artillery was placed in
position, the guns loaded and pointed at
portion of the field occupied exclusively
by strangers and those suspected of NOT
being true to the Old Dominion. In
case Of an emeute or hostile disturbance.
the cadets had orders to shoot Brown, SC
as to prevent a rescue. while the cannon.
eers and infantry were to fire upon the
suspected crowd. The outlying picket:
and reserve guard, stationed within prop


er distance, were to flank the rescuers


and the cavalry to charge upon them


and to finish those that the cannon ant


musketry failed to send to kingdom come
If Brown anticipated a rescue, glanc'


at that field was sufficient to convinc'


him it would be folly to attempt it


That he intended to make speech


think is more than probable When tn


eyes of the doomed man took in the full
situation a shade of disappointment
seemed to cross his face, but it was bu
for moment. The shade passed from
, his brow and be was himself again. H
! stood on the gallows gazing with uD
blanched cheek upon the preparations
z He was asked by the sheriff if he wishes
! a handkerchief to drop when he wa
ready. His reply. in firm and lou
, voice, was, ''No-kcep me no longer tha
. is necessary" The cap was drawn owe
his face. the rope cut. and John Brow


was left dangling in the air. His nee
. was broken by the fall. He suffered bu
little, and soon hung lifeless corpse
4 The sensation was great; no voice spok
: and no sound was heard while the awfu
: scene from life to death was enacted


Correspondent Of Cincinnati Enquirer