THE CAPTURE OF JOHN BROWN.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 2077, 25 August 1885, Page 2

THE CAPTURE OF JOHN BROWN.

iiiaan accountiii-lhe June; "Century" 'of John Brown at Harper's Ferry, writt&a by o.ne of bit' prisoners • who wafcjfr' the engine-h'ouseliduring the iusurreßP|ti, and aftenvavda held the rank of ciiptaiti in the Confederate Army, is the following I " When Lieutenant Stuart came in the : { morning for the final reply to the demand !to surrender, I-got up-and Went to Brown's side to hear his answer. ■'Stuart asked; 'Are you ready to surrender and trust to the mercy of the Government?' ■■ Brown answered promptly: 'No! I prefer to die here.' His manner did not betray the least fear. - . _ " Stuart stepped aside and signal for the attack, which was begun, with sledgo-hammers, to break down the doors.

"'Finding it would not yield, the soldiersseized; a long ladder for a battering-ram, ; and commenced beating the 'door" with that, the party within firing incessantly. I had assisted in the barricading, fixing the fastenings so that Tcould remove, thera upon the first effort to got in. But I was not at the door when the battering began, and could not get to the fastenings until the ladder was vsed. I- then quickly removed the fastenings, and after tp or three strokes , of the ladder'the engine: rolled partially back, making a Binall aperture, through which Lieutenant Green, of the games." forced .himself; . jumped on tojßtf the engine, and stood a second in tne midst of a" shower -of balls, looking for Jolm Brown. - When he saw-Brown he sprainr about 12ft at him, and- gave an undfe thrust of.his sword, striking him aboK midpy in' the body, and raising him coik pletely from the ground,. > Brown forward, with his head between his knctfl and Green struck hira several times ojfl the head, and as I then supposed, jJHj his Bkull at every stroke. "I was not 2ffc from Brown at that time. Of course I got out of the building as soon as possible, and did not know till sometimelater that Brora was not killed, It seems that in making the thrust Green's sword struck Brown's belt and did not penetrate the body. The sword was bent double. The reason that Brown waß not killed when struck on the head was that

Green was holding his sword in tho middle, striking with the hilt, and making only scalp wounds."