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JOHN BROWN IN CANADA,

A nONOQRAPH.

JAMES CLELAND HAMILTON, LL.B.,

V.P. CANADIAN INSTITUTE.

FROn CANADIAN MAGAZINE, DEC, 1894.

— —

JOHN BROWN IN CANADA.

BY JAMES CLELAND HAMILTON.

"A story worth telling, our annals afford." depicted by our author, some could — C. Mair. have been found whose sympathies ' ' A moral warfare with the crime, were more with Bomba and Maximi- And folly of an evil time." Wliittier, lian, the representatives of reaction, A biography hy one who was an than with Garibaldi, free Italy, and eye-witness of some of the stormy progressive Mexico. Some, too, there scenes in the fifties, of the fierce con- were among us, and perhaps still are, flict then v/aged between the pro- who regarded the period when the slavery and anti-slavery parties, brings slave-masters ruled in Washington as to mind many matters of interest to the halcyon days of the Common- residents on both wealth. sides of the Great Few admirers of Lakes, (a) John Brown will be The author, Mr. found among such Richard J. Hinton, readers. He was an wa& a trusted friend iconoclast, who spared and adviser of Cap- no idols, however ven- tain John Brown, and erable, who respected writes with the au- no authority whose thority of personal creed was oppression, knowledge. He shows and regarded no form also an enthusiasm of belief as sacred, if for the holy cause, by it the mind of man and a personal affect- was in any way con- ion undiminished by fined. the age that has The fastidious will passed since his hero find it hard to realize gave up his brave a pure-blooded An- life on the Charles- glo-Saxon not only town gallows. taking up the cause But this period has of the African with not sufficed for many john bkown enthusiasm, but ex- of his contemporaries, hibiting no repul- whose personal feelings or fortunes sion from his sooty skin, and treat- were affected by the turmoil which fol- ing the meanest slave as a broth- lowed, to form an unbiased judgment er. The descendant of the May- of the character and career of John flower Puritan who had fled across Brown, the man of sad and stern fur- the sea for conscience'-sake, himself rowed countenance, whose word was embarks on an ocean of moral con- Spartan law to those who best knew flict, and is destined to be engulphed him, and whose arm was ever strong in its dark waves. and ready to shelter the oppressed and There is one class of our people to crush the oppressor. who look on the career of Brown as, Even in Canada, during the times without doubt or gainsay, tliat of a true patriot and saviour. To their (a) John Brown and His Men. By Richard J. Hinton. Funk & Wagnalls Co., 1894, New York and Toronto. minds, *

JOHN BROWN IN CANADA.

" There sounds not to the trump of fame Devon cattle and choice sheep, and The echo of a nobler name." aided colored people who came to set- Such, indeed, is the reverence and tle on lands given them by Mr love of the African race for John Gerrit Smith. His poetic spirit, Brown, hero of the Free Soil move- love of nature, and benevolence, had ment in Kansas, and leader of the full and happy scope for a time. Harper's Ferry raid. His teachings and example were They know that he fell a willing greatly prized by his poor neigh- martyr to the cause of freedom, and bors, who required both encourage- how full of consequence that event ment and a spur to activity in free was to the race he loved. It was the labor. flash that fired the powder, the spark Wherever Brown's lot was cast, his that kindled the blaze soon to light earnest, manly character was conspicu- up all the land. ous. His letters to members of his family showed fatherly afiVction most sincere, but abounded in les- sons urging to duty. Writing to ,his son JoIdi, he says, " Say to Ruth, to be all that to-day which she intends to be to-morrow." His life was a living example of " Carlyle's heroic words : Not sport, but earnest, is what we should require. It is a most earn- est thing to be alive in this world ; to die is not sport for a man. Man's life never was a sport to him it stern reality, ; was a alto- gether a serious matter to be alive." (a) The colony grew under Brown's inspiring spirit and Gerrit Smith's benevolence. Among refugees who lived there for a time was Walter Hawkins, a bright young colored man, who had escaped from Mary- land. In 1852, he removed to Canada, became honored and re- THE VERY REV. WALTER HAWKINS. vered as a minister of the Gos- Superintendent {Bishop) of the B.A.E. Church. pel, and when he died in July, 1894, was Presiding Bishop of the It will be my object now to show British Metliodist Episcopal Church. what part Canadians had in this mat- But the attacks of pro-slavery men " ter. As far back as March 24th, 1 84(i, from . Missouri upon free-soil " set- in a letter written at Richmond, Ohio, tlers in Kansas, called Brown and liis " John Brown says : Jason and I have devoted sons to aid in defending the talked of a visit to Canada next fall. cause of freedom there. He stood We would like to know more of that firm, and grim as a great rock, on the country." Soon after this, he remov- disputed territory. The waves of ed to North Elba, Essex Co., New violence swept around him, carrying York, in the Adirondacks, in which the worst elements engendered by beautiful and romantic region he made slavery, but broke l)afiled at his feet. his home. Here he raised his favorite (a) From "Heroes and Hero Worship. JOHN BROWN IN CANADA. 3

Before the monstrous wrong he set him down, and Brown the other. A negro called One man against a stone-walled city of sin." Jim had come and stated that he, He organized forces, obtained sup- with his wife and two children and plies, arms, and provisions from sym- another slave would be soon sold, and pathisers in the Eastern States, and he begged for help. First these five soon manfully, and with interest, slaves were liberated, then six other avenged the attacks of the " Border slaves, and two white men were Ruffians." marched off*. The companions joined The slaves in Missouri were scat- and moved slowly back to the terri- tered on the plantations, prevented tory, when the white men were re- from meeting or consulting together, leased. In the raid, Kagi's party had and kept as ignorant and illiterate as been opposed by Mr. Cruise, a white possible. All hope for betterment man, who was shot down by Stevens was suppressed by cruel punishment, in self-defence, as he claimed, while or removal to the far south, of those endeavoring to detain a man-chattel. who showed any manliness. This was unfortunate, but is to be re- The Haytien proverb, " Zie blanc garded as an incident of the war, for bouille negres," " The eyes of the such in fact, was the desultory con- whites burn up the negroes," was ex- flict that then raged in the western emplified. The new territory of Kan- outskirts of the Republic. sas was fast filling with people, and This invasion and bold attack on elections were approaching which the " peculiar institution," in its home, would decide whether the domain of raised a great commotion. Brown slavery should be extended to it. and Kagi were proclaimed outlaws, That power never scrupled in the use and prices were put on their heads. of means to accomplish its ends. The They determined to carry the freed Government of the United States, people to Canada. The retreat was then in the hands of a temporizing- through Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, president, and pro-slavery officials, Illinois and Michigan, and was one of failed to see fair play or to punish out- the boldest adventures of the cam- rage. Brown determined to fight fire paign. After passing the village of with fire. He found promises broken, Topeka with various incidents, shelter conventions and compromises only was found in an empty log cabin, made and used as a means to forward where pursuers, headed by a United the pro-slavery movement. He could States marshal, overtook them. see little use in conferences. Talk They remained on the defensive is a national institution, but it does no until a band of young men from To- manner of good to the slave," he would peka joined them. At Hilton, or say. Slaves were in his eyes prison- Muddy Creek Crossing, the marshal ers of war; their masters, tyrants stationed himself with eighty armed who had taken the sword and must men. Brown had only twenty-three perish by it. He took his Bible and white men and three negroes. The wo- the Declaration of American Indepen- men were sheltered in the cabins with dence as his guides. He fought in emigrant waggons in front of them. the spirit of Joshua and of Gideon, The little company formed in double whose stories and characters had file. At the word, " Now go straight strong fascination for him. at 'em boys, they'll be sure to run," In December, 1858, Brown entered Brown and his party marched quickly Missouri with two small companies of towards the creek, but the foremost brave men. His lieutenants, John had not reached its margin, when the Henry Kagi and Aaron D. Stevens, marshal rode oft* in hot haste, follow- who were both with him afterwards ed by such of his men as could untie at Harper's Ferry, commanded one. and mount their horses in time. " The !

4 JOHN BRO WN IN CANADA.

scene was ridiculous beyond descrip- the best man he had ever met, and tion," says one of the party. " Some knew more about religion than any horses were hastily mounted by two man. men ; one man grabbed tight hold of The party reached Deti oit on 12th the tail of a horse, trying to leap on March, 1859, and crossed over to from behind, while the rider was put- Windsor in Canada. Here these people ting spurs into his sides, so he went fly- settled and lived industriously. ing through the air, his feet touching When the friend they loved so well the ground now and then." Those of suffered at Charlestown Court House our comrades who had horses followed a fcAV months later, he had no mourn- them about six miles, and brought ers more sincere than these lowly ones back four prisoners and five horses. of the earth whom he brought to Can- The affray at Muddy Creek is known adian manhood and freedom from in the history of Kansas as " The Missouri an bondage. Battle of the Spurs, as these instru- Samuel Harper, one of the band, ments were the only weapons used. lives now wdth his wife in a comfort- The reader will remember the more able cottage on Bruce avenue in famous " Battle of tlie Spurs," of the Windsor. He says that he and she year 1513, when the French fled, and are the only survivors of the party of some of their most noted men fell into eleven, except the boy called after the hands of the soldiers of Henry John Brown, who, now a man of 35 VIII. The prisoners were made to years of age, lives at Detroit. Harper walk along beside their captors. Brown speaks very gratefully of Brown, say- talking with them on the way concern- ing, " I wish I was in a position to ing the wickedness of slavery. In pay John Brown. Junior, one half the morning they were set at liberty, what I owe his father, for what he but their horses were confiscated, and did for us." He also speaks of the given to the brave Topeka Boys. raid, and his old home, w4th the air As the contrabands advanced into of one who reviews the past and feels strange territory their remarks showed strongly. He said his " Boss " came their simple aflfectionate nature. One after him to Windsor, and wanted him of the women pitied " poor massa to go back, promising to treat him he's in a bad fix hogs not killed, corn better than ever before. Harper was ; " not shucked, and niggers all done indignant, and replied : I thought gone." A man driving the oxen, asked you was a smarter man dan dat, but the distance to Canada, and was told I find you's a fool, come all dis way that it was fifteen hundred miles. to ask me to go back to slavery."

"Oh, golly ! we uns never get dar He told his story as follows. The befo' spring," he exclaimed, shouting, statement is as accurate as can be ex- as he brought the goad down, " Git pected from one in the position of this up dar, buck bung along !" freed man, after an age has passed. ; With many adventures, the party The person he referred to as Stevens pressed on towards the North. One was sometimes called Whipple. He of the women gave birth to a child on followed Brown to Harper's Ferry, the way, which was named John and figured there as Capt. Aaron £). Brown. One of the prisoners, taken Stevens. He was a man without fear. en route, was a gay young medical He was captured, as will be seen, after man, a rattling blade, whom Brown being wounded, and was tried and ex- took under his especial care, and gave ecuted under Virginia law, him, under compulsion, more moral SAMUEL harper's STORY. and religious training than he had re- " Way back een 1858, w'en Capt'in Brown ceived for years. On his return home kem down inter Missoureye," said Harpsr, he told his story, and said Brown was " I was on'y 'bout 18 yeahs ole, but my wife JOHN BROWN IN CANADA. 5

ovah clar, she was 'bout 35. We kep' hearin' we'll w'ip 'em all,' Dar was onh'y 14 of us of de Capt'in takin' slaves away an' sendin' altogether, but de capt'in was a terror to dem north, till tin'lly, 'bout Christmas, we 'em, an' w'en we stepped out o' de house an' he'ad dat de Capt'in was nigh to de fa'm we went for 'em de hull saiventy-five of 'em wuz workin'. So we done sent him wo'd sta'ted runnin'. Capt'in Brown an' Kagi an' dat we was awaitin' to be took away, an' a few some others chased 'em, an' capclia'ed five weeks afterwa'ds the capt'in, with his part- prisoners. Dar was a doctah an' a lawyah ner Kagi, came at night wid a wagin, an' amongst 'em. Dey all hed nice ho'ses De away we druv inter Kansas. capt'in made 'em all get down. Den he told " But it w^as mighty slow trabelin'. You five of us slaves to mount de beasts an' we see dey was severil different parties 'mongst rode 'em w'ile de wite men hed to walk. It ouah band, an' ouah marsers had people look- was early in de spring, an' de mud on de in' all ovah for us. We'd ride all night, and roads was away over dere ankles. I jes' tell den maybe, we'd hev ter stay severil days in you it was mighty tough walkin', an' you one house ter keep from gettin' cot. In a ken b'lieve dose fellers had enough of slave month we'd on'y got to a place near Topeka, huntin'. De next day de capt'in let 'em all which was 'bout forty miles from whar we go- started. Dey was 12 of us stoppin' at de " Ouah massers kep' spies watchin' till we house of a man named Doyle, besides de crossed de border. W'en we got to Spring- capt'in an' his men, w'en dere comes along dale, loway, a man came ter see Capt'in a gang of slave huntahs. One of Capt'in Brown, an' tole him dey wuz a lot of his Brown's men,— Stevens, he went down to dem fren's dow^n in a town in Kansas dat wanted and sayed : ' Gentlemen, you look 'sif you to see him. The capt'in said he did not care was lookin' fo' somebody o' somefin'. ' A'y, to go down, but ez soon 's the man started

' yas, ' says de leader, we think ez how you back, Capt'in Brown follered him. W'en he hav some uv ouah slaves up yondeh een dat came back he said dar was a hull crowd 'ere house.' comin' up to capcha us. W^e all went up to

" ' ] ' 'S that so ' says Stevens. Well, come de school house an' got ourse'v's ready to on right along up wid me, an' you kin look fight. hem ovah an' see ' " De crowd came an' hung aroun' de " We wuz a watchin' this yere conve'sation school 'ouse a few days, but dey didn't try all de time, an' w'en we see Stevens comin' to capcha us. De gov'nor of Kansas, he up to de house wid dat 'ere man we jes' telegraphed —to de United States Ma'shal at didn't know w'at to make of it. We began Springdale : 'Capcha John Brown, daid or

' to git scared dat Stevens was goin' to give alive.' De Ma'shal, he ans'ed : Ef I try to us up to dem slave huntahs. But de looks capcha John Brown, it'll be daid, an' it'll be o' things changed w'en Stevens got up to de me dat'll be daid.' Fin'ly those Kansas house. He jes' opened the do' long 'nough people went home, an' den dat same Ma'- fer to grab a doubled-barreled gun. He pint- shal put us in a carh an' sent us to Chicago. " ed it at de slave huntah, an' says : It took us over three months to get to

" ' Yo' want to see yo'r slaves, does yo' ? Canada. If I'd knowed dat de- slaves was Well, jes' yo' look up dem barrels an' see ef a goin' to be freed so soon as dey was, I'd yo' kin find 'em.' never a come to Windsor. W'y ? Cos I "That man jes' went all to pieces. He could a bought Ian' down dar een Missour- drapped his gun. his legs was tremblin', an' eye fo' 25 cents an acre, an' de climate is de tears mos' sta'ted f'um hees eyes. Stevens much bettah dan up heah.

took an' locked him up in de house. W'en " W'at kin' of a man was Capt'in Brown ? de rest o' his crowd seen him capcJia'ed, dey He was a great beeg man, ovah six feet tall, ran away 's fas' ez dey could go, Capt'in with great beeg shouldehs, and long hair, Brown went in to see de prisoner, an' says white ez snow. He was a vairy quiet man, to him, ' I'll show you v\^'at it ees to look awful quiet. He never even laughed. After aftah slaves my man.' Thet frightened de we Avas freed, we was wild of co se, and we prisoner awful. He was a kind old fellow, used to cut up all kinds ob foolishness. But an' wen he heerd w'at de capt'in said, I de cajDt'in 'ud always look as solemn ez a s'pose he thought he was goin' to be killed. graveya'd. Sometimes he jes' let out de

' He began to cry an' beg to be let go. Da tiniest bit of a smile, an' say : You'd bet- capt'in he only smiled a leetle bit, and talked tah quit yo' foolin' an' take up your book.' " some mo' to him, an' de next day he was De capt'in's son, John Brown, Jr , lives let go, down to Put-in Bay Island . He raises grapes " A few days afterwards, the United States down dere, an' we goes down to see him Marshal came up, with another gang to cap- every summah. He hez a nice family, an' cha us, Dar was 'bout 75 of dem, an' dey he's always glad to see hees ole frens." surrounded de house, and we Avas all'fraid often Brown had been in Can- we was goin' to be took for sure. But de How capt'in he jes' said, 'Git ready, boys, an' ada before this time does not appear 6 JOHN BROWN IN CANADA.

but Ill's visits and correspondence with the seat of law of the county of Kent : people of color, and others here, were " Had a grand abolition Convention frequent, and all with the one end in here, from different parts, on the 8th view. and 10th inst. Constitution slightly As the time grew ripe, Chatham and amended and adopted, and Society or- St. Catharines were the places where ganized." the conspirators in the cause of free- After the Convention, Brown wrote dom met to perfect their plans. In the letter to one of his sons given at St. Catharines was then a wonderful end of this article, under name of woman, Harriet Tubman. She was a James M. Bell. Mar3dand negress, who had escaped The names of the members of the from slavery, went back from time to Chatham Convention w^ere : William time, and brought away her old father Charles Monroe, G. J. Reynolds, J. C. and mother, her brother's wife and Grant, A. J. Smith, James Monroe children, and many others, some of Jones, George B. Gill, M. F. Bailey, whom are still living in Canada. She William Lambert, S. Hunton, John J. gained the name " Deborah " and Jackson, Osborne P. Anderson, Alfred " Moses," for saving her people from Whipper, C. W. Moffett, James M. Bell, bondage. In a conversation between W. H. Lehman, Alfred M. Ellsworth, Captain Brown and Wendell Phillips, John E. Cook, Steward Taylor, James in 1858, the former called her " the W. Purnell, George Akin, Stephen Det- General of us all," and said she had tin, Thomas Hick^.rson, John Canuel, led two thousand slaves from bondage Robinson Alexander, Richard Realf, to northern freedom. She is also re- Thomas F. Gary, Richard Richardson, ferred to as The woman " in letters Luke F. Parsons, Thos. M. Kennard, of the period, written when it was Jeremiah Anderson, J. H. Delaney, deemed best not to mention true names Robert Van Vauken, Thos. M. String- of confederates. When the raid at the er, Charles P. Tidd, John A. Thomas, Ferry was made, she was residing at C. Whipple, alias Aaron D. Stevens, Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. /. D. Shadd, Robert Newman, Owen Southern people, who lost valuable Brown, John Brown, J. H. Harris, chattels through her daring efforts, Charles Smith, Simon Fislin, Isaac offered $10,000 reward for her, dead Holclen, James Smith, and John H. or alive. Frederick Douglas, Gerrit Kagi ; the Secretary, Dr. M. R. De- Smith, and other friends, warned her larmy, was a corresponding member. of the danger she incurred, but she re- The members whose names are in plied, God will take care of me, whe- italics were colored men. ther in the North or in the South." The preliminary meeting was held She was of unmixed blood, and of very in a frame cottage on Princess-street, negrine features She was a wise and south of King-street. This cottage was faithful agent of the " Underground then known as the " King-street Railroad,' and adviser of her people, School," and is now a dwelling-house. till the war opened another field of Some meetings were also held in the usefulness, when she enlisted as an First Baptist Church on the north hospital or army nurse. This heroine side of King-street. Pretence was lived at Auburn N.Y., subsequently, made in orderto mislead the inquisi- but is since dead. The story of her tive, that the persons assembling were life was published in a small volume. organizing a Masonic Lodge of colored Mrs Tubman was one of Brown's people. But the most important pro- Canadian advisers and co-workers in ceedings took place in what was the anti-slavery movement. known as " No. 3 Engine House," a On the twelfth

JOHN BROWN IN CANADA. 7 other colored men. The sketch of this Settlements of immigrant negroes is givcD by Mr. J. M. Jones from had been for a score or more of years memory. gradually growing in various parts of the Upper Province, among these be- It is a remarkable coincidence that ing Amherstburg, Colchester, and Mai- Brown laid his plans in this Chatham den on the western extremit}^ The Fire Engine Hall, and was captured Queen's Bush in the townships of Peel in another fire hall at Harper's Ferry. and Wellesley was an important set- The Convention met on the 8th of tlement, containing many well-to-do May, 1858, at 10 a.m, It had been colored men. The cities of London, convened by notes from John Brown Hamilton, and St. Catharines, had to those whom he desired to attend. their share. Dresden was an import- There was scant ceremony at the open- ant centre, where Josiah Henson, best ing proceedings by these earnest men. known as the " orio;inal Uncle Tom," They were of two colors, but of one held patriarchal sw^ay, and had, with mind, and all were equal in degree aid from England and New England, aud station here. No civic address of established the Dawn Institute, or welcome to the Canadian town, no Manual Labor School. beat of drum, or firing of guns, was The Rev. William King had been heard. The place was rude and un- laboring at Buxton, near the shore of adorned. Yet the object of the mem-

Lake Erie, since 1848 ; had founded bers of this little parliament was to there, under the name of the Eloin As- gain freedom for four millions of sociation, a model colony, where the slaves. Many of those here convening poor fugitive came, weary and foot- had already done, in self-sacrifice and sore, from his race for freedom, found in brave deeds, a fair share in the shelter, and made himself a home. work. The result was destined to Near this was Chatham, the chief prove a factor of historical importance town of the county of Kent, whose in the future of the American people. rich soil and moderate climate had at- The following is a copy of one of tracted many dusky immigrants. Not the invitations to attend : a few of them had become well-to-do CHATHA:sr, Canada. farmers. Others engaged in trade, or May 5th, ]i:<58. labored as mechanics. Their children My Deae Friend, were educated at the Wilberforce In- I have called a ([whi Convention in stitute, a graded school. In this county this place of trm friends of freedom. Your attendance is earnestly requested on the 10th especially was the problem being work- inst. * * ed out, as to the capacity of the African Your friend, to take equal place with the Anglo- John Brown. Saxon in the race of civilization. The motives causing Brown to In addition to the educational facil- choose this Canadian town as the ities, the colored folk of Chatham place of meeting will be obvious when had churches of their own, a news- we regard the position. There were paper, conducted in their interest by at this time, as Mr. Hinton estimates, Mr. I. D. Shadd, an accomplished col- seventy-five thousand colored people ored man, and societies for social in- in Canada. This number was more tercourse and improvement, in which than w^ere really here Canada affairs discussed, ; Upper their were mutual held 40,000; Toronto, l,-200. Some wants made known, and help provid- of these citizens were in good circum- ed. But there were also here and stances, and were free-born many of elsewhere, at each centre of colored ; them were intelligent, and watching population, meetings and discussions with lively interest the state of aflfairs of a more earnest character: Conduc- in the Republic, relating to their race. tors of the "Underground Railroad." 8 JOHN BROWN IN CANADA. an organization whose influence in aid and an engine manned by colored of the fleeing slaves, was felt from the men. This town, bearing the name lakes and St. Lawrence River to the of England's great Prime Minister, centre of the slave populations, were was well chosen as the seat of the often seen here. The " League of the Convention. Gileadites," as first formed by Brown The writer has obtained much of in 1851, enlisted in its ranks many a his information as to the events de- courageous, freedom -loving man, and scribed in Canada, by inquiry from had some members in Western Can- persons who were parties to them, or ada. The name was taken from Judges members of the Convention. To gain " vii. 3 : Whosoever is fearful or afraid, this was not a matter of course. The let him return and depart early from secrets which many of the old col- Mount Gilead." Members, when join- ored men had were often of vast im- ing each band, agreed to provide suit- portance to them in time of slavery.

*

*< 110

C Bajiii^^ Cku.reh., Colour* fL X^.OldMi'no St Sck,.L. I Present Wilhtrfor, 1 stitute

SITE OK THK CH.VTHAM CONVKNTIOX, ISoS.

able implements (meaning weapons), They had escaped, sometimes with a and to aid all colored people in gain- struggle, and even bloodshed. Some ing freedom and resisting attack. had boldly gone back from their Such were some of the elements that Canadian homes, and guided kinsmen then largely influenced the colored or friends on the way to freedom. people here. They were fairly indus- Of the acts of daring so done there trious, happy under British law, and, was no open boasting. Secrecy was as Brown afterwards found, the great- for years expedient, and so became er portion of them were so occupied habitual. A colored man of edu- in seeking a livelihood and compe- cation and position acknowledged tence, that they hesitated or refused that he still met this feeling when to risk many chances in a cause and making inquiries for the writer as to struggle the result of which was dim the Convention. "I find it very diffi- and doubtful. cult," he writes, " to obtain any infor- Not to be behind their white neigh- mation from our people. We can not bors, they had a fire hall in Clratham, blame them much, because, in the JOHN BROWN IN CANADA. 9 course ot* two hundred and fifty years escapes and exploits in Kansas. Com- of intercourse with the Anglo-Saxon, bining the gentleness of a Christian, they have not formed a very favor- the love of a patriot, and the skill able opinion of him. When it comes and boldness of a commander, whether to prying into the old-time secrets, ending his career in the quiet of home, they always think there is a cat in or bloody strife, the freeman of Kan- the meal, so you must make allow- sas will hallow his memory, and his- ance and bear with them." tory will name him the Cromwell of And now we return to the Conven- our Border Wars.* tion. The leading spirit was John He was of earnest and stern re- Brown, a man with well-set muscular solve, brave and true, Brown's sons form, of average size, his hair prema- inherited his Spartan spirit. With turely grey, closely trimmed and low six of them, and a son-in-law, he had on the forehead. His eyes bluish- done a hero's part to save Kansas, grey, were, when he warmed in and now he proposed to formulate speech, full of fire. His face, with bold plans for the future, before trust- beard unshaven, and covering a strong, ed adherents. square mouth, with broad and prom- John Henry Kagi was a lawyer by inent chin. His general appearance profession, and full of zeal in the cause. is thus described by Frederick Doug- He was his leader's right hand in lass and others. He was born on the Kansas and in the Convention. He 9th of May, 1800, of blue, New Eng- aided in drawing the Constitution. land blood, with descent from Peter He returned to the West, was in the Brown, who came in the Mayflower raid in Missouri, and ended his life at to Plymouth Rock in 1620 ; lived in Harper's Ferry. Capt. John E. Cook Duxbury, near the hill where Miles was from Indiana, well connected, Standish's house was built, and where and much trusted by Browm. He his monument may now be seen. also fell in the final contest in Vir- John Brown was of Calvinistic creed, ginia. Owen Brown was the son of with a tendency to fatalism was an and ; w^th John Brown. Richard Realf the taciturnity, wariness and contempt English Chartist, of good literary of danger of a Mohawk ; an admirer ability. Reynolds waa an active mem- of Theodore Parker, Wendell Phillij^s, ber of the Gileadite, or liberty League. Emerson and Sumner, apostles of The Convention was called to order Emancipation and opponents of South- by Mr. Jackson, on whose motion ern aggression, tie was of great the Rev. William C. Monroe, a colored natural intelligence, and well read, minister from Detroit, was chosen especially in history, but not college- President, and Capt. Kagi w^as elected bred. He had travelled in Europe, Secretary. Mr. Brown then proceeded and was interested in foreign afl'airs. to state at iength the object of the He was full of affection to his family, meeting, and the proposed plan of and ever constant to his friends. But action, and presented a paper entitled the cause of liberty had the foremost " Provisional Constitution and Ordi- place in his heart and soul. Quoting nances for the People of the United from Cowper, he could say : States." Before this, on motion by

" 'Tis liberty alone that gives the flower Mr. Kennard, seconded by Mr. De- Of fleeting Ufe its lustre and perfume, lane}^, a parole of honor was taken And we are weeds without it." b}' all the members, who each de- " I will It was not of his own choice that he clared ; I solemnly affirm that left his farm, and went into the not, in any way, divulge any of the bloody arena. One who met him be- secrets of this Convention, except to per.-ons entitled to know the fore the Harper's Ferry affair, w^rote : the " Stranger than fiction have been his ^Redpith's Life of Brown, p. 225. lO JOHN BROWN IN CANADA. same, on the pain of forfeiting the per's Ferry affair took place, Thomas respect and protection of this organi- F. Carey was chairman, and I. D. zation." Shadd and M. F. Bailey were secre- The plan unfolded sought no war taries of this committee. The mem- of o fence against the South, but to bers of the Convention stayed about restore to the African race its natu- two weeks in Chatham. John Brown ral rights, and to enable it to en- and Kagi visited other Canadian towns

force and maintain them ; not negro also, to see coloured men, and to inter- supremacy, but citizenship. There est them in the grand project. Some months before the Conven- tion, Mr. Brown visited Toronto and held meetings with them in Temper- ance Hall, and also met many at the house of the late Mr. Holland, a col- ored man, on Queen-street west. On one occasion. Captain Brown remain- ed as a guest with his friend Dr. A. M. Ross, who is distinguished as a naturalist, as well as an intrepid aboli- was much discussion over the article tionist, who risked his life on several finally adopted as No. XLVI., which occasions in excursions into the South " was as follows : The foregoing ar- to enable slaves to flee to Canada. Dr. ticles shall not be construed so as in Ross has been honored with titles and any way to encourage the overthrow decorations from se^'eral European of any State Government, or the gen- governments on account of his valu- eral Government of the United States, able contributions to science, but, and look to no dissohition of the above all these, he prizes the fact that Union, but simply to amendment and he was the trusted friend of John repeal, and our flag shall be the same Brown. that our fathers fought for under the Dr. Ross speaks of the hero with Revolution." the deepest love and admiration. He Article XLVIII. provided that every describes him as walking with noise- ofiicer connected with the organiza- less tread, his eyes intent and watch- tion should make solemn oath to abide ful, and body bent somewhat forward, by the Constitution, and so with each ar if in search of an object; his citizen and soldier, before being en- speech well-guarded—all this the ef- rolled. fect of the life of danger he had led Among the chief speakers were, with a reward oflered for his head. John Brown, and Messrs. Delaney, But in the evening at the Doctor's

Kagi,Kennard,Re3'nolds,Owen Brown, house, reserve was thrown ofl', as he Realf and Jones. On motion of John conversed with the few friends who Brown, a resolution was passed ap- were called in, and when the children's pointing himself, with J. H. Kagi, hour came, the grim warrior was all Richard Realf, I. T. Parsons, C. P. smiles, and the little ones gathered Tidd, C. Whipple, C. W. Moflat, John around him as he told them stories and E. Cook, Owen Brown, Steward Tay- made "shadow rabbits" on the wall, lor, Osborne P. Anderson, A. M. Ellis- and then, kneeling on the carpet, help- worth, Richard Richardson, W. H. ed them to build block -houses. Dr. Lehman, and John Lawrence, a com- Ross saw him on board the steamer mittee to whom was delegated the bound for Niagara, on a Monda}^ jiower of the Convention to hll all of- morning about the middle of May, fices named in the constitution which when Brown bade him an attectionate should become vacant. When the Har- adieu, took out a " York shilling," and :

JOHN BROWN IN CANADA.

handed it to him, saying, Keep this, affectionate letter. I am sorry your efforts to reach this place have unavailing. and whenever yow. see it, j^ou'll re- been I thank you for your faithfulness, and the assurance member John Brown." It is needless you give me that my poor and deeply afflicted to say that the little silver piece is family will be provided for. It takes from treasured by the Doctor as one of his my mind the greatest cause of sadness I have most valued possessions. experienced since my imprisonment. In a few hours I shall Dr. Ross had known Brown intim- be in another and better state of existence. I feel quite cheerful, and ately for three years previous to his ready to die. My dear friend, do not give death. " His manner and conversa- up your labors for "the poor that cry, and tion "' says the Doctor, " had a mag- them that are in bonds." netic influence, which rendered him ^Jh attractive, and stamped him as a man ^ ^ of more than ordinary coolness, tena city of purpose, and devotion to what ^^^^^ ~^^

man Spartacus, and cause so much unassailable : his habits, strictly tem-

annoyance to the United States Govern- perate ; kind in his feelings to ever}^- ment, and dread in the minds of slave- one, especially to children, whose con- holders, that they would ultimatel}' be fidence he acquired at first acquaint- glad to " let the oppressed go free." anc ." Mr. Hinton graphically recalls The Doctor also has the original of his friend as a man of personal beauty, the remarkably prophetic lines which with a fine, well-shaped head, a voice John Brown wrote, just before he was of gentle, sweet tones, that could be led out to die on the following day penetrating and cutting, too, almost to " Charlestown, Va., sharpness. The ej^es large, full, well- December, 2, 1859. set, hazel-grey in color, irridescent in I, John Brown, am now quite, certain that light and effect. Mentally, he was the the crimes of this guilty land will never be ablest of those who supported Brown washed away except with much blood. I in council, and followed liim to Hai*- had, as I now think, vainly flattered myself, ' per's Ferry. George B. Gill, who was that without much bloodshed it might ' be done." associated witli Kagi in the cause, said

John Bkown. of him : —" In mental fields, he pos- Dr. Ross has a farewell letter, writ- sessed abundant and ingenious re- ten to him b}^ John Brown the day sources. He was full of a wonderful

before his execution. It is as follows : vitality. His was a model disposition. No strain or stress could shake his un- My Dear Friend—Captain xVvis, my jail- er, has just handed me your most kind and ruffled serenity. His fertility of re- :

12 JOHN BROWN IN CANADA. sources made him a tower of strength from the millions who have but just to John Brown." cast aside the fetters and shackles that Next in importance to Captain bound them. But ere that day ar- Kagi was Captain John E. Cook, born rives, I fear that we shall hear the in 1830, of Puritan ancestry, at Had- crash, the battle shock, and see the dam, Connecticut. He was thus de- red glare of the cannon's lightning. scribed when in his cell, from whence .... Inclosed, you w^ill tind a few " he was taken to the gallows : His flowers that I gathered in my rambles long silken blonde hair curled care- about town." lessly about h:s neck; his deep blue On the 3rd of July, 1859, he writes, eyes were gentle in expression as a " I shall start up among the mountains woman's, and liis slightly bronzed com- to gaze upon the grand and beautiful. plexion did not conceal the soft effem- .... God's blessed air sweeps over inate skin that would have befitted them, and the winds, as it were, the gentler sex. He was small in breathe a mournful song of liberty stature, nervous and impatient." Mr. Time passes slowly, as I idle thus. Hinton, who knew him well, says, Heart and soul are all absorbed in the " Cook never lacked the courage which thought of what I owe my country Napoleon termed the ' three o'clock in and my God .... To-morrow is the

the morning Cook formed the plan Fourth ! the glorious day which saw for capturing Lewis Washington, and our Freedom's birth, but left sad hearts obtaining his historical relics. He beneath the slave lash and clanking also advocated the seizure of Harper's chain .... I feel self-condemned when Feny, wanted to burn the buildings I think of it. The contents of the it is and railway bridges, carrying off such cup may be hitter, but our duty ; United States arms as their means of let us drain it to the very dregs." transport would allow^ " He went On the 10th of August, he wrote in with Brown from Canada to Cleve- a like exalted strain, enclosing some land. Writing soon after the conven- stanzas, beginning

' tion, he said : The prospects of our We see the gathering tempest in the sky. * brighter cause are growing and We see the black clouds as alo g they roll, brighter. Through the dark gloom We see from out the gloom the lightnings fly, of the future I almost fancy I can see overthrowing all who would their course the dawning light of freedom break- control." ing through the midnight darkness of Aaron I) wight Stevens had been a wrong and oppression. I can almost subaltern in the United States army, hear the swelling antliem of liberty when an oflicer unjustly treated a pri- ; —

JOHN BROWN IN CANADA. 13 vate, and was about to punish him Shields Green, " with Congo face, big- cruelly. Stevens witnessing this, be- misplaced words and huge feet, knew came indignant, knocked the officer instinctively what courageous man- down and deserted from Fort Leaven- hood meant," writes the narrator. worth. He changed his name to con- When Frederick Douglass turned from ceal his identity, and when with Brown after his last interview, he met Brown, was known as Charles Whip- Green and told him he could go with ple. He was a native of Connecticut, him to Rochester. The black man riis great grandfatlier was a revolu- glanced back at the figure of his leader, tionary officer, and his grandfather bowed under the pain of Douglass' served in the war of 1812. He fought refusal, and simply asked, "Is he gallantly in the Mexican war, and going to stay." " Yes," said Douglass, afterwards helped to keep the Navajo " Well I guess I goes wid de old man," and Apache Indians in check. When was the decision. When Brown was he deserted, he, for a time, concealed in the thick of the Harper's Ferry himself among the Delawares on the fight. Green came, under fire, with a Kaw River, then joined the Free Soil message to Osborne Anderson and men in Kansas under his assumed Hazlett at the af-senal, when Anderson name. He stood six feet two inches told him he had better retreat with in his stockings, and was well propor- them. " You think der's no chance, tioned. His eye was restless and Osborne ?" he said. "Not one," was brilliant. His qualities were soldierly, the reply. " And de old Captain and he would have w^on fame under can't get away ? " " No," said both happier auspices men. " Well, 1 guess I'll go back to He was prone to hasty anger and de old man." And so he went into " passionate action, the " Simon Peter the very jaws of death, and finally of the party, and this sometimes called died a brave martyr's death, at Char- for rebuke from his leader, who, on lestown. Not last on the scroll of the day of his death, wrote him as fame will be enrolled the name of follows this single-hearted freedman. Some other members of the Chatham Charleston Prison, 2nd Dec, 1859. Convention, in addition to the Browns John Brown to Aaron D. Stevens, and his lieutenants just described, ' ' that is slow to anger is He better than were from the United States, but the mighty, and he that ruleth his spirit than of then Canadian he that taketha city." Solomon. many them were residents. John Brown was chosen

The hint, so singularly given, had Commander-in-Chief ; J. H. Kagi, the effect, Ells- perhaps, of aiding Stevens Secretary of War ; Alfred W. in curbing his temper during his te- worth and Osborne P. Anderson,

dious trial and imprisonment. Unlike Members of Congress ; Owen Brown, his leader, Stevens had not the Chris- Treasurer; George B. Gill, Secretary " tian faith to console him. He died," of the Treasurer ; and Richard Realf, says Mr. Hinton, " a devoted Spirit- Secretary of State. ualist, believing absolutely in the Mr. J. M. Jones, Mr. Isaac Holden, immortality of life." It would be en- and Mr. Hunton, were, it is thought, the croaching too much on the biographer, only members of the Convention sur- and would be beyond my present viving, until a late date, in Canada. scope, were I to attempt more at length They lived in Chatham, where Messrs. to depict the strong, sterling charac- Hunton and Holden died recently, ters, of both colors, drawn together by Mr. Holden was a merchant and the wonderful magnetism of our hero. surveyor, and Brown resided in his Only one colored mS,n of remark- house during his visit. Mr. Jones is able courage may be mentioned. a skilled gunsmith and engraver, and JOHN BROWN IN CANADA. a Justice of the Peace for his county. " Too many of them thought they He is a native of Raleigh, North Caro- carried their emblem on their backs. lina, and was educated at Oberlin, But Brown said the old flag was good

Ohio, graduating in the class of 1849. enough for him ; under it, freedom Particulars of this historical event, had been won from the tyrants of the stated by Mr. Jones mainly, but con- old world, for white men ; now he in- tended to make it do duty for black men. He declared emphatically that he would not give up the Stars and Stripes. That settled the question." Some one proposed the admission of women as members, but Brown stren- uously opposed this, and warned the members not to intimate, even to their wives, what was done. During one of the sit- tings, Mr. Jones had the floor, and discussed the chances of the success or failure of the slaves rising to support the plan pro- posed. Mr. Brown's scheme was to fortify some place in the mountains, and call the slaves to rally under his colors. Jones expressed fear that he would be disappointed, because the slaves did not know enough to rally to his support. The American slaves, Jones argued, were ,T. M. JONES. different from those of finned by Mr. Holden and Mr. Hun- the West India island of San Dom- ton, will be interesting. Most of ingo, whose successful uprising is these were committed by Mr. Jones to matter of history, as they had there paper a few years after the Conven- imbibed some of the impetuous char- tion was held. " Mr. Brown," says acter of their French masters, and Mr. Jones, "called almost daily at my were not so over-awed by white men. gunshop, and spoke freely of the great " Mr, Brown, no doubt thought," says " subject that lay uppermost in his Mr. Jones, that I was making an im- mind. He submitted his plans, and pression on some of the members, if only asked for their approval by the not on him, for he arose suddenly and Convention." One evening the ques- remarked, ' Friend Jones, you will tion came up as to what flag should please say no more on that side. subjects, There will be plenty to defend that be used ; our English colored who had been naturalized, said they side of the question.' A general laugh would never think of fighting under took place. " I the hated ' Stars and Stripes.' One day in my shop told him JOHN BROWN IN CANADA. 15 liow utterly hopeless his plans would on I never saw a smile on his face. be if he persisted in making an attack A question as to the time for mak- with the few at his command, and ing the attack came up in the Con- that we could not afford to spare vention. Some adv^ocated that we wdiite men of his stamp, ready to sa- should wait until the United States crifice their lives for the salvation of became involved in war with some

black men. While I w^as speaking, first-class powder ; that it would be next Mr. Brown walked to and fro, with to madness to plunge into a strife for his hands behind his back, as was his the abolition of slavery while the custom when thinking on his favorite Government was at peace with other subject. He stopped suddenly, and nations. Mr. Brown listened to the bringing down his right hand with argument for some time, then slowly

' ' great force, exclaimed : Did not my arose to his full height, and said : Mr.

Master Jesus Christ come down from Chairman, I am no traitor ; I would be Heaven and sacrifice Himself upon the tlie last one to take advantage of my altar for the salvation of the race, and should I, a worm, not worthy to crawl under his feet, refuse to

' sacrifice myself ? With a look of determination he re- sumed his walk. " In all the conversations I had with him during his stay in Chatham of nearly a month, I never once saw a smile light up his coun- tenance. He seemed to be always in deep and earnest thought. " J. E. Cook worked with me a month, cleaning and repairing the revolvers and other arms belonging to the party. During this time he told me that while they were in Kansas fighting the Border Ruffians, Brown's son Frederick was killed. ' When we arrived,' said Cook, 'we found the young man lying dead on the road. He was going to a barn on his uncle's farm when he fell, riddled with bullets. The old man looked on his dead boy for a moment, then raising his eyes heaven- ISAAC HOLDEN.

ward, said, ' By the Eternal, now they have done it, and from this country in the face of a foreign foe.' forward they will pay for it.' This He seemed to regard it as a great in- event had a fixed and lasting effect sult. That settled the matter in my

on Mr. Brown ; and from this time mind that John Brown was not insane. i6 JOHN BROWN IN CANADA.

" In his conversation during his stay mountains and swamps of Virginia as here, he appeared intensely American. places into which slaves could be in- He never for a moment thought of duced to escape, and there await the fighting the United States, as such, but issue. simply the defenders of slavery in the Kagi pointed out a chain of coun- States. Only the ulcer, slavery, he ties extending through South Caro- would cut from the body politic. lina, Georgia, Alabama and Missis- " Mr. Brown called before the last sippi, well fitted to receive and conceal meeting, and induced Mr. Jones, who refugees. With the aid of Canadian had not attended all tlie sittings, to negroes, who were expected to join in come to that, as the Constitution must large numbers, these places were to be be signed, and he wished his name to fortified and manned. They would so be on the roll of honor. As the paper become centres of moral force, and was presented for signature, Brown strategic points from which, in time, said ' Ts'ow, friend Jones, give us John attacks could be made and reprisals Hancock, bold and strong.' I replied secured. that I thought it would resemble The Constitution adopted was in- Stephen Hopkins. The reference was tended as a framework for organiza- to the difference in the two signatures tion. Brown had proposed to found in the American Declaration of Inde- several schools in which to train young pendence—the one large and bold, the men in military tactics, and especially other that of a shaking hand. in rifle practice. One of these was " John Brown, never, I think," said to be at Chatham, and Mr. C. Whipple Mr. Jones, "communicated his whole (Stevens) was to be drill instructor. plan, even to his immediate followers. Mr. Brown did not over-estimate the In his conversations with me he led state of education of the colored peo- me to think that he intended to sacri- ple. He knew that they would need fice himself and a few of his follow- leaders, and require training. His ers for the purpose of arousing the great hope was that the struggle people of the North from the stupor would be supported by volunteers they were in on this subject. He from Canada, educated and accus- seemed to think such sacrifice neces- tomed to self-government. He looked sary to awaken the people from the on our fugitives as picked men of deep sleep that had settled upon the sufficient intelligence, which, com- minds of the whites of the North. bined with a hatred to the South, He well knew that the sacrifice of would make them wiling abettors of any number of negroes would have any enterprise destined to free their no effect. What he intended to do, race. so far as I could gather from his con- There were some earnest abolition- versation, from time to time, was to ists in Canada, who, while they emulate Arnold Winkelried, the Swiss admired his bravery and self-devotion, Chieftain, when he threw himself yet doubted the wisdom of his plan. upon the Austrian spearsmen, crying, Among these were the Hon. George ' Make way for Liberty.' If that Brown, of the Toronto Globe, who was his real object, the event that fol- regarded his namesake as of too Quix- lowed justified his design. He had otic a type, and the Rev. W. King, of said to another friend, ' It is nothing Buxton, who was approached for his to die in a good cause, but an eternal sanction, but declined to attend the disgrace to sit still in the presence Convention. of the barbarities of American Slav- His influence would have been of ery." weight with his colored friends and The plan of campaign, as promul former pupils in obtaining recruits. gated at Chatham, was, to use the It was soon found that the proceed- — ;

10HN BROWN IN CANADA. 17 ings at Chatham had been made er's Ferry, and is taken from weapons known to the pro-slavery rulers at in Dr. Boss' possession. Washinoton. News of the massacre On the tenth of October, 1859, of the Marais des Cygnes was the Brown's plans for attack were com- cause of Brown's speedy return to plete. About this time, Dr. Ross re-

Kansas, so that the plan which he ceived the following note : had in contemplation in Canada, the Chambersbukg, Penn., attack on Harper's Ferry, and the in- Oct. 6th, 1859. citing of the blacks in Virginia to Dear Friend— I .shall move about the end of this month. Can you help the cause in rise, was laid aside till October, 1 859. the way promised. Address your reply t© " The raid into Missouri, the battle of Isaac Smith, Chambersburg, Penn. the spurs," and the carrying ot the Your friend, rescued slaves to Windsor, already John Brown. described, took place meanwhile. Cap- The town of Harper's Ferry is about tain Brown, in time, laid aside his tifty-three miles north-west from scheme of forming a place of refuge, Washington, at the confluence of the and working out from it, and adopted Shenandoah with the Potomac. The the more daring plan of seizing the Blue Ridge of the AUeghanies rises United States' arsenal at Harper's grandly on one side The Baltimore and

Ferry in Virginia : and so striking Ohio railway spans the Potomac here. terror into the slave power by show- It was the site of the United States ing that its stronghold might be armoury and arsenal, and witnessed broken into, and assaults successfully various struggles during the late civil made at its most ancient . and central war. It was against this unsuspect- domain, as well as in outlying Mis- ing stronghold that the wild move- souri. Large supplies of guns, pikes ment was to be made. and ammunition were purchased, and As organized, on paper, by Brown, stealthily conveyed to the Kennedy his force was to be divided into four farm, a short distance from the Ferry. companies, each composed of seventy- This quiet place was rented for the two officers and men. Each company purpose, and here Brown and his fol- was to be subdivided into corporal- lowers gathered. The sum of Jti^l,500 guards of seven men each, with their was furnished by Mr. George L. subaltern. Two such bands made a sec- Stearns, of Boston, and spent in pro- tion of sixteen men, under a sergeant. curing supplies, and otherwise prepar- While at the Kennedy farm. Brown ing for the contemplated attack. Pap- and Kagi were visited by Fredeiick ers showing exactly how this money Douglass, who was informed of the in- was spent, and that it was used in the tention of taking the Ferry and arsenal. manner intended by the donors, are in He opposed it with all the arguments the hands of Dr. Ross. Attacks on at his command, Init found that Brown Brown's character have recently been was not to be shaken from his pur- made in regard to this fund by some pose. " Our talk was long and earnest," who think it manly to bark at the said Douglass. " We spent the most of dead lion. While such slanders can- Saturday and a part of Sunday in this not reach him, they are sorely felt by debate,—Brown for Harper s Ferry worthy members of Brown's family and I against it ; I for the policy of and personal friends still living, whose gradually drawing off the slaves to the reverential love is unabated, and who mountains, as at first suggested and know of a certainty that the old war- proposed by him." Brown was im- rior's honor rests as unsullied as his movable and Mr. Douglass left, after courage is undisputed. a friendly parting, never to see the old -The cut of pike and gun given ex- hero again. actly represents those used at Harp- When the attack was made, only i8 JOHN BROWN IN CANADA.

twenty-two men had enlisted at the They were the precursors of many Kennedy farm, of whom Shields Green, whom the civil war was destined, Dangerheld Newby, John A. Cope- within a few months, to drive to Can- land, Osborne P. Anderson, W. H. adian shelter, political refugees, such Leary, and John Anderson, were col- as General John C. Breckenridge, and ored men. Hon. Jacob Thompson, and "skedad- The affair of the T7th (3ctober, 1859, dlers," by the hundreds, as those were is now a matter of history. It relates called, who thus escaped military en- that Brown, with his little company, rolment. Many of these remained actually captured the Ferry and ar- until the end of the war, and some are senal, and sent a thrill of fear through here still. the whole south. In Virginia, the loss The interval in prison was cheer- in the value of slaves, till then, but fully spent. To a friend he wrote, never since, a staple propertj^ was es- " I am quite cheerful. Men cannot timated to be ten millions of dollars, imprison, or chain, or bind the soul. and nearly a quarter of a million more I go joyfully, in behalf of those mil- was spent by the frightened authori- lions that ' have no rights,' that this ties in quelling the emeute and pro- great and glorious—this Christian Re- " viding safe-guards. Brown's two sons, public 'is bound to respect.' Watson and Oliver, fell, fighting Captain Brown's last act, before be- bravely. The leader himself, after a ing led from prison, was to visit the fearless attack and defence, fell into cells of his fellow -captives and cheer the hands of the State. Colonel, after- them. He had imparted to these poor wards the famous General, Robert E. people much of his own brave spirit. Lee, came with a regiment of soldiers, He had a power to so influence those to avert the danger and guard the with him that they followed him with commonwealth. Wilkes Booth, who a reverential love, exceeding that of assassinated President Lincoln, was Ruth to Naomi, nor did any of them there in the ranks. Then followed, at shrink from sacrifice though Capt. ; Charlestown Court House, the trial of Kagi and Brown's sons saw the great the leader, and of those who were dangers, and had urged the hopeless- taken with him : the conviction on ness of moving before the ranks were the charge of treason, and the execu- fllled. tion—from whose terrors our hero did It was not expected that the blow not flinch. would be struck till the 24th of Octo- Nowhere was tlie news received ber. The ])recipitation of the attack, with more intense or sadder interest on the 17th, was caused by Brown's than in Chatham. From the day of fear of botra3^al by a Judas. The the attack until the fatal 2nd of De- smallness of the band, and the fact cember following, meetings for pra^^er that most of them had military titles, and consultation were held continu- show that they were intended simply ously. Earnest eulogiums upon the as the nucleus of the formidable force character of the departed hero were that Blown expected to join in the delivered on the evening of the day of enterprise. his execution, by J. M. Bell, and J. H. When he ascended the scaflbld, on Harris, who had been membei-s of the the 2nd of Decembei", 1859, at Char- Convention. The same issue of the lestown, it was with no faltering step. Provincial Freeman that chronicles He stood erect and looked firmly down this tells of thirty-six persons who on the lines of soldiery that surround- had been driven from Kentucky to ed him. He met his end as one who Northern Territory, for the crime of had done his duty, as he saw it, and sympathizing with the Charlestown feared not that which was to come sufferers. after. We can say of him, as of Sam- JONN BROWN IN CANADA. 19

son, "The dead which he slew at his treasure. He sleeps in the blessing death, were more than they which he of the slave." slew in his life." Colonel Lee and Garibaldi, liberator of Italy, writing Lieutenant J. E. B. Stuart, who looked from his Caprera home, declared that on, and were soon gallantly fighting " John Brown was the insti umental as generals for the South, did not then precursor of the liberty of the slave." see that our hero conquered more than The engine hall to which Brown death: that the monster slavery then and some of his men retired, and received a grievous wound which all where they were taken at last, was their bravery could not avert or cure, carried to the Chicago World's Exposi- Victor Hugo, in referring to this per- tion of 1893, and there seen by many thousands. The fate of some only of those who were at the Chatham Con- vention is known. Martin R. Delaney, M. D., became a Major of the 104th regiment colored troops, and a Commissioner of the U. S. Bureau of Refugees, and in 1868 published an inter- esting biography of his life and times. Capt. Kagi fell in the

Shenandoah , riddled with bul- lets. Capt. J. E. Cook, Cope- land, the young mulatto, and Chas. Whipple (Aaron D. Stev- ens), were taken prisoners at the Ferry, and were tried and executed at Charlestown. All of them died like the brave men they were, some days after their leader. Richard Realf agreed to be at the contest, but failed to be present, having gone to Eng-

i)R. A. M ROSS. land. Osborne P. Anderson returned to Chatham after the iod, wrote, " What the South slew last affray. He was proceeding to the December, was not John Brown, but scene of action with a load of pikes, Slavery Slavery in all its thinking Brown held the arsenal. forms will disappear." Discovering his mistake, and seeing Brown's body was carried to his rriarines approaching, he fled and es- loved home in the Adirondacks. Wen- caped. Owen Brown also, foreseeing dell Phillips made a eulogy at his the result, escaped to the woods. He grave. " John Brown," he said, " has lived for some years afterwards in loosened the roots of slavery. It may Ohio, then settled, with others of his gasp, but it is dead. He said he could father's family, at Pasadena, in Cali- take the town with twenty men, and fornia, where he recently died. He he did it. How sublime that last fort- was a man of considerable ability and night ! His words are stronger than mental resources, and was brave and even his rifles. These crushed a State ; determined. those will yet crush Slavery. The Dr. Ross had, at John Brown's re- echoes of his rifles liave died away quest, gone to Richmond, and, being hills his attack, was among the ; words, millions there at the time of the : .

20 JOHN BR O WN IN CA NA DA arrested, but not long detained. As Two Canadians fell at Harper the day for his old friend's execution Ferry. William H, Lehman, who came on, he went to Harper's Ferry had been the youngest member of and applied for permission to go to the Chatham Convention, was shot Charlestown, but the officer in command and killed, after surrendering, by ordered him to leave, and sent him Shoppart, a militiaman. Steward under guard to Baltimore, calling to Taylor was a fellow-countryman of the captain in charge, " Captain, if he Lehman's. Both were natives of returns to Harper's Ferry, shoot him the township of Markham, near To- at once." The intrepid doctor then ronto, as Dr. Ross informs me, but went to Governor Wise at Richmond, Mr. Hinton gives Maine as the lat- and, after an interview, related in his ter's birth-place, and his name as little volume, " Recollections and Ex- Leeman, periences of an Abolitionist," the Gov- Richard Richardson was a Missouri ernor refused him permission, and slave, rescued by Brown, He is since when he asked for a permit to leave dead. Some of the other members of the State, wrote on a card, " The bear- the Convention are yet living in the er is hereby ordered to leave the State United States. Since the decease of of Virginia within twenty-four hours, Messrs, Hunton and Holden, Mr, Jones —Henry A. Wise." Dr. Ross, finding is, as stated, the only survivor in Can- it impossible to see his old friend once ada, They did not go to Virginia, more, wrote a farewell letter to John Mr, Jones and Mr, Holden had then Brown, and received the answer al- gone on a visit to the Pacific Coast. ready given. Mr, J. Madison Bell was a writer of Dr. Ross has ever since kept up an abihty, who lived for a time in St. affectionate correspondence witli the Catharines and Chatham, and tlien members of Jolm Brown's family. settled in Toledo, Ohio Ira D, Shadd From two letters received by him, we and his l)rother Isaac, Chatham boys, have been allowed to make extracts. removed to the South, and both of

The first is from his eldest daughter : them became men of prominence.

I know my dear father loved you, and it James H, Harris was a representative is but natural tliat his children should h)ve in Congress from North Carolina, you. For your devotion to father, and the Some refer to the taking of Forts interest you have shown in his children, my Castle Pinkney, or to the heart goes out gratefully. Moultrie and Ruth Brown Thompson. attack on Fort Sumter by the Confed- Pasadena, California, Dec. 30th, 1892 eracy, as the first blows of the late The second is from his youngest civil war. Others find in the Hari)er's daughter Ferry affair, the initial outbreak, the May the God that John Brown believed in bursting forth of the fire which had and trusted bless you and yours, for your been long angrily smouldering on the kindness to his sick and helpless daughters. south-western borders of the Common- This (the aid sent) will keep my children wealth. Few will, in the light of his- from going hungry, Annie Brown Adams. tory, deny that in the little school- Petrolia, California, Jan. 7th, 1893. (a) house and engine hall of Chatham, the

(a) The Rev. 0. B. Frothingham. in his life of Gerrit train was laid that fired the mine, Smith, says: "Alexander M. Ross, of Canada, whose re- the overthrow of the markable exploits in running off slaves, caused such con- whence resulted sternation in the Southern States, was in communication proud Southern oligarchy. witn Gerrit Smith from first to last, was aided by him in his preparation with information and counsel, and had a The presiding genius of the Cliat- close understanding- with him in regard to his course of procedure. Both these men made the rescue of slaves a hai)i Convention was the soul which personal matter." To a very few of his New York and soon after animated thousands of Philadeljihia friends, Dr. Ross was known by his name, but the Quakers knew him as "The Helper," Emerson Union soldiers, as they fought for and his Boston associates as " The Canadian Knight." The colored people called him "Moses " and " The Help- their country, and brought joy and er." Other names were adopted as emergencies and safety required freedom to the bondmen. When the JOHN BROWN IN CANADA. 21 men moved on, under Grant and Sher- author from Mr. John Brown, Jr., with a

photograph of his : man and Sheridan, the memory of the father given old hero's pious valor cheered their Put-in-bay, Ottawa Co., hearts, and roused to emulation of his Ohio, Aug 4th. J. C. Hamilton, Esq., bravery, as they marched, : they sang Toronto, Canada.

John Brown died that the slave might be Dear Sir—Yours of the 6th July enclos- free ; ing manuscript, came duly, but illness had John Brown's body lies a mouldering in the prevented an earlier reply. Have read the grave, articles you sent with deep interest, and most But his soul is marching on." sincerely do I thank you for sending them. Wish it were in my power to add anything which would give additional interest to your story of my father's career in

Canada. The account > ou have ^^^j^^ given of it is ably written, and ^^^^^^^s^ shows that true apprehension of hU real character, which in JOHN brown's pike AND GUN. my view gives great value to your paper. The C. Whipple referred to (whose real Copy of the letter from Brown, using name name is Aaron D Stevens), accompanied of Mr. Bell, after the Convention : father and Kagi at the time the 12 slaves (Sam. Harper being one), were taken from Chatham, Canada West, Missouri through Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, May 21st, 1858. Illinois and Michigan into Canada. He was describe was at Har- Dear Son and Other Friends All—The at the convention you ; per's Ferry, and was subsequently executed letters of three of your number are received, at Charlestown. Va. dated the 16th, by which we learn the diffi- Father was only about five feet ten and culty you find in getting employment. It one half inches in height, and not so broad- seems that all but three have managed to shouldered as many have represented him. stop their board bills, and I do hope the bal- His weight was about 150 lbs. ; he was mus- ance will follow the manlike and noble exam- cular and active, and had uncommon endur- ple of patience and perseverance set them by ance, physical and mental. The description the others, instead of being either discour- of him, as without a beard, would apply to aged or out of humor. The weather is so him only up to the last two or three years of wet here that no work can be obtained. I his life, when he ceased to shave. His beard have only received $15 from the east, and was white, his hair iron-grey. With your such has been the effect of the course taken valuable paper, which I return to you by to- by F. (Col. Forbes), on our eastern friends, morrow's mail, I send you a photograph of that I have some fears that we shall be com- my father, copied from a copy of the original pelled to delay further action for the present. which he gave to me at Andover, Ashtabula They (his Eastern friends) urge us to do so, Co., Ohio. June 18th, 1859, when on his way promising us liberal assistance after a while. to Harper's Ferry . This is an excellent pic- I am in hourly expectation of help sufficient ture, showing him with full beard as it was at to pay off" our board bills here, and to take us the time of his execution, December 2nd, 1859. on to Cleveland, to see and advise with you, Please accept, with the sincere regards of which we shall do at once when we get the Faithfully yours, means. Suppose we do have to defer our John Brown, Jk. direct efibrts, shall great and noble minds either indulge in useless complaint, or fold Authorities referred to : their arms in discouragement, or sit in idle- The Public Life of John Brown. By ness, when we may at least avoid losing James Redpath, 1860. liberator ground. It is in times of difficulty that men Life and Letters of John Brown, of Kansas, and Martyr of Virginia. By F. show what they are ; it is in such times that men mark themselves. Are our difficulties B. Sanborn, 1885. such as to make us give up one of the noblest John Brown and His Men. By Richard enterprises in which men ever were en- J. Hinton, article in Frank Leslie's Monthly, gaged? June, 1880. Write James M. Bell, Book by same autlior, under same title. 1894. Your Sincere Friend. Funk & Wagnalls Co , Original papers in possession of Dr. A. M. The following letter was received by the Ross, Toronto.

Two Algonquin Legends. 20I

TWO ALGONQUIN LEGENDS.

THE LOON AND THE KA-KAKE.

In August last the writer visited St. Peter's Reserve, which is on the Red River of the North, midway between the city of Winnipeg and the lake of that name. This is the chief Cree settlement in Manitoba. Mrs. Muckle, wife of Major Muckle, government agent, conducted our party a mile or more by boat upon the beautiful creek that runs through the reserve, until, landing on the bank, we passed up through a vegetable garden to the comfortable little house of Counsellor John Prince, whose Indian name is I-and-way-nay^ or Thunderbolt. He was not at home, but his excellent wife, an old squaw of good features and finely formed hands and feet, received us. The next day the old pair paddled up in a birch bark to the agent's house. The counsellor was the ideal of a handsome native, as he stood smiling before us in his official blue-cloth coat with brass buttons and silver medal. He was fully six feet in his moccasins, with features remarkably like those of the late Canadian premier. Sir John Macdonald. His hair fell loose and curling to his shoul- ders. He was affable and polite, — a fine representative of the Cree nation after contact for two generations with Christian civilization. He could speak little English, but Mrs. Muckle was an excellent in- terpreter. He was grandson of Pegwis, — a renowned warrior in his youth, who became a Christian in the days when the Hudson Bay Company was in possession, and he had proved ever a steadfast friend of the white settlers. We had heard of the important influence that chief had used in shielding the land, now forming the province of Manitoba, from attacks of the Sioux, and asked our visitor to tell us what he could of the relations between Pegwis and the Sioux. As this relates to matters of common interest to dwellers on both sides of the national boundary line, we give his tale in brief, and these two legends he related, which we obtained with the aid of our kind " hostess as interpreter. He said : I was never on the war-path myself, but heard of the Sioux massacres in Minnesota, and of the many fights between my people and that nation in early days, before peace was made. I alv/ays thought the Sioux were foolish for fight- ing the whites. Some of them came here from Minnesota and Da- kota, and called on Pegwis, my grandfather. He was displeased with them, though they came to smoke the pipe of peace. The Sioux are sly as foxes and cruel as wolves. Pegwis felt this from the first. Wah-ni-tii smoked with him before the Scotch settlers came. Wah- ni-tii was good to the whites, and had English medals ; but soon after he killed all the Saulteaux on the plains he could catch. The VOL. vn. — NO. 26. 14 202 Journal of American FoIk-Lore.

next generation of Sioux were worse ; ten of them came from the States to see Pegwis at St. Peter's, and pretended to regret having killed the Americans. One of them was the bad chief called Little Crow, who had gathered up the bands and made the attacks in Min- nesota. My grandfather was annoyed and angry at them, and died during a visit of these Sioux. He had heart-trouble. Little Crow was soon after shot and killed by a Mr. Lampson. The last advice Pegwis gave me was to be always friendly with the whites." Being

asked to tell us some folk-tales of the Crees, I-and-way-nay lit his pipe, smoked for a while, and with much gesticulation and smiling

animation related the following : —

The Loon. Wesa-Katch-ack, or, as the Plain Crees call him, Neni-boo-su} gave ' a feast, inviting all the birds. He told them he would sing them a song, and they were to shut their eyes and dance round him, each also to turn round as he moved. As they did so, Wesa-Katch-ack

caught each bird, one by one, twisted his neck and threw it behind him. The Loon noticed that the circle was getting smaller, and " kept his eyes open. As he got to the tent door, he cried out : My " brothers, run ; he is killing you all ! Wesa-Katch-ack, hearing this, ran and kicked him behind, and thus injured him and spoiled the graceful shape of his legs, so he still as he moves drags them behind him. The Ka-Kakl There was once a great chief who lived beside Kischegumee, the great water. He and his wife abode peacefully, with an only son and two daughters, who were just growing up into beautiful women. These girls attracted so much attention and admiration that their parents were afraid that some day lovers would carry them off. To prevent this, the mother took them in her canoe, with pro- visions to last a long time, and left them on an island so far away she thought no one could find them. Ka-kake, the fish-hawk, in one of his excursions, saw these maidens on the lonely island ; for he could fly faster and farther than any of his mates. He visited them, and, falling in love with one of them, began to consider how he should release them from their imprisonment. He could not take one away and leave the other alone ; but he told them of a friend of his, who wore magic moccasins and had a wonderful sword which never failed him, whatever he tried to do with it. The girls said that if Ka-kake would bring his friend, they would get married and

^ The name given to this mythical demigod from Lake Winnipeg to Hudson's

Bay is Wesa-Katch-ack, while along the Red River, and from it to the Rocky Moun- tains, the Plain Crees call him A^eni-boo-su. Two Algonquin Legends. 203 go with Ka-kake and his friend to their wigwams. Away flew Ka- kake and told his friend, who was only too glad, for he had heard of these charming maidens, of their beauty and sweet disposition. Ka-kake undertook to guide his friend to the island, and they started together. His friend was wise and powerful, and his magic mocca- sins took him as quick as thought. He must take his magic sword ; for when his father had left it to him, he told him never to part with it nor let any one use it or touch it, or the charm would be broken. About half way the friend flew quickly, like a partridge, rising sometimes far ahead of Ka-kake, who, when he became weary, would think of his love on the island, and that would give him fresh strength. " Are you tired } Ka-kak^'s friend would ask him, and he would " answer : Yes, but I will not give up." As they neared the island, Ka-kake caught up to his friend, but so dead tired that his friend landed first. He found that Ka-kake had not told him half how beautiful and charming the maidens were, and he determined to have one of them for his wife. He had a sister, of whom he was very fond, and " who loved him dearly, and he said : I will go and tell my sister that we are coming with our brides." While he went to see his sis- ter, the chief's wife, the mother of the girls heard of their marriage, and forgiving her daughters, she set about to prepare a great mar- riage-feast. Ka-kake's friend found his sister, and told her of his marriage, asking her for the sake of her love of him to receive his bride kindly and treat her like a sister. When he returned to the island, the four made preparations for starting on their journey. They told their brides to step in their footsteps, planting each foot in the print of her husband's moccasin till they reached the shore, and then to hold on to what he gave her, and she would fly through the air with him. They soon arrived in their own country. Coo- Coo-hoo, the owl, saw them and envied Ka-kake and his lovely bride. The owl and the raven stood apart and would not join in the welcome. To provide abundance of meat, Ka-kake's friend pro- posed that they should have a hunt, and the crow called out to an- " nounce the gathering. Ka-kake's friend said to him : You go to the west and I will go the east, and then we will meet and drive the moose before us," In a short time they had the moose in a circle, and the friend took his sword and struck off the heads of the moose and partridges. No wonder he loved his sword, for it gave him food for all his tribe. Mudjekewis, the west-wind, was asked to call the young men of the tribe to gather in the meat from the woods, but the raven was not asked to come. Mudjekewis was calling, " 0-ho-o-o-ho-o, come, " ;!

204 Journal of American Folk-Lore, for the chief's son-in-law has plenty of food," and all the young men went to bring it in for the marriage-feast. Ka-kake went to show where the moose lay, for his friend went so fast on his magic moc- casins that the young men could not keep up with him. When they arrived at the spot they saw that the moose were not shot, but all their heads were cut off, and there was enough of meat to fill every tent. The owl and the raven were ashamed that they had not gone to help in the hunt. The chiefs wife talked with her daughters, asking how so many had been killed. Through politeness she did not speak to her son-in-law. Ka-kak^'s friend told his wife never to touch his sword, and, being a good wife, she kept her word. The sister of Ka-kak^'s friend was lonely and felt deserted ; she sat in her tepee far away and wept till she could not see ; so her brother " said : We will go and see my poor sister." He left Ka-kake with instructions to take care of those left behind, and started with his bride and her brother. He told her to plant her feet in his foot- prints, and they went very fast. When near his sister's wigwam he left his wife and hurried for- ward to see his sister. Her eyes were blind and her beauty was spoiled with weeping. Coming to the wigwam, he stooped to look " " in, and said : My sister, I have come ! Now the birds had been mocking her, telling her many times that her brother had come, and she did not believe that it was really her brother's voice. So

is she answered : MuM animobs ! bad dog, this the way you cheat me.?" He said, softly: It is true, my sister ; I am here." She lifted her eyes, saw him, and was glad. He took medicinal earth and rubbed her eyes and face with it, when her sight and beauty " returned. He said : Arise, my sister, and set your wigwam in order, for my wife is coming." As she did so, he went and brought his wife and her brother. The brother was so pleased that he fell in love with the lovely girl, and she became his wife. They returned to the chiefs tent, and all lived happily.

The raven is worth nothing at all, either for food or anything else yet he was very envious, and followed them, crying, Caw ! caw caw!" and he is still complaining and crying wherever he goes.

The owl loved Ka-kake's bride and still cries for her. He is such a tale-bearer that he never ceases to tell how Ka-kak6 stole his wife from the island. He sits by himself and cries all night long, O-hoo- coo-hoo-ho-hoo ! y. C, Hamilton, Toronto, February, 1894.