BOATS BURNED.– On Saturday morning last, the 9th inst., about 3 o’clock, the cry of fire was raised through our town, when it was discovered that three boats, the “Adam Sherman” and “Arthur Cropley,” belonging to Mr. Oliver Sherman, and the “C. W. Harper,” belonging to Mr. Lawson W. Poffenberger, lying in the C. & O. Canal, at Bridgeport, opposite this town, were in in flames. The Potomac Fire Company of this town, and a number of other citizens, were soon on the spot, and extinguished the flames, but not until the boats were nearly destroyed. It is said that Mr. Sherman’s loss is about one thousand dollars, and the loss to Mr. Poffenberger is about five hundred dollars. The fire was the result of an incendiary, and Mr. S., as will be seen by an advertisement in this issue, offers a reward of $500 for any information that will lead to the conviction of the party or parties who set fire to the boats. We also learn that the boat “H. C. Windship,” belonging to Mr. George Dixon, lying in the Canal, near the Ore Bank, near Harper’s Ferry, was set on fire and burned on the same morning. The boat “Horace Hessley,” was also set on fire and burned, on Monday night last, at Mercersville.
Evidence Category: The Shepherdstown Register
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Incident of Kindness at Sale
An Incident– Among the incidents connected with the sale of Government property at Harper’s Ferry is noticable the following which is related to us: At the head of the ravine on High street, the small wooden dwelling, snugly ensconced below the level of the street, heretofore and still occupied by an old citizen, Mrs. Valinda Stipes, for more than 50 years, in consequence of an announcement by Mr. J. P. Keller, Chief Clerk of the Ordinance Department at Washington, representing that Department, that these facts entitled the occupant to her continued residence, and he kindly hoped the crowd would not oppose her darling wish to end her days in her old home ; thereupon, he bid for her $5. To the credit of the people, no other bid was offered, and it was called off to her. — Free Press.
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Government Sales, second & third day
The account given in Thursday’s issue of our paper is mainly correct, as to sales of the Public Property at Harpers Ferry, for the first day ; the item for the “right to dig ore on Friend’s Ore Bank,” should have been $13,100, instead of $1,300, purchased by W. C. Bradley, or the Antietam Iron Works, Md.
The second and third days sales began on Washington or High street with the Dwelling Houses built on the North side of that street, all of which realized good prices : Mrs. Boerly, $2,600; Mrs. Dailey $1,425 ; H. V. Daniels, $2,025 ; Dr. J. S. O’Donnell, $2,275 ; Ed. Murphy, $2,375 ; James McGraw, $1,000. I. Gilbert–an industrious and well-to-do colored citizen of Harper’s Ferry–$950; Daniel Ames, $1,225; Thos. W. Gallaher, $1,750 ; these named purchasers are but a few of the fine Houses and Lots, disposed of at this sale. The terraced hill side, sloping on Washington street to the Armory grounds, affording fine building ground for cottage residences, which many years ago, dotted this portion of the town, with beautiful gray and flowery yards and gardens was disposed of.
About 240 Lots, many with buildings upon them, were sold– each of which contains sufficient land for future building purposes– the whole of which, have been laid off on a Mpa, platted by S. Howell Brown, Esq., Surveyor, with streets, blocks and lots, projected under the instructions of Capt. D. J. Young, U. S. A., and Ordinance Storekeeper at Harper’s Ferry, and approved and signed by the Secretary of War, and to be recorded hereafter among the land records of the County of Jefferson, W. Va. Mr. Brown, in the mapping of this Plat, with the vary laborious preliminary surveys necessary therefor, has done himself a great credit, and he deserves it all.
The future progress of the old town of Harper’s Ferry seems to be now assured– improvement will, unquestionably, follow this sale. As an instance, it is stated that a gentleman contracted, in writing, for the exclusive right to dig clay, for brick, on a neighboring farm, and as an evidence of his earnestness in the business and his confidence in the situation of things, paid two thousand dollars, cash down, to the owner.
The same may be observed as witnessed in the sprightly springing steps of the citizens, not only of the town, but also, of the people in the vicinity, who depend for prosperity in many respects, on the prosperity of the towns of Bolivar and Harper’s Ferry.
The aggregate amount of sales was $294,444,50 which, we have been informed, will satisfy that provision of the Law of Congress, approved Dec. 15, 1868, which required that the principal sum of purchase money paid for said property by the United States, be refunded to the United States. It is proper to report that ample donations were made by the government, of fee simple estates in all the Lots heretofore held for religious charitable, school and town purposes.– Free Press
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Harpers Ferry Correspondence to Shepherdstown
Correspondence of the Shepherdstown Register.
HARPER’S FERRY, Dec. 14, 1849.MESSRS. EDITORS:– Your friends and patrons here have been much gratified by the appearance of the first and second numbers of the “Shepherdstown Register,” and you have their earnest wishes for success in your enterprize. As our little community is at this time without that valuable medium, a newspaper, I shall, from time to time, claim a small space in your columns, for such items worthy of note as may here transpire.
The weather the past week has been extremely cold and disagreeable, and our rock-bound, snow-capp’d hills have a peculiarly bleak and desolate appearance. At present, we have indications of an approaching snow-storm.
Our two cotton factories are in full operation, and are well worth a visit, especially at night, when they are brilliantly illuminated with Crutchett’s solar gas.
The appearance of the two branches of the U. S. Armory — the Musket and Rifle Factories — are being much improved by the erection of commodious and comfortable work-shops. These improvements, under the supervision of Major John Symington, have been in progress for the last four years, and are now suspended until spring.
There has been some little excitement here among the operatives in the Armory, in consequence of the removal of some Inspectors, &c., but there was not much sympathy evinced for the discharged, as the justice of “rotation in office” is getting to be generally recognized and acknowledged.
In consequence of the late rain and snow storms, the Shenandoah has commenced rising; but it can do no harm, except to stop the river supply of flour for a short time. There is a great quantity of flour comes here daily, per railroad, from Winchester; the most of it is for the Baltimore market.
I would write more, but the whistle of the Locomotive warns me it is time to close. More anon.
WILL. -
Noble Conduct of A Lady (Raid)
An incident of the occasion is thus referred to by Mr. Throckmorton, of Harper’s Ferry :
When Beckham was shot our men became almost frantic. They rushed in Wager’s hotel, where the prisoner (Thompson) was crying “Shoot him!” and had it not been for a lady who was in the room (Miss Christine Fouke, sister of the landlord) he would have been killed on the spot. They cocked their guns and pointed at him, crowding around, but she stood over him, telling them, “For God’s sake, save him! don’t kill him in that way, but let the law take its course!” She said they had him a prisoner, bound and he could not get away, and begged that they would not kill him. The man said he was willing to die ; knew he had to die, and wanted to be shot. They finally got hold of him, took him out on the platform and shot him. He had more than forty balls fired into him. The citizens around were chiefly concerned in this, but I cannot say who shot him. I could not have saved him if I had tried.
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Theft of U. S. Arms
Some 700 Minnie guns and rifles belonging to the United States, have been missed from the armory at Harper’s Ferry, supposed to have been appropriated by the volunteers who were present during the occurrences of the 17th and 18th inst. Parties having them, render themselves liable to a criminal prosecution upon detection. Lieut. Simpson of the Independent Greys, made a demand we understand, for the arms captured by his corps in the old school house, but as a matter of course it could not be entertained, the Greys, at the time of the successful scout, being in government employ, and in fact government troops. Col. Lee, commanding the expedition at Harper’s Ferry cheerfully assented however to the Greys retaining such of the Sharp’s rifles and revolvers as were taken before the spoils were consigned into the keeping of the authorities.
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Letter; J. R. Giddings to “Old” Brown
The following letter (one of the many from the same source) from the venerable demagogue and abolition agitator, Joshua R. Giddings, was found by Lieutenant Kerchner, of the Greys, among some papers at the house of Old Brown. We learn that Lieut. Kerchner is in possession of other important papers which it is his intention to forward to Governor Wise, who, by the way, has forwarded a written request to this city that parties in Baltimore having in their possession any documents or letters belonging to Brown, or which might serve to throw light upon his traitorous project, may forward the same to him. The following is the note:
JEFFERSON, OHIO
May 26, 1859.
My Dear Sir:– I shall be absent during next week, but hope to be at home during the summer. Shall be happy to see you at my house.
Very truly,
J. R. Giddings.
To John Brown, Esq. -
Albert Hazlet Arrested
Harrisburg, Oct. 26 — Hazlet was arrested here in the 24th inst. Governor Packer to-day gave orders that Capt. J. E. Cook, now confined in Chambersburg, and Hazlet held in custody at Carlisle Prison, he both delivered up to the authorities of Virginia for trial.
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Capt. Cook Arrested
CAPT. COOK ARRESTED.
His Commission in the Insurrection Band found on his Person– Three others of the Band among the Mountains– Parties in Search of them.Chambersburg, Pa, Oct. 26.– The notorious Capt. Cook, of the Insurrectionary Band of outlaws, under Osawatamie Brown, has at last been captured, beyond a doubt, and has been fully committed to jail to await the requisition of the Governor of Virginia.
He was brought to this town last evening. There is not a doubt of his identity, as a captain’s commission, with prisoner’s signature and Clerk’s name was found on his person. He came down from the mountains to get provisions, having, from his haggard appearance, suffered greatly from want and exposure.
He admitted that three others of Brown’s party are in the mountains, on the strength of which information parties are now out in pursuit of the fugitives.
Cook had on his person a parchment memorandum, formerly attached to Mr. Washington’s person, and says the pistol is in his valise, which he left in the mountains. He was fully armed when arrested, and attempted to make resistance, but being exhausted, was soon captured, at a point eight miles from this place.
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Letters found at Brown’s Home.
Further Developments.
It is stated that the Hon. Alex R. Boteler, member elect to Congress from this district, has collected from fifty to one hundred letters from citizens in that neighborhood of Brown’s house, wh[?] searched it before the arrival of the marines. The letters are in the possession of Andrew Hunter, Esq., who has also a large number of letters obtained from Brown’s house by the marines and other parties. It is requested that their contents shall not be published until after the trial of the prisoners. Among them is a roll of the conspirators, containing forty seven signatures; also a receipt from Horace Greely for letters, &c. received from Brown, and an accurately traced map from Chambersburg to Brown’s house; copies of letters from Brown stating that the arrival of too many men at once would excite suspicion, they should arrive singularly; a letter from Merriam stating that of the 20,000 wanted G. S. was good for one-fifth. Brown told them to let the women write the letters, and not the men. There is also a pathetic letter from Elizabeth Leeman to her brother. Also, a letter from J. E. Cook, stating that “the Maryland election is about to come off, the people will become excited, and we will get some of the candidates that will join our side.” Then follows four pages in cypher. There is also a letter from Col. Craig, of the Ordnance Department, Washington, answering inquiries as to the disposition of the United States troops, &c. There is also a collection of autographs. Important papers are also in the possession of teh State and General Governement.