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Hellraisers Journal – Friday October 30, 1908
Red Special Stops Over at Harper’s Ferry to Honor John Brown
From the Appeal to Reason of October 24, 1908:
DEBS AT HARPER’S FERRY.
—–
Tears and Cheers When the Soul of John Brown
Again Finds Utterance at the Historic
Engine-house Fort.
—–Special Telegram to the Appeal.
Connellsville, Pa., Oct. 17.-A most dramatic scene has just occurred. The “Red Special” made a short stop at Harper’s Ferry. The comrades gathered about the monument which marked the spot where the old engine house was located, where John Brown was captured; and Gene, standing at the base of the monument, payed a tribute to the brave old warrior who made that spot sacred forever, fifty years ago. It was the most thrilling and dramatic scene of the entire trip. The comrades uncovered at the monument, as the impassioned tribute was delivered. The “Red Special” band played the Marseillaise and with never such thrilling appeal. The reports of John Brown’s rifles seemed to reverberate again in the surrounding hills. The Cumberland and the Potomac mingled their waters a few feet distant as the spirit of the abolitionist of forty years ago and the spirit of the Socialist of today mingled at the spot John Brown made immortal. There were tears and there were cheers. The spirit of the noble old warriors, transfigured the scene, and the memory of it will remain vivid and inspiring forever.-Theodore Debs.
[“John Brown in engine house” added from Leslie’s of November 5, 1859.]
Note: Caption for drawing reads: “Harper’s Ferry Insurrection-Interior of the engine-house, just before the gate is broken down by the storming party-Col. Washington and his associates as captives, held by Brown as hostages.”
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SOURCE
Appeal to Reason
(Girard, Kansas)
-Oct 24, 1908
http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2002735881/
IMAGE
John Brown in Engine House Oct 18, 1859, from Leslies Nov 5, 1859
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Brown%27s_Fort
See also:
Tag: Red Special of 1908
https://weneverforget.org/tag/red-special-of-1908/
John Brown’s Raid on Harpers Ferry
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Brown%27s_raid_on_Harpers_Ferry
A print depicting Brown’s raiders and hostages in the interior of the engine house before the US Marines break-in, 1859.
https://dp.la/primary-source-sets/john-brown-s-raid-on-harper-s-ferry/sources/1721
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John Brown’s Body – Paul Robeson
“He’s gone to be a soldier in the army of the Lord…”
“They hung him for a traitor, themselves a traitor’s crew…”