“WE'LL HANG JOHN BROWN.”

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 189, 28 July 1911, Page 3

“WE'LL HANG JOHN BROWN.”

EPISODE OF AMERICAN CIVIL WAR. An interesting episode in connection with the American Civil war is recalled with the death of Air. W. Dean Lysnar. father of Gisborne's Mayor (Mr. AY. Douglas Lysnarj. In 18.55 the late Mr. Lysnar. then a man of 33 years of age, was conducting an educational :n--stitution of his own in Kansas City, where he still was when shortly* afterwards <-ix il war was declared between the North and the South over tin* emancipation of the slaves. Being a British subject ami entirely opposed to the war, Mr. Lysnar refused to participate in the fighting, but attended to the wounded, and on several occasions narrowly missed being sin t In view of his being prominently known for his strict neutrality to the opposing armies. Mr. Lvsr.a" was subsequently cnosen by the citizens to convey a flag of true ■ to the leader of the besieging army that had surrounded the city, ;„> enquire on what terms surran lor would be accepted. Tn doing so Mr. Lysnar had to ascend a hill to the commanding position oecspnd by the leader of the forces. ’ ’gl:tit'i;: in those days was not c< nducted on strict rules of war regarding neutrality, and the hearer ol the white flag had a narze v <-s- -< ape from a relentless m -mmr of tin besiegers, who was t iking aim arM was about to lire at him. when Mr. Lysnar'’s identity was r<. <.*og--I'ised by another soldier near by. threatened to shoot his com-

I rade if the. latter fired, directi ig I bin at the same time to wait and ' see what was wanted. The lo.u: r ■ of the besieging army was im less ;a person than John Brown, .• b ! name has been immortalised in ihe i well-known refrain. "We’]! hang I John Brown on a sour apr'l. tie ’, ’ j by the jingoistic section of Ameri- • cans. When asked by Mr. Ly soar ; the terms of surrender. -John Brown 1 replied. ‘No terms at all; complete surrender.” The fightingwas . resumed, and subsequently John j Brown was captured, ami met his ■fate in the manner indicated. This ■ exciting episode, we understand. is graphically narrated in an ac count of his life and his association with the war. which the late Mr. Lysiiar reduced to manuscript form for the benefit of his familv <1 tiring the close of his lengthy and interesting career. — ‘P .'vertv Pa V i Herald.”