From the collections at the Leavenworth County Historical Society and Museum. Reprinted with permission from The Leavenworth County Historical Society and Museum and the Leavenworth Times. Donated by Debra Graden.

From the New York World.

Neither oratory nor song, but an ivory-headed cane, believed to have been originally owned by John Brown, was the outstanding feature of martyrdom night observed by Harlem Negroes recently, in memory of the adventurous abolitionist of Osawatomie.

The occasion marked the seventieth anniversary of the execution of John Brown for inciting and participating in the insurrection at Harper's Ferry, Va. The meeting was held under the auspices of the Frederick Douglass Chapter of the John Brown New York Association.

The cane, of solid mahogany, was exhibited by George Young, vice-president of the association and a collector of rare coins and books on the Negro. He recently came in possession of the memento through James Blake, treasurer of the Neumismatist Society of New Jersey.

With accustomed fervor the audience sang "John Brown's body lies a-moldering in the grave." The speeches teemed with the usual encomiums. But it was the cane that excited unusual heart interest. It was revered by all present. To gaze upon and touch what once was the personal property of John Brown was considered an uncommon privilege.

A silver band just below the ivory head bears inscriptions which warrants the assumption that the cane's history antedates the spectacular forays of John Brown in Kansas and Virginia. The first line engraved is: "John Brown to Thomas Thomas." In chronological sequence then appear the names: "Hon. Jason W. Steele: and "W. W. Pryde, Springfield, Mass."