Harper's Weekly

An Eyewitness Describes The Hanging Of John Brown

Boyd B. Stutler | February 1955

Harper’s Weekly refused to print the story “Porte Crayon” wrote at the scene. Brought to light 95 years later, it is presented here.

"John Brown of Osawatomie, the guerrilla captain of Bleeding Kansas and leader of the abortive raid on Harpers Ferry to free the slaves, was hanged on the bright balmy morning of December 2, 1859. The scene of the execution of the old abolition raider was at Charlestown, then in Virginia, but soon to become Charlestown, West Virginia, through the agency of a war which Brown’s Harpers Ferry foray hastened.

Cartoonery

Jennifer J. Rodibaugh | Spring/Summer 2008

When the Donkey and the Elephant First Clashed

140 years ago, Harper’s Weekly’s cartoonist of genius, Thomas Nast, sired the Democrat donkey and the Republican elephant into ridicule. In an environment of flourishing editorial cartoons, Nast’s ready vocabulary of political symbols caught on.

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