Transcript of January 13, 1904 San Francisco Call article titled: "Her epitaph is written"
HER EPITAPH IS WRITTEN
Tombstone of Mammy Pleasant Will Express Her Loyalty to the Hero of Harpers Ferry
TRIBUTE TO JOHN BROWN
Remains of Woman Who Gave Him Financial Assistance Are Borne to Resting Place
The remains of "Mammy" Pleasant, who died early Monday morning at the home of Lyman M. Sherwood on Filbert street will rest to-night under the soil of the little cemetery in the town of Napa, to which her body was taken this morning. One of the last requests of Mrs. Pleasant was that there be placed above her grave a tombstone bearing her name, age, nativity and the words: "She was a friend of John Brown."
One of the many interesting stories of her eventful career told by Mrs. Pleasant was her experiences during the exciting times preceding the outbreak of the Civil War. With the money inherited from her first husband she had come to California and was here in 1858, when the first stories of John Brown's efforts to free the slaves of the South were conveyed to San Francisco. Being in full sympathy with the movement she conceived the idea of lending her financial assistance to the undertaking, and April 5, 1858, found her eastward bound with a $30,000 United States Treasury draft, which had been procured for her through the aid of Robert Swain, John W. Coleman and William Alvord. Reaching Boston Mrs. Pleasant arranged for a meeting with John Brown in Windsor, Canada. Before leaving Boston Mrs. Pleasant had her draft exchanged for Canadian paper, which she converted into coin and finally turned this over to Brown after a conference in Canada, at which it was agreed between them that he should not strike a blow for the freedom of the negroes until she had journeyed to the South and aroused the feeling of rebellion among her people. Disguised as a jockey she proceeded to the South and was engaged in her part of the plot when she was startled by the news that Brown had already made his raid on Harpers Ferry and had been captured. Learning that the authorities were in pursuit of Brown's accomplices Mrs. Pleasant immediately fled to New York and after remaining in hiding for some time assumed another name and made her way back to California. When Brown was captured, there was found on his person a letter reading: "The ax is laid at the root of the tree. When the first blow is struck there will be more money to help." The message was signed "W. E. P." For months the authorities vainly searched for the author of this message. In later years it developed that Mrs. Pleasant had written the letter, but in signing it she had made her first initial, "M," look like a "W." Mrs. Pleasant always blamed Brown for hastening his attack at Harpers Ferry, which she claimed cost her in all over $40,000. Among her effects are letters and documents bearing upon the historical event in which she secretly played an important part
Tombstone of Mammy Pleasant Will Express Her Loyalty to the Hero of Harpers Ferry
TRIBUTE TO JOHN BROWN
Remains of Woman Who Gave Him Financial Assistance Are Borne to Resting Place
The remains of "Mammy" Pleasant, who died early Monday morning at the home of Lyman M. Sherwood on Filbert street will rest to-night under the soil of the little cemetery in the town of Napa, to which her body was taken this morning. One of the last requests of Mrs. Pleasant was that there be placed above her grave a tombstone bearing her name, age, nativity and the words: "She was a friend of John Brown."
One of the many interesting stories of her eventful career told by Mrs. Pleasant was her experiences during the exciting times preceding the outbreak of the Civil War. With the money inherited from her first husband she had come to California and was here in 1858, when the first stories of John Brown's efforts to free the slaves of the South were conveyed to San Francisco. Being in full sympathy with the movement she conceived the idea of lending her financial assistance to the undertaking, and April 5, 1858, found her eastward bound with a $30,000 United States Treasury draft, which had been procured for her through the aid of Robert Swain, John W. Coleman and William Alvord. Reaching Boston Mrs. Pleasant arranged for a meeting with John Brown in Windsor, Canada. Before leaving Boston Mrs. Pleasant had her draft exchanged for Canadian paper, which she converted into coin and finally turned this over to Brown after a conference in Canada, at which it was agreed between them that he should not strike a blow for the freedom of the negroes until she had journeyed to the South and aroused the feeling of rebellion among her people. Disguised as a jockey she proceeded to the South and was engaged in her part of the plot when she was startled by the news that Brown had already made his raid on Harpers Ferry and had been captured. Learning that the authorities were in pursuit of Brown's accomplices Mrs. Pleasant immediately fled to New York and after remaining in hiding for some time assumed another name and made her way back to California. When Brown was captured, there was found on his person a letter reading: "The ax is laid at the root of the tree. When the first blow is struck there will be more money to help." The message was signed "W. E. P." For months the authorities vainly searched for the author of this message. In later years it developed that Mrs. Pleasant had written the letter, but in signing it she had made her first initial, "M," look like a "W." Mrs. Pleasant always blamed Brown for hastening his attack at Harpers Ferry, which she claimed cost her in all over $40,000. Among her effects are letters and documents bearing upon the historical event in which she secretly played an important part