Chapter I: Preface

The =real story= of Harper's Ferry is sad, and but little less wild and romantic than the old-time legends that abound in the long settled country around. The =facts= of the story we give with scrupulous =exactness=. We, ourselves, have witnessed many of the most important incidents narrated and, for what happened before our time, we have the evidence of old settlers of the highest character and veracity.

The =legends= are =consistent=, even though they may have no other claim on our consideration. They never have more than one version, although one narrator may give more facts than another. The narratives never =contradict= one another in any material way, which goes to show that there was a time when everybody around believed the main facts.

THE AUTHOR.

THE STRANGE STORY OF HARPER'S FERRY