The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1859-12-22
Consummation of the Harper's Ferry
... .ss.s,.e, Tragedy,

four Of the Harper's Ferry prisoners
were executed on the 10th. Green and
Copeland, the colored men, were hung II
the forenoon about eleven o'clock. II i
said that abou. II. 900 persons witnessc'
the execution. They mounted the scat
fold with firm step. Z The prisoners ha'
cap placed over their heads by lh
Sheriff, and after an appropriate pray e
by Rev. Mr.. North, of the Presbyterian
Church, they were launched into eternity
Before the rope was cut, Green was bear'
to offer up a fervent prayer, Copelant
was not heard to prny. 20
Green's neck was broken. and he died
without a struggle. Copeland writhcd
in violent contortions for several minutes
The prisoners bade farewell while ON
the scaffold. The drop fell at 1 | minutes
past II o'clock. bsisa7o rt
Cook and Coppic were executed about
one o'clock, P. M. When called upon
by the sheriff, they stood calm and quiet.
ly whilst their arms were being pinioned.
and after bidding farewell to the guards
of the Jail, were helped into the wagons
and took seats on their coffins. Their
appearance was rather that Of hopeless
despair than Of resignation, and they
seemed to take but little notice OF any
thing as the procession slowly moved on
to the field of death. The wagon reach
ed the scaffold at thirteen minutes before
one o'clock, and the prisoners ascerded
with determined frmness scarcely sur
passed by that Of Capt. Brown.
A brief prayer was offered up by one
OF the clergymen, the ropes were adjust.
ed, the caps drawn over their heads, and
both were launched into eternity in sew,
en- minutes after they assembled the gal
lows. They both exhibited the most un-
Ainchiug frmucss. saying. nothing, with
the exception Of bidding farewell to the
ministers andsheriif After the rope was
adjusted about Cooks neck, he exclaimed,
''be quick, as possible which was also
repeated by Coppic.
After hanging about twenty minutes,
both bodies were taken down and placed
in black walnut cofins which were prepar-
cd for them. That Of Cooks was then plac.
ed in a poplar box, labelled and direct
ed as follows: Ashbell P. Willard and
Robt. Crowly, l0I William St, New
York, care Of Adams Express. The
coffin of Coppie was placed in similar
box, to be forwarded to his mother in
Iowa. s#sr 4.-
Attempted Escape of Cook and Coppic.
On the evening preceding the execu+
tion Cook and Coppic made an attempt to
escape, and came very near succeeding.
The general impression was that il the
attempt had been made two or three
hours later it would have been success
full.
The sentinel stationed near the Jail re-
ported that at a quarter past eight O'Clock
he observed man on the Jail wall whom
he challenged, and receiving no answer
fred at him. The head Of another was
also seen above the wall. but he retired
as soon as the FIRST one had been fred at.
The man on top of the wall seemed at
first determined to persist, and was about
making an attempt to jump down, when
the sentinel declared bis intention of i'm
paling him on the point Of his bayonet.--
He then returned into the Jail yard with
Coppic, and both gave themselves up
without further resistance.
NooA aitStWaIdo ICiDdi hSu tndL u lie
could have got over, and out witted the
guard, he would have made his escape to
the Shenandoah mountains, which are
within ten minutes run Of the Jail wall.
and had he have reached them with his
thorough knowledge Of the mountains,
his arrest would have been difficult
especially as but few Of the military
could have followed him. Their bed
clothing muff1ed the sound ofa saw which
they had made out Of an old Bsrlow knife
in cutting through tJe iron shackles, so
that they could put them of at any mo.
ment they should have their work COM
pleted. They had also made a sort of
ehisel out Of an old bed. screw. with
which they succeeded. as opportunity
would offer. in removing plaster from
the wall, and then brick after brick mill
aspaes suffieient for them TO pass THROUGH
was opened. al except the removal Of The
outer brick. The part Of the wall on
which they operated was in the rear Of
the beds on which they slept, and The
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