The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1859-12-21
Execution of Four InsurrcctiOniSts.

Cook, CoppEE, COPELAND and GREEN, the
four convicted accomplices of Capt. Brown,
who figured in the Harper's Ferry Tragedy,
were all executed on last Friday, at the ap.
pointed time, in Charlestown, Virginia -
Cook and Coppee exhibited, it is said, the
most unflinching firmness. About the same
military display was made on this occasion
as was exhibited on the execution o! Brown.
The convlcts were escorted from the Jail by
military com panies and the execution ground
well guarded by the military forming into
two hollow squares. The bodies of Cook
and Coppee were forwarded TO their friends,
the former to New York, and the latter to
Iowa. The bodies of the two colored con
victs were inferred, the day after the execu.
tion, on the spot where the gallows was
erected The religious ceremonies in the
cells are spoken of as very impressive, and
were conducted by the Rev Mr.. North, OF
the Presbyterian, and the Rev. Mr.. Waugh,
of The Nj. f. Church. Green and Cope.
land were executed first, at about I 1 o clock
Cook and Coppee, few minutes before /
O'Clock. The evening before the execution,
quarter past o'clock, Cook and Coppee
made an attempt 10 escape. They had sue
ceeded, after about two weeks hard labor,
in cutting through their iron shackles, SO
that they could pry them off at any mo-
ment they should have their other work
completed. With bed.screw they man.
aged 10 remove the plastering from the wall
and then brick after brick, until space suf.
ficienl for them TO pass through, was open
ed, all except the outer brick. This wall
was Immediately in the rear of their bed
and by pushing the bed up 10 the wall
completely hid their work from view. Their
room being on the first floor, and The aper.
ture was not more than five feet above the
pavement OF the yard, and when freed OF
their shackles, their access 10 the yard was
quite easy. Here was the rub smooth
brick wall ~about fifteen feet high, to scale
but with the aid of the timbers OF the scat
fold on which Old John Brown was hung
and which were intended for their execution
on the succeeding day, this difficulty was
soon and easily overcome. They gained
the top of the wall, when their movements
were checked by the vigilence of sentinel
on duty. The sentinel stationed near the
Jail reported that quarter past O'Clock he
observed man on the Jail wall, whom he
challenged, and receiving no answer, fired
al him. The head of another man was also
seen above the wall, but he retreated at
soon as the first one had been fired at. The
man al the top OF the wall seemed at first
determined 10 persist, and was abou; max
ing an attempt TO jump down, when the
sentinel declared his intention of impaline
him on his bayonet. Not till then did he
retreat into the Jail yard, with his comrade
where they both gave themselves up with
out further resistance. Cook aflerward
remarked, that if he could have got owe
and throtted the guard he could have made
his escape, as the Shenandoah mountains
were only within ten minutes run of tht
Jail wall, and had he of reached them
with his perfect knowledge of the noun
tains, his arrest would have been very diff
ficult. 1t being after night, but few of tn,
military could have followed him. The
general impression is, that if they had pu
of their attempt 10 escape until midnigh
or thereabouts they might have succeeded
in reaching the mountains. BIt on tn,
other hand it is presumed they were fearfu
of being watched during the night, or des
ired 10 have as much darkness az possible
10 gain a good distance before dayligh
would allow of general pursuit.