The weekly Anglo-African. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1859-1861, 1859-12-24
THE CHARLEsTOWN TRAGEDY.

! THE EXECUTION OF MEssRs. GREEN, COPELAND,
COOK AND CoPP!C, ON THE 10TH INST.
The prisoners were visited on the after
noon of the 18th by the Rev Mr.. Nassau,
Rev. Mr.. Button and Rev. Mr.. North, of
sthe Presbyterian Church, and Rev. Bev-
serly Waugh, of the Methodist Episcopal
EChurch. The services in the cells were
participated in by all the condemned men.
They all gave unqualified assent to the
convictions of religious truth, and each ex-
pressed hope of salvation in the world tn
come.
Cook had been visited throughout his
| imprisonment by the Rev. n. Green North,
! at the request of the prisoner, as also of
gGovernors Wise and Willard.
Rev. Mr.. North was present at an inter
/ view between Coppic and Mr.. Butler, a
quaker gentleman from Ohio, who raised
the prisoner. He describes the interview
as an affecting one, and speaks highly Of
4 Mr.. Buffers christian department and ad-
& vice to the prisoner. Mr. Butler says that
NCoppic was a trusty but very wilful boy
4 An uncle of Coppic, of the same name,
ssfrom Ohio, his fathers brother, visited him
aalso yesterday, the interview lasting owe,
1 IAN hour. lie seemed in much distress al
zthe sad fate which awaited his relative
& All apprehensions of an intended rescue
Nhad long since been banished, and nothing
4 was thought of but the approaching execu
stion, whilst the overlooking throng Of
|astrangers were hunting quartersfor thenight
1.-The bar-rooms were all crowded with PEG
*ple discussing the resignation of the pris
#oners to their fate, and so firmly had this
szconviction settled in the public mind, tina
*military duty was regarded as bore, an(
|Sthe finale of the tragedy regarded as al
Il most at an end, when, at quarter past
so'clock, the whole town was thrown int
zscommotion by the report of rife unde
Nthe wall of the Jail, followed by severa
Nother shots from the guard house, in clos
proximity to the Jail. The military wer'
Scalled to arms, and the excitement was in
tense beyond anything that has yet oc
Ascurred during our ever memorable era O
s|smilitary occupation. In few minutes thu
#streets and avenues of the town were il
|H possession of armed men, and it was witt
some difficulty that the cause of all tn
#turmoil could be obtained. Rumors 0
szevery description were afoat, and it was a
9 one time thought that the prisoners ha(
#overpowered their guards and made thei
S escape, and then that an attack had beer
y made on the Jail by parties attempting t.
srescue the prisoners. 1t was dangerou
#for citizen to 60 out to ascertain the tru'
scause of the excitement, and rumors of
amost extensive character hoated in to b.
contradicted by momentary new arrivals o
!&Scitizens driven in from the streets
81 The sentinel stationed near the Jail re
PORTED that at quarter past eight o'clocl
She observed man on the Jail wall. HI
Schallenged him, and, receiving no answer
Wired at him. Another head was also seel
=sabove the wall, but he retreated as soon a
the first one had been fred at. The maj
&on the top of the wall seemed at first de
Htermined TO jump down, but the sentine
declared his intention of impaling him oil
kthe bayonet, and he then retreated into tn,
D Jail yard and both gave themselves VI
without further resistance. It proved