The Portage County Democrat. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1859-12-21

Since the failure of the attempt of Cook and
Cepeic to escape last night, their assumed
composure and apparent resignation had given
way. and they now looked at the reality OF |
their fate with the full sonvictofi of its awful
certainty They were reserved and rather
quiet. but Joined with fervot 10 their religious
ceremonies, conducted by the Rev. Messrs.
North. Lake and Waugh. When called uponi
by the Sheriff, they stood calm. and. after bid
ding farewell to the guards of the jail. werel
helped into the wagon, and took seats on their
cofins. Their appearance was rather that oil
hopeless despair than that of resignation, andl
they seemed to take but little notice of any
thing as the procession slowly moved on to the
Geld of death. The wagon reached the scaf-
fold at thirteen minutes before one O'Clock.
and the prisoners assembled with q determined
frmness, scarcely surpassed By that of Capt,
Brown. "A brief prayer was offered up by
one of the elergymen. the ropes we're adjusted,
the caps drawn over their heads. and both
were launched into eternity in seven minutes
after they assembled the gallows. They both
exhibited the most unfinehing frmness. saying
nothing, with the, exception of bidding fare.
well to the ministers and Sheriff After the
rope was adjusted about Cooks neck, he ex.
claimed 'be as quick as possible" which was
repeated by Coppic. After hanging about
thirty minutes both bodies were taken down
and placed in black walnut cofins, prepared
for them. That of Cook was then placed in
poplar box labelled and directed as follows:
'tAshbell P. Willard, and Robert Crowley,
lO4 William stteet, New York" The coffin
of Coppic was placed in similar box, to be
form rfa ad IN hic in lama
THE MILITARY DISPLAY. mo .s.E
The vigilance exercised at the railroad de
pot on the arrival of trains was not as strin
| gent as on the occasion of the execution of
Brown, and but little difficulty was expert
enced in getting into town. Shortly after the
arrival of the train in the afternoon, grand
military dress parade of all the companies in
attendance took place. The troops went
through their evolutions with great skill, and
were reviewed by Gen. Talliaferro, who was
on the ground in full dress. and mounted on a
splendid charger. The prisoners were visited
yesterday afternoon, by the Rev. Messrs. Mas
son. Dutton and North, of the Presbyterian
Church. and the Rev. Beverly Waugh, of the
Methodist Episcopal charch. The services in
the cells were of an interesting and solemn
character, and we're participated in by all the
condemned.
ATTEMPT OF COOK AND coPPIc TO ESCAPE.
At quarter past eight o'clock last (Thurs.
j day) evening the whole town was thrown in-
to cemmotion by the report of rifle under
the Jail wall, followed by several other shots
from the vicinity of the guard house, in close
proximity to the Jail. The military was called
TO arms, and the excitement was intense, be
yond anything that had yet occurred duribg
our ever memorable era of military occupa
ton. In few minutes the streets and ave
nues of the town were in possession of armed
men, and it was with some difficulty that the
cause of all this turmoil could be ascertained
Rumors of every description were afioat. and
it was at one time thought that the prisoners
had overpowered their guards and made theil
} escape, and then that an attack bad been made
on the Jail by parties attempting to rescue the
lprisoners.
The sentinel stationed near the jail, reported
that at quarter past eight o'clock, he observ
ed man on the Jail wall. whom he challenged
and receiving no answer fred at him. Ths
head of another man was also seen above tht
wall, but he retreated as soon as the first ont
had been fred at. The man on the top of tht
wall seemed at first determined to persist, ant
was about making an attempt to jnmpt down
when the sentinel declared his intention of i'm
paling him on his bayonet. He then retreatet
int the Jail yard with Coppic. and both CAV
themselves up without further resistance
! Cook afterwards remarked that if he conl,
have got over and throttled the guard b.
would have made his escape. The Shenan
oah mountains are within ten minutes run O
the Jail wall, and had he reached them, witt
his thorough knowledge of the mountains, hi
arrest would have been difficult, especially a
, but few of the military could have followe,
him buring the night. They had succeeded
after two weeks labor, whenever alone. and a
might, when their bed clothing muff1ed th
sound of saw. which they had made out O
!, an old Barlow knife, in cutting through thei
shackles, SO that they could put them off a
auy moment their work was completed. The
had also made sort of chisel out of an oil
5 bed screw. with which they succeeded as op
portunity would offer in removing the plaste
n from the wall and then brick after brick ur
til space sufficient for them to pass throug
was opened, all except the removal Of tn
outer brick. The part of the wall on whic
y they operated was in the rear of the beds o
which they slept. and the bed being pushe
= against the wall, completely hid their wor
from view.
Or the receipt of the news of the attemr
to escape of Cook and Coppic Gov. Wis
telegraphed 10 General Taliaferro to take po
i, session of the Jail which was accordingly dor
at once, -s-.- .--