The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-12-22

mind" Both then shook hands with Hazlett
and babe him goodby, but did not call bm
by name, or show any personal recognition OF
each other.
Emerging from the jail, Cook recognised
several gentlemen, and bowed politely to them.
On approaching the scafold, Cook shoek
hands with large number OF persons, and
bowed politely to Mayor Green. When ne put
mis- foot on the trap, he glanced up at the hook
on which the moose was hung.
The wagon reached the scafold at thirteen
minutes before one O'Clock, and the prisonets
assembled with determined frmness that. was
scarcely surpassed by that of Captain Brown.
On the gallows they shook hands and bid each
other good-by; after the caps were drawn, Cock
said, stop minute; where is Edwin's handy"
Cook said, " God bless you," and Coppic SAID,
in loud tone, " be quick as possible" Cop
pics genteel appearance was the subject zof
| general remark. The CALI and collected men-
ner of both was very remarkable. :
| A brief prayer was offered up by one of the
| clergymen, the rope adjusted, the cap drawn,
and both were launched into eternity in SEVEN
minutes after they assembled the gallows. They
both exhibited the most unfinching frmness,
saying nothing, except bidding farewell to the
ministers AID the sheriff After the rope was
adjusted, Cook exclaimed: I" Be quick-as
quick as possible which was also repeated
by Coppic. ;.
After hanging about thirty minutes, both
bodies were cut down, and placed in the BLACK
walnut collins prepared for them. That of Coax
was placed in poplar box, labelled and a.
riected as follows: Ashbell p. Willard ADD
Robert Crowley, I04 William street, New York,
care Adams's Express" Coppic's body was
placed in a similar box, to be forwarded to his
mother in Iowa.
1. Al geo1J
permitted. On their way TO the scaffold, th
only remarks made by Cook and Coppic were
in relation to the attempt to escape. They
made an apology for any reflection that migat
attach to them through their conduct
One of the ministers who attended on the
prisoners informs me that neither Cook nor
Coppic ever made any direct profession of re-
ligion. Coppic was of Quaker descent, and Cock
was Congregationalist in sentiment. Both,
however, seemed hopeful; and the minister's ek-
hortation on the scaffold was to put their trust
in the redeeming blood of Christ. The prayer
of the Rev. Mr.. North was appropriate, and was
the only service on the scaffold. Z,
The bodies of Cook and Coppic were taken
to Harpers Ferry In train which was waiting
at the depot. The bodies of the negroes have
been given to surgeons and medical students;
AGES OF PRISONERS.
John Z. Cook was 20 years of age, havitg
been born in Haddam, Conn.,, in 1880. He
was about five feet seven and a half inches high,
with light hair, and fair complexion.
Edwin Coppic was born in Columbiapa couri-
ty, Ohio, and was "a years of age, five feet nine
inches high, brown hair, and dark complexities.
He had stupid look, but was undoubtedly Of
good intellect, and rather intelligent. :.
Shields Green was quite black negro ard
but 22 years of age. He was born in Rochester,
New York He had rather good countenance,
and sharp intelligent look.
John Copeland was bright mulatto, with
bushy head, and rather straight hair. He was
"a years of age, and looked younger than
Green.
Stephens and Hazlitt will not be tried until
the May term of the court. )
LETTER OF EXPLANATION.
The following letter was handed to me this
evening. 1t is written in beautiful style Of
penmanship, and is curiosity, coming froma
man who was in a few hours to suffer death
CHARLEsTOwN, Dec. l6, 1859.
Having been called upon to make fair
statement in regard to the ways and means of
our breaking jail, have agreed to do SO from
a sense of our duty to the sheriff of the county
and jailer and jail guard. We do not wish that
any one should be unjustly censured on our ae-
count
" The principal implements with which We
opened passage through the wall of the ia.i
were Barlow knife and screw which we took
out of bedstead. The knife was borrowed
from one of the jail guards to cut a lemon with.
We did not return it to him. He had no idea
OF any intention on our part to break ous
neither did the sherif7s taller nor any of the
guard have any knowledge of our plans
I'VE received no aid from any person or per
sons whatever. We had, as we supposed, re-
moved all the brick, except the last tier several
days ago, but, on the evening previous to osr
breaking out, we found our mistake in regard
to that matter. We had intended to 90 out on
the evening that my sister and brother-in-lass
were here, but knew that it would reflect on
them, and we postponed it-but l urged Coppie
to go, and l would remain, but he refused. We
then concluded to wait.
6 got knife-blade from Shields Green, AMI
with that made some teeth in the Barlow knife. |
with which we sawed off our shackles. Ws |
had them all off the night previous to our GET
ting out Coppic went out first, and followed |
We then got up on the wall, when l was dig
covered, and shot at. The guard outside tbs
wall Immediately came up to the wall.
We saw there was no chance to escape,. |,
and as 1t was discovered that we had brokeIl |
Jail, we walked in deliberately, aud gave our |
selves up to the sheriff, Capt. Avis, and the iail
guard. There was no person or persons who
aided us III our escape. This is true, so help
us God. "JoHN Il. CooK.
"EDwN CoPPIC"
There will be about four hundred troops kept |
here for several weeks
1t is understood there will be a civil guard |
kept under arms, but that the military force
now here will be Immediately dispersed.
The military are IN fine spirits this evening
at the prospects of an early return to their |
homes, and our citizens are rejoicing that civil |
authority will in future be the ruling power of |
our usually quiet town. HD.b.
THE REMAINS OF THE PRISONERS.
Hdrper's Ferry, Dec. l6.-The remains of
Cook and Coppic arrived here about four O o'clock.
The remains of Coppic left in the express train
west tonight. The remains of Cook will leave
Tor the East In the three o'clock express train
OLD JOIN BRowN."-A paragraph from
the Danvllie (Va.) Register found its way into
the San the other day. in which it was asserted
that old John Brown visited that place some
time ago, under the assumed name of McLane,
and passed himself off there as Baptist preach.
er. A gentleman living near Ringgold states
TO the Register that McLane (aiias Brown n
dined at his house, &c. This veritable John
Brown called upon MS yesterday, with the.
paragraph from the Register, and assures ps
that he is the McLane, or rather the Lazarus n,
McLain, who was at Danville, and "passee
himself oft as preacher" and all that. He
tall In stature, venerable in his appearance, and
highly respectable, and is, of course, ANNOYED
by such unenviable notoriety as this If every
tall man with white beard and venerable as.
pect is to be gibbeted as John Brown" wherS
ever such man has appeared as a stranger to
nrsfx fhara D