The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-12-23
Execution Of the CharlestOwn Pris-
Oners

Execution Of the Charlestown Pris-
Oners
CHARLEsTowN, Dec. 16.-The negroes,
Shields, Green and Copeland, have just paid
the forfeit of their lives. The crowd in the
town is very great, and the execution was
witnessed by l,6OO persons. At 9 o'clock
this morning, the field was occupied by the
troops, and seven minutes before IL o'clock
the procession made its appearance, and ar
rived at the scaffold at IL o'clock. The
prisoners were in wagon accompanied by
the Sheriff and Tailor. They mounted the
scaffold with firm step. The prisoners
had the cap pulled over their heads by the
Sheriff and after an appropriate prayer by
the Rev. MIR. North, of the Presbyterian
Church, they were launched into eternity.
Before the rope was cut, Green was heard
to offer up fervent prayer. Copeland was
not heard to pray. Green's neck was bro
ken and he died without a struggle. Cope
land writhed in violent contortions for sew
eral minutes. The prisoners, while on the
scaffold, babe farewell to the MINISTERS,
Messrs Waugh, North, and Lerk, expressing
hope to meet them in Heaven. The drop
fell at eleven minutes past IL o'clock. The
bodies will be placed in the Jail for interment
tomorrow.
BALTIMORE, Dec, 16.-The american has
received special dispatch stating that
Cook and Coppie attempted an escape by
cutting hole through the wall OF the Jail.
They were fired on by the SentiDels. The
prisoners were heavily irOned,
On the receipt of the news of the attempt.
ed escape of Cook and Coppie, Gov. Wise
telegraphed to General Talleger inc to take
possession of the Jail, which was according
ly done.
CHARLEsrowN, Dec. l6,-Cook and Cop
pie were hung fifteen minutes before l o.
clock. The usual ceremonies were per-
formed.
CHARLEsrowN, Va, Dec. 16.-We have
had an exciting time during the past twenty
four hours, which has just closed with the
execution. Throughout the day yesterday
there was a great influx Of strangers and
citizens of the country who were focking in
to witness the last act of Harper's Ferry
tragedy. The latter came thus early, ap.
pretending that they might be detained at
the Outposts, as was the case on the day of
Browns execution. The vigilance exer-
cised at the railroad depot on the arrival of
the train was not so stringent as on the oc-
casion of the execution Of Brown, and but
little difficulty was experienced in getting
in town. Shortly after the arrival OF the
train in the forenoon, grand military dress
parade Of all the companies in attendance
took place. The troops went through their
evolutions with great skill, and were re.
viewed by Gen. TaliaferO, who was on the
ground and mounted.
The prisoners were visited yesterday by
the Rev. Messrs. Nassau, DuttOn and North,
of the Presbyterian Church, and Rev. Bev-
erly Waugh, OF the Methodist Episcopal.
The services in the cells were of an inter-
esting and solemn character, and were par
ticipated in by the condemned, though it is
now evident from subsequent events that
Cook and Coppic, at least, were playing
possum, as their minds must have been fixed
on hopes of life and liberty rather than of
death and eternity, at the time they were
making outward protestations of resignation.
They all gave an unqualified assent to the
conviction of religious truth, and each ex-
pressed hope of salvation in the world to
came. Cook and Coppic were the loudest
in their professions of a change of heart,
and in the hope of divine forgiveness They
freely admitted their guilt, and acknowl'
edged their doom as just one, and that in
the main they had been treated with the
utmost kindness by ALL They thought that
some of the witnesses were rather harsh in
their testimony.
The ministers imagined that they had
discovered decidedly favorable change in
the condition of Cooks mind, since his in
terview with his sisters. Up to that time
his calmness and bravery were regarded as
proceeding from lack of feeling but on
leaving him yesterday afternoon, they re-
ported that he had been led to seek forgive
ness, from his protestations Of religious con-
viction and hopes of forgiveness were enter
tained-all of which was undoubtedly
intended to hoodwink their project of
escape.
Cook has been visited throughout his
imprisonment by the Rev. n. Green North,
at the request of the prisoner, as also of
Governors Wise and Willard.
Rev. Mr.. North was present at an inter-
view between Coppic and Mr. Butler,
Quaker gentleman. from Ohio, who raised the
prisoner. He describes the interview as an
affecting one, md speaks highly of Mr..
Buffers Christian department and advice to
the prisoners.
Mr.. Butler says that Coppic was trustJ
but very wilful boy.
An uncle Of Copies, of the same name,
from Ohio-his fathers brother-visited
him yesterday. The interview lasted for
over an hour. He seemed in much distress
at the sad fate which awaits his relative.
All apprehensions of an intended rescue
had long since been banished, and nothing
was thought of but the approaching execu-
ton.
So firmly had this conviction settled in
the public mind, that military duty was
voted bore, and the finale of the tragedy
was at last approached.
At a quarter past eight last evening, the
whole town was thrown into cOmmotion by
the report of rife under the Jail wall, fol-
lowed by several other shots from the vicin-