Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1859-12-24


CnARLssrowN, Dec. l5.-Ats 81 o'clock this eve
ming two Of the condemned prisoners, Cook md
Coppic escaped from the Jail and were fred upon
BY tho sentinels and driven back TO prison. They
are now in the custody Of Sheriff Campbell. They
had mounted the Jail wall when discovered They
had sawed their manacles asunder with the blade
Of . Barlow knife, which they had concealed and
made into a fac saw. 1t is ascertained from
their confession that they have been engaged in
preparing for escape during the last ten days.
They made a hole in the wall near the window
which they concealed with paper hiding the bricks
they removed under the bed. On the alarm being
given they made no resistance, but surrendered.
This event has produced the utmost excitement,
and all are on the alert.
The sentinel stationed near the Jail, reported
that. at q quarter past 8 o'clock, he observed n
man on the Jail wall, whom be challenged, and re-
oeiving no answer, fred at him; the head of an.
other man was seen above the wall, but he retrea.
ted as coon as the first one had been fred at. The
man on the wall seemed at first. determined to per
sist. and was about making an attempt to JUMP
down. when the sentinel declared his intention Of
impaling him on his %bayonet; he then retreated in
to the Jail yard with Coppic. end both gave them
solves up without further resistance. Cook after
wards remarked, that if he could have got oveI
and throttled the guard. he would have made hi
escape. The Shenandoah mouutains are within
ten minutes run of the Jail wall, and had he reach
ed them, with his thorough knowledge of the
mountains, his arrest would have been difficult
especially as but few of the military could have
followrd him during the night. They had succee
lad n far tu,a uaaLs Ia hnr yvbana,a, aIo,a onJ =.
night, when their bed clothing mufHed the sounds
Of q saw. which they had made out Of an old Bar.
low knife, in cutting through their iron shackles
90 that they could put them cf at any moment
they should have their work completed.
They hsG also made a sort of a chisel out of an
old bed sctsy. with which they succeeded a. OPP
p~ortunity would offer in removing the plaster from
the wall. a.s shsp BRICK afser brick, until a space
efficient for them to pass through was opened
all except the removal of the outer brick. Th'
part of the wall on which they operated was in M
rear o. the beds on which they slept. and the be-
being pushed against the wall completely hid thei
work from view The bricks they took out wer
concealed in the drum of q stove and the dirt an,
plaster were placed between the bed clothing
They acknowledged they had been at work
whole week making the aperture. Their cell be
ing on the 6rst floor, their access to the yard Wa
quite easy : here. however, was q smooth bric'
wall, about Is feet high to scale, ghich difficult
was soon overcome with the all Of the timbers 0
the scafold on which Capt. Brown was hanged
and intended for their execution on the next day.
They placed these against the wall and socl
succeeded in reaching the top. from which the,
could have easily dropped to the other side ha,
not the vigiience of the sentinel on duty so quick
~ checked their movements. They were arrested
in the Jail yard by Gen. Talliaferro and an Office
Of the day. who rushed to the Jail at the momen
the alarm was given. Sheriff Campbell and Capt
Avis are of course, chagrined at this narrow es
cape OF their prisoners. especially as they had re
sisted all interference ct the military within tn,
interior of the Jail. The prisoners were shrewC
aud cunning fellows, and they were undoubtedly
without any ~accomrlices in their undertaking.
The friends who were still here, were also fear
fal that they might lie suspected of having
knowledge OF the attempt. The general impress
ion is that if the prisoners had waited until mid
night or later. they might have reached the noun
tsins, but it is presumed they were fearful OF he
ing watched during the night OF desired 10 bav,
a. much of darkness as possible to gain a good dis
sanes before daylight would allow Of genera
pursuit.