The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1859-12-23
Attempted Escape of Cook and Cop
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ssS.Re~Na AaoSdpC Va SOoh uuo OOD-
pie.
Below we give an account of the at
tempted escape of Cook and Coppie, on
the night before their execution, as re-
ceived from Charlestown:
At quarter past eight o'clock last
evening the whole town was thrown into
commotion by the report of rife under
the wall of the Jail, followed by several
other shots from the vicinity of tho
guard house in close proximity to the Jail
, The military were called to arms, and
the excitement was intense beyond any.
Ithing that has yet occurred during oui
ever memorable era military occupation
In lew minutes the streets and avenues
OF the town were in possession of armed
men, and it was with some difficulty tina,
the cause Of all the turmoil could be as
certained. Rumors of every description
were aiioat, and twas at one time thought
that the prisoners had overpowered Their
guards and made their escape. and then
that an attack had been made on the iail
by parties attempting to rescue the pri
soners. 1t was dangerous for q citizen
to 60 out to ascertain the true cause oil
the excitement, and rumors of most
extensive character hoated in to be con.
tradicted 10y momentary new arrivals OIL
citizens driven in from the streets.
The sentinel stationed near the Jail re
ported that at quarter past eight o'clock
he observed man on the Jail wall. He
challenged him, and, receiving no answer
fired at him. Another head was also seen
above the wall, but he retreated as soon
as the first one had been fired at The
man on the top of the wall seemed at first
determined to jump down, but the senti
mel declared his intention of impalina
him on his bayonet, and he then retreat
ed into the Jail yard with Coppie, and
both gave themselves up without further
resistance.
Cook afterwards remarked that if he
could have got over and throttled the
guard he would have made his escape
The Shenandoah Mountains are within
ten minutes run of the jail wall, and had
he reached them, with his thorough
knowledge of the mountains, his arrest
would have been difficult, especially as
but few of the military could have fol
lowed him during the night.
They had succeeded after two weeks
labor, whenever alone, and at night
when the bed clothing muflied the sound
of the saw which they had made out Of
AN old Barlow knife, in cutting through
their iron shackles, so that they could
pry them off at any moment they should
have their other work completed. They
had also made sort of chisel out O.
an old bed screw, with which they sue
ceeded. as opportunity would offer, in
removing the plaster from the wall, and
then brick after brick, until space sufi
Gent for them to pass through was open
ed all to the removal of the outer brick
The part of the wall on which they oper
ated was in the rear Of the bed on which
they slept, aud the bed, being pushed
against the wall, completely hid theil
work from view. The bricks they took
out were concealed in the drum of Q
stove, and the dirt and plaster removed
i'll the course of their work were placed
between the bed-clothing. They acknowl
edged that they had been at work O
whole week in making the aperture in
the wall. Their cell being or the frst
floor, the aperture was not moro than five
feet above the pavement of the yard, and
when freed of their shacllles their acces,
to the yard was quite easy. Here, how
ever, there was a smooth brick wall about
fifteen feet high to scale. This difficulty
was, however, soon overcome with tn,
aid ofthe tmbers of the scatiold on which
Capt. Brown was hung, and which were
intended, also, for their own execution
They placed these against the wall, anc
soon succeeded in reaching the top. from
which they could have easily dropped t.
the outer side, had not the vigilance o
the sentinel on duty so quickly checked
their movements. They were arrested il
the Jail yard by Cen. Taliaicrro and the
officer of the day, who rushed to the jai
the moment the alarm was given.
Gen. Talaterro Immediately telegraph
ed to Gov. Wise, informing him OF The
frustrated attempt Of the prisoners. Hi
answer directed that the military shoulc
Immediately take possession of the in
terror Of the JAIL and guard the prisoner!
until they were executed.
FROZEN TO DEArH-The Fayetteville
Observer says:
We are informed that Mr. NJ. Looney
aged about 10 years, froze to death OF
Monday night of last week, in the neigh
borhood of Petersburg, near the Marshal
county line He was missing for two
days, we are told and when found, was
in the top of fallen tree, dead, with &
flask of whisky by his side.
Cincinnati, Dec. 10 Money is decidedly
more stringent. Hogs declined cents
Mess pork 1926 but 100 is asked
Flour DULL sales 700 bbls 5,3005 40
Surar firm, SlI00 Molossos At - Coflee