Nebraska advertiser., 1859-12-22
The Finale Of the HaFper's Ferry
InSurreCtiOn.
Ch0rleStoWn, Dec II

InSurreCtiOn.
U0rlestown, Dec Is.
We have had an exciting time during
the past twenty-four hours which has
Just closed, with the execution of the four
prisoners. Throughout the day yesterday
there was a great influx of strangers and
citizens Of the country, who were flock.
ing in 10 witness the last act Of the Har.
per's Ferry tragedy.
AT a quarter past eight o'clock last
evening the whole town was thrown into
commotion by the report of a rife under
the jail wall, followed by several o! er
shots from the vicinity of the guard
house, in close proximity to the Jail. The
military was called to arms, and the ex-
element became intense, beyond any
thing that has yet occurred during our
ever memorable era of military occupa-
ton. The cause of the alarm was the
firing of the guards upon Cook and Cop
pie, who made a desperate attempt to es-
cape by digging through the walls Of the
jail.
The sentinel near the Jail reported that
he observed a man on the Jail wall, Bhom
he challenged, and receiving no answer,
fired at him. Tha head of another man
was also seen above the wall, but he re-
treated as soon as the first one had been
fired at. The man on the top of the wall
seemed at first determined to persist, and
was about making an attempt to Jump
down, when the sentinel declared his in
tention of impaling him on his bayonet,
when he rotreated into the jail yard with
COppicr and both gave themselves up
without any resistance.
They had succeeded, after two weeks
labor, whenever alone, and at night, and
when their bed-clothing mufled the
sound of a saw, which they made out of
an old Barlow-knife, in cutting through
their iron shackles, so that at any moment
they could have their work completed
They had also made a sort of chisel out
of an old bed-screw, with which they sue
ceeded in removing the plaster from the
wall, and then brick after brick, until a
space for them to pass through was open
ed, all except the removal of the outer
brick.
Their cell being on the first floor the
aperture was not mere than four feet above
the pavement Of the yard, and when freed
from their shackles, their access to the
yard was quite easy. Here, however,
was a smooth brick wall, about Is feet
high to scale. This difficulty was soon
overcome with the aid of the limbers of
the scafold on which Brown was hung,
and which vas intended for their execu-
ton on the succeeding day. They placed
these against the walls, and SON succeed
ed In reaching the top, from which they
could have easily dropped to the other
side, had not the vigilance of the senti-
nels OF duty so quickly checked their mo-
vements.
The general impression is that if the
prisoners had waited until midnight or
later they might have reached the noun
tains.
The negroes Shields Green and John
Copeland were executed at1l o'clock
The crowd in the town is very great, and
the execution was witnessed by 1900
people. The prisoners mounted the scat
fold with a firm step.
Green's neck was broken, and he died
without a Struggle. Copeland writhedi in
violent contortions for several minutes
The bodies of Green and Copeland, after
being cut down, were placed in poplar
cofins and carried back TO the Jail. They
will be inferred tomorrow on the spot
where the gallows stand.
At about quarter to twelve o'clock this
afternoon, notice was given to Cook and
Coppic that their time was approaching,
only one hour more being allowed them.
The military movement similar to those
at the first execution were repeated, and
a wagon with two more collins were
standing at the door of the Jail.
Since the attempt of Cook and Coppic
to escape last night. their assumed COM
posture and apparent resignation has gil
ven way, and they now looked at the re-
ality of their fate with the full conviction
of its awful certainty.
The wagon reached the scaffold at thir-
teen minutes before q o'clock, and the
prisoners assembled with a determined
frmness. A brief prayer was offered up
by one of the elergymen, the ropes were
adjusted, the caps pulled down over their
heads, and both were launched into eter-
nifty. After hanging about thirteen minutes
both bodies were taken down and placed
in black walnut collins prepared for them.
That of Cook was then placed in a poplar
box, labeled, and directed as follows:
A.. p Willard and Robert Crowley, 1O4
William street, New York, care Adams
Express.
The coffin Of Coppic was placed in a
similar box, to be forwarded to his moth
- -, To,ro