The weekly Anglo-African. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1859-1861, 1859-12-24


gdelphia, as our readers were informed INF
Jour correspondence of the 10th inst
EXECUTION OF COOK AND coPPIc.
At about quarter to twelve o'clock no.
sstiee was given to Cook and Coppic that
their time was approaching, only one hour
more being allowed them. The military
movements, similar to those at the first ex-
secution, were repeated, and the wagon, !
wi h two more collins, was standing at thel
I door at;half- past twelve o'clock The same;
military escort was in readiness while the
closing religious ceremonies were progress
sing in the cell Since the failure of their
attempt to escape, their assumed compos-
sure and apparent resignation had givenl
way, and they now looked at their fate
with the full conviction of its awful GER
tainty. They were reserved and rather
quiet, but fervently joined in the religious
ceremonies conducted by Messrs. North,
Leah, and Waugh.
The prisoners conversed on variety of
subjects in the morning. Cook said to al
gentleman who addressed him that he full
sly believed slavery was a sin, and that he|
! believed it would be abolished in Virginia.
lin less than ten years, and that by the|
people of Virginia. He was prepared to|
Idle in such cause, and thought he had
] done nothing to regret SO far as principle|
wss concerned. Coppic said that he fearedI
] the affair was not ended yet; that they had
5friends North who would not rest satisfied |
he feared, till they had been avenged He
hoped, however, that the affair would endI
here forever.
Previous to their departure for the seat
fold, the prisoners were engaged in the en-
trance washing their feet and putting onI
their under-clothing, Captain Avis said
that if they had anything to say they might
] Say it then, in the presence of fifteen or
twenty persons. Cook replied that he wasl
grateful indeed for the kindness shown him!
sby Sheriff Campbell, the jailor, and the
guards; to the Rev. Messrs Waugh, North
sLittell, Leach, and the other ministers whoI
had manifested such interest in his we'll i
flare, and Messrs. Joseph Blessing and JohnI
IT. Cooke, as we'll as the citizens general
4 y, for their kindness to him he was very
grateful. AT this point Coppic looked up,|
J land said, 'Them's my sentiments too, gen.
! tlemen.' Cook then gave directions in re-
sgard to one or two articles-one, breast
apin, he did not want taken off then or att
the scaffold. He wished it given to his
Swife, or to his boy, if he lived WithinI
&his shirt bosom, on the left side, was da>
6guerreotype and lock of his sons hair J,
I (which he wished given to his wife. Both
requested that their arms should not bel
pinioned tight enough to stop the circula-
/ tior, of tho blood, which waa complied with
"A blue cloth talma was thrown over Cop
Npic, and dark one over Cook. During
these proceedings Coppic was struggling
Ito keep down his emotions, and Cook was
Striving to be calm. The Quaker gentle
I men then remarked that ''It was hard to
Ndie," to which Coppic responded: ut is
1.-THE parting from friends, not the dread of
death, that moves u.s." On the way down.
stairs, they were allowed to advance to the
sacell of Stevens and Hazlitt, and bid them
Sfarewell. They shook hands cordially,
land Cook said to Stevens, MY friend,
good bye" Stevens replied, Good bye
@cheer up; give my love to my friends in
:the other world" Coppic also made re-
q mark to Stevens, which was unheard by
the crowd; but Stevens replied, "Never
3smind." Both then shook hands with Haz-
$litt, and babe him Good bye" but did not
&call him by name On emerging from the
j jail, Cook recognized several gentlemen,
land bowed politely.
q When called upon by the Sheriff, they
stood calm and quietly whilst their arms
3 were being pinioned, and after bidding
y farewell to the guards at the jail, were
y helped into the wagon, and took seats on
& their collins. Their appearance was rath-
5 er of hopeless despair than of resignation,
9 and they seemed to take but little notice
j of anything, as the procession slowly NOV
II ed on to the field of death. On approach
d ing the scafold, Cook shook hands with a
q large number of persons, and bowed po-
#litely to Mayor Green.
q After the caps had been placed on their
heads, Coppic turned towards Cook and
B stretched forth his hand as far as possible.
8 At the same time Cook said, "Stop min
8 ute-where is Edwards hand 7" They
8 then shook hands cordially, and Cook said
God bless you" The calm and collected
8 manner of both was very marked.