Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1859-12-23
avn and both were launched into ete1

/ IN seven minutes after they assembled the
gallows. They both exhibited the most un-
fiinching 6rmness, saying nothing except
bidding farewell to the ministers and sheriff.
After the rope was adjusted. Cook exclaim-
ed-"B quick-as quick as possible, 2
which was also repeated by Coppie.
| After hanging about thirty minutes both
bodies were cut down and placed in the black
walnut collins prepared for them. That Of
Cook was placed in a poplar box, labelled
and directed as follows: ''Ashbell P. Will
lard and Robert Crowley. l04 William ST.. /,
New York, care Adams Express" Cop
pies body was placed in similar box, to be
| forwarded to his mother, in Iowa.
! Cook would have spoken from the scaffold
! if permitted. On their way to the scafold
the only remarks made by Cook and Coppie
were in relation to the attempt to escape .-
They made an apology for any reflection
! that might attach to them through their con-
duct
One ofthe ministers who attended on the
prisoners informs me that neither Cook nor
Coppie ever made any direct profession Of
religion. Coppie was Quaker decent, and
Cook was Congregationallist in sentiment.
Both, however, seemed hopeful. and the
ministers exhortation on the scaffold was to
put their trust in the redecming blood Of
Christ. The prayer Of the Rev. Mr.. North
was appropriate, and was the only service
on the scatold.
The bodies Of Cook and Coppie were ia
ken to Harper's Ferry in train which was
waiting at the depot. The bodies Of the me-
groes have been given to the surgeons and
medical students
LETTER OF EXPLANATION.
I. The following letter was handed to me
this evening tits written in beautiful
style of penmanship, and is curiosity COM
ing from man who was in few hours to
suffer death.
CHATLEsToWN, Dec 16, 1859.
Having been called upon to lake fair
statement in regard to the ways aud means
Of our breaking jail, have agreed to do 50
from a sense Of our duty TO the Sheaiff of
the county, and jailor and Jail guard. We
do not wish that any one should be unjustly
censured on our account.
The principal implements with which we
opened passage through the wall Of the
Jail were Barlow knife and screw which
we took out Of the bedstead. The kuite was
borrowed from one Of the Jail guards to Gu
lemon with, We did not return it to him.
He had no idea Of any intention on our part
to break out; neither did the sheriff jaiior
nor any Of the guard have any knowledge Of
our plans.
We received no aid from any person or
persons whatever. We had, as we supposed
removed all all the brick except the last tier
several days ago, but Oh the evening pre-
yious to our breaking out, We found our
| mistake in regard to that matter. We had
intended to 60 out Oh the evening that my
aister and brother-in-l were here, but
knew that it would reflect on them, and we
postponed it but I urged Coppic to go,and
! would remain, but he refused. We then
concluded to wait.
got knife blade from Shields Green,
and with that made some teeth III the Bar
low knife, with which we sawed of our
shacklcs. We had them all off the night
previous to our getting out Coppie went
out first and / followed We then got up
on the wall, when I was discovered and
shot at. The gnard outside the wall mme-
alately came up to the wall.
We saw there was no chance to escape,
and as it was discovered that we had broke
Jail, We walked in deliberately and gave our
selves up to the sheriff, Capt. Avis, and the
! Jail guard. There was no person or percons
who aided US in our escape This is true,
50 help us God. (Sgned)
john u. Cook,
EDWIN CoPPIE.
There will be about 400 troops kept here
for several weeks.