, 1859-12-17
JOHN BROWNS WAR.


CuAnLEs1owS, Vn., Dec. 1o.-The negroes,
Shields Green and John Copeland, bara just
paid the forfeit Of their lires.. The crowd in
The town is very great and the execution was
Witnessed by about ] 600 persona.
At nine o'clock this morning, the field uas
occupied By the troops, and at seren minutes Of
II O'Clock, the procession made its appearance.
1t arrived at II o'clock at the scadoid..
The prisoners were in wagon, accompanied
by the Sheriff and Tailor.
The prisoners had The caps placed over their
heads BY the Sheriff. and after appropriate
prayer BY Rev. Hr. North. Of the Presbyterian
Church, they were launched into eternity.
! Uetore the rope was cut, Green wAA heard to
offer up ferTent prayer. Copeland was not
heard to pray.
scaaold " the ministers, Messrs. Waugh, North
aud Lesk, expressing hope to meet them in
Heaven.
The drop fell at ii minutes after II O'Clock.
Green's neck was broken, and be died without
struggle. Copeland writhed in violent con.
tortions for several minutes-
The bodie. will be placed in the jail for inter.
ment tomorrow.
Ontbe receipt Of news Of the attempted escape
Of Cook and toppic, Gov Wise telegraphed TO
Gen. Taiiaferro to take possession OF the jail,
which was accordingly done.
CuARLEsros, Dec. 16.--We have had an ex-
citing time during the past twenty four hours
which has just closed with the execution Of the
four prisoners. Throughout the day yesterday
there was great influx Of strangers and clti-
witness thelast act Of the uarper's Ferry TRACE.
dy. The latter came thus early, npprehending
that they might be detained at the outposts, IS
was the case on the day of Browns execution
The vigilance exercised nt the Raifroad depot
On the arrival Of train was not SO stringent as
on the occasion Of the execution Of Brown, and
but little difficulty was experienced in getting in
town. Shortly after the arrival Of the train in
the afternoon, grand military dress parade Of
all the companies in attendance took place. The
troops went through their evolutions with great
skill, aud were reviewed BY Gen. Taliafero, who
was on The ground in full dress, and mounted
on aBpirited charger.
The prisoners were visited yesterday after.
noon by the Rev. Messrs. Nassau, Dutton aud
North, Of the Presbyterian Church, and Rev.
Beverly Waugh, Of the Methodist Episcopal
Church. The services in the cells were Of au in-
teresting and solemn character, and were par.
ticipated in By all the condemned, though it is
now evident, from subsequent events, that Cook
and Coppic ut least were playing possum, rs
life aud liberty, rather than dealh and eternity,
at the time they we're making outward protesta
tions Of resignation. They iii gsve an urqual-
fed assent to the conviction Of religions truth,
and hope Of salvation in the world to come.
Cook and Coppic we're the loudest in their pro-
fe:sions Of u change Of heart, aud in the hope
OF Divine forgiveness they freely admitted their
guilt, and acknowledged their doom as just, aud
Tint in the main they have been treated with the
utmost kindness By NIL. They thought that
some Of the witnesses were rather harsh in their
testimony.
The ministers imagiued that they had discor-
cred decidedly favorable chauge in the condi-
Atr3 - II, :.
sisters. Up to that time his calmness and bra
very we're regarded rs proceeding from q lack
Of feeling. But on lenving him yesterday nfter-
noon they reported that he had been led to seek
forgiveness IN his proiestations Of religious
conviction and hopes Of forgiveness, ali Of which
was undoubtedly intended to hoodwink their
project Of escape.
Cook has been visited throughout his imprison.
mentb By the Rev. N. Green North at the request
Of the prisoners, as also Of Cows. Wise and Will
lard
Rev. 3Ir. North WAS present at an Interview
between Coppic and Nj. But Tier, a quaker gen
t!emen from Ohio, who rnised the prisoner.
He describes the interview as an affecting one,
aud speaks highly Of s4r. Buffers Christian de-
pertinent md advice to the prisoners. Mr. But
ler says that Coppic was trnaty but rery viii
full boy. An uncle Of Coppic, Of The same name,
from Ohio, his fathers brother, also visited him
yesterday. Tho interview lasted for oFer one
hour Lie seemed in much distress ut the sad
fate which awais his relative. This was the
condition OF the town and the prisoners and the
military up to O'Clock last evening.
All apprehensloas Of an intended rescue had
long since been ba1ished, and nothing wns
thought Of but the approaching execution. So
firmly had this conviction settled in the
public mind, that military duty was voted bore
aud the Jsaa1e Of the tragedy was ut last ap.
preaching.
At quarter.past eight o'clock last evening,
the wllole town was thrown into commotion by
tue report Of rife under the jul wall, follow
ed By several ther shots from the vicinity of
the guard-house. in close proximity to the
Jail.
The military was called 10 arms, and the ex-
element was intense, beyond anything that has
yet occurred during our ever.memorabte era Of
military occupation In few minutes the
streets nnd avenues Of the town we're in posses.
sion Of armed forces, and it was with some
difficulty that the cause Of MI this turmoil could
be ascertained.
Rumors Of every description were aloat, and
itwas Mt one time thought that the prisoners had
overpowesed their guards aud made 1hcir es-
cape. md then TINT IN attack had been made on
the Jail By parties attempting to rescue the pris-
oners.
The bodies OF the negroes, after being cut
down, were placed in poplar collins and carried
back to the jail. They will be inferred to-
AViAOH VIA tAV 9fOk "A<AG TUG E@1lU"H SkAuQ@.
though there is party Of medical students
here from Winchester Who will doubtless not
allow them to remain there long.
EXECUTION OF COOK AND copp1c,
The bodies Of the two pcgro prisoners bar.
ing been brought back to the jail at about
quas ter past l2 this r. n, notice vas ciyen to
Cook and Coppic that their turn was approach
ing-only one hour more being allowed Them
The military movements similar to those at Tue
first execution we're repeated, and wagon with
two more collins was standing at the door Of the
jul at 1e} o'clock.
The same military escort was in readiness.
Meantime the closing religious ceremonies we're
progressing in the cell.
Since the future Of the. attempt Of Cook aud
Coppic to escape, their assumed composure and
apparent resignation Ind given way, mud they
full conviction Of its nwful certainty. Ther
were sad and rather quiet, but joined with fer
yer in the religious ceremonies.
When called upon by the Sheriff, they stood
calm and quietly whilst their arms were being
pinioncd, and, after bidding farewell to The
guards Of the jail, were helped into The ragon
snd took seats on the:r = collins: Their appear.
resignation, and they seemed to take but little
notice Of anything Us the procession morcd on
to the field Of death.
The wagon reashed the scafIo|d at l3 min.
utes before ! oclock, and the prisoners ascend
ed with determined firmness scarcely sur
passed By that Of Capt. Brown. 4 prayer was
offered up By one Of the clergymen. The ropes
we're adjusted, the caps drawn over their heads,
and both were launched into eternity in seren
minutes after they asceuded the gsllows. They
both exhibited the most untlinching tirmness,
saying nolbiug with the exception Of bidding
farewell the minister aud sheriff.
After tho rope was adjusted about Cooks
neck, he exclaimed, ''Be quick quick as pos
sble, )" which vas repeated BY Coppie. After
hanging about thirty minutes both both bodies
were taken down and placed in black walnut
cofins prepared for them. That Of Cook was
pluced in poplar boz, Iabelled mud directed as
follows: "AshbelP. Willard aud Robt. Grow.
ley, 104 William street, New York, care Adams
Express" The coffin Of Coppic WAS placed in
q similar box, to be forwarded to his mother in
Iowa.
Attempted Escape OF Copp1c and Cook.
.CHARtEsrowx. Dec. 15.-At half.past eight
o'clock this evening, two Of the condemned
prisoners, Cook and Coppic, escaped from the
jail aud were fred upon By the sentinel and
driven back TO prison. They are now in the
custody of Sheriff Campbell. The prisoners