The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-11-21

MIN OF the dangerous pOSitlou nc oSSu
pied, in view Of the excited state o
the community, and the probable con
yiction before the courts, if he were
permitted to be brought to trial, In
quired of his preparation to meet with
death, if it should come upon him sud
denly. His reply was that he was
fully and happily prepared. that Jesus
had been crucitied, though innocent.
He had long years ago made his peace
with God, and that God had spoken
peace to him; told him to 60 and sin nc
more. Since then he had tried to serve
the Lord; was a member of the colored
Methodist church at Charlestown. He
was happy in believing that the mercy
of God, through faith would save him.
They might kill his body, but that
his soul was safe; said We was innocent
of the crime charged against him was
resigned to his fate, and il God, in His
providence, permitted his death, he
could say, Thy will not mine, be
DONE" The minister, with few mon
itory words in reference to the terrible
nature OF protesting faith in God and in
nocence, and dying with this double sin,
if he were guilty, and urging steadfast
and unwavering faith in the blood OF
Christ, he were innocent, left him with
an earnest pressure Of the hand, and
commended him to seek earnestly for
Divine assistance to bear whatever fate
awaited him. Leaving Taylor, he
passed to the cell Of Davis, which was
adjoining, who readily responded, and
had, perhaps, been listening to the con.
versation with Taylor He appeared
dull, remorseful and stupid; had little
conception of his condition spiritually,
and evinced little concern about his iu-
ture interests; said he was never a mem.
Der of anv church, but hoped God
would save his soul; said he was inno-
cent Of the crime; was at home with
his wife, but only manifested physical
terror Of death, seeming to trembie and
shake. Solemn and afectionate monl-
tory words were addressed to him, and
he promised to pray earnestly to God
for help. The poor man reeled back
toward his couch, the picture of utter
and hopeless despair. johnson was
next visited, and after few words, in
which he confessed his completely in
the murder Of the Park family, excused
himself by narrating the means Of per-
suasion that had been used to overcome
his scruples, and described with minute
ness the terrible scene in Mr.. Parks
house, and how awful thing il was to
so drive an axe down into the head Of
sleeping beings He seemed more anx-
ous to leave the impression upon the
ministers mind the horror he felt at
the deed than to talk of his own spiritual
hopes or fears; said that he had been
praying, and would strive to be pre-
pared Tor death, and that he supposed
that it would come. The fitness OF the
minister's words seem now, in view Of
the terrible scene so soon to be enacted,
were strikingly significant and appro-
pirate
UNUSUAL QUIETNEss.
At9 o'clock the village was unusual
ly quiet. There were few men in the
bar rooms of the hotels, a few delaying
at the jail residence, which is a sort OF
accommodation house 10 board and
lodge witnesses at court and an occa-
sional horseman was heard riding
through the streets. One by one these
dropped off to their rooms, and at il
o clock all the lights were out, and quiet
ness reigned in the village.
PREPARATIONS FOR THE ATTACK.
About | o'clock yesterday morning
there approached the village, from the
Otisco road, a band OF masked men,
apparently under military discipline,
armed with guns and revolyers Ac-
counts as to the number vary, but the
most reliable estimate that could be
credited was that about twenty five or
thirty men composed the band. Those
in the JAIL and those made prisoners
who were lettering in the streets, est-
mated the crowd as high as fifty.
The scouts and advance guard were
mounted, but the body of the band was
on foot. Their masks consisted OF white
bleached cotton, but one Of these acci-
dentally falling off, revealed that the
men had blackened faces. Near the
north end, and not far from the entrance
into the town, is the blacksmith shop OF
Mr.. Bower, whose residence is close by.
Here they halted, and guard was de-
tailed 10 awaken the smith and procure
from his shop such tools as they might
want. They made him prisoner, and
demanded the KEY of his shop. II hap
pened to be in the pocket of his son,
who was out spending the night at an
other house. They dispensed quickly
with its use by smashing in window,
and took from the shop large sledge
hammers, cold chisels, and such other
tools as they might need.
TIE ATTACK on THE JAIL.
They then proceeded in quick pace TO
the Jail, gobbling up all persons they saw
upon the streets, and made them know
that silence was the wori. The front
door OF the jailors residence WAS not
locked, as per.ons had been coming and
going during the evening, it beng, as
above noted, kind OF clearinghouse.
They proceeded at once mp stairs, and
entered a room where number OF per.
sons were sleeping, among whom were
Mr.. Jones, bailitf Of the court, Field
ing Combs, Esq, Matthew Clegg, a
brother OF Sheriff Baxter, Mr. Reuben
Daily, of the Courisr-Jo,rnai, and 9th
ers. They approached the bed Of Mr..
Jones, presenting a pistol aud demand
ing to know where the jailor was. They
were shown TO a lower room, where
Mr.. VIM. Long, the jailor, had retired
with his family. Mr.. Long appeared,
and they demanded the keys Of the
Jail, saying that they had come for the
three negro prisoners. Mr.. Long told