Year: 1859




The supper table OF the sarer House was crowded for
the Afh sixth time, and all moving calmly and
quietly mp TO eight o'clock when alarm given and
the whole town thrown into state Of oommoton by
attempt Of Cook and Coppie 70 escape.


THE ATTEMPrED ESCAPE OF COOK AND coPPIE.


At quarter past eight O'Clock last evening the whole
town thrown into commouon by the report OF rife
under the wan of the jail, followed by several
other shots from the vicinity Of the guard house
In close proximity 70 the Jail. The military were
called 70 arms and the excitement was intense beyond
anything that has yet ocsurred during
bic era Of military occupation. In few minutes the
streets and avenues Of the town In possession Of
armed men. and with difficulty that the
Of all the turmoil could be ascertaned. Rumors Of every
description aioat and II at one time thought
that the prisoners had overpowered their guards and
made their escape, and then that attack had been
made the Jail by parties attempting 10 the pri
soners was dangerous for citizen 60 out asoer
tain the true Of the excitement, and Of
most extensive character oated In 70 be oontadcted by
momenary arrivals Of citizens driven in from the
streets


The sentinel stationed near the jail reported that at
quarter past eight o'clock he observed the jail
wall He challenged him, and, receiving NO answer,


fred 1t him. Another head also seen above the wall
but he rereated the rst had been fred a
The man the top OF the wall at first deter
mined to jump down. but the sentinel declared his inen
ton Of impaling him his bayonet, and he then
treated into the jail yard with COppie, and both gave
themselves up without further resistance.


Cook Afterwards remarked that II he could have rot
over and throttled tho guard he would have made his
escape. The Shenandoah Mountains are within ten mi
nutAs of had hA
his thorough knowledge Of the mountains, his arrest
would have been difficult, especially but few Of the
military could have followed him during the night.


They had succeeded after two weeks labor whenever
alone, and at night, when the bed clothing muHed the
sound Of the saw which they had made out Of an
old Barlow knife, in cutting through their iron
shackles, so that they could pry them Off at any
moment they should have their other work completed
They had also made sort Of chisel Of an old bed
screw with which they succeeded opportunity would
offer, In removing the plaster from the wall, and then
brick after brick until space sufficient for them TO pass
through opened all to the removal Of the outer brick
The part Of tho wall which they operated in the
rear Of the bed on which they slept and the bed being
pushed against the WALL completely hid their work from
view. The bricks they took cut concealed in the
drum Of stove, and the dirt and plaster removed In the
Of their work placed between the bed clothing
They acknowledged that they had been at work whole
week in making the aperture in the wall Their cell being
on the first oor the aperture not than i've feet
above the pavement OF the yard and when freed of their
shackes their access TO the yard quite easy Here
however, there smooth brick wall about fifteen feet
high TO scale. This difficulty was however, soon
with the aid Of the tmbers Of the scao which
Capt Brown was hung and which intended, also,
for their execution. They placed these against the
wall and soon succeeded In reaching the top from which
they could have easily dropped TO the outer sde had not
the vigilance Of the sentil duty quickly checked
their movements They arrested in the jail yard by
Gen. Isaierro and the ocer Of the day. who rushed 10
the jail the moment the alarm was given.


General Talaferro Immediately telegraphed TO Gov.
Wise, informing him Of the frustrated attempt Of the
prisoners. His directed that the military should


Immediately take possession Of the interior Of the JAIL
and guard the prisoners until they were executed


Sheriff Campbell and Captain Avis are of coursS
much chagrined at this attempt Of the prisoners,
especially they had resisted all interference Of tho MI
Hary with the interior discipline OF the jaiI. me
prisoners were shrewd and cunning Fellows and were
unucuUveuy wnncut any uCccmpnCes m their Under
takiugs. Their friends, who stN here also
fearful that they might be suspected Of knowledge Of their
attempt


Various suamises ndulged in to-day in regard TO
the attempted escape Of Cook and Coppie. It said
that Cook refused TO tell how he came by the
knife, and also that he had the oountersign
whereby he would have been enabled 10 pass
the sentnels. This however, needs confirmation and is
hardly reliable. Much indignation was expressed by
Of the headsong in reference to the officials Of the
JAIL but large majority Of citizens express confidence
in them and purn the idea that they brbed by the
friends Of Cook.


The hole made IN the wall was large one, and the
on the second story. Cook after his capture
said to gentleman that they had done the best they
could that life sweet tlthem to any else
and that they had planned for ten days. They had
set down Tuesday night for the attempt but de-


rred account Of not wishing TO compromise Governor
Willard, who was in town that night


The general impression is that they had waited till
midnight later they might have reached the noun
tain. But II s presumed they were fearful Of being
watched during the night or desired TO have much
possible Of the darkness 10 gain good distance before
daylight would allow general pursuit.