Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-12-01
The Escape OF John Morgan from TN c
Ohio Penffeuttary.

Ohio Penifentiary.
The Columbus correspondent Of the Cincinnati
Enquirer furnishes the foilowing particulars in
reference to the Escape of JOSH MoReAS and bis
SIX comrades from the Ohio penitentiary:
General John II Morgan aud six of his Off
GERS escaped from the Ohio peniteniiary last
night.
The names Of the prisoners who escaped With
Morgan are a. follows:
Captain J. c. Bennett. Captain B. Taylsr,
Captain Ralph Sheldon. Captain II. Hines,
CAPTAIN L D Hockersmith and Captain G. S
Ma,er.
Col. Dick Morgan and The six CaptSins, who
were confined in the lower range OF cells. had.
by means of two small knives. dug through the
floor of their cells which is composed OF cement
and nine inches of brickwork Underneath the
cells is an airchamber extending the whole length
of the building OF this fact the prisoners seem
to have been aware Once in the air chamber,
one of them could crawl TO its terminus ami dig
down into the soft earth with the knives until the
bottom of the foundation of the wall was reached,
then digging out, and the thing was completed.
Meanwhile ropes had been manufactured of the
bed ticking. and all arrangements were complet-
ed for their final escape. Everything being in
readiness by last evening, only little strategy
was necessary for the escape Of Geperal Morgan.
he Occupet a cell on tue secOno range. JUST
over the one occupied by his brOthrr Dick
| Last evening as the prisoners were being lock
ed up for the night. the Morgans were allowed to
exchange cells with each other After Dick had
seen everything prepared. he permitted his broth
er John TO take his place.
! Some time during the night the prisoners
era wled through the hole they had dug under the
wall, but had skllfully concealed, taking their
ropes with them. They escaped from the prison
! Immediately between the main building and the
! female department
/ Once in the yard their escape was compare
/ lively easy They went to the southwest corner
their rope over the top. where it secured itself on
one OF the spikes. On the rope and by the aid OF
some timbers near at hand, they clambered to the
top and easily descended on the outside. There
are guards upon the outer walls, after a certain
hour.
The prisoners were dressed i'm citizen clothes
aud not in prison habiiiments
Capt. Hines. who is and brickayer
seems to have had charge of the work which re-
suited in the escape of the prisoners. note
was left for the warden of the prison, of which
the following is copy:
Castle Merton Cell No 30. November q
I 1863 Commencement November 4, 1868 Con
clu-ion, November 30 1863 Number of hour,
for labor per dlv. g. tools, 2, and small knives
La patience est amor, mais son fruit est dOur
/ BE- order of my six honorable Confeierates
T. HESRY HINES, Captain S A.
! understand that measures have been taken tC
recapture the prisoners, which it is said they vii
find difficult to elude. have not been able e
learn what they One thousand dollars is of
fered for Morgan, dead or alive
Which way he has gone one knows. Sew
eral persons think he has gone northward, while
others have an idea that he had made for The
lakes, and will strive 10 cross to Canada
All the dwellings and cellars of this city ar,
being thoroughly searched for the prisoners
There is much excitement here, owing to Nor
gam escape.