The Ohio Democrat. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1840-1900, 1863-12-04
OF THE ESCAPE OF
JOHN MORGAN. .4

1ne CoIumOus correspondent OF the
Cincinnati Gazette gives the following
account of Morgan's escape:
Since their reception at the Peniten.
tiary, the Morgan prisoners have been
assigned to the south tier Of cells in the
new addition to the east wing Of the in
stitution. All but seven of these men
were accommodated with cellsin the up
per ranges; but these seven, who were
Colonel Richard Morgan, Captains j.
G. Bennett, S. Taylor. Ralph Sheldon,
T. H. Hines, l.. II. Hockersmith and
g S. Magee, were on the lower ground
range. Underneath these cells, with
about sixteen or eighteen inches OF brick,
mortar and cement Intervening, there is
on air chamber, some six feet in length
and four feet in width, extending the
entire length Of the range, for the pur.
! pose ct keeping lne cells In dry and
comfortable condition, Il is said that
one day, while in lively mood, Hines
was dancing about in his cell, and, from
the charaetef Of the sounds caused there.
by, he concluded that there was vacant
space underneath the floor. He after.
ward discovered the correctness of his
supposition by digging lhroughthe aoor
OF his cell. 1t seems more probable,
however, that the rebels became aware
of the existence of the air chamber H.
another manner, which is reported by
some of the attaches Of the Penitentisry.
This is stated to be, tina. upon complain.
ing that their cells were damp, for which
charge there was not the least foInda
tion, they were told by guard that it
was impossible for them to be in that
condition, as there was q large air cham.
Der underneath, which kept them dry
BE this as it may, an attempt to escape
was determined upon, and on the 4th of
November they commenced digging
throagh the floors of their cells, using
for that purpose two, perhaps more, Ia.
BILE knives After establishing commu
nication with the air chamber, they ex.
cavated with small coal shovel q tun.
mel from the east end of the chamber,
passing under the walls of the prison. to
the guard outside, to escape frouDwhich
there would be bat little difficulty. The
men were engaged but three hours in
each day for seventeen days in this work.
as will be seen by the following note,
which they left behind them:
CASTLE merton, CELL No. 90.
Commencement, Nor. 4th, 1863.
Conclusion, Nov. goth, 1853.
Number of hours Of labor per day, 3.
Tools, two table knives.
LA patience. est arriere, mais son
fruit est doux."
BY order of my six honorable confed-
crates, 7. H. HINES,
Cap. c. S. A.
The French quotation in the note,
When translated, reads: patience is
troublesome but its fruit is sweet"
Alter manufacturing ladder ont of
the bed ticking, which was torn up for
that purpose. all was in readiness for
The men to take their departure. /
1t was q part of their plan that Dick
Morgan should remain behind while
John made his escape. to accomplish
which was almost as difficult as what
they had already done. John occupied
a cell in the second range, and in order
to carry out the scheme it was necessary
for him to exchange quarters with his
brother Richard. This was not done
until yesterday afternoon, when there
was q convenient opportunity as the
priSoners were being locked in their
cells for the night. Instead OF going TO
his own cell Morgan slipped into his
brothers quarters unobserVed by the
guard, while Richard was equally sue,
cessful in taking the one on the second
range; and though the guard, while on
his usual rounds, stopped before the door
and inquired If General John Morgan
was there, to which Richard responded
by showing his foet, the trick was not
discovered until this morning after the
birds had flown. 1t is not known at
what hour in the night Morgan and his
six companions named above escaped,
sor have the authorities any clue as to
which direction they took after leaving
the prriissSn. This morning their bed.
tick ladder was found suspended from
the top Of the walls. which they reached
BY climbing up gateway close at hand.
More SPOiIs Given Up.