Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1863-12-12
From the Ohio State Journal.
The Escape Of John inorganic
Esow it was Effected.-Care-
Eessness OF sEae sEaFds.

lowing are their names General John
Ii. Morgan, Captains j. G. Bennett, L.
u. H0ckerSmith, T. II. Hines, G. ;.
Magee, Ralph Sheldon and S. D. Taylor.
All these prisoners, with the exception
of Morgan, had their cells on the first
range, or ground floor of the cast wing
of The prison, on the south side. Nor
cans Gel! was on the second rarge, on
the same side of the wing. AN mir
chamber, built and arched with brick,
runs The whole length Of the wing ..di-
rec:ly under tie cells. This air-ehamber
or ven,i.ator, As It IS sometimes called,
is seven feet in width and Iour and n half
feet high, and st the end ard fastened
into the foundation of the main wall,
strong bars of iron were placed. We
are Informed that this chamber was built
for the purpose of keeping the cells dry.
The air passed in at the end where the
jSor bars were fastened, and communion
ted from this chamber on: at the top Of
the building Nv means OF tlues built in
the middle, or partition wall. The floors
of tie cells were made first 10y the brick,
nrchin- over the air chamber, about nine
inches thick. then heavy layer Of NOR
tar from sand AM lime. and the last
coating, or that which served rs floor,
was q cement about two and a half in
ches thick. Perhaps the whole thick
ness is two feet.
The first hole made through the floor
10 the a:s.chamber, was in cell No. 20,
occupied by Capt. Hines. 1t Was made
in tho corner OF bis cell, under the bed
stead, aud We should Judge was easily
done. After getting into tho chamber
below, lie had PLENTY of room to recon
noi,re AMI work. The balance Of tho
six holes were made from bclow by re-
moyino, tie bricks aud mortar, leaving
oniy the thin crust OF cement, which,
when ali things were ready, could easily
lie broken hy tho heel of boot or shoe.
After getting into the chamber, the ques-
ton was Low TO get out into the outer
void They first went 10 the end Of
the chamber, and removed the fOunda-
ton stones about four feet n length, but
here IEcy met with IN oJstruction.-
There had been about 10000 bushels OF
stone coal piled up against the end OF the
prison. through which they were unable
TO make hole. and iieir game was
blocked, Nothing danated, they went
lack abou: twenty-five feet, and selecting
a spot, they dug ho'e from near the
ton OF the arch, south, ard came up, un
der tie foundation Of the main wall,
opposite Lie female prison, inside Of the
prison yard, and then proceeded to tAe
southeast gate, and by means of rope
ma,.e out of bed ticking, formed into
long links, sealed the wall and made
their escape.
From the purport of Capt. Hines let
ter 10 the warden. found in the air-cham-
her after their escape, it is eyidenl that
their reason FOL delaying the time for
their escape seven days, was TO wait I'M
Ii! a dark night, or that the arrange
ment between Dick Morgan and John in
regard 70 the exchange of cells, could
not be affected with safety until Friday
night. TIE letter referred to had the
following superscr;ptior: Hon. {! }
n. Maron," '.The Faithful" The Vigi-
liant"
There was q want OF vigilance on the
part Of the guards OF Friday night, in
permitting the Morgans to exchange cells
or in not detecting the deception when
they locked The cells. Another, and per-
lars the greatest, want of watch?I.llness.
was in not examining the Is. We learn
that tie warden and directors of the
peni,entiary claim lhat they delivered
over to the military Authorities the sole
control of Morgan and ais men on the
81 day os November, AMI that up to
that lime lie caused their cells 10 be
sweni on: every morning AL examined.
On the o.ber hand it is contcnded that
tic military wers only requested by the
warden auI directors to receive the funds
of The. prisoners and disburse them.
ut meal time, and attend 10 their nedical
treatment, and that in all other respects
they remained there as they had rrevi
ously. The following is copy of the
request alluded to, which IS dated Nov.
81, 1868.
''Thc directors and warden have re-
que ted Gen. Mason to receive the funds
belonging TO prisoners Of war here. and
through the agency Of Tie United States
officers Of his appointment to dis5uTse
them at neal time. and 10 attend their
medical treatment, subject rs far rs pos
sible 10 the rules of this prison"
During tie time that Gen. Mason re-
manned here "a commander OF the forces
OF The United States, subsequent to the
arranc ement with the warden and direc
tors, Lieut.. Juakins. Of the Generals
staff, was acting IS inspector. Ills du-
Is as we understand, was to inspect the
letters written hy the prisoners, and de-
eide what was necessary for them to pur-
chase. and ia this we think he was
somewhat careless, for be permitted them
to perchaso saws. vices. etc, for the pur-
pose IS they represented to make rings,
'.to while away the tedious prison
hours"
When General Mason was ordered
to California. Col. Wallace being the
ranking officer assumed the COM
mand (much against bis own WHY until