Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-12-01


The State Journal Of yesterday gives the
following detailed Occount Of General Nor
gan's escape from the Psnitentisry:
aThere were seven prisoners including
John Morgsn who escaped. The following
are their names: General John H. Nor
gan, Captains J. G. Bennett, L. D. Hooker
smith, 7. H Hines, g. s. Msgee, Ralph
Sheldon and s. B. Taylor. All these pris-
oners, with the exception Of Morgan, had
their cells on the 6rstrange, or ground floor
Of the east wing of the prison, on the south
side. Morgan s cell was on the second
range, on the same side Of the wing. An
air chamber, built and arched with brick,
runs the whole length of the wing, directly
under the cells. This air-chambsr, or ven
Iilstor, as it is sometimes called, is seven
feet in width and four and half feet high,
and at the end, and fastened into the found
alton Of the main wall, strong bars of iron
were placed. We are informed that this
chamber was built for the purpose of keep
ing the cells dry. The air passed in at the
end where the iron bars were fastened,
and communicated from this chamber out
at The top of the building by means ofiues
built in the middle, or partition wall. The
| hoors Of the cells we're made, first by the
brick arching over the air-ohsmber, about
nine inches thick, then heavy layer Of
mortar made from sand and lime, and then
tbs last coating, or that which served as q
floor, was a cement about two and Q half
inches thick. Perhaps the whole thickness
is two feeA
"The first hole made through the floor to
the air-chsmber, was in cell number twen-
ty, occupied by Captain Hines. 1t was
made in the corner Of his cell, under the
bedstead, and we should judge was easily
done. After getting into the sir-chamber
below, he had plenty Of room to reconnoi-
ter and work. The balance Of the six
holes were made from below by removing
the bricks and mortar, leaving only the
thick crust of cement, which, when all
things are ready, could easily be broken
by the heel of q boot or shoe. After getting
into the chamber, the question was how
to get out into the outer world. They first
went to the end Of he chamber, and re-
moved the foundation stones about fur
feet in length but here they met with an
obstruction. There had been about twenty
thousand bushels of stone coal piled up
against the end Of the prison, through
which they were unable to make hole,
and their game was blocked. Nothing
daunted they went back about twenty-five
feet, and selecting a spot, they dug hole
from near the top Of the arch, south, and
came up, under the foundation Of the main
wall, opposite the female prison, inside Of
the prison yard, and then proceeded to the
southeast gate, and by means Of q rope
made out Of bed-tieking formed into long
links, scaled the walls and made their es-
cape"
To effect the release Of General Morgan,
his brother Dick, on the night Of the es-
cape, exchanged cells with him. Thus
John got away and Dick stayed behind.
Dick says he gave John the chance because
he (JOhn) "had young wife from whom
he had been absent for long time, and
that his brother could do more good to the
cause in Dixie than he could"
One of the fugitives left behind him
note addressed to "HOn. { !l) N. Merton"
(Mr. NJ. is Warden of the prison. "The
Faithful" The Vigilsnt.,' On the inside
was the following, written in q good
hand;
"CAsTLE MERIoN, CELL No. 20, I
November 9th, 1853
Observation-Disclosures 4th, 1858.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. 10th, 1868.
No. of hours for labor per days.
Tools-Two small knives.
La patience eat amer, Dais sou fruit es
dcux."
By order Of nv six honorable ccnfeder-
ates. I. HENRY HINES,
Captain G. s. A.
After saying, with good reason in our
opinion, that the affair indicates 8 shame |
full want Of vigilance on the part Of some
body, the Journal closes ss fnl,nUa
thousand dollars reward is offered |
for the apprehension of Morgan, and en-
ergeie means are in operation to ferret |
out the mystery which apnears to hang |
over their escape, and a few days only |
will elapse until the evidence will appear, |
if any, of the knowledge or collusion Of |
outsiders with the manner or means Of |
their escape. At two o'clock this morning, |
nothing lad been heard by the authorities |