Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1863-12-03
Escape OF Seven Rebel Prisoners
from the ONO Penitentiary,
Gen. John II. Morgan at Large.
Six OF HIS CAPTAINS GO WITH HIM.

Six OF HIS CAPTAINS GO WITH HIM.
Coumbus was thrown into a state of
unusual excitement yesterday forenoon,
by the announcement that Genera! John
H. Morgan and six Of his Captains had
escaped from the Ohio Penitentiary,
where they were imprisoned. The names
of the prisoners who escaped with Gen.
Morgan are as follows Captain j. G.
Bennett, Capt. l.. ID. Hockersmith, Capt.
Henry II. Hines, Capt. G.. S. MaGee,
Capt. Ralph Sheldon, Capt. S. B. Tay-
lor.
We are indebted to the ErpresS of
Saturday evening, for most of the partic-
ulars we give below Our neighbours
statement contained several errors, how
ever, which we have taken the liberty to
correct
ut appears that Colonel Dick Morgan
and the six Captains, who were confined
in the lower range of cells, had, by means
Of two small knives, digged through the
floors of their cells, which is composed Of
cement and nine inch brick arch. I'm
meath the cells is an air chamber. extend
ing 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.
This was done. Then digging down in
the soft earth with the knives until the
bottom of the foundation of tho wall was
reached, then digging under and the thing
was completed In the meantime, a rope
had been manufactured of the bed tick
ing, and all arrangements were compile
ted for their final escape. How long
they had been making preparations, nc
one knows. except those from whom they
received essential aid.
Everything being in readiness by
Friday evening, only a little piece of stra-
tegy was needed for the escape of Gen,
eral NJ organ. The latter occupied cell
on the second range, Immediately ovel
the ono occupied by his brother Dick
In the evening, as the prisoners were be
ing locked up for the night, the Morgan'
were allowed to exchange cells with eacl
other. This gross breach of prison dis
cipliue yet remains unexplained. -
However, so it was. After Dick had pre-
pared everything, he permittee his broth
or to take his place. In the night at {
preconcerted hour, the prisoners crawle'
through the air chamber and out through
the aperture which they had digged unde
the wall. but had skiliully concealed
taking their rope with them. The.
immerged from the prison immediatel
between tho main building and tn
female Department. Once in the yard
and their escape was comparatively easy
They went to the southwest corner O
the outer wall, near the big gate, an,
. ahrew their rope over the top, where
secured itself on one of the spikes. o
|, this rope and by the aid of some timber
near at hand, they clambored to the to
, and easily descended on the outside -
8 There are no guards on the outer wall
A after certain hour.
"The prisoners were dressed in citl
. zens' suits and not in prison habilimenti
"How it was that they were permitte
. to work after night without detection,
+ very singular. There must have been
!. screw loose somewhere. Morgan left
' ote for the Warden" signed by Cap
!. Henry Il. Hines. who is stone maso
aud brick.layer, and who seems to hay
/. had charge OF she work to dig out. Al