The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1864-01-27
ss@-.s~.-.~~1~. ~ ,.s.- 80.
PARTICULARS of the Escape Of Nor
E1n.


an interesting account Of the daring escape
nf this celebrated partisan lsaier from the
Ohio Peni,enlia-y. generally considered ore
cf the s,ungest priSjns ia the country, with
lis subsequent adventures. Describing their
celia. the Enquirer says
Their bedsieads were small iron s'onls, las
tened to the wall with u ngcs. They could
he hooked up Cr allowed 10 stand on the
n'rr, aud TO prevent suspicion. FOR several
DAYS before any work was attempted they
made it habit TO let them down and sit at
their doors and read. Capt Hines superin>
tended The work while Gen. Morgan kept
watch to divert the attention Of the sentinel
whose duty il was 10 come round during the
day ard observe il anything was going on.
One dsv this fellow came in while Hooker
smith was down under the floor boring away
and missing him, said, where is Hoker
smith," The General replied, lie is in my
room SICK" and immediately pulled docu
ment cut Of his pockct ard said to him.
"lIere Is a memorial have drawn mp to Tor
ward to the Government at Washington /;
what do you think OF it."
Tho fellow, who perhaps could not read,
heing highly fa,tered at the Generals cons
dcsccnsion, tor k it and very grsvely looked
Mt it FOR several moments before be vouch.
saed any reply. Then. handing il back, he
expressed himself highly pleased with it
In the meant me uokersmith had been sig
ualsd and came up, protesting to feel "verT
unwell.' This sentinel was the most diff
ralt ard dangerous obstacle in their progress
because there was no telling at what time
he would enter during the day, and at nigh,
he came regularly every two hours to each
cell ahd inserted light through the bars OF
heir door, to see that they were quietly
sleeping and frequently after lie he'd compile.
ted his rounds he would slip back in the
dark with pair of india rubber shoes on, to
listen at tEeir cells II anything was going on.
Ths General says that he would almost in
varisbly know Of his presence BY 0 certain
magnetic shudder which it would produce;
hut for fear that this acute sensibilitv might
sometimes fail him. he broke up small parts
eles of con every morning and sprinkled
them before the cell door, which would al.
~avs announce his coming.
Everything was now ready TO begin work;
so about the latter part Of October they be-
gan to bore. All were busy one making
rope ladder by tesring and twisting up strips
otb, d tick, another making bowie knives,
b,red perseveringlv for several day, and afs
ter laboring through nine inches OF cement
and nire thicknesses Of brick placed edgewise
they began TO wonder when they should
reach the soft earth. Suddenly brick fell
through. W at could this mean? What
inlclual chamber had they reached? II was
Immediately entered, and, TO their great as
touishmcnt and joy, it proved to be an air
chamber extending the whole length OF the
row OF cells. Here was an unexpected in
terposiion in their favor. Hitherto they
bid been obliged to conceal their rubbish in
their bedticks, each day burning proper
tionate OF straw, now they had room Enough
for all they could dig. They at once COM
menced to tunnel at right angles with this
air chamber, to get through the fouudation
and day after day they bored, day after day
the blocks Of granite were removed and
still the work before them seemed interim.
nable.
After 2l days Of unremitting labor, and
getting through granite wall Of six feet in
thickness, they reached the soil They tuna
neled up for some distance and light began
10 shine. How glorious was that light. 1t
announced the fulfllment Of their labors,
and il Providence would only continue its 70.
Vor, they would soon be free. This wa the
r,orning Of the 26th day OF Of November,
1853. Tbs next night at IL o'clock was
determined 90 as the hour at which they
would attempt their liberty Each moment
that intervened was filled with suspense, and
each time the guard entered increased their
apprehensiohs. The General says be had
prayed for rain, but the morning of the 9Th
dawned bright and beautiful. The evening
came and clouds began to gather. How
they prayed for them to Increase. II rair
should only begin, their chances Of detectlor
would be greatly lessened. While thess
thoughts were passing through their minds
the keeper entered with letter for Genera
Morgan. He opened it, and what was hi
surprise, and may say wonder, to find i
from poor Irish woman 0 bis acquaintanc
in Kentucky, commencing, "My dear Giner
al, feel certain you are going to try to gi
out Of prison, but for your sake don't yo,
try it, my dear Ginerai You will only b
taken prisoner agin, and made to suffer NOR
than you do now" ...
The letter then went on to speak Of hi
kindness to the poor whe" he lived at Lex
inston, and concluded by exhorting him 4
trust in God and wait his time. What coz
this mean? No human being on the outsid
bad been informed Of his intention TO escape
rnd yet Just as all things were ready 10
lin to make the attempt, here comes let
ter from Winchester, Ky, advising him no
to "uy it," This letter had passed ihroug
the examining office Of Gen. Mason. an
hen through the hands Of the lower officials
What ifit should excite their suspicion an
cause them TO exercise an increased vigilance
The situation however was desperate. Thei
fate could not be much worse, and they re
solved to 60. Nothing now remained to b
done but for the General ard Col. Di k Mo
gan to change cells. The hour approached
lor them TO be locked up. They changet
coats, and each stood at he others cell doc
with his back expo. ed, and pretended to b
engaged III making up their beds. AS th
turnkey entered they turned in and pule'
their doors shut. ,a ~ e.
Six, eight, ten O'Clock came. How eacl
pulse throbbed as they quietly awaited th
approach OF twelve II came-the sentIne
passed his roupd-all welh After waiting
few moments 10 see il intended to slip back
the signal was giyen--all quietly slipped
down into the air chamber, first stufiin
their flannel shirts ard placing them in bet
as they were accustomed to lie. AS the,
were accustomed to lie. AS they movet
quietly along through the dark recess to th
terminus whore they were to emerge from
the earth, the General prepared to light
match. AS the lurid glare fell upon tbs i
countsnances, scene was presented which
can never be forgotten. There were crouch
ed seven brave men who had resolved TO be
free. They were armed with bows>knive
made out Of case knives. Lie, in their con
dtion was scarcely to be desired, and th
moment for the desperate attempt had arri
we'd. Supposs as they emerged from th