The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1864-02-27
From The Washin5t)n Star Feb 1871
The Escape fr0Na the Aibby-A,l
Intervening narrative.


A large number of the officers who escap-
ed from Libby Prison few days ago arrived
in this city last night, and are Stopping at the
National and Metropolitan Hotels, and from
them we gather very interesting statements
relative to their manner of escape.
Over two months ago. the officers confined
in Libby Prison conceived the idea of effect
ing their own exchange and after the mat
ter had been seriously discussed by some
seven or eli ht Of them, they undertook to
dig for distance toward sewer running
into the basin. This they proposed doing
by commencing at a point in the cellar,
near u chimney. This cellar was mne-
dlately under the hospital, and was the re-
ceptacle for refuse straw, thrown from the
beds when they were changed, and for other
refuse matter. Above the hospital was u
room for officers, and above that yet anoth.
er room. The chimney ran through all
these rooms, and the prisoners, who were
in the secret, improvised rope, and nigh,
after night let working parties down. who
successfully prosecuted their cxcayating op
crations.
The dirt was hid under the straw and 9th
er refuse matter III the cellar, and il WAS
trampled down SO lis not 10 present too
great a bulk. When the working party had
90. to % considerable distance underground,
j. was found difficult to haul the dirt back
by hand, and spittoon, which had been
furnished by the officers in one Of the
rooms, was made to serve the purpose of Il
cart. \ string was attached to it and it was
run in the tunnel, and rs soon as filled
drawn out, and the dirt deposited under
the straw. But, after hard work, and dig
ging with fnger-nails, knives, and chisels .
number of feet, the working party found
themselves stopped by piles driven Ill the
ground. These were at least Il foot in di-
ameter But they We're not discouraged. -
Penknives or any other articles that would
cut, were called for; and, after chipping,
chipping, chipping for Il long time, the piles
were severed, and the tunnelers commenced
again, aud in a few moments reached the
sewer.
But, here an unexpected obstacle met
their further progressr The stencil from the
sewers and the flow Of filthy water was So
great that one Of the party tainted and was
dragged out more dead than alive, and the
project in that direction had to be abandon.
ed. The failure was communicated to a few
others beside those who had first thought OF
escape, and then party Of II, after viewing
Il 4 |
to tunnel under Carey street. On the OPP,
posite side of this street from the prison was
sort of carriagehouse or clubhouse, and the
project was to dig under the street and
emerge from under or near the house. -
There was a high fence around it, and the
guard was outside of this fence. The pris,
oners then commenced to dig at the other
side of the chimney; and after Il few hands
flu! of dirt had been removed, they found
themselves stopped by tone-waI, which
proved atterward to be three feet thick
The party were by no means daIMted
and with penkniyes and pocket knives they
commenced operations upon the stone and
mortar.
After nineteen days and nights hard work
they again struck the earth beyond the wal
and pushed their work forward Here, too
(ater they had got some distance under
ground,) the friendly spittoon was brought
Into requisitou, and the dirt was hauled Out
in small quantities. After digging, for some
days, the question arose whether they had
not reached the point aimed at, and in order
TO if possible test the matter, Capt. Gala
CHER of the I'd Ohio Regiment pretended
that he had u box in the carriage. house owes
the way and desired to search it out Thi,
carriage house it is proper to state, was used
as a receptacle for boxes and goods sent tc
prisoners from the North and the, recipi
ents were often allowed to go,uDder guard
across the street to secure their property.
Capt. Gallagher was granted permission tc
60 there, aud as he walked across uadei