The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1864-01-21
THE ESCAPE OF JOHN MORGAN.
HOW HE BROKE PRISON AND REACH
ED THE REBEL LINES,

=, - M ~ -
John Morgan was honored with an
ovation on the7th, on his arrival at
the rebel capital. The following ac-
count Of his escape and subsequent ad-
ventures, is from the Richmond En-
quirer
Their bedsteads were small iron
stools, fastened to the wall with hin
ges. They could be hooked up, Or al
lowed to stand on the floor, and to pre-
vent any suspicion, for several days
before any work was attempted, they
made it a habit to let them down and
sit at their doors and read. Captain
Hines superintendent the work, while
Gen. Morgan kept watch to divert the
attention Of the sentinel, whose duty
it was to come round during the day
and observe ifanything was going on.
One day this fellow came while Ho-
kersmith was down under the floor
boring away, and missing him, said,
"Where is Hokersmith ?'' The General
replied, "He is in my room, sick, and
Immediately pulled document out Of
his pocket and said to him: EHere is a
memorial have drawn up to, forward
to the Government at Washington
what do you think Of t?' ST
The fellow, who perhaps could not
read, being highly hattercd at the
Generals condescension, very gravely
looked at it for several minutes before
hcvouchsafcd any reply. Then, hand
ing it back, be expressed himself high
ly pleased with It. In the meantime
Hokcrsmith had been signaled, and
came up, protesting to feel very un-
we'll This sentinel was the most DIFF
ficuIt and dangerous obstacle in their
progress, because there was no telling
at what time be would enter during
the day, and at night became regular
ly. every two hours to each cell and
inserted a light through the bars Of
their door, to see that they were quiet
ly sleeping, and frequently after he
had completed his rounds he would
slip back in the dark with a pair of
rubber shoes on, TO listen at their
cells if anything was going on. The
General says that he would almost in
variably know of his presence by a
certain magnetic shuddcr which it
would produce; but for fear that this
acute scnsibility might sometimes fail
him, he broke up small particles Of
;. coal every morning and sprinkled them
before the cell door, which would al
ways announce his coming.
Everything was now ready to begin
the work; SO about the latter part Of
October they began to bore. All were
busy-onc making Il rope ladder by
tearing and twisting up strips Of bed
tick, another making bowie-knives
and another twisting uptowcls. They
labored perseveringly for several days
and after boring through nine inches
Of cement and nine thicknesscs OF brick
placed edgewise, they began to won
5 der when they should reach the sof
$ earth, Suddenly Il brick tell through
, What could this mean? What infer
= nal chamber had they reached? 1t wa
= Immediately entered, and, to thei
= great astonishment and Joy, it PROVED
: to be an air chamber extending th'
whole length Of the row OF cells. Her
| was an unexpected intcrposition il
G their favor Hitherto they had bccl
f obliged to conceal their rubbish il
C their bcdticks, each day burning
!, proportionate quantity of straw: nov
9 they had room enough for all the
c could dig. They n once commence,
c to tunnel at right angles with this al
c chamber, to get through the tounda
d ton; and day after day they bored, da.
y aftor day the blocks of granite wer
), removed, and still the work bcior
G them seemed intcrminable.
T. After % days Of unremitting labor
= and getting through granite wall Q
q feet in thickness, they reached tn
$ soil. They tunnclod up for som
/, distance, and light began to shine
d How glorious was the light. 1t an
e n)unccd the fulfillmcnt Of their labor
c they would soon be free. This wa
c the morning Of the 10Th day Of Nc
1t vcmbor, 1863. The next night at |
l. o'clock, was determined ON as til
hour at which they would attcmI
their liberty. Each moment that il
tcrvcued was filled with dreadful anN
l. icty and suspense, and each time th
guard entered increased their apprC
hcnsions The general says he ha
prayed for rain, but the morning {
70 the 9th dawnod bright and beautiful
- The evening came, and clouds bcga
, to gather. How they prayed for thel
,, to increase. If rain should only bcgi
: their chances of detection would !
- = greatly lcssencd. While these though
y were passing through their minds, Il
keeper entered with letter for Gol
81 cral Morgan, lie opened it, and whi
" " was his surprise, and may say wol
", ", der, to find it from a poor Irish womc
i" of his acquaintance in Kentucky, cor
", moncing, "My dear Gnral, feel &C
~ ~ tain you are goingto try to get out
IL prison, but for your sake don't you Il
~ ~ it, my dear Genral. You will only
,n In taken prisoner agin, and made to ST
Of Of fer moro than you do now"
M The letter then went on to speak
lie his kindness to the poor when he liv'
TO ut Lexington, and concluded by aga
on cXhorting him TO trust in God Al
or wait his time, What could this mca
No human being on the outside h