The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1864-02-05
ESCAPE OF, JOHN MORGAN
A Thrilling Narrative /!
HIS ARRIVAL IN RICHMOND.

Ohio peni1entiarv, and subsequent adven.
lures, is published ia the Enquirer. I,
will repay perusa'
Their bedsteads were small iron stools
fastened to the wall with hinges. They
cond be hooked up or allowed to stand
on the floor, and to prevent any suspicion
for several days before any work was at
tempted. they made it habit to let them
down and sit at their doors and read -
Capt Hines superin'ended the work. while
Gen. Morgan kept watch to divert the at,
tention of the sentinel, whose duty il was
if anything was going on. One day this
fellow came in while Hokersmi.h was
down under the floor boring away, aud
missing him, said, Where il Hoker>
smith = The General replied, lie is in
nv room, sick" and Immediately pulled a
document out Of bis pocket and said to
him: Here is a memorial have drawn
up to forward to the Government at Wash
inoton: what do you think Of it 2"
The fellow. who perhaps could not read
being highly fattered at the Generals con
dpscension. took it and very ora7ely look
vouchs,fed any reply. Then. handing il
back he expressed himself highly pleased
with it. In the meantime Hokersmith
had been signa!ed and came up, profess
nr 10 feel .'vprv unwell This sentinel
was the most difficrIt and dangerous OBJ
cra,lo IN fb.,ir EaponCa thara :
no telling at what time he would enter
during the day, and at night be came reg
ulariv every two hours to each cell and in
serted light through the bars Of their
door, to see that they were quietly sleep.
ing, and frequently after he had con- pleted
with a pair Of inda-rubber shoes on. to lis
ten AT their cells if anything was going on.
The General saws that he would almost in
variablv know Of bis presence hy certain
magnetic shudder Hhich it would pro-
duce but for fear that this acute sensibil-
ity might sometimes fail him. he broke up
small particles of coal everv morning and
sprinkIed them before The cell door which
would always announce his coming.
Everv,hing was now ready to begin the
work so about the latter part of October
they began to bore. All were busy-one
making a rope ladder BY tearing aud twist
inc up strips Of bed tick, another making
bowie knives. and another twisting up
towels They labored perseverinelv for
several DAYS, and after boring through nine
inches Of cement and nine thcknesses of
brick placed edgewise, they began to won
der when thee should reach the soft earth
Suddenly brick fell through What
could this mean? What Internal chamber
had they reached ? 1t was Immediately
entered. and, TO their great astoni~hmeut
and ioy, it proved to be an air chamber,
extending the whole length of The row OF
cells Here was an unexpected interposi
ton in their favor. Hitherto they bad
been obliged to conceal their rubbish in
their bed ticks, each day burning pros
portionate quantity of straw; now they
had room enough for all they could dig
Thew At once commenced 10 tunnel at ight
angles with this air chamber, to get thro'
the foundation: and day at er day they
bored day after day the blocks Of granite
were removed and still the work before
them seemed inrermlnable.
hfrcr % DAYS Of unremirting labor. and
getting through a granite wall Of tx feet
in thickness they reached the soil They
tunneled mp for some distance, and light
began TO shine. How glorious was that
light It announced the fu'flIment of
their Iabors, and if Providence would only
continue lis favor thew wonId soon be free.
This was he morning of the 10Th day OF
November, 1863. The next night. at II
o'clock. WAS determined As the hour at
which they would attempt their liberty
Each moment that interviewed was filed
with dreadful anxiety and suspense, and
each time the guard entered increased
Cheir apprehensions. The General saws
he had PRAYED for rain. but the morning
Of the 9th daHned bright and beautiful
The evening came, and clouds began to
gather. How they PRAYED for them to in
crease. If rain should only begin, the
chance of detection would be greatly less
ened While these thoughts were pass
ing through their minds. the keeper enter
ed with letter COR General Morgan He
opened il, and what was his surprise, and
NAV say wonder, to find 1t from poor
Irish woman Of his Acquaintance in Ken,
tuckv, commencing NV dear Ginral,
feel certain Won are going tp try 20 git out
OF prison, but for your sake don't try it,
my dear Gjnra! You will only be taken
prisoner agn. and made suffer more than
vnu 10 now
The letter then went on 10 speak Of hi-
iur'on and concluded By again exhorline
hin 10 trust in God and wait his time -
What could this mean No human be
inc on the outside had been informed o
his intention 10 escape, and yet, Just As a!
things were ready toF hun to make the at
tempt, here comes letter from Winches
ter. Ky. advising him not to "try II -
This letter had passed through the exam.
ming office of Gen Mason and then thro
the hands Of the lower officials. What Il
!, should excite their suspicion. and cause
them 10 exercise an increased vigilance
The situation. however, was desperate
Their fate could not be much worse, and
they resolved to 90 Nothing now remain
ell but for the General and Col Dick Nor
gan to change cells The hour approach
ed for hem to be locked up. They
changed coats. and each stood at the 9th
er's cell door with hjs back ex posed. and
pretended TO lie engaged in making m