The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1864-01-26
ATHRILLING NARRATIvE.
John Mergan's own story or His
....,.o e Escape. .i1a.sfh
From the Richmond Enquirer.

ria 1a From the Richmond Enquirer
Their bedsteads, in the Ohio Penfentiary
were small iron stools, fastened TO the wal
with hinges. They could De hooked up or al
lowed TO stand,on ths floor, and, to prevent
any suspicion, for several days before any work
was attempted, they made il habit to le,
them down, and sit at their door and read
Capt. Hines superiotended tho work, while
Gen. Morgan kept watch to divert the atten.
ton Of the sentinel, whose duty il wa, TO come
round during tbo day and,oascive ifapyibing
Was going on. One day this follow came in
while Hckersmith wasdowa under the floor
boring away, and, missing him sail ':"wbere
is Hokersmilha" Z" The General replied, ale
is 10 my room. sick" and Immediately pulled
a document out Of his pocket and said 10 bin !:
;" Here is a memorial | have drawn up to for,
ward to the Government at WASHINGTON ds hat
do YOU think Of i,p b
The f'llow, who perhaps could not read f.
being highly fhttered'at, the Generals con-
deceosion, took it very gravely looked at il
for. several moments before he vouchsafed any
reply. Then, handing it back, he expressed
himself highly pl ,ased with it. In the mean
time Hokersmih had been sigpsled and came
up, protesting to feel every uuwell" This
sentinel WAS the most difficult and dangerous
obstacle in their progress, because there was
no telling at what time he would. enter during
the day, and at night ho camaregularly every
two hours to each cell and inserted o light
through the bars of their door, to see that they
were quietly sleeping, and frequently after hs
had completed bis round be would, sin back
in the dark with pair OF. indis-rahhar ahoes
on, to listen at their cells If anything was 90
on. The General says that he would almost
invariably know Of bis presence by a. certain
magnetic shudder which il would produce
but for fear that this acute seuseibili,y might
sometimes fail him. he broke up small parti-
cles Of coal everv morning. and .sprinkled them
before the cell door, WHICH would, always an
uounce his coming, ..,.f s..I .fI..u
Everything was now ready 10 begin the work
so about The Litter part Of o Jtober they began
TO bore. All wers bisy-one making rope
ladder BY tearing up and twisting up strips
Of bed-tick, another making bowie. knives, and
another twisting up towels. They labored
persev eIingly fos several days, and after Dor.
thickness Of brick placed edgewise, they began
TO wonder when they would reach the soft
earth. Suddenly, brick fell through. What
could this meant What infsrual chamber
had they reached Il was imms lately en-.
tered, and, to their great astouisbment and
! by, il proved 10 be an air.chamber extending
the whole length Of the row Of celia. Here
was an unexpected interposition in their favor.
Hitherto they had been obliged TO conceal
their rubbish in their bed ticks; each day
burning proportionate quantity fstraw now
they had room enough for all they could dig
They at once commenced to tunnel AT righ,
angles with this air chamber, TO get through
the foundation; and day after day they bored
day af.cr day the blocks Of granite were re-.
moved, and still the work before them SEEM
ed nterminable.
After 80 days of unremitting kbo., and
getting throug gh granits wall Of six feet ia
thickness. they reached the soil. They tuu.
neled up Cor some distance, and light began ,o
shine. How glorious was that light. II an.
nounced tho fulfllment of their labors, and il
Providence would only continue its favor, they
would soon be free. This was the morning o
higbt, al IL o'clock, vas determined on az
the hour at which they would attempt thei,
liberty. Each mou ent that intervened va,
filed with dreadful anxiety and suspense, and
each time the guard entered increased theil
apprehens'ons. be Genersl says he had
prayed for rain. bat the morning Of the 81 I'd
dawned bright and beautiful. The evening
came, and clouds began TO gather How they
prayed for. them to increase. II rain should on.
| ly begin, their chances Of detection would be
greatly lessened. " 4' etsA
Nothing now remained to be done but fo'
the General and Col Duck Morgan to change
cells. The hour approached for them to he
locked up. They charged eoa,s, and eacI
stood at the Others cell door with his back
exposed, aud pretended 70 be engaged il
making up their beds. As the turnkey en-.
tered they "turned i'm aud pulled their doors
shut. 49, "a aH
Six, eight, ten o'clock came. How each
pulse tbrobbed as they quietly awaited the
approach Of twelve! Ii cane-tbe septine
passed his rouui--aIl well. After waiting a
few moments to see If he intended TO slip bacl
the signal was given n--al quietly slipped down
into the air chamber, first stuffing tneir fan
mel shirts and placing them in bed as they
were accustomed TO lie. As they moved qri
city along through the dark recess to ths
terminus where they wero to emerge from
the earth, the General prepared TO light q
match. As the urid glare fell upon thou
countenances a scene gas presented which
can never be forgotten, Thsre were crouchcd
seven brave men, who had resolved 10 be free
They Uese armed with bowie. Knives made
out Of case knives. Life. in iheK condition
was scarcely to b, desired, and the momcn
for the desperate chance had arrived. Sup
pose, as they emerged from the ground, tha
the dog should give the alarm-,hey coulc
but die. Irn a-an .lr-lI --.r4