The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1864-01-27
John Fl. Morgan's Escape.
His Own, Account.
How He Got Out Of the Penitentiary
Crossed the Ohie-Got Through
Our Lines, Htc., 4so.
AN INTERESTING STORY.


| ly interesting account of his rsesrs from
the Ohio Penitsntiary. and subsequent
adventures, is pablished ia the Kichnsnd
Enquirer
Their bedsteads ware small iron stoois
fastened to the wA.ls with k.ugs.. They
could be hooked on or allowed 10 stand
on the floor, and TO prevent any su.pi-
con, for several days before any work
was attempted, they made habit to let
Ihem down and SIT at their doors and
read. Captain Hines superintended the
work, while Morgan kept watch to divert
tue sentinel, whose duty it was to como
round during the day and observe if any
thing was going on. Que day this fellow
came in while Hockersmith was down
der tile 20 n boring away, and missing
him, said, where is Hockersmith ?" The
General replied, lie is i'll my room, sick
and Immediately pulled document cut
| of his pocket and said to him Here
| 10 memorial | have drawn up to for
ward to the Government at Washington;
what do you think Of it p
The fellow, who perhaps could not read,
being highly fattered at the Generals 3
condecension, took it and very gravely
looked at il for several moments before he
vouchsafed any reply. Then handing it
back, he expressed himself highly pleas
| ed with it. In the meantime Hooker
smith had been signalled and came up;
protesting to foel very unwell' This
sentinel was the most difficult and dan
Serous obstacle in their progress because
there vas no ;ellingat whattlne he would
enter during the day, and at night he
c-mo Regularly every two hours to each
cell aud inserted light through the bars
of their door, to soc that they had been
quietly sleeping, and frequently after he
had completed his rounds. he would slip
back in the dark, with pair of India
Rubber shoes on, to listen at their cells II
any thing was geing on. The General
SAYS that he would slmo-t invariably
know Vt his. presence By certain mag
I nctic ebudder which il would produce;
/ on, Tor fear that this acute senaibility
might sometime. fail he broke up small
! PARTICLE. Of coal every morning and
/ sninkiod them before the coll door, which
! would always announce his coming.
+! Every thin: was row ready To begin tho
work; 80 about the latter part OF October
s,hey began to bore. All was busy-ons
making rope ladder by tearing and
twisting up strips of bedticks, another
making bowie kniyes, and another Twist
ing up towels They labored persever-
iii gIy Tor several days, and after boring
through niue inches of cement and nln'
brick placed edgeways, they began tc
wonder when they could reach the sof
I earth Suddenly brick fell throngh
What could this mean ? What Intsr
nal chamber had they reacaed2 II wa
Immediately entered, and TO their grea
as,onishment and JOY, it proved TO be al
air chsu,ber extending the Whole lsngti
:! Of the cells. Here was an unexpected
i intornostion in their favor. Hitherto
they had been obliged TO conceal thei
rubbish in their. .bedticks, each dsy burn
ing a proprotionarc quantity OF straw
/ they hal room enouui G FOR sll they cot Il
die. They at once commenced so tunne
at right angles with this air chamber, I
get through the foundation; and day alto
e gay they lored, day after day the block
I tof granite were removed, aud the wer
before the.. seemed interminabls
After twcnfy-fhree days of unrcmittin
Tabor, and getting through grAaits wa
of SIX feet in thick ness, :hey reached ii
: soil. They tuunelled up ior fomo dis
@ ,ance, and light began to shine. Ho
!, ! glorious was that light. 1t announce
The iulEIment Of their labors, and if Prov
ldence would only continue its favor, the
would soon be free This was the morI
= ing Of the Goth day of November, 1885,
tThc next night, at II o'clock, was deter
minsd on as the hour at which they woul
h attempt their liberty. Each moment tha
: ,in,srvened VAS filled with dreadful ankle
# ty aud suspense, and each time the guar
: entered inct cteased their approhensions'-
: The General says be had prayed for rail-
+ but the merning of the 9th dawue
& bright and beautiful. The evening cam'
d and clouds began to gather. How the
I prayed for them to increased If raj
: should only begin, their chances of dc
G lection would be greatly lesssned. Will
], these thoughts were passing tfroug
their minds, the keeper entered with
t letter for General Morgan. He opene
: III, and what was his surprise and ma
4 say wonder, to knd it from poor Iris
woman of his acquaintance in Kentucky J
: recommending, My dear Ginral, | feel Ger
II tai. you arc going to try to git out G
al prison, but for your sake don't you try il
: . my dear Ginral You will only be take
!. !prisoner asin, and made 10 suffer msr
: than you do now
VI The letter then went on to speak q
his kindness to the poor whsL lie lived =
: Lexington, and concluded by again e1
: Ihcrting him 10 trust in God and wait hi
|. thine. What could this nean2 No hu
man being on the outside bad been IN
formed Of his intention TO escape, and ye
Just as all things were ready for him
tnaks the sttespt here comes . let.s
!, from Wiaekester, Kcntacky, advising BIZ
a not to ''try it." This isttsr had passs
Through tho examining once OF Ger
Mason, and then through ths hands 9
1.-The lower officials. Wat IL II shssl
excite their saspioicn and cause them
=, exercise an increased vigilance! Th
i.itu,tioa, however, vas desperate. The
fate could net be much worse, ard she
tr.solved to 60. Nothing now RENAME
TO ne done but for the General and Go