Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-01-20
JOHN H. MORGAN'S ESCAPE.
ELS own Account.
How He Got Out Of the Penitentiary- Crossed
the 0hio-Got Through. Our
Lines, ETC., Etc.
AN INTERESTING STORY.


Ohio Penitentiary, and subsequent adven-
lures, is published in the Richmond Enqui-
rer:
Their bedsteads were small iron stools,
fastened to the wall with hinges. They
could be hooked up or allowed to stand on
the floor, and to prevent any suspicion, for
several days before any work was attempt
ed, they made habit to let them down and
sit at their doors and read. Captain Hines
superintended the work, while General
Morgan kept watch to divert the sentinel
whose duty it was to come round during
the day and observe If any thing was going
on. One day this fellow came in while
Hockersmith was down under the floor bor-
ing away, and missing him, said, "Where
is Hockersmith?' The General replied,
"He is in my room, SICK" and Immediately
pulled document out of his pocket and
said to.him: "Here is memorial l have
drawn up to forward to the Government at
Washington; what do you think Of it?"
The fellow, who perhaps could not read,
being highly flattered at the Generals con-
descension, took it and very gravely looked
at it for several moments before he vouch-
safed any reply. Then handing it back, he
expressed himself highly pleased with it,
III Jilc llcunllllc IlOChcISllltH udu Deen
signaled and came up, protesting to feel
''very unwell." 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 he came regularly every two hours
to each cell and inserted light through the
bars of their door, to see that they were
quietly sleeping, and frequently after he
had completed his rounds he would slip
back in the dark, with pair of India-rub-
Der shoes on, to listen at their cells if any
thing was going on. The General says that
he would almost invariably know of his
presence by certain magnetic shudder
which it would produce; but for fear that
this acute sensibility might sometimes fail
he broke up small particles of coal every
morning and sprinkled them before the cell
door, which would always 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-one
making rope ladder by tearing and twist
ing up strips of bedticks, another making
bowie-knives, and another twisting up
towels. They labored perseveringly for
several days, and after boring through nine
inches of cement and nine thicknesses of
brick placed edgeways, they began to Won
der when they could could reach the soft
earth. Suddenly brick fell through.
What could this mean? What internal
chamber had they reached? 1t was imme-
diately entered, and to their great aston
ishment and joy, it proved to be an air.
chamber extending the whole length of the
cells. Here was an unexpected interposi-
tion in their favor. Hitherto they had been
obliged to conceal their rubbish in their
bedticks each day. burning proportionate
quantity of straw; they had room enough
for all they could dig. They at once COM
air-chamber, to get through the founda-
tion; and day after day they bored, day af-
ter day the blocks of granite were removed,
and the work before them seemed intermi-
nable.
After twenty-three days of unremitting
labor, and getting through granite wall
of six feet in thickness they reached the
soil. They tunneled up for some distance,
and light began to shine. How glorious
was that light. 1t announced the fulfill
ment of their labors, and if Providence
would only continue its favor, they would
soon be free. This was the morning of the
26th day of November, 1868. The next
night, at IL o'clock, was determined on as
the hour at which they would attempt their
liberty. Each moment that intervened was
filled with dreadful anxiety and suspense,
and each time the guard entered increased
their apprehensions. The General says he
had prayed for rain, but the morning of the
9th dawned bright and beautiful. The
evening came, and clouds began to gather.
How they prayed for them to increase! If
rain should only begin, their chances of de-
lection would be greatly lessened. While
these thoughts were passing through their
minds, the keeper entered with letter for
Gen. Morgan. He opened it, and what was
hissurprise, and | may say wonder, to find it
from poor Irish woman of his acquaint-
ance in Kentucky, commencing, ''My dear
Ginral, / feel certain you are going to try to
git out of prison, but for your sake don't
you try it, my dear Ginral. You will only
be taken prisoner agin, and made to suffer
more than you do nOw."
The letter then went on to speak of his
kindness to the poor when he lived at Lex
ington, and concluded by again eXhOrting
him to trust in God and wait his time. What
could this mean? No human being on the
outside had been informed of his intention
to escape, and yet, just as all things were
ready for him to make the attempt, here
comes letter from Winchester, Kentucky
advising him not to ''try it," This letter
had passed through the examining office Of
Gen. Mason, and then through the hands Of
| the lower officials. What If it should excite
their suspicion and cause them to exercise
an increased vigilance? The situation
however, was desperate Their fate coult
not be much worse, and they resolved to 60
| Nothing now remained to be done but TO
| the General and, Col Dick Morgan to chang