Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1864-01-19

And four hundred and seyenty-six others, mer-
chants, m manufacturers and officials Of Ohio.
---S - S-
Arrival OF John MOrgan.--Narrativ
OF his Escape.
Gen. John Morgan was houored with an
ovation on the 7th, on his arrival at the
Rebel capital. The following highly inter-
estiug account of his escape from the Ohio
Penitentiury, and subsequent adventures,
is published in the Enquirer. 1t will repay
perusal:
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 it a habit to let them down
and sit at their doors and read. Captain
Hines superintended 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 if any
thing was going on. One day this fellow
came in while Hokersmith was down under
the floor boring away, and missing him,
said, "Where is HOkersmith2" The Gen
eral replied, "He is in my room SICK" and
Immediately pulled document out of his
pocket and said to him: ''Here is a memo.
rial have drawn up to forward to the Gov
ernment at Washington: what do you think
of it?'
The fellow, who perhaps could not read,
being highly flattered at the Generals con !.
descensiou, took it and very grsveIy looked
at it for several moments before he
vouchasfed any reply. Then, handing it
back, he expressed himself hi gbly pleased
with it. In the meantime Hokersmith had
been signaled and came up, protesting to
feel "very 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 ut night he came regularly every
| two hours to each cell and inserted a lighL
through the bars of the 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
rubber shoes on, to listen at their cells if
anything was going on. The General says
that he would almost invariably know of
his presence by certain magnetic shud-
der which it would producp; but for fear
that this acute sensibility might sometimes
fail him, he broke up small particles of
cual every morning aud sprinkled them be-
fore the cell door, which would always an :
nouuce 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 bedtick, another making
bowie knives, and another twisting uD
towels. They labored perseveringly for
several days, and after boring through nine
inches of cement aud nine thicknesses of
brick placed edgeWise, they began to won
der when they should reach the soft earth.
SuddnGly abrick fell through. What could
this mean2 What Internal chamber had
they reached2 1t was Immediately entered,
and, to their great astonishment and io7,
it proved to be an air.chamber extending
the whole length of the row of cells Here
was an unexpected inlerPosition in their
favor. Hitherto they had been obliged to
conceal th0ir rubbish in their bedticks,
each day burning propOrtianate quantity
of straw; now they had room enough for all
they could dig. They at once commenced
to tunnel at right. angles with this air
chamber, to get through the foundation;
and day after day they bored, day after day
the blocks of granite were removed, and
still the work before them seemed intermi-
nable.
After % days of unremitting labor, and
getting through granite wall of six feet
in thickness, they reached the soil. They
tuuneled up for some distance, and light
began to shine. How glorious was that
light. 1t announced the fulflment of their
labors, and if Providence would only con
tinue its favor, they would soon be free.
This was the morning of the 26th day oi
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 aud suspense, and
each time the guard entered increased
their appreheusious. The General saws
he had prayed for rain, but the morning of
the 9th daWAed bright and beautiful. The
evening came, and clouds began to gather
How they prayed for them to increase. II
rain should only begin, their chances Of
detection would be greatly lessened
While these thoughts were passing through
their minds. the keeper entered with q
letter for Gen. Morgan. He opened 1t, and
what was his surprise, and may say won,
der, to find it from poor Irish woman Of
his acquaintance in Kentucky, commencing
my dear Ginral, feel certain you are
trying to git out of prison, but for yout
sake don't you try it, my dear Ginrsl. 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
Lexington, and concluded by again ex
horting him to trust 10 God and wait his
time. What could this mean2 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 at.
tempt, here comes aletter from Wiucnes.
ter, Kyn advising him not to "try it"-
This letter had passed through the exam
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