, 1864-03-01


A little paet the middle of December the project
was debated among the prisoners who were known
to be discreet and reliable, Of attempting m ee-
cape. They were ipdaccd to consider the practica-
bility Of the undertaking, from the success which
had attended John Notgou's adventure il the same
dire:t;on. They had no desire to be o7t-donc By
the tedoubtable chlcftaln, and did not feel easy
without an attempt to square accounts. Eight
officers were let into the eecret ut 1iret and COM
mepced an excavation On the side Of the basement
Of the middle apartment fronting Carey street,
which was occupied as a dining room and
kitchen. Underneath tho entire building Is tho
basement or cellar, kept constantly locked, and
darRered by distractions placed against the
wintoue. This basement vas nearly one quarter
filled with hospital bedding, loose straw aad
boxes. The leading epltit OF thesc eight officers
vss CAPTAIN J, N, Jotusop, Of the Sixth Kentucky
cavalry, who Is one Of the escaped. The cxcaya-
lion was continued carefully until the sewer was
encountered, but the e1uyia arising from the oaal
and street deposits, became 60 offensive that they
were lorced TO abandon the undertaking In that
direction.
The plan, however, was not abandoned. Upon
the prctext Of going 10 look In IN empty Ehed
which stood on the opposite side Of Carey street,
to search for boz Of clothing, which be said had
been sent from friends Mt the North an Officer was
allowed to Cross the street, accompanied By a
guard, and examine the prerniees He took the
precautlon to pace the street ns be crossed, and
estimated the distance to DO about fifty feet.
The next plan was to excavate under the street
below the eewer. They began their operations by
removing the stones Of the fireplace, and then
digging down oblIquely towards the street. In
the daytime while they were under tho Surveillance
OF the guard, the stones were replaced. but In the
night time, the work was vigorously prosecuted.
The prisoners we're entirely without TOOLS and ex-
cavated with their hands and an old hinge which
was found In tho basement. To remove the loos-
eued earth, they used m old sugar scoop stolen
nom the hospital quarters. In their progress It
became neeeeeary to dig through solid wall Of
stone masonry i've feet thick, tho foundation Of
the building. After intnite labor this Was accom-
p1isted.
The tunnel was 20 small that but one nan could
work at time, aud the vitality Of the atmosphere
was 60 soon exhausted that he could not remain
more than fifteen minutes before his candle became
cxtineuIshcd, and he was compelled to be drawn
mt. md hys prace eupptied with ftester man,
They ueed the wooden Epittoons furnished them
to draw out The accumulated dirt and secretcd i,
amone the loose straw and boxes In the cellar,
7sx thfs time others were let into the plot thoee
who were mt 1caky. for among the officers there
were men who would not hesitate to inform the
snthor,tfes n fhcv had'onnortnnity. CENT. 9ohn.
zon vas atiI, forcmost IN The pro,ect. On several
oesa.'ons It had teen obsoryed that this johnson
wns ahse,t from ro11.can and NOW and then tvo
or three others. cIrf1,mstance not yerr crafty.
fno ~ tbo c,er,r having tbe mi IN c.11 who. o3
eonrse, wonsd hare It to 70 orcr aeain. 4 s1,ori
tine sfter he wonld annear and make his presence
| known. and xop,d rive as IN excuse that it was
only itttle fup-A INST de7i1inr. tho c1esk." Or
one occnston when tJ,,a t,,nc had occnrreii once
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