The Elk advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Elk Co., Pa.) 186?-1868, 1867-03-07

sides Morgan, Captain Thomas II. Hine:
Ralph Sheldon, Sam Taylor. jacob Ben
nett. james Hockersinith and Gustavus
McGte. 1t is plain that, as each mau
was locked in separate cell, and could
not get out of it by the door, without au
interview with the night guard, it was
necessary to cut on opening into the air.
chamber. through the floor of each cell
from which each one of the seven would
escape. If these apertures were cut
from the top of the hmrs Of the cells,
the risk of. detection would he propor-
tionately increased so an accurate meas.
nrenent of the distance between the
cells were taken, aud with Hines cell
was point of departure, it was easy to
calculate where to commence cntting
from unlernep,h, in order that the fn,rs
of all these particular cells should be
perforated. A thin ernst. only Of the
cement was left, but to all outward ap-
pearance the f,or was as sound as ever.
4. BY means Of an arrangement which
had been perfected for obtaining all ab.
solutely necessary articles. each one OF
the party about TO escane had procured
a stout. sharp knife--verv effective wea
pons in case Of surprise and an attempt
to stop their escape. When everything
was ready. thsv waited several nights
for rain-trusting to elude'the vigilance
of tho guards mnre easilv in the ohscnri
ty tf such night and taking the
chance. also. that the dogs which were
turned loose every night in the yard.
would be driven by the rain into their
kennels, which we're situated m the 9th
er side of the yari from That where they
woHd emerge. Two or three dsys .e-
fnre the effrrt was made. General Nor
gan received letter from an Irishwo.
man in Kentucky, warning hi'I not to
attempt to make his escape, from which,
she predicted. great evils to him woui
result. She alluded to his Kindness to
the poor in Lexington. and claimed that
she was informed of the future in some
supernatural manner atss -.
On the Goth of November, General
Morgan learued that there had been a
change of military commards at COium
bus. Well knowing that this would be
followed by an inspection Of the prison
and discovery Of the plot. he deiermin'
ed that the effort should be made that
very night. ils own cell was in the
second range, from which it was impos.
sible, to reach the air chamber and tun
mel, but the cell Of his brother, Colonel
Richard Morgan, had been prepared for
him, and when Scott tapped, as usual,
on the stove, as signal for each man to
retire to his cell, the exchange was ef
,fected There was a sufficient resem
blance between them to deceive man
who would not look closely, especially
when they were seated with their faces
turned away from the door. .',~ e
AT any rate, Scott and the night
guard were both deceived, and efforts
were made BY the occupants of the cells
near to both OF those, where close in-
spcctipu would have teen dangerous, to
attract 10 the the attention OF the guard
when he went the rounds. As it was
especially necessary, on this occasion to
know certainly when the night guard
approached, small bits Of coal had been
sprinkled, just before the hour for lock.
ing up, on the floor of the first range; SC
that (tiead as lightly AS he would) the
Sinking eur could not hep making u
loud noise.
: 1t had been arranged that just after
the twelve o'clock visit from the guard
Captain Taylor should decend into the
air chamber and give the signal under.
meath the fnr of each cell. Fortunate
ly, the only mai who was vile enough
to have betrayed the plan, was absent
III the hospital. Six hours elapsed after
the locking in regularly the night
gu ird during that time went his rounds,
making an awful cracking as he passed
along the lower range. Sixty odd men
lay awake, silent aud excited-with
hearts beating louder aud blood rushing
faster through their veins that the ap
pruaeh Of battle had ever occasioued
Perhaps the coolest of all that number
were the seven who were about to incur
the ii k, .... ..
Twelve o'clock struck, and the clang
OF the bell seemed to be in the hall it,
selt-the guard passed with his lantern
"a few minutes elapsed. while the al
venturers lay sull lest he should slip
rack. and then at the signal they sprang
from their beds; hastily stuffed flannel
shirts with material prepared before
hauI. aud made up bundles to lie ia
their places and represent them. Then
stampiug upon the f1or above the ex-
cavatiuns the thin crust Of earth gave
way and they descended Ito the ali
chamber. They passed one by one along
'he tnnncl until the foremost mau
reached ;he terminus, and with his
knife cut away the sod, which had oI
course heen lett untouched. Then they
emerged Into TIE open air. tsl ~.
| . ss
/ Mr. hs