The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1874-08-21

COttpdiiloh polnttu WIN ul~ hhS'i
through the window next which he sat,
and said:
There, sir. Is our Penitentiary, and
Just now, you know, II Is the residence OF
the famous John Morgan
Indeed, it's there, is ity' responded
Morgan. "Well, let us drink 10 the
strength of its walls" and pulling from
his breast pocket q flask of old whisky,
the officer Joined in the toast.
The conductor collected his fare, and the
passengers nodded and slept, and among
the rest Gen. Morgan's Federal officer,
who, having taken several draughts from
Morgan's flask. and doubtless being Ia
tigued by his many labors of the day,
snored in the deepest sort of slumber.
Daylight and the train We're approach
ing Cincinnati together, when Morgan,
leaning over, whispered To his companion
that IL was about time to get of. Putting
his valise under his coat, he went quietly
10 the rear platform. In few minutes
afler his companion followed. Fortunate
ly, the brakeman was at the other end of
the car. Morgan directed his friend TO
throw his might and strength upon the
brakes when he (Morgan) should pull the
bell-rope that signals stop. This was
done. The shrill scream of the locomo-
tive was heard, followed by the rasping
noise of brakes along the train. Before il
came 10 full stop. but after ii had ceased
TO run SO as 10 be dangerous TO Jump off,
the two fugitiyes jumped from the plat
form and Immediately hid in the bush that
lined both sides of the road. They heard
the train come 10 full stop; they heard
the voices of the conductor and brakeman
crying 10 each other with much profanity
fhep the hell rann fla Locomotive ear.aT,-
ed, and the train moved on. They waited
until the last faint roar died in the distance.
and then emerged from their hiding places
to fall almost into the arms of five govern
ment soldiers travelling along the track.
"What the devil are you about here?"
cried one, facing Morgan and his compan-
ion.
Rather replied Morgan quietly, but
firmly, "what are you doing from camp at
this hour?"
The question was embarrassing, for the
men We're laden with an admirable as
sortment of dead poultry. and conspcu-
Gus among the lot an infant pig, lately
sacrificed.
"We're ont buyin' provisions for our
Colonel" was the prompt reply. with some
stress on the word that indicated the pur-
chase.
docs your Colonel send you out to
purchase poultry after night, and who is
he?"
" Yes, he does, cause, you see. we're
fightin' all day and his names Squibob-
Colonel Squibob, of the One Hundred
and Ninety-sixth Ohio Volunteers" was
the response, as the chicken thieves moved
on.
The two arrived in Cincinnati as the day
FOL 4 o fh hot
waken; cats steal home. and at intervals
milk carts and meat wagons can be heard
rafting over the rough streets. The |
few they met regarded them as early
travellers, seeking the depot. and unob-
they found themselves upon the |
banks of the Ohio. The ferryboats were
their daily rounds. but the two !
hesitated trusting themselves TO this sort |
of conveyance, for they saw "A squad OF
infantry under command of Sergeant
hurrying To one of the landings. They
did not know but what their escape had !
been discovered. and were well aware that
in an hour the guard would take their
rounds through the prison. and immedi- |
ately thereafter the telegraph wires would |
fairly hum with the startling news of John |
Morgan's escape. While they hesitated |
and thought. n small boat. rowed by a boy. !
shot i'm near the spot where they stood |
Morgan approached the lad and asked what |
he would charge to row them to the Ken !
tucky side of the river. The boy eyed the !
two inquiringly, as well as he could in the |
dim light Of the early morn. and then re- |
sponded that he thought fifty cents apiece !
would not be too much. This compensa-
ton was Immediately agreed to, and then |
the money-getting gamm said he must I
have it in advance. The shrewd boy sus-
pected the two men calling for row-boat |
when the ferry-boats Were plying between |
the shores, and the information that he 4
gathered cost subsequently some money |
and no little bloodshed. The only track |
he authc rites had of General Morgan, 1
after he L.. the Pcnitentiary until he struck /
the Ohio River. was from this observant |
little Yankee. and the proof of his shrewd- |
ness was in the fact that he collected his \
fare In advance.
The boat was small, and the two heavy \
men sunk il to the gunnels. but it carried |
Cesar and his fortunes-or. rather, should 1
say. carried Caesar TO his fate. Could the /
daring raider. who sat with arms folded in \
the stern OF that frail craft. have had the |
present darkness suddenly lifted and the |
future revealed. doubt ii he would have
cared whether the boat sunk or floated.
He would have seen that his brilliant ca
reer had already ended, and in the future
was only the applause given a popular
actor as he leaves the stage. while the ig-
noble death that began with treachery and
ended in few shots, and body thrown
lpon wagoner's horse, would made that
ound in the quiet waters Of the wintery
Ohio far more pleasant and dignifed.
While slowly breasting the swift current