Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1874-08-13

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gan ordered the man to desist, fearing
he might be discovered. The fellow
gave over with much reluctance, for
the receipt signed by Morgan for
each article delivered brought him a
hundred dollar greenbsck, and he
was rapidly and easily accommodating
a fortune.
The heavy wall was pierced at last
and quite an excavation made IN the
earth of the courtyard, when the
conspirators turned their attention to
constructing openings into the thir-
teen other cells. As the escape was
to be made in the night time each cell,
of course, had to be tapped. After
careful measurement and calculation,
the precise places were designated,
and working from below, the arch was
broken and the earth removed, all
but the stone pavement-that was
left so that few blows would open
the way at the moment when escape
was determined on.
In the meantime other necessary
preparations were being made. A
rope was constructed of the sheets of
their beds torn into strips and twist
ed together. At seven every night
the prisoners were locked in their
cells, and, as an hour after, there
was an inspection, which consisted of
a lantern being thrust through the
door, so that the officer in command
could see that his prisoner was in bed,
it was necessary to get substitutes.
To this end paddles were construct
ed out of their erclothes stuffed
with the filling of the mattresses.
After this Morgan's men slept with
their heads covered, so that their in
animate substitutes might not be dis
covered. For q while the officer
would call the prisoner, but found it
so difficult to awaken him that this
was abandoned, the puzzled guard
saying that Kentucky "rebs" slept
like 'niggers," with their heads COW
cred, and "sound as white-Oak wood"
All was ready for the desperate at
tempt, and the leader was waiting for
a stormy night, when one day he re-
ceived through their trusted messen-
ger bit of paper. On the paper was
written, "Warden Of the prison
changed tomorrow. John Morgan
was not slow to learn the meaning of
this. A new cOmmandant meant
new broom, new regulations, an in
spection and perhaps discovery.
Morgan did not know that this
change was the result of an anony
nous letter received by Secretary
Stanton, written and mailed in Co
lumbus, that limited darkly at re-
volt in the States prison and the de
struction of the States capital. But
he did know that the attempt was to
be made that night or abandoned.
During the winter almost q per-
petual twilight reigns within the
gloomy walls of the State prison at
Columbus. Some times this deepens
into night, and then the unhappy in
mates know that a storm is raging
without. The eventful day forced
on them for the attempt so long in
preparation was lighter than usual,
and it was resolved to fight their way
out should that way be Obstructed by
guards. To this end their blunted
knives were sharpened to a point, and
fourteen of these deadly weapons,
deadly in such hands, were distribu-
ted to as many men.
The first difficulty to be overcome
was to get General Morgan from the
cell in the upper tier to one Of the
cells communicating with the sewer.
He selected his brother, not only be-
cause of the personal resemblance,
but for that he thought it just to
others that the punishment following
the discovery should fall on himself
through the one nearest to him.
Night came and the brother hur-
ried into the Generals cell, while the
General placed himselfin the one va
Gated below. The change worked
we'll, when, at the moment the guard
was about leaving, having locked in
the prisoners, one appeared at the
cell door so lately occupied by the
General, thrust a lantern in at the
opening and, just as the younger
Morgan was giving up all as lost, de
manded rat-tail file loaned the Gen
eral the day before. 'What fileY'
thought the young man. He had not
heard of the article, borrowed under
pretence of making ring for lady
from bone. He had, however,
enough presence of mind to betray no
confusion, but began, with his back
to the door, an active search for the
miserable file. AS luck had it, his
hand fell on the article where it had
been left, upon the bed. Covering
his face with his hand, as if the light
hurt his eyes, he gave the file to the
guard, and then listened with throb-
bing heart to the footsteps that died
away in the distance.
The clang of the iron grated door
as it swung to was the signal for i'm
mediate action. The pavements
above the sewer at the designated
places were broken through, and four
teen men dropped into the foul re-
ceptacle. The candles were lighted
and the work began. Five feet of
earth had to be removed before mid
night, and taking turns, they worked
as probably men never labOred be-
fore. Rapidly as the earth was loos-
ened it was passed back into the
sewer, their woolen caps being used
for this purpose. AT last an opening
was made, enlarged sufficiently to ad
NIT the passage of a man, and John
Morgan pushed his way through and
stood upon the ground of the court.
He found the sky overcast and drlz-
zling rain slowly falling. The place
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