The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1874-08-21
JOHN MORGAN'S ESCAPE.
Account Of the AFFAIR by n Confeder-
ate Onieer who was I'm MOrgan's
Command.

Account of the AFFAIR by COnfeder-
ate Omeer who was I'm Morgan's
Command
Morgan. IL is said. managed to commu-
nicate with sympathizing friends outside
of the prison by the use of convicts who,
as their term OF service was about expir-
ing, and whose good conduct had inspired
confidence. were sent into Columbus on
errands. At first il was the design 10 or
ganize a general revolt among the con-
victs, seize seventy stand of arms which he
knew 10 be within the walls, overp0wer
the guards. and blow up the prison. From
a convict, with whom he communicated
through the yentilator of his cell. Morgan
obtained information which induced him
TO abandon this scheme and adopt one en-
tirely different Ii was to the effect that
this convict. With a number of ethers, had
been employed TO open an Distracted
drain that run the length of the prison. di-
rectly under the cells, TO the river. This
drain Morgan determined TO reach. and
through il his freedom.
The cell appropriated To the General
was in the second tier above, reached by "A
stairway and gallery so he selected the
one occupied by his brother i'm which TO
make the attempt. Their first object was
to obtain tools with which TO work. This
they accomplished by taking from the
convicts' dinner table as they passed-and
not from their own. as this would have ex-
cited suspicion-the short, strong, dull
knives. ground square off at the end, so as
TO rob them ofdanger as weapons. Every
day added knife to the Contederates. I'M
i'll fourteen We're secured. Their first effort
was TO remove the stone pavement be-
meath the cot Of the cell selected. The
pieces We're broken into small fragments
and deposited in the ashes of the huge
stoves used TO warm the halls. This had
10 be done slowly and cautiously, for the
appearance of any large quantity or large
fragment would at once arouse inquiry.
After the stone pavement was removed "a
layer of cement was found. This. too.
was broken up and divided between the
stoves and the mattress. from which the
stuiiing was removed and burned as the
material increased. The bed OF the cell
consisted of cot, reared. during the day.
against the wall, and when down covered
the hole at which the men Were digging.
They took turns at this slow, tedious
process. and at the end of three weeks
reached the sewer, arched with brick.
Through this a hole was opened large en-
ough 10 admit the body of a man.
Had the brick work. cement and pave
ment been honestly executed the prisoners
would not have so readily opened the way.
But like all government work il was found
TO be rotten and easily removed. To
lower one Of their number into this foul
receptacle and explore the same came
next. Owing TO it, size. and the fact that
water was flowing through continuously.
the air was not so poisonous as they
feared; but they found at the lower end.
where the sewer leaves the prison for the
river, heavy iron grating that defied all
efforts 10 break through. Driven from
this end the prisoners tried the other. Ii
terminated at a wall. Their first impress
sion was that in getting through this OBJ
stacle they would find themselves i'm the
open country. Close but cautious ques-
tioning of guards and convIcts-such con-
yicts as have said before, being near the
close Of their terms, were therefore used
as messengcrs-with such observations as
their indomitable leader could make. con-
WINGED them that this wall was between
them and, not liberty, but a court sur
rounded partly by prison. and partly BY
a wall some thirty feet in height. There
was aothing left them, however, but to dig
through.
Ii seemed an endless work-certainlv
not light one. for the wall was found.
when pierced, 10 be fourteen feet from
outside to outside. This work again was
facilitated by the dishonesty of the gov
eminent contractors in building the pris-
on. After penetrating the shell of solid
masonry the interior was found TO be rub
BILE, held together by mortar of sand.
One day messenger convict. who had
been trusted by the Confederates i'm car
rying written messages 10 their friends
outside. produced from one leg of his
pantal0ons slesder pick. such a. miners
use, and from the other short. stout ham
die. This was repeated until more picks
were furnished than could be- used. And
then followed-this time from his bosom
"a shovel. After came bits of candles.
and continued until Morgan ordered the
man to desist. fearing he might be discov
cred. The fellow gave over with much re-
luctance. for the receipt signed by Nor
gan for each article delivered brought him
hundred dollar greenback. and he was
rapidly and easily accumulating a fortune
The heavy wall was pierced nj last and
quite an excavation was made in the earth
OF the court yard. when the conspirators
turned their attention to CONSTRUCTING
openings into the thirteen other cells. AZ
the escape was to be made In The night time
each cell, OF course. had to be tapped. Afler
careful measurement and calculation, the
precise pla es were designated. and work
Ing from below. the arch was broken and
the earth removed. all but the stone pave
ment-that was left 40 a few blows would
open the way at the moment when escape
was determined on.
~ The meantime other necessary prepare