The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1875-01-27

square off at the end so rs to rot
them Of danger as weapons. ET
cry day added knife to the Con
federates, until fourteen were SC
cured. Their first effort was to re
move the stone pavement beneath
the cot of the cell selected. The
pieces were broken into small
fragments and deposited in the
ashes Of the large stoves use'l tc
warm the halls. This had to be
done slowly and cautiously, fol
the appearance OF any large
quantity or large fragments would
at once arouse inquiry. After the
stone pavement was removed L lay
er OF cement was found. This,
too, was broken up and divided
between the stoves and mattress,
from which the stutfing was re,
moved and burned as the material
increased. The bed Of the cell
consisted Of u 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 ut the end OF
three weeks reached the sewer,
arched with brick. Through this
a hole WAS opened large enough
to admit the body Of i man.
Had the brickwork, cement and
pavement been honestly executed
the prisoners would not have so
readily opened the way. But like
all the government work, it was
found to be rotten aud easily re-
moved. To lower one Of their
numb ber into this foul receptacle
and explore tho same, came next.
Owing to its size, and tho fact
that water WAS flowing through it
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
| deAcd all efforts to break through.
Driven from this end, the prison.
ors tried tie other. 1t terminated
at q wall. They attacked this
wall. Their first impression was
that, getting through this obstacle,
they would find themselves in the
open country. Close but cautious
questioning ofguards and convicts
such convicts, as | have said be-
fore, being near the close of their
terms, were therefore used as
messengers-with such observa-
uons as their indomitable leader
could make, convinced them that
this wall was between them and,
not liberty, but a court surrounded
partly by prison and partly by q
wall some thirty feet in height.
There was nothing left them, how
ever, but to dig through.
1t seemed IN endless work. Ger
taiuly no light one, for tho wall
was found, when pierced, to be
fourteen feet from outside 10 out
side. This work was again facil-
tated by the dishonesty Of the
government contractors in build
ins the prison. After penetrating
the shell ofsolid masonry the inte-
rior was found to be rubblc held
together by mortar and sand. One
day a messenger convict, who had
been trusted by the confederatcs
in carrying written messages to
their friends outside, produced
from one leg of his pants slender
pick, such as miners use, and from
the other q short, stout handlc.-
This was repeated until more picks
were furnished than could be used.
And then llowcd-this time from
his bosom-a shovel. After came
bits of candles, and continued un-
til Mr.. Morgan ordered the man to
dcsist, fearing ho might be discov-
cred. The fellow gave over with
much reluctance, for tho receipt
signed by Morgan for each article
delivered brought him a hundred
dollar greenbacls, and he was rap
idly and easily accommodating a
fortune.
| Tho heavy wall was pierced at
last and quito an excavation was
made in the earth of tho court
yard, when the conspirators turn
ed their attention to constructing
openings into the thirteen other
cells AS the escape was to he
made in the night time each cell,
Of course, had to be tapped. After
careful measurement and calcula
ton, the precise places were de-
signated, and working from below
the arch was broken and the earth
removed, all but the stone pave
ment-that was left so that few
blows would open the way at the
moment when escape was deter
mined on.
In the meantime other necessary
preparations were being made. A