The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1875-09-08
ANCIENT HISTORY.


ANCIENT HISTORY.
A Reminiscence of the Treason Tri-
als-How Dick Dodd Escaped.
We are in receipt of communi-
cation giving a romantic and start
ling version of the escape of 'sDick'
Dodd, pending the famous Indiana
treason trials There is no shadow
of truth in the writer's assertions
that the escape was planned in
meeting of Republican politicians
at the Bates House, and connived
at by his keepers. We learned some
time since, from an undoubted
source, the full particulars of that
event, and though ten years have
interviewed, they will no doubt be
news to many of our citizens.
Dodd, as is well known, was a
prominent official in the treasona
bic organization known as the Sons
Of Liberty, and the organizer of
the bold scheme for the release of
the rebel prisoners, the capture of
the arsenal and the person of the
Governor, and the setting up of
Northwestern Confederacy in con
nection with the rebel government.
He was the importer of the cele-
brated "Sunday School Books
from the publishing house of Colt
& Co. After arrest he was confined
in an upper chamber of the POST
Office building, the door of which
was securely guarded A few weeks
reflection, with the prospect of be-.
ing tried by one of those merciless
tribunals 'organized to convict, "
had somewhat demoralized him
His magnificent scheme had been
exploded. and instead of hero he
began to feel Like felon, with the
prospect of dying felon's death
unpleasantly before him. So he re-
solved to get up and dust.
It wasn't a very complicated
scheme which resulted in securing
to Dodd his personal liberty. His
wife, who had been in the habit of
taking his meals to him, secreted a
ball of Irvine In the basket. A young
man named 'roohey stole heavy
rope from q derrick used in build
ing the Vinton block. Dodd let
down the ball of Irvine, Toohey
made fast to the rope, and Dodd
hauled it up. It was made fast, and
the hero prepared to shin down it.
Mr.. j. j. Bingham had agreed to
go with him, but on looking out
of the window the distance to the
ground ''rattled' him, and he elect
ed to stay it out. Mr.. Dodd, how
ever, took hold of the rope, and
while Toohey steadied it at the
other end he swung himself out
and let himself down, hand under
hand, with the agility of a sailor.
He struck terra firma about half
past twelve at night, ran through
the alley between Wiley's block and
Wood & FoaGray's stable; thence
west to the State House. From
the State House he went north on
Mississippi street to New York,
crossed the canal, up an alley. and
into DIR. Merrills house, where ar
engagements had been made to re-
eeive him. The house was one
story building with a low attic, and
in this Dodd was quartered for two
weeks. His refuge was SO low he
could not stand erect, dark, musty,
full of eobwebs, and anything but
a pie isant retreat. Indeed, he
found life so irksome that he was
several times resolved to attempt a
premature escape, satisfied that
falling again into the hands OF the
enemy would be scarcely less ca
lamitous than the further endurance
of his prison. His whiskers were
shaved off. and some clothing diff
fsrent from that usually worn by
him procured as disguise. During
the latter part of the period in
which he enjoyed the hospitality OF
DIR. Merrill, Dodd began to get over
his scare, and would occasionally
come out from his burrow for few
hours at time, to rest. On one of
these occasions, while sitting talk
ing to Mrs. Merrill, Miss Ida Doug
lass, a neighbor, came in suddenly
before he coull regain his attic
Ida knew Dodd by sight, but did
not recognize the bold brigand in
the pale and nervous gentleman
who seemed SO ill at ease. Herap !
pearance gave Dodd a fresh scare,
and he determined to max push ,