The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1885-05-05
JOHN MoRGAN's ESCAPE.
The True Story of the Raiders Re-
lease from the OHIO Prison.
Special to the New York World.


Co.uhsus. O., April 26s-Th.mss n.
Hines Cnief Justice OF the Supreme
Court OF Kentucky, accompanied by
Gru. Castlemsn, Adiutant General, are
at The Mi House. collecting data look
ing 10 the refutston OF the ecandalous
articles from the pen Of the Washington
of The Cincinuati Com-
mercisl-Gazptte which charges the late
Jacob Thompson with designing to
hdfn Northern cities and Ex-Governor
Blackburn with attempting to introduce
Infected smsll-pox rags into them DUR
ing the war, Knowing that Justice
Hines was one OF the six who escaped
With the famous Confederate General
John Morgan from the PeDitentsry befe
10 November, 1853. correct account
OF which has never heen published, your
correspondent called upon him to learn
the true facts iu relation to the escape OF
the great rebel raider. Judge Hines ex.
pressed his willingness 10 be intervie we'd.
He explained that while captain OF the
Ninth Kentucky Regiment, with seventy
companions, among whom was General
Morgan, be was captured and brought
bere, the entire number being confined
as United States prisoners at the OHIO
Penltentisry.
"After the chagrin OF our capture had
partly worn off, said he. sour thoughts
naturally turned to a mesns of escape.
1t was the practice at the prison for the
guards to escort each morning those
EMPLOYEES or prisoners who we're charg-
ed with the duty Of sweeping out our
cells. II had occurred TO me that If
could by any schemipg have this prac.
tice abandoned would have ample op-
portunity to carry out whatever plan I
thought feasible. | soon learned that
directly beneath the cells occupied BY
my companions on the same tiers ran
an air-cnamher or sewer which emplied
outside the prison wall. I bad already
satisfied myself that was regarded as q
quiet and-well. anything but danger
ous prisoner. Taking advantage OF this
good opinion of me, l 'innoceutly re-
qnested the privilege OF sweeping out
my own cell. This reqnest was readily
complied with and broom lat my ex-
peDse) furnished me- | kept the cell
scrupulously clean for the next three or
four davs and received the compliments
OF the Warden on its neat and clean sp-
pearance.
"Having thas lnlled suspicion, and
having secured a tape measure, by which
I was enabled TO make accurate meas
urement so as to strike an alr-chamber,
| set to work with two knives Obtained
from the dining-table. The floor in my
cell, soon discovered, wss simply .
iayer OF mortar and cement and the
brick arch Of the air chamber. had
but twenty-one inches 10 cut through
with my knives. This took me four or
FIVE days. The debris of each DAYS or
nights work hid in my bed and slept
on it
"When ] finally got into the ir.chsm-
Der | located the cells OF my companions
overhead and gradually removed the
bricks of the arch upon which their
cells were built. only removed them.
however, in a ccrtaia spot. quite large
enough for them 10 rass through, Ieav-
ing the thin crust Of mortar and cement
which composed the floor. OF their cells
nnbrokeu. ! had, previous to commence
ing my work, informed Gen. Morgan
and my other five comrades in the tier
OF cells. 1t took me just twenty seven
days to tunnel and remove the bricks.
"Weli, sir. resumed the Judge, s.Tbe
afternoon Of the night OF our escape I
Motif d all Of the seventy officers con-
fned with me OF the coming event. We
we're permitted daily to meet and con-
verse for four hours in the hall of the
prison. They all bid Us God-speed, and
in the evening we retired to our cells,
seven OF us for the last time. We had
sgreed upon ls o'clock, when the guards
had made their midnight rounds, as the
Ii ne for our escape. Gen. Morgan was
permitted to retain his watch, and at the
appointed moment two light raps on bis
door told as our time bad come. We
dropped through the holes 10 our ioor
to the air.chsmber and proceeded eau.
tiously along the chamber TO the eastern
end, when to Que CONSERVATION We
found a large pile OF coal had been
dumped against the foundation slone.
Here was dilemma.
Fortunately the sewer was but few
feet below the surface OF the ground.
and. after selecting our spot, We tun-
ne'ed until we came out in the prison
yard opposite The female department.
Proceeding to the southeast gate we
scaled the wall by means OF rope made
from Gedticking."
"Was there not hack in waiting and
wee you not aided by outsiders ?"
IN, to both questions. An that kind
OF stuff is pure invention. Five Of ths
ofl1cers escaping with Us parted from
Morgan and myself outside the prison.
while the General and l having arranged
our toilet, walked briskly TO the Union
Depot, where we boarded a train for
Cincinnati. / had received $500 from
friends in the lining OF book sent me
and this enabled US to get safely hack
to Kentucky. Our comparisons. j. C.
Bennett, L D. Hockersmith. G S Ma
gee. Ralph Sheldon and S. B. Taylor,
hi ! around Tor awhile aud finally es.
csped "
sach is the true history OF the famous
escape learned in five minutes CONVEX
sation With the real hero OF it.
sixteenth Annual Re-Union of the