The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1885-06-24
ESCAPED FROM LIBBY PRISON.
How Number Of Federal Soldiers Due
Dat OF the Southern Jail.

Colonel Harris Hooper, of Roxbury (now
BOSTON,, was an officer IN one of the regi-
ments of volunteers raised in Massachusetts,
early during the rebellion. He was taken
prisoner and confined in Libby Prison. in
Richmond, which prison had been tobacco
factory. He escaped and, having obtained
a furlough, returned for q short visit to his
fathers house. While there an opportunity
was given him before he returned to duty
to meet his friends, and, rs he was highly
esteemed and loved by large circle of them,
the house was filled on the evening selected
for the assemblage. had the good fortune
to be present.
He promised by saying that all escaped
men were under solemn mutual promise
to divulge nothing which might implicate
any one who had aided them, and therefore
much which would be interesting must be
suppressed. But he could say that in Sep
TENDER seven determined men began, keep
ing all secret from all of the other 1900
prisoners who were there confined until the
last night. These seven succeeded it get
ting into pitch dark cellar with cobble-
stone floor, infested with enormous rats.
With great care and trouble they selected
the spot on which to commence work and
the line of direction. Then, with nothing
to work with but knives and spoons and a
spittoon in which to bring out the detached
earth, they worked, each few moments in
rotation, for the hole they were making was
only twenty-five inches in diameter, and of
course almost sudocating. Thus they work.
cd for months, when suddenly the prisoners
were removed one story higher. OF course
they supposed that the hole partially made
with so much labor was discovered and
must be abandoned.
After some weeks one suggested that they
should take out the bricks with which the
fireplace in this room was walled up (they
having no fire. and then taking up the
hearth bricks, lower themselves by means
of knotted rope. This they accomplished,
and to their great joy found their uncom-
pleted work undisturbed. They renewed
their labors. The trend of their excavation
led them beneath a yard, and they could
bear the sentry's football as he passed them
directly over the toilers' heads At length
at the distance of forty feet they came to
the surface and found themselves beneath
an old tobacco shed which had been used
as storehouse for empty boxes.
All now being ready, and those fully pre-
pared who had all the time knowledge of
the secret, others were informed and the
process of escape was commenced. OF course
only one could pass at a time aud but slowly,
for il could not be done on hands and knees,
but at full length, snake like, gaining ad.
vance but few inches at time md drag
ging ones knapsack after him fastened to
his feet The next one TO go could only
know that his predecessor was entirely
through by feeling the cold mir rush up
through the oriice. Each as he energies
waited Mt the external aperture until his sue.
cessor emerged, SO that there might always
be two in the shed for o sentinel tramped
back and forth in the street, just outside of
the shed gateway, which stood open. Two
of the party placed themselves at this gate
way, one on the inside of each doorpost,
and when one could see that the sentry war
far enough of he wonld signal the other tc
steal out. As many Of the rebs I" wore
Yankee uniforms DISCUSSES were unneces
sary. As they passed ont they dispersed
separately or in prearranged parties oftwo or
three One hundred and nine passed out
in this way, not 100, as enormously printed.
The last one, German, as he stood in the
shed waiting for the sentry's back to be
turned, 1t being now nearly daybreak, was
taken all nback by hearing him CALL Cor
poral of the guard ~ He came.
Corporal, there's been stream Of men
going by this street all night What does
it mean ?"
DO they cross your beat? ?"
"No."
Then it is none of your business. What
did you disturb me for?"
When the place was again still the Ger.
man glided out, and when far enough from
the building not to appear to be coming
from 1t, turned toward the sentinel, and,
walking by him whistling Dixie" stopped
to turn of street gas light, as though that
were his avocation, and sauntered round
the corner" -Ne,oton (lhass.) Graphic.