Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1885-06-04

on and made their way into Kentucky.
The question of whether the prisoners
had outside help or not has been discus
sed for more than twenty years. The
manner of getting away from Columbus
has also been much rOmanced about.
Captain Hines, who planned the escape
tells the whole story In the June num-
Der of the Southern BivOuac, and while
III many particulars his story does not
differ from those of tho books, his testi-
mony Oh disputed points is Of interest.
The prisoners were locked in cells at
night, but during the day spent the most
or their time In the hall into which the
cells opened. Captain Hines had been
reading Victor HugO's Lies Miserables,"
and it occurred to him that there must
be air passages under the floor OF this
prison as well as in those of Paris. AS
a preparatory move Hines volunteered
to sweep his own cell, and by keeping it
neat and clean escaped the ordinary
daily inspection. Work was begun Noi.
in Hines cell with knives made of fiat
steel files secured through men in
the hospital. The prisoners working
one at time, cut through six inches Of
cement, took out six layers of brick, put
in and cemented with ends up, and
and four feet high, running the entire
length of the range of cells.
Finding the chamber heavily grated
and otherwise secured at the end, the
prisoners worked tunnel at right an
giles under the cell of Hines, cuttirg
through the foundation wall of the c.
block five feet, through twelve feet uf
| grOuting, to the outer wall OF the east
wing of the prison, through this wall
six feet in thickness and four feet I'D,
near the surface of the yard in an un-
frequented place. Passages were cat
from this tunnel to the cells of the men
detailed to make the attempt to escape.
Hines communicated with friends IN
Kentucky through discharged c0nylcts,
and money was sent him concealed In
| the back Of a fav0rite book. But the
scheme for escape was kept secret from
all inside except those taken into the
confidence of the projectors. Several
who did not escape lassiSted in the work
to prepare the way for the escape OF their
fellows.
On the night Of Nov. 81 the seven pris-
OnerS left their cells at IL o'clock, eater
ed the tunnel. and breaking through the
thin stratum of earth at the end of the
tunnel, came out near the wall Of the
female prison, erawled along the wall to
wooden gate, got on the wall at this
point by means of q graphing iron made
Of a stove hook and rope made Of bed
ticking, passed along the wing wall
which was not guarded to the main wall
and descended to the ground outside moi
sixty yards from where the prison
guards were cOnversing around ire.
Morgan and Hines went at once to thu
depot and took the 1:15 q. m. train FOL
Cincinnati Morgan seated himself neal
Federal Major, and conversed easily
as the train passed the penitsntiary
and on the way down. Hines and Nor
gan left the train ut Ludlow Ferry, OF
the outskirts Of Cincinnati, crossing tn,
river in skiff to the residence of Mrs
. Ludlow. There they made themsslve
known, and were kindly received ant
were assisted by friends in making
their way through Kentucky. The
crossed the Tennessee River Dec. IL
having been joined by twenty five men
: Of Morgan's old command. After cross
, ing Hines was captured, bat succeeded
in leading the Federal cavalry away
from Morgan. who with four or five mel
escaped. Hines was held a prisoner
few days. and then escaped from TIT
camp OF LILO lnlTu hentucky luIaHGIy
. and made his way to Dalton, Ca, reach
ing that place Dec. q. OF the sever
{ men who escaped from the penitentiar
Q General Morgan was killed at GresAvill
Tenn: Captain Magee was killed a
, Cumberland Gap. and Captain Taylo
lied after the war. Captain Hooker
+ smith is living at MadisOnvllle, XIV
Captain Sheldon in Nelson county, KY
/. Captain Bennett in East Tennessee, an,
o Captain Hines in Louisville.
/ 1t was believed at the time of the es
cape that there had been some cOnniv
, ance on the part of prison subordinate
! or guards. Captain Hines states tina
all plans looking to the securing Of as
sistancs from guards or through briber
were abandoned because the Organiza
tion and discipline we're against posi-
. bic success in that direction.