The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1885-05-06

infected smallpox rags into them during
the war. Knowing that Justice Hines
was one Of the six who escaped with the
famous Confederate General John Nor
gan from the pcnitentiary here in No
velnh0r, 1863. n correct account Of which
has never been published, your corres-
pondcnt called upon him to learn the
true facts in the relation to the escape
Of the great rebel rider. Judge lines
Expressed his Willingness to he inter
viewed. Ile explained that while Cap
tain Of the Ninth Kentucky Regiment,
with seventy companions, among whom
was General Morgan, he was captured
and brought here, the entire number be-
ing confined as United States prisoners
Mt the Ohio Pcnitentiary.
"After the chagrin Of our capturr had
partly worn off," said he. our thoughts
naturally turned to n means Of escape.
1t was tho practice Mt the prison for the
guards to escort each morning those en-
ployccs or prisoners who were charged
with the duty Of sweeping out our cells.
1t had occurred to me that il | could by
any scheminy have this practice sbau-
donrd I would have ample opportunity
to carry ont whatever plan | thought
feasible. | sooncd learned that directly
beneath tho cells occupied by MY com
p%anions on the same tiers ran IN air.
chamber or sewer which emptisd outside
the prison walls. | had already satisfied
myself that | was regarded as a quiet
nnd--well, anything hut II dangerous
prisoner. Taking advantage Of this
good opinion Of me, I innoccntly re-
questcd the privilege Of sweeping out
my own cell. This request was readily
complied with and n broom Cat my ex.
pense) furnished me. | kept the cell
scrupulously clean for the next three or
four days and received the compliments
Of the Warden on its neat and clean
appearance.
Having thus lullcd suspicion. and
having secured a tape measure, by which
mas enabled to make accurate measure
mcnt 10 us to strike an air. chamber, | set
to work with two knives obtained from
the dining-tahlc. The floor in my cell, |
soon discovered, was simply a layer OF
mortar and cement and the brick arch OF
the air chamber. | had but twentv-one
inches to cut through with my knives.
This took me four or five days. The de-
bris Of each day's or nights work | hid
in my bed and slept on it.
when l finally got into the .ir-cham-
Der | located the cells ofmy companions
overhead and gradually removed the
bricks Of the arch upon which their cells
were built. only removed them, how
ever, in n certain spot, quite large enough
for them to pass through, having the
thin crust Of mortar and cement which
composed the floor of their cells sn-
broken. ! had, previous TO con- encins
my work, informed GenssxI Morgan and
my other fIso eoiDeaies in the tier of
cells. Ittook ,pet Just twenty-seven days
10 tunnel and remove the bricks.
Well, sir" resumed the Judge, "the
afternoon Of the night Of orr escape |
notified all Of the seventy officers
confiaed with me Of the coming event.
We were permitted daily to meet and
converse for four hours in the hall Of til.
prison. They all bid us God-spced, and
in the evening W retired to our cells,
seven OF III for tho last time. We had
agreed upon II O'Clock, when the guards
had made their midnight rounds, rs the
time for our escape. General Morgan
was permitted t" retain his watch, and
at the appointed m"ment two light rnps
On his cell door told us our time had
come. We dropped through the holes
IN our floor 10 the air-chmber ana pro-
cccdcd cautiously along the chamber to
the Eastern end. when to our consterna-
ton We found a large pile Of coal had
been dumped against the foundation
stone. Here was a dilemma.
"Fortunaiely the sewer WIN but a few
feet below the surface Of the ground,
aud after selecting our spot, we tun-
ncled until We came ont in the prison
yard opposite the female department,
Proceeding to the Southeast gnts We
scaled the wall by means Of a rope made
from b,d-ticking.'
"Was there not q hack in waiting and
were you not aided by outsiders 81
M, to both questions. All that kind
Of stuff is pure invention. Five of the
officers escaping with us parted from
Morgan and myself outside the prison
while the General and |. having arranged
our toilet. walked briskly to the Usior
Depot, where we boarded a train for Gin.
%cinnati. l had received $500 from friend,
in the lining Of Il book sent me und thi.
enabled us to get safely back to Ken,
lucky. Our companions, j. C. Bennett