The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-03-04
THE ESCAPE FROM LIBBY PRISON.

The Planning and Finally Successful
Execution of Colonel Roses Tunnel.
Capt. Frank Moran, in March Century.
Work could only be possible between the
hours of 10 at night. when the room was gen.
orally abandoned by the prisoners because OF
its Inundated condition. and 4 o'clock in the
morning, when the earliest risers were again
sstir. It was necessary to do the work with an
old iackknife and one of the chisels previously
secured by Rose. It must be done in darkness
and without noise. for vigilant sentinel paced
on the Carey-strcet sidewalk just outside the
door and within ten feet of the fireplace. A
rubber blanket was procured and the SCOT from
the chimney carefully swept into it. Hamilton.
with his old knife, cut the mortar between the
bricks and pried dozen of them out, being
careful to preserve them whole.
THE rest of the incision WAS made in accord
with the design described. but no concep-
tion could have been formed beforehand of the
sickening tediouSness of cutting .S' shaped
hole through heavy wall with a feeble old jack
knife, in stolen hours of darkness Rose guard
ed his comrade against the constant danger of
interruption by alert enemies side and
by biundering friends on the other; and, as fre-
quently happens IN human affairs their friepds
gave them nrceesteossse than their fees. ig9st
after night passed. and stiIl the two men gor up
after taps from their hard beds, and descendxJ
TO the dismal and reeking kitchen to bore for
liberty When the sentinels call at Castle
Thunder and at Libby announced o'clock. the
dis'odged bricks were carefully replaced, and
the SCOT previously gathered in the gum blanket
was flung in handfuls against the restored wall.
hlling the seams so entirely between the bricks
as so defy detection. AT last after many
weary nights. Hamiltons heroic patience and
skill were rewarded, aud the way was open to
the coveted base of operations, Rat He'll
Now occurred a circumstance that nearly re-
vealed THE plot and nearly ended in a tragedy.
When the opening was finished. the long rope
made fast to one of the kitchen supporting
posts, and Rose proceeded to descend and recon
noiter. He got partly through with ease, but
lost his hold in such a manner that his body
slipped through as to pinion his arms and
leave him wholly powerless either to drop lower
or return-the bend of the hole being such as to
cramp his back and neck terribly and prevent
him from breathing. He strove desperately,
but each effort only wedged him more firmly in
the awful wise. Hamilton sprang to his aid and
did his utmost to effect his release; but. power
full as he was, he could not bulge him. Rose
was gasping for breath and rapidly get
ting fainter, but even in this fearful
strait he refrained from outcry. that would
certainly alarm the guards just outside the
door Hamilton saw that without speedy relief
his comrade must soon smother He dashed
through the long, dark room up the stairway,
over the forms of several hundred men, and dis
regarding consequences and savage in
the dark and crowded room, he trampled upon
arms, legs, faces aud Stomacbs, leaving riot and
blaSphemy in his tracks among the rudely
awakened and now furious dodgers of the Chica-
mauga room. He sought the sleeping place OF
Major George Fl. Fitzsimmons. but he was
missing. He however, found Lieutenant F. r.
Bennett OF the Eighteenth regulars (since
major in the Ninth United States Cavalry. to
whom be told the trouble in a few hasty words.
Both men fairly flew across the room, dashed
down the stairs and by their united efforts,
Rose, half dead and quite speechless, was drawn
up from the fearful trap"