The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-04-29

had - sight harder task Of 1t than you
fellows, and | made out"
Grouped about him when he made this
statement there were dozen men who at
that very time were working night after
night in the tunnel which was TO become
far more famous and historic than his in
dividual escape, and the difficulties OF
which were far greater.
The great tunnel has been so often de-
scribed. and Captain Moran's excellent
paper is so familiar TO the public that II
would seem like iteration to attempt to
give a clearer idea Of it, Looking back at
it the wonder to me is that it was not dis
covered almost as soon as IL was under
taken.
AZ have said, / heard about the tunnel
scheme soon after reaching Libby and be-
ing taken sick-I had other reasons for
the move also-I was sent to the hospita !.
the room directly over The entrance 10 the
tunnel. What was cellar on the Carey
street side of the prison, the building being
on slope, became basement on the
southern, or canal side. In two apart
ments in the front part Of this basement
the Confederates had stored potatoes,
cornmeal and -four In barrels. This fact
was made known TO me by Captain Singer
of the Thirtv-third Ohio and Captain Gal
lagher of Indiana, who had previously
been raiding on the Confederate supplies. |
I
think | was the youngest man in the pris-
ON and had an appetite proportioned TO
my years-an appetite which the hospital
ratioDs by no means gratiiied. The guards
had become more iglant on the south side
of the prison. which deferred my comrade s
from repeating their raids; but with the
tunnel as well as the supplies in mind
determined to Teorganize them, and this
was done with eonsumma ate success. We
n of nj m
rades In the hospital but by means of a
stairs leading TO the lower Potomac room
and a section of plank removed from und or
the door, we were enabled to get some up
to our comrades in the prison proper.
The cellar or hospital basement literally
swarmed with rats. We could hear them
screaming as we moved forward in the
Sygian darkness, and in their efforts TO
avoid us they frequently dashed against
our legs.
1t was about the middle OF January that
determined to find out for myself of the
eXistencs of a tunnel and working PARTY.
Captain Singer, who had been severely
wounded at The battle Of Cbckamauga.
but who had recovered, and whose lame
ness was affected In ordrr to prevent his
being sent to the upper floors. was by my
side as we pushed forward to the front.
where we knew the entrance to the tunnel
must be. We heard low voices, and finally
man said with an oath:
Hist! boys. There's some one coming
from the frontP'
One of the others suggested that 1t was
the rats that made the noise. While they
were talking recognized the voice OF my
friend, Car tain johnson of the Fifth Ken
lucky, and advancing made myself and my
mi ssion known.
johnson said he had intended to COM
municate the fact OF the tunnel to me
when it would have been completed, but
begged me, for Gods sake. in the mean
time to say nothing abouI II. and &C.
quiesced 10 his request. l am satisfied
now that had not done this but had kept
up communication between the hospita
ana the Lower Potomac room by means oil
the stairs before referred to and the open.
ing in the hospital door. 800 men, instead
of Ito men. might have escaped througi
the tunnel.
Already, perhaps, l have said NOR,
about myself in this connection than had
intended to do, for it is not my desire tt
| figure as q Libby hero or an important
factor In the great escape. l was one o.
those who made the attempt and failed