Democratic messenger., 1894-03-10

The work was done with two kniye.
made from Hat files which had been
smuggled in bv men who had been il
the hospital. As the prisoners wer,
locked in their cells at might, the,
were obliged 10 work in the daytime
when the danger of the detection was
always great. BY series Of taps on
the floor. they established system oi
communication with the men in the
tunnel, so that warning could be given
but in spite Of the utmost precaution
detection seemed inevitable more then
once. The deputy warden called the
roll daily for dinner. and one day
Captain Hockcrsmith, who was in the
tunnel, had not come out at roll call
He was missed. but General Morgan,
by holding an earnest consultation
with the warden on some subject that
gentlemen thought important, succeed
ell in giving Hocker>milh time Ia
crawl out without being detected.
The men worked in shifts and much
of the excavation was done by those
who knew they had not been selected
to escape. After the completion of
the tunnel there was still serious
difficulty. Ii had only one entrance,
that through the cell OF Captain Hines
and there was no chance of scaling
the wall in the daytime, General Nor
gan and the rest, being locked in their
cells at night. would be unable Ia
reach the tunnel.
1t was finally decided To cut an en-
trance up from the air chamber into
the cell of each one of the officers who
had been selected TO escape. \ meas
uring line was obtained by stratagem,
and, rs the cells were uniform in
width, it was easy to locate the places
for beginning the work Of excavating
upwards. When all was done the
cement in the floor Of the cells was
left unbroken until the time of escape
had come. The hole in the cell Of
Captain Hines was covered with the
satchel, which contained his wardrobe.
and while the work was going on he
took care 10 sit directly in the door of
his cell, studying French with an as
siduity which attracted the attention
and admiration OF his guards. Several
days before the time set for the escape
Captain Hines had received from
home sum Of money, pasted inside
the covers of u book, So that the party
had means of purchasing tickets for
Cincinnati. From newspaper SNUG
gled into the prison they learned that
the Cincinnati train passed at l.l5 at
night, and they accordingly made the
start between midnight, when the last
inspection of the cells occurred, and
o'clock.
They came out near the walls Of
the female prison, and found il driz-
zling rain. Mounting the outer wall.
by the aid of cord they attached To
a hook made of bent poker, they
remained in an empty sentry box long
enough to clean the soil from their
clothing. The descent from the wall
was made within few feet of the sell
tinels, who were at Il campfire just
around the corner of the wall: but no
noise was made, and the party was
soon ON the train. drinking brandy
from Captain Hines flask with Il
Federal Major, discuswho sed with
them the capture and imprisment Of
General Morgan.
Knowing that their escape would
be discovered, they jumped from the
train before it entered Cincinnati. and
crossing the river at Ludlow ferry
they were Hospitality received at the
Ludlow House. Captain Hines and
General Morgan remained together OH
their way South through Kentucky
but near Bridges Ferry. on the
Tennessee River, they were separated
by the capture of Captain Hines.
They were hard pressed by a de
tachment of Federal cavalry, and
leaving Morgan in the thicket, Capt.
Hines rode directly up to the Federal
Major, and seemingly in great excite
ment. urged him TO hurry up and
prevent the escape of the rebels. Ac-
cepting the guidance thus offered, the
Federal troops were misle,l. as they
finally discovered. Hines was taxed
with being one Of Morgan's men. but
he steadfastly denied it. until the
Major declared that he had been rob
he'd of a Brigadier Generals commits
sion by his failure To capture Morgan,
and that the man who was responsible
for the failure should hang for it.
Hines thought this was joke until
he was jerked under a limb of II tree
with rope around his neck. Seeing
it was very serious business. he then
asked permission TO make few
closing remarks. lie was told that
he might if he would be- quick about
it. and having been melted TO elo
quence, he made plea which con
WINGED the Federal Major that one OF
Morgans men ought not to be blamed