Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-04-29


With ali the difficulties there were
some remarkable single escapes from
Libby prison, two Of which L think
worth recalling in this connection.
The confederates would not permit
uniforms TO be sent through the boxes
TO the prisoners, but so long as the
boxes were received they would accept
citizen clothes. In this way Lieu
tenant Kupp, Of Berks county. Pa, re-
ceiyed a suit OF butternut-colored
clothes. He was captured at Gettys-
burg, and after six months OF con1ne-
ment his uniform was worn to rags, so
that the garments sent from home were
most welcome. Being a tall, lank
young man, as soon as he put on the
clothes he was transformed into a
lean, gawky North Carolinian, and was
joked by his comrades on his resem-
blanee 10 a confederate, q fact he was
not slow to avail himself of. II was not
unusual for confederate oflcers and
citizens to visit the prison with the
guards. One morning, to the amszement
of his comrades who saw the act, Kupp
fell in behind the guards after roll call,
and cody walked down TO the office OF
the commandant, Major Turner. de
permitted the guard to pass out, and
when Major Turner, a smooth faced
Young martinez, appeared from his
private office and asked: "Well, sir?
Who the devil are yeu?" Kup gave a
fictitious name, and added:
Pm from Moth kidney"
ON you! What do you want here|
demanded Major Turner.
WAL" drawled Kupp, as he
thoughtfully stroked his chin. "Bein'
in Richmond, thought I'd come down
and see the Yanks."
On your impudence" roarsd Tur-
ner. If you want to ses the Yanks.
90 TO the front! Now get out OF here
as soon as God'h let you, or pll kick
you out!"
"No, you won't kick me-" said Kupp,
drawing himself up, "but if you are so
particular about your darRed old prison
aud your cussed Yanks, keep 'em and
90 to help And therefore he walked
coolly out.
Nest men, on finding themselves thus
unexpectedly free. would have made
what is called a bee line for liberty; but
not so with Kupp. Having secured a
piece Of wood, ne walked down before
the prison, on the other side OF Carey
street, and stood there whiting, while
he looked upat his astounded comrades.
Finally he obeyed their gestures OF
warning, and started of, and, rejoice
to say, succeeded in coming through to
Gods land" as we then called the
North.
Another curious escape, requiring
even more GOODNESS and address, was
that Of an officer from Connecticut,
whose name l have forgotten. Before
the war he was a merchant tailor and
understood mis- trade thoroughly.
He was in hospital, when one OF the
officers, happening tC hear OF his skill,
asked him if he would race a uniform
made for a larger man so as TO mt him.
The Yankee said there would be no dill
fculty if he was provided with the nee
essary articles and was paid for the
work. Confederate money being then
plentiful, hundred and fifty dollars
was advanced, aud the gray uniform,
Originally made for an officer who had
been killed in the front, and who had
no more use for it, was brought into
the prison The confederate officer
was particularly anxious to have
it done by certain day, as there
was going TO be ball in the city ana he
wished TO appear at his best. The tailor
assured him that he would not be disAp-
pointed.
The owner Of the clothes called fire.
Quently in order to have them properly
fitted, but the tailor saw to it that no
one garment was completed before the
rest. In the northeast corner OF the
hospital there was a little apartment
boarded off. and known as the doctors
office" to which the prison physicians
had access at all times. As soon as the
tailor had the uniform completed he
proceeded to try II on himself, and as he
was about the size of the man for whom
il had been altered, it fitted him like a
glove. With this uniform on his back
and the $3.50 for fixing it over in his
pocket, the Yankee went out OF the hos
pital and advanced boldly TO the guards.
If he had any fear that the guard
would challenge him IL was at once set
a. rest, for the soldier, seeing the stars
OF lieutenant colonel on his coat,
brought his musket to an order, and the
disguised Yankee passed without diff
Guilty. Like Kupp, his boldness and
address were requitted with success, for
he succeeded in coming through to our
lines at Williamsburgh.
About three weeks before the com
pletion of the great Libby tunnel Gen
eral John Morgan, the notorious con-
federate border ranger, visited Libby,
fresh from his daring escape from the
penitentiary at Columbus, Ohio.
knew Morgan very well, and he had
many acouaintances in the prison, some
of the Kentucky officers being his old
schoolmates and friends. He was in high
Clee over mis- success, and pointed with
pride TO his short hair, which had been
cut to the regulation for criminals by
the prison officials at Columbus.
why" aid Morgan, standing before
one of the windows and looked out. 81
had a d-n sight harder task OF 1t
than YOU fellows, and ! made out"
qrouped 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 10 become far more famous and
historic than his individual escape, and
the difficulties of which were far
greater.
The great tunnel has been so often
described, and Captain Moran's excel
lent paper is so familiar to the public
that il would seem like iteration TO at
tempt to give clearer idea'of it. Look
ing back at it the wonder to me is that
il was not discovered almost as soon as
il was undertaken.
Ash said, heard about the tun-
-oon Ftar raaOhinU Iihhv