Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1898-12-27
Some Reminders Of the Morgan
Raiders.

ing discovery was made today that
convicts have recently been iu the ia
nous tunnel through which the Nor
gan raiders escaped from the pen. 1t
further developed that a plot had ev-
identity been planned to effect whole
sale delivery OF prisoners through the
tunnel, which mightIhave ended in sue
cess had not interest In the escape of
the Morgan raiders been aroused by a
recent statement at abanquet that the
story of the tunnel was but blind to
cover up the dupliclty of the officers.
AS related in Saturday mornings
Enquirer, the air shaft through which
the raiders escaped was found by
party of convicts, headed by Superin-
tendent Laney and Warden Coffin.
But although this was good evidence
that the raiders had escaped in the
manner they claimed, and not through
the collusion OF anyb the officials of
the penitentiary, IT was not definite
proof. ae'A
The proof was found today. The
entrance into the tunnel was enlarged
SO that searchers could enter with
lights and make thorough investiga-
tion. The air shaft was black with age
and hung with cobwebs. The floor
was inches deep in fthe accumulated
dust of years. In thelwalls of the tun-
mel were numerous small holes, which
had apparently been made for the pur-
pose of concealing articles used by the
frequenters of the. tunnel, or had been
left by the masons when the tunnel
was first constructed. In one of these
holes was found two knives today,
both of them black with age, and
practically destroyed by rust. One
was evidently, from the description,
the knife left behind by Thomas W.
Bullitt, of Louisville KY, when as a
member of the famous band, he made
his escape from the prison during the
War of the Rebellion. The other ev-
identity dated from the same time, and
must have belongedtto to another mem
ber of the Morgan band. The owner
of this knife is not yet known, but as
investigation goes on, his name will
doubtless be disclosed
The fact that the Morgan raiders
had actually escaped Through the air
shaft, as they claimed, was further
proven by the discovery that one of
the stones which form the walls of the
tunnel had at some time been removed
and had evidently been replaced after
those using that meansiof escape were
safely out of the way.a This stone was
again removed by the, Investigators,
and an attempt was made to follow
ne old tunnel beyond the walls. This
attempt failed, however, as past the
walls of the air shaft the tunnel was
oiocked by fallen dirt. The tunnel will
be cleaned out, however, and pursued
to ms apparent end beyond the walls.
John Morgan's statement as to the
manner of his escape was further con-
firmed by the fact that this stone was
removed from the walls of the air
shaft almost exactely opposite Cell 81,
in which the famous raider was con-
fined. This agrees with the statement
made by him in his story'of his escape.
Mr.. Bullitt will be wired this evening
by Warden Coffin of the finds made In
the penitentiary and, the. discovery of
his famous knife. The Bullitt knife
will be photographed, and the picture
will be placed in the penitentiary ar
chives, as Mr.. Coffin has taken great
pains an interest In collecting the rec
ords of the famous institution of which
he is the head. After that it is prob
able that the knife will be returned to
Mr.. Bullitt, as it will be of more inter-
est to him than to anyone
else. 1t was originally eight or nine
inches long perhaps, but time and rust
nave destroyed large part of its
length. Not more than six inches of
the blade remains, and even that is so
thoroughly corroded that it must be
handled carefully to prevent it falling
to pieces in the hands. The handle is
altogether gone, as the wood of which
it was originally composed fell to
pieces in the hands of Guard Wilson,
who first found the knffe.
Evidence was secured proving that
prisoners have known OF the existence
of the air shaft for much longer time
than the authorities, however. One
prisoner has claimed at Various times
that he has been in the shaft, but his
statements have never been credited.
Today, however, proof was found that
prisoners had entered The chamber.
even If the one who has claimed the
credit is not entitled to il. In a dark
corner of the air cnambera a string was
found which, when pulled, was found
to lead into cavity whose existence
had not been expected. at the end OF
the string was bundle, Which proved
to lie fine rope, with huge iron
hook at the ond, evidently made fo1
use in getting over the walls. This
rope was wrapped in copy of the Gin
cinnnti Enquirer of October 16, 1898
thus proving definitely that prisoners
have been in the air chamber very re-