Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-03-06
REsOURCEFUL TOM HINES.
Surfing War Tales Of Man Who
Fought With Morgan.

! Fought With MORGAN,
louisville Letter.
captain Tom Hines, who died in thi.
city last Sunday, was, perhaps, the best
known Confederate soldier in Kentucky
at the time Of his death, except Genera
BASH w. Duke, who was General Johr
Morgan's right bower. Certainly few mer
III the south had more exciting career
as a soldier, raider, and liberator of Con.
federate prisoners than he.
General Basil w. Duke. who was in
timately associated with Captain Hines
during the war, until after the escape OF
Hines and Morgan and their associates
from the penitentiary i'm Columbus. O..
in speaking Of Captain Hines last night
related the following story of that es-
cape as one Of the events that made the
Captain famous. He said:
For personal courage. skill in planning
and daring in execution, Captain Hines
had few equals. He never seemed i'm a
hurry, never gave evidences of excite
ment; but he struck like the lightning.
and, had the war lasted much longer, he
would have taken high rank as a com
mander.
THE escape from Columbus was plan
ned, and in great measure executed by
Captain Hines and by Captain James
Hockersmith, of jacksonville, Ky. Hines
had heard in some way that an air cham
Der extended under the lower range of
cells, and he thought this the more prob
able, as in no other way could he account
for the dryness of his cell. Subsequent
Investigations proved this to be correct
and after consultation with General Nor
gan it was determined to cut into this
chamber from Illness cell and dig a tun-
mel into the prison-yard. A number of
men were taken into the plot. They be
gan digging through tho eighteen inches
OF stone, cement, and brick that com
posed the floor of the cell, using case
knives that had been distracted from the
dining-room. The dirt was concealed in
handkerchefs and under beds until Il
could be disposed of. Hines swept and
cleaned his room every day, and threw
an old sack over the opening that was
being made. The guards would look IN
and, seeing the cell so neat and tidy,
would pass on. Finally the air-chamber
was reached, and, after much labor, the
tunnel was finished, extending to the
point in the yard whence it was intend
ed to make the exit.
'"The men selected to attempt the es-
cape with General Morgan were Cap
tains Thomas II. Hines, Ralph Sheldon,
Sam. Taylor, Jacob Bennett, James
and Gustavus MCGEE
They all occupied cells on the ground
floor except General Morgan. and it was
arranged that on the night of the es-
cape General Morgan was to exchange
places with his brother, Colonel Rich
ard Morgan, who occupied one OF the
grOund-floor cells, and between whom
and the General there was a striking
Men working from the
air-chamber had cut away the stone ana
concrete beneath the floors of the1Age
cells, from which other occupants be-
sides Captain Hines were to escape.
Only a thin shell was left, so that It
was only necessary for the occupant OF |
he cell to stamp on the floor and break |
through. 1t was a little after midnight |
yhen the men entered the air-chamber, |
eaving stuffed dummies in their beds.
"They made their way, each armed /
with a stout knife as a weapon of de- |
ence. through the tunnel and cut away |
he sod that closed the aperture lead |
ng into the yard. 1t was rainy and |
cloudy, and they passed TO the outer
wall, the bad weather having driven |
he sentries and the dogs that guarded |
he yard at night TO shelter. BY the
lelp of a rope and an improvised hook
hey scaled the wall, and separating into
airs, took their departure.
THE escape was not discovered until
he next morning, when the rope was
ound hanging from the wall and there
vas hubbub and confusion among the
yards and rejoicing among the prison
rs.
General Morgan and Captain Hines
Immediately on their escape, took the
ain for Cincinnati. In the suburbs Of
General Morgan pulled the
all-cord, and he at one end OF the car
nd Captain Hines at the other put on
le brakes, causing the train to slacken
)eed so that they could jump off. They
len went to the river and paid boy y
row them across to the Kentucky
lore, and went through Kentucky and
snnessee. reaching the Confederate lines
ter many adventures. Captain Hines
as separated from General Morgan in
and again captured. He was
larded in a cabin that night by a few
ldiers. He was fine story-teller, and
cceeded in so interesting his captors In
S yarns that for a moment they left the
or unguarded He at once jumped out
to the darkness, and, diving into a
icket, escaped and Joined his command
1T was soon after this that Captain
mes was detailed TO serve under Jacob
lompson in Canada, and never again
ned the command"
rhe next adventure OF Captain Hines
,rth noting was a narrow escape from .
e Federals while he was in Chicago
aiming to liberate the Confederate pri-
ners held there. He was living in the
use OF DIR. Edwards, who favored the
moderate cause, but the authorities
Irned the facts and surrounded the
use. Going TO a bed Captain Hines slit
IN the bottom OF a canvas-coversd s.
ring mattress, crawled inside, and then
d the bed rearranged as usual The
diers searched the house carefully.
ked under that bed repeatedly. but {
YER into the mattress. However, al
,ugh bafFied. they were not altogether
heartened, and maintained careful !
ard.
he excitement. fortunately for Hines.
de Mrs. Edwards sick, and in conse-
.nce a doctor was employed, and num-
s of friends called from time to time
express their sypathy. Thereat Hines
liked boldly 10 the door with one OF the -
tiles OF callers, stepped out with them %
pressing, as they did. his hope for the &
edy recovery OF the invalid, and walk e
away unmolested by the innocent 4
ird. - y
4 Cincinnati. where he remained for a =
10 In the home of Mr.. and Mrs. Sam.