Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1899-01-12
MORGAN'S ESCAPE.
Ex-Warden Merton IS Finally Exon
Grated From All Blame.

scared into chaos. Many men have
ventilated their bombastic suspicious
regarding the sensational escape from
this prison of the rebel general, John
Morgan, on the night of November 2S,
1863.
The escape of Morgan and his band
of raiders was heralded throughout
the central states with many fabricat-
ed conclusions. The fact that the men
escaped and crossed the Ohio river in
to Kentucky-an authentic account of
how they escaped-is now conclusively
made public
Truth, no matter how deeply hidden,
will ultimately rise. The men dug
their way out of their cells and then
dug their way to liberty through the
foundation of the wall, by the aid of
clever young man who worked in the
dining room and who passed several
knives to the noted prisoners.
Mr.. T. w. Bullitt, of Louisville, KY,
is the only person now living who es-
capped with John Morgan, and to him
is due much credit for the clearing of
this unedifying mystery.
More than a week ago a letter ar
rived from Mr.. F. d. Swoop, of that
Guy, to Manager T. H. McConcia, at
Findlay, o. He in turn had 1t publish
ed in the Findlay Republican, and a
copy of that paper was sent to Supt. ].
C. Laney, who, after reading the arti-
Gle, instituted an investigation. The
me min charge of Supt Laney proceed
ed to cell number on the south side
of the east hall block, where import
ant discoveries were made. According
10 direction the men started to dig in
to the ceiling of the rear left corner
Of the cell. They had dug but a few
moments when they struck an opening
about four inches in diameter An
lir chamber runs through the block
in the rear of the cells, but 1t had
been securely filled years ago.
In the letter Mr.. Bullitt said that he
had left his knife lying on ledge at
the turn of the pipe in said air cham
ber.
One of the men thrust an eager hand
into the hole, felt the ledge, but no
knife was there. As it was growing
dusk the work was suspended until the
next morning.
Supt. Laney was not satisfied with
the finding of the air ducts. He con-
tinued the search further to find the
missing rust-covered weapon. He set
the men at work in the middle of the
cell floor. They went through the ce-
ment ten inches, and then struck brick
hard and tough from age. 1t was slow
work with heavy tools to get through
the roof of the air chamber. Finally
about half past three O'Clock. huge
crow-bar forced an opening into the
5epulchral-like chamber. The bar
was drawn out and measured; 1t was
trifie more than three feet from the
ceiling of the chamber to the dry
ground
in the presence of Warden Coffin a
larger hole was soon made, and, with a
lighted torch in hand, one workmen
descended into the musty hole, the
first human being to enter that sub
terranean trough in thirty-five years
The walls OF the chamber were be-
struggled with cobwebs thick and dark
Had the Pickering torch gone out, per-
chance the blood would have chilled
the searcher's face, and feeling of alb
ject fear might have possessed him.
Warden Coffin peered into the hole
and asked, What do you find?' The
investigator replied, Nothing but
cOb-webs."
The subterranean search proceeded
some little time, while the suction of
the ingoing air increased. A mixed
collection of curious shaped bolts
were brought forth, rusty with age.
-Four cells east of the one in question
another similar hole was found and
examined, but nothing of note was
found there At eight o'clock the next |
morning, Supt. Laney with Guards |
Brooks and Wishon went into the hole |
and began a fresh search. Guard |
raked in a curious object and |
stopped to examine same, while an ex-
OF gratifed pride crept over
MS countenance. He had found the
nuch-sought-for relic-the knife. At
almost the same time Supt Laney
pulled the two knives out the air duct,
which he was searching. The men
judged 1t best to withdraw to the glar-.
ng light of day to investigate the i'm
'ort of their finds.
The knife which Guard Wishon
ound Is undoubtedly the one whereon
hangs a sensational tale. II was SO
usty and aged as to necessitate care
ul handling. The knife found by
'upt. Laney was OF similar appearance
he loose and rotten handle merely
lung to the blade. The second knife
which Supt. Laney found was evident
not used by the Morgan Raiders"
nd is of minor importance.
The two famous knives were taken
1 once to the photographers and pic
ures were taken OF them. After the
.niVes were carefully laid away the