The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1900-03-28
An ESCAPE FROM BONDAGE
This Man Says He Was Trick
ed Into An Insane
Asylum.
WILD RACE FOR LIBERTY.
Through Tennessee Swamps, Cut BY
Barbed Wire Fences, In
Strange Country.


Story Told BY Man Who Says he
Was Put Out Of the Way For His
Little Fortune-Eis Escape From
Louisville-The Utmost Limit Of
Endurance.
Moses D. Morris tells a thrilling tale
of his escape from the Great Western
Insane Asylum, in Bolivar, Tenn, IN
which he was incarcerated for several
weeks, although, he declares, he was
perfectly sane. He was tricked INTO
the asylum, he says, and the object OF
those who had him placed there was
his little fortune Of $50, 900.
Mr.. Nlorris's favorite among the "
fortunate inmates with whom ne was
locked up was Mike McDermott, who
had been educated for the priesthood,
and who was at times entirely rational.
The two talked over plans to escape
from the asylum, and finally consulted
with another patient DR.. B., who had
become insane through drink.
Tonight" said the Doctor to them
one day, there is a ball in the North
Hall. You will file over from mere,
and on the way will traverse long
narrow corridor. At the left Of it and
midway there IS a winding stair down
to the ground floor. At the end OF the
lower corridor is door. For an hour
every evening it is unlocked, but you
must pass the watchman's door. II he
Ill i.
door you may succeed. Try It. ana
God save you"
Mr.. Morris and mike" decided to
adopt the Doctors suggestion. When
night came Mr.. Morris put on his even
ing dress suit, even to patent leather
shoes. in order not to excite suspicion,
though it was storming hard and he
knew he ought to have heavier cloth
inc if is plan to escape succeeded.
when the warder marched US over
TO the hail." said Mr. Morris, II was
walking as in a dream. Down the long,
dimlv lighted corridor we snafled like
company Of fagellants. I looked
ahead with blurring eyes. There was
the spiral stairway-my heaven OF es-
cane. I skunk behind the unfortunate
In front Of me, trying to make myseH
smaller. I reached the head OF the
stairway, gave a glance around, and
then down it I dashed like madman
In reaiity--down, down, down, reach
ing the ground floor with my head IN
whirl.
81 looked forward s food Of light
poured through the opening Of the
I
get by it? Ny blood froze with the
thought Of capture now. tp-toed
along, then made a sudden dash
through the blaze Of light like a spec
tre. I reached the door unseen. My
brain was on fire. I seized the great
latch and threw my strength into the
last stroke for liberty and home. Thank
God, the door yielded. That gust Of
wind-swept rain enveloped me like
thousand angels sent for my deliver
ance. Into the darkness plunged, not
knowing, not caring, possessed only
with the conviction that I was free,
free, free!
"On and on I raced I was hundreds
of miles from home, in a strange coun-
try. The December rain pelted me in
torrents, the mud was almost to my
knees. I did not know q single road,
but plunged on and on, with the hope
of finding some sort Of a path-any-
where on earth, so long as it was out
Of sight Of that accursed place. I
dared not look back, still breathless1y
I paused, and, from distant hill, I
saw the bleak turrets illuminated By
the lightning's fash. and then they fad
ed from my sight forever.
"I found that in tearing through
barbed wire fence in my fight I had
torn one of my fingers almost from
my hand. It bled profusely, but, bind
ing it up as best could, set my face
from the scene Of my miseries, scan
ming the darkness for one evidence Of
the habitat Of civilized man. Knowing
that they would soon bee after me,
dared not lapse into walk, but kept
up fierce gait, over ridges, through
creeks, surmounting every obstacle,
the mud Of the Tennessee valleys often
to my knees, falling into ponds whose
thin ice cut me as plunged
Finally when almost totally exhaust
ed, Mr.. Morris heard dogs barking in
the distance, and, following up the
sound, came to a little cabin. The
negro who owned It took him IN and
cared for him for two days. He was
fourteen miles from the asylum and q
hundred miles from home.
".afterward I offered my watch for
fare to Nashville. but the young man
Of the house said, "The lightning e1-
press stops for water just a half min
ute down here about mile. Conceal
yourself nearby and board the blind
Baggage car. You are safe till you, get
to louisville I thanked him, bade
these good people adieu with tears Of
gratitude, and, with the help Of my
friend, an hour later boarded the blind
baggage car Of the midnight express.
God bless you allr screamed out as
sped away through the darkness
toward home and my dear people, pelt-
ed with cinders, stifled and strangled
with smoke, but with my heart beat
ing fast with triumph. I arrived at
Louisville at daybreak to face my ac-
cusers. who saw the miracle Of my es-
cape from the prison asylum with con-
sternation and terror. How ever sur
yived it I do not know, but here am,
safe, sane and sound, proving that
where there is will to break from IN
tust bondage, with right on your side.
there IS no limit to human endurance
They gently child the poet IN that be