The Beaumont enterprise. [volume] (Beaumont, Tex.) 1904-current, 1904-09-03
Tunnel Built Up to Escape Raiders


Mo-, recently led to a curious discov.
cry. A gang of laborers was at work
in the rear of the Hotel Miller. When
about five feet down one of them
sunk his shovel in the earth and 1t
went out of sight. The laborer would
have followed his implement had a
comrade not caught him.
An investigation showed they had
tapped a seven-foot tun2el, extending
northwest and southeast. Going north
west a few hundred feet the under
ground passage terminated In n large
room, rooted with heavy timbers. This
had evidently been the entrance from
above, for there was manhole cut
through the timbers. Boards had been
laid across this and covered with
earth to secrete the entrance.
The tunnel extended to the limits
of the city in the southwest. 1t was
carefully boarded on the sides ard
rooted with railroad ties. A tall man
could pass through without STOPPING.
The entire distance was about mile.
The tunnel was finished from end TIC
end in substantial and workman,
like manned and the wooden roof was
in fair state of preservation.
Although no one was aware OF the
existence of this queer subterranean
avenue, it is known that the entrance
is about the center of the old Harris
prison stockade, and it is conjectured
that it owes its existence to military
expediency. The Harris house prison
acquired considerable fame of GER
tain sort during the war. 1t was the
Andersonville of northern Missouri, II
had been a hotel and was large
enough to hold several hundred pris'
oners by a little crowding.
Macon was the department head
quarters for northern Missouri. Gen
Lewis Merrill was commander. Mer
rill's Horse was constantly rounding
nm bushwhackers. oath violaters and
marauders generally. Sometimes they
corraled men who came under neither
head. In September, 1862, there were
among the prisoners lawyer ana q
banker Of unquestioned character. Dul
with sympathies for the South. They
were charged with acts for which TIC
| military law provided death penalty
| Their guilt had been pronounced, bu'
| it was decided to execute only ten o.
the prisoners, the unfortuEatcs TO DC
| drawn by lot.
The lawyer and the banker had
high friends on the outside. Al
o'clock on the afternoon of the twenty
fourth day they were released and
returned home. At the provost mar
ehal entered the room whore the con
yicted were and superintendcd tho
drawing. The ten drawing the deatf
cards were shot the next day. Tho
lawyer and banker, yet following thei'
respective yocations. are both prom
| nent I'm Missouri to-day.
Owing to the rigor with which th'
bushwEackcrs were chased by Mer
rill's Horse retaliation by the enemy
was constantly expected. Day by dal
| -cnorts came in Of ma sang columns
~ ,ucrrillas under the h.acS nag
After Ouantrell's mcrciless work a
I avrrnce it was expected that h'
would visit Macon. where the mrs
| Confederate flag of the war had beer
Torn down and where there was a mil
tary organization for the express oh
,ect Of running down predatory bands
/ NerrilTg Horse was I'm no position
| "a ask quarters from The gueIfiiia-
md il Is thought that the ancient iun
,oI inst found was constructed as
va of escape If the stOckade faile'
IN hold the enemy Only one man
/. time could get through The entranc'
end a rear guard On the room beloG
could have held back a regiment Unit
+tr defenders escaped. Tie hnnr va
lard ard smooth and TIE width crea
enough f8r uraa men f0 EaIE abr1as'
4era and there the tunnel was widen
! Cd ont. probably f0r The storage q
arms and provisions.
Acc Pru ArTarsJn Lad sh0' dow
.rr invalid soldiers m the North llii
! -1rr train Co. ssI'smbrr. 1854, an
s-rffra-rE Major Jotr'on's con
--s-a 81 go men st Crntralia p
.t,at his Est n. rhr north and Dc
r-a-lr there vac one more tDW'
/ -1.,-l re =1u1- ~ Els-s-'fred re
,-.af r,- rarraarra Re referred 2
sbs creation ir Ns"Dn Dr. lsaZ- ID
rus-r-uss threat came % On %