The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1908-04-30
Caught Fast.

Gen. Thomas Rose, who has recently
markable escape from Libby prison
The record of tie work on the tunnel
which led to liberty shows 1t to be a
marvel Of patient, heroic endeavor. In
Mr.. Moran's account of the enterprise,
published in the Century Magazine, one
particular incident stands out. fraught
with especial horror and possible ira
gedy.
Before the actual tunnel, which was
to burrow its way under the founda-
tons of the prison, could be begun, q
starting point in the cellar had to Be
reached The only mode OF access to
this place was through a kitchen flre-
place, the bricks of which must be dug
out, one by one. replaced every morn
ing and all traces of work removed.
until hole large enough for a man to
slip through was ready for the nightly
exit of the tunnel workers.
With an old chisel and a sackknife
Rose and his comrade toiled between
the hours of 10 and 4 every night, in
the dark and without noise. Every bit
of the SCOT from the chimney was
swept in.o a rubber blanket. Each
morning, with sickening tediousness,
every brick was put back h Its place
and mortar carefully rubbed into the
chinks. All went well until one night
circumstance happened which nearly
revealed the secret
When the opening Of the fireplace
was thought to be large enough, long
rope was attached to one Of the kitch-
en- posts, and Rose prepared to descend
the chimney ard reconnoiter. He got
through the hole with ease, but he lost
hold CT the cope, and his body slipped
SO as to plflion his arms and render
him powerless to drop or return 4
bend in the hole cramped him fearfully.
and prevented his breathing. Each ef-
fort only served to fix him more firmly
in the wise.
Hamilton, his comrade, could not
bulge him. Rose gasped for breath.
but refrained from an outcry. Hamfl-
ton saw that without speedy relief bis
friend would expire.
He dashed upstairs, and disregard
| ing consequences. made his way over
| the forms of several hundred sleeping
men, trampling on stomachs, arms, legs
ana faces. Unheeding the furious re-
marks hurled after him, Hamilton kept
on until he found q friend, to whom be
hurriedly whispered his trouble Both
flew back TO the kitchen. and by their
united efforts, Rose was drawn up, half
dead and unconscious.
When the tunnel was fairly under
way, the prisoners had to resort to
much trickery to prevent the absence of
the relays of FIVE diggers being discoy-
cred. When the daily count Of the prls-
oners was being made. some of the SOL
| diers would slipsback in the line, and
thus be counted twice The Irregular
ity of the result often puzzled the
guards. as for example, one day Ii was
reckoned that three men were missing,
while a recount found fifteen prisoners
toe many. Perpl exed and angry. the
| guard shouted:
'Now, gentlemen, look ysre. / can
count a hundred as good as any man
in this we're town, but / can't count
one hundred OF you Yankees. Now, gen.
tlemen, there's one thing sho', there's
eight or tenof you-uns that amt yerel"
The world has read the story of how,
after weeks Of patient toll, Rose at
last broke through the earth crust. and
saw the blue sky overhead, and heard
the sentinel's cry, "Alls WE'LL" The
general was soon after recaptured, but
later exchanged and saved for further
service.