the twin hells(两个地狱)-第6章
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come to hear a convict talk。 In answer； I told him that was the most
important question that was agitating my mind at the present moment； and
if he would let me have the use of the Opera House we would soon settle
that question。 I further told him that if the receipts of the evening were not
enough to pay him for the use of the house； that I would pay him as soon
as possible。 He let me have the use of the house。 I advertised in the daily
papers of the city that I would lecture in the Opera House the following
evening on my prison life；admission fifty cents。 I thought if the good
people wanted to come at all they would come even if they had to pay well
for it。 I was very restless from the morning that I engaged the Opera
House until the next evening； at which time I was to speak。 I did not know
whether I would have any audience。 If not； I was fifty dollars deeper in
debt。 The evening for the lecture came； I went to the Opera House
prepared to interest anyone that might put in an appearance； I entered the
building in the rear； and took my position on the platform。 The signal was
given and up went the curtain。 I was highly pleased when I saw my
audience。 The building was packed。 The lecture was a financial success。 In
this manner I secured a nice 〃stake〃 for future use。 I delivered that lecture
for several weeks in Kansas； and made a thousand dollars above expenses。
To return to my first afternoon in the cell。 I thought of another scheme。 I
conceived the idea that a book about； a penitentiary； giving its history； and
also the history of many of the leading criminals； modes of punishment；
escapes； etc。； would be very interesting； and would sell。 I decided to write
such a book while in prison。 In order to write a book it became necessary
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to have writing material。 How was I to secure this？ It was against the
prison regulations for a prisoner to have a lead…pencil or scrap of paper。
The officials were very strict on this point。 It was essential they should be。
If the prisoners could pass notes； it would not be long before a prison
insurrection would be the result。 The plan that I adopted to secure writing
material was rather unique； and perhaps the reader will like to know how I
managed this difficult matter。 It is wonderful what a man can accomplish；
with adverse surroundings； if he wills it。 As I have stated before； I had
much to do in securing the election of Hon。 W。 D。 Gilbert to the district
judgeship。 This made him feel very kind toward me。 He came often to
visit me at the prison。 One day while visiting me； I asked him to use his
influence with the warden to secure for me the privilege of having writing
material in my cell。 〃What do you want with writing material；〃 said he。
The answer I gave was； that I might pass away my leisure hours in
learning to write short…hand。 He called on Warden Smith； and got his
consent。 He told the warden that if I would master this useful art while in
prison； on my release； he would appoint me his district court reporter； at a
salary Of 2；500 a year。 The scheme was a success。 I sent and got my
short…hand books and writing material。 I mastered short…hand； and can
now write as fast as one would care to dictate。 It was not long before I
began writing my book in short…hand。 The officials； as was their custom；
would examine my cell daily to see if anything had crept in that did not
belong there。 They could not read short…hand。 They did not know what so
many little straight marks and curves indicated。 I persevered； and one
month before my time expired I had my book completed； and sent it out
by a friend who visited the prison； who kept it for me until I secured my
liberty。 As before stated； I lectured until I got money sufficient； and then I
published my first book on prisons； giving it the impressive title of 〃A
Kansas Hell。〃 This book sold rapidly； and soon the first edition was
disposed of。 I made enough money out of this book to place me on my feet；
financially。 But； to return to my cell the first afternoon。 I remained alone
until time for the prisoners to come in from their work； when I found that I
was to have a 〃life man〃 for my cell…mate； whose name was Woodward R。
Lopeman。 I have given his history in a subsequent chapter。 I remained in
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my cell during the evening； until the prison bell rang for retiring。 Strange
to say； after going to bed； I soon fell asleep； and did not awake until the
prison bell rang on the following morning。 When I did awake； it was to
find myself； not in my own pleasant little home in the city of Atchison；
Kansas； but in a felon's cell。 I arose and dressed； and then waited and
wondered what would be the next thing on the programme。
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CHAPTER II
THE COAL MINES
I was next taken to the coal mines。 These mines are located just
outside of the prison enclosure； and are surrounded by high stone walls
and stone buildings； which； by their location； take the place of walls。 The
coal yards are separated from the prison campus by a partition wall； which
constitutes the south wall of the coal department and the north wall of the
prison。
Passing from one of these departments to the other； through a large
gateway； the gate being kept by a convict； an old man who murdered his
son； and who has a life sentence。 Reader； how would you like to spend
your entire life； day after day； week after week； month after month； year
after year； in the monotonous employment of opening and closing a large
gate？ When my escort and myself reached the mines； I was placed in
charge of Mr。 Dodds； the official in control of the mines at the surface。 Mr。
Dodds is a very competent officer； and has been on duty at that place more
than twenty years。 From this officer I received a mining cap。 This piece of
head…wear was turban…shaped； striped； of course； with a leather frontlet； on
which was fastened the mining lamp。 This lamp； in shape； resembled an
ordinary tea…pot； only it was much smaller。 In place of the handle was a
hook； which fastened to the leather frontlet。 The bowl of the lamp
contained the oil； a wick passes up through the spout； at the end of which
is the light。 The miner carrying his lamp in this position has it out of his
way。 With the cap on my head and lamp lighted； I stood on the verge of a
ten by twelve hole in the earth； that was almost eight hundred feet deep。
We think that a well one hundred feet deep is quite a distance down into
the ground； but here was a hole eight times deeper。 In the mining
vernacular this hole is termed a shaftthe term that will be employed in
speaking of it hereafter。 There are two of these shafts； about one hundred
yards apart。 Each shaft is divided by a wooden partition which descends
from the top to the bottom。 Two elevators； or cages； as they are called；
ascend and desce
