the twin hells(两个地狱)-第7章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
ascend and descend along the shaft。 While one cage is coming up the other
is going down。 They derive their motor power from two large engines； one
21
… Page 22…
THE TWIN HELLS
for each shaft。 The officer in charge inquired； before making my descent
into the mines； if I ever fainted。 〃Never；〃 was my reply。 Persons
sometimes faint in going down this shaft。 〃Step into the cage；〃 was the
order given。 I obeyed； and； reaching up； took hold of some iron bars that
went across the top。 The signal was given； down I started。 After I had
descended a few feet a current of air coming up from below put out my
light； which left me in the darkness of an Egyptian night。 Down； down；
down I went。 There are a great many things in life that I have forgotten。
There are a great many more that I expect to forget； but that first ride
down the coal shaft I never can forget。 Thug！ I had struck bottom。 It is said
that when one starts down hill in this world he keeps on going until he
strikes bottom。 My readers will certainly agree with me that reaching a
resting place eight hundred feet under the surface I had found the lowest
round of the ladder。 Whatever I may be in the future； to whatever heights I
may ascend； I shall not forget that my starting point was nearly a thousand
feet under the Kansas penitentiary。 Water seeks its level。 You may force
one below the surface； and to whatever depth you please； to the extent of
your power； but if he does not belong there； you cannot keep him down： in
the course of time he will rise。
It was six long； dreary months before I was able to reach the first
round in the ladder。 Through that period I lay in the penitentiary mines； or
at the bottom of 〃The Kansas Hell。〃 It is said the old fashioned Hell has
fire and brimstone； while the 〃Kansas Hell〃 has no fire； one thing is
certain； it has plenty of material out of which to make it； and an abundant
supply of sulphur。
At the end of my descent I found an officer there on duty。 He told me
to step off and occupy a seat on a small bench near by。 He desired to
impart some information。 He advised me that while I was there； a convict；
it would not be proper to assume the warden's privileges or endeavor to
discharge his duties。 In other words； the best thing to do was to keep my
place； revolve about in my own orbit； carefully regarding all laws； both
centripetal and centrifugal； otherwise； I might burst by the natural pressure
of too highly confined interior forces！ I confess that； though not subject to
such infliction； I very nearly fainted over these ponderous polysyllables！
22
… Page 23…
THE TWIN HELLS
He also informed me that the beautifully paved highway to popularity in
the coal mines was to excavate large quantities of the carboniferous
substance contained in the subterranean passages of the mine； the more
coal I got out the more popular would I be！
After his lecture was over the officer gave a low whistle； and out from
a dark recess there emerged a convict in his stripes。 His face and hands
were covered with coal dust。 He came out grinning； showing his white
teeth。 As I caught sight of him I thought； surely； this is a fiend from the
lower regions。 Take one of those prisoners with his striped clothes； a light
burning on his head； his face black and shining like ebony； behold him in
the weird darkness of the mines； and if he does not call to your mind the
picture of one of the imps of Eternal Night there is nothing in this world
that will。 This prisoner was the runner or messenger for this officer at the
foot of the shaft。 Each officer in the penitentiary who has charge of a
division of men has a messenger to run errands for him。 When this
messenger came up to the officer he made his obeisance。 Convicts are
taught to observe good manners in the presence of the officials。 He was
told to take me to another officer in a distant part of the mines； a Mr。 Johns；
who would give me work。 From the foot of the shaft there go out in almost
all directions； roadways or 〃entries。〃 These underground roadways are
about six feet in width and height。 I could walk erect in most of them。
Along these entries was a car track； over which the small coal cars pass to
and from the rooms where the coal is taken out； to the shaft； and hoisted to
the top with their load of coal。 Some of these entries extend more than a
mile out into the earth from the base of the shaft。 As my fellow…prisoner
and I were passing along one of these roadways to the place where I was
to work； he asked me my name and the nature of my offense。 At this place
let me inform； the reader that the prisoners are given permission to
converse with each other in the mines。 Their instructions are to the effect
that they are not to talk about anything but their work； but in the
penitentiary the same rule holds good as on the outside： 〃Give a man an
inch and he will take a yard。〃 So； when permission is given to the convict
to talk about his work； he talks about everything else。 In answer to my
escort's question as to the length of my sentence； I informed him that I had
23
… Page 24…
THE TWIN HELLS
eighteen months。 He dryly remarked that was nothing； and if the judge
who sent me up could not give me a longer term than that； he should have
sent me home to my family。 He also remarked that he was afraid I would
get into trouble in the mines on account of my short sentence。 There were
a great many long…term fellows down there； who were envious of short…
term men； and were likely to put up jobs on them by reporting their
mistakes and violations of regulations to the officer in charge； and thus get
them punished。 I informed my guide that I thought I would get along some
way with the prisoners； and keep out of trouble。 I then inquired of him as
to the length of his sentence。
〃Twenty…five stretches；〃 was his reply。 I did not know what he meant
by the term 〃stretches〃 and asked for information。 〃That is the prison term
for years； a stretch meaning a year；〃 was his reply。 I learned that my
companion； having twenty…five stretches； was carrying about with him a
twenty…five years' sentence。 A quarter of a century in prison！ This was a
young man。 He had been in the prison for three years。 When he entered
this living tomb he had the bloom of youth upon his cheek。 When he goes
out； at the end of his term； if he lives so long； he will be an old； broken
down man。 He will not be likely to live that long。 The average life of a
convict is but fourteen years under the most favorable surroundings； but in
the coal mines it cannot exceed five years at most。
Let me tell you of this man's crime； and then you can determine for
yourself how easy it is to get in the penitentiary。 This young fellow is the
son of one of the most respectable farmers in the State。 He attended a
dance one night in company with some of the neighbor boys at a village
near by。 While there； he got under the influence of strong
