the twin hells(两个地狱)-第7节
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escort's question as to the length of my sentence； I informed him that I had
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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 drink； became
involved in a quarrel over one of the numbers with the floor managers； and
in the fight that ensued he drew his knife and disemboweled the man with
whom he was fighting。 In a few moments the wounded man died。 The
young fellow was tried； convicted of murder； and sent to the penitentiary
for twenty…five years at hard labor。 It is awful to contemplate。 Young man；
as you read this； had you not better make up your mind to go rather slow
in pouring whisky down your throat in future？
As we passed along through the mines I thought about that word
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〃stretch；〃 and as I did not like the idea of having jobs put up on me； came
to the conclusion that I would render myself popular by telling the
prisoners in the mines who might ask me as to my sentence； that I had
eighteen 〃stretches。〃 I did not think that calling a month a 〃stretch〃 would
be 〃stretching〃 my conscience to such a degree as to cause me any
particular distress； for I knew that by the time I had served out a month it
would seem equivalent to a year on the outside。
After following along the entry for some distance； almost a mile； we
came to that portion of the mines where I was to work。 Coming up to the
place where the officer was seated； the headquarters of this division； my
guide made a low bow； and informed the officer in charge that he had
brought him a man。 Then bowing himself out； he returned to his place at
the foot of the shaft。
The officer in whose division I was to work now signaled his
messenger； and there came out of the darkness another convict； stripes；
cap； lamp and all。
〃Get Reynolds a set of mining tools；〃 said the officer。
These were soon brought； and consisted of a pick； a short…handled
shovel； two iron wedges and a sledge hammer；
〃Take him；〃 said the officer； 〃to room number three； and tell George
Mullen； who is working in that room； to teach him how to mine。〃
I got my arms around those implements of coal warfare； and following
my escort； passed along the entry for some distance； possibly two hundred
yards； when the roadway in which we were walking suddenly terminated；
and instead； there was a small hole that went further on into the earth。
When we came to this place my guide dropped down on his hands and
knees and passed into the room。 I halted。 I had never been in such a place
before。 I did not know what there was in that dark hole。 Soon my escort
called out； 〃Come along； there is nothing in here to hurt you。〃 So I
dropped down on my hands and knees and into the dark hole I went。
These rooms where the miners work are about twenty…eight inches in
height； twenty…four inches wide； and about fifty feet long。 Think of
working in such a place as that！ Oh； how often have I sighed for room
enough to spread myself！ How I would have made that coal fly had the
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vein been on top where I could have stood on my feet and mined。 George
Mullen； the convict who was to teach me to mine； was at the farther end of
the room at work when we entered。 We crawled on our hands and knees to
him； and when my guide had delivered his message he withdrew and
hastened back to his headquarters near the stand where his officer sat。
After he had gone and my room…mate and myself were left alone；
about the first question that George asked me was； 〃How long have you
got？〃
〃Eighteen stretches；〃 was my quick reply。
George loved me dearly from that moment。 I very soon discovered that
I was very popular with him on account of my long sentence。
〃How long are you in for？〃 said I to him。
〃Always；〃 was his answer。
He was a life prisoner。 At one time he was marshal of a Kansas town；
and while acting in that capacity he killed his man。 He was trying to arrest
him； so he informed me； and the fellow showed fight； when he took out
his gun and shot him。 It was claimed by the authorities that the shooting
was unprovoked； and that the man could have been arrested without
killing him。 Aside from the fact that he had killed his man； I must say that
I never met a man for whom I had a higher regard。 He was very kind to me；
very patient； and made my work as easy for me as he possibly could。 I
remained with him for nearly a month； when； having learned the business；
I was taken to another part of the mines and given a task。
〃Have you ever mined any？〃 inquired my instructor。
〃No； I never was in a coal mine before coming here。〃
He then gave me my first lesson in mining。 I lay on my right side in
obedience to his orders； stretched out at full length。 The short…handled
shovel was inverted and placed under my right shoulder。 This lifted my
shoulder up from the ground a little distance and I was thus enabled to
strike with my pick。 The vein of coal is about twenty…two inches in
thickness。 We would mine out the dirt； or fire…clay as it was called； from
under the coal to the distance of two feet； or the length of a pick…handle；
and to the depth of some six inches。 We would then set our iron wedges in
above the vein of coal； and with the sledge hammer would drive them in
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until the coal would drop down。 Imagine my forlorn condition as I lay
therein that small room。 It was as dark down there as night but for the
feeble light given out by the mining lamp； the room was only twenty…eight
inches from the floor to the ceiling； and then above the ceiling there were
eight hundred feet of mother earth。 Two feet from the face of the coal； and
just back of where I lay when mining； was a row of props that held up the
roof and kept it from falling in upon me。 The loose dirt which we picked
out from under the coal vein was shoveled back behind the props。 This
pile of dirt； in mining language； is called the 〃gob。〃 I began operat
