the twin hells(两个地狱)-第12节
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subsequently learned； was innocent of the offense。 I would advise the
good people of Lyons County； and of Emporia particularly； after they have
perused this book； if they come to the conclusion that they have no better
material out of which to construct a district judge； to go out on the frontier
and lassoo a wild Comanche Indian and bring him to Emporia and place
him upon the ermined bench。 I do not even know the name of this judge；
but I believe； if I am correctly informed in this case； that his judgment is
deficient somewhere。 But I must say in this connection； when the good
people of Lyons County heard of this suicide； they immediately thereafter
petitioned the Board of Pardons for the release of these prisoners； and the
board at once reported favorably upon their cases； and Governor Martin
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promptly granted their pardons and they were released from the prison。 If
the pardon had not been granted； others of them had resolved upon taking
their lives as did their comrade。 One of these prisoners was for a time a
companion of mine in one of my mining rooms； and told me if he was
required to remain in the coal mines digging coal another three months he
had made up his mind to follow the example of his comrade； preferring
death to the horrors of the mines。
For the further information of the reader； as to the dread of the
prisoners of work in the mines； I cite the following which I call to
recollection。 The gentlemanly physician of the institution； Dr。 Neeally； told
me that at four different times men had feigned death in the mines and had
been carried on stretchers to the hospital； the particulars in one case is as
follows： One of these men feigned death and was carried to the hospital；
and was reported by his comrades to be dead。 He had suppressed his
breathing。 The physician felt his pulse； and finding it regular； of course
knew he was simply endeavoring to deceive。 In order to experiment； the
physician coincided with the statements of the attending convicts who had
carried him from the mines； and announced that he would try electricity；
and if he failed to restore him to life he would then have to bury him in the
regular way。 The doctor retired for the purpose of getting his electrical
apparatus。 In a few moments he returned； bringing it with him； and placing
the magnetic cups； one in each hand； commenced generating the electricity
by turning the generator attached to the machine。 After a few turns of the
crank the prisoner opened his eyes； one or two more and he sat up； a few
more and he stood on his feet； another turn or two and he commenced
dancing around； and exclaimed； 〃For God's sake； doctor； do quit； for I ain't
dead； but I can't let loose！〃 Reader； what do you suppose was the object
this convict had in view in thus feigning death？ What did he hope to gain
thereby？ Being well acquainted with this prisoner； a few days after the
doctor had told me of the circumstances I met him； and asked him what
object he had in feigning death the time that he was taken from the mines
to the hospital？ His reply was that he hadn't the nerve to take his own life；
as he believed in a future state of punishment； and that he did not desire to
step from the Kansas Hell to the hell of the future； and that by feigning
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death he hoped to be taken to the hospital； placed in a coffin； then taken
out to the prison graveyard； and buried alive； so that he would suffocate in
his grave！
There is not a man in those mines but would leave them quickly for a
place on the surface。
I now call to mind one instance where a heart…broken father came to
the prison and offered one of the leading prison officials one thousand
dollars if he would take his son out of the coal mines and give him a place
on the surface during the remainder of his term。 A man who labors in these
mines simply spends his time； not knowing but the next hour will be his
last。
As I have stated heretofore the prisoners are allowed to converse in the
mines； and as a result of this almost necessary rule； every convict has an
opportunity to listen to the vilest obscenity that ever falls upon human ears。
At times； when some of these convicts； who seem veritable encyclopedias
of wickedness； are crowded together； the ribald jokes； obscenity and
blasphemy are too horrible for description。 It is a pandemoniuma
miniature hell！ But worse than this horrible flow of language are the
horrible and revolting practices of the mines。 Men； degraded to a plane
lower than the brutes； are guilty of the unmentionable crimes referred to
by the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Romans； chapter I； verse 27； which
is as follows： 〃And likewise also the men； leaving the natural use of the
woman； burned in their lusts one toward another； men with men； working
that which is unseemly； and receiving in themselves that recompense of
their error which was meet。〃 Every opportunity is here offered for this vile
practice。 They are far removed from the light and even from the influences
of their officers； and in the darkness and silence old and hardened
criminals debase and mistreat themselves and sometimes the younger ones
that are associated with them in their work。 These cases of self…abuse and
sodomy are of daily occurrence； and； although the officials of the prison
take every precaution to prevent such evil practices； yet； as a matter of fact；
so long as prisoners are permitted to work in the mines it will be
impossible to break up these terribly degrading and debasing practices。 Oh；
Kansan！ you that boast of the freedom and liberty； the strength of your
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laws； and the institutions in your grand young State； what do you think of
this disclosure of wickedness； equalling if not excelling the most horrible
things ever pictured by the divine teachers of humanity；the apostles and
their followers？ A hint is only here given； but to the wise it will be
sufficient； and but a slight exercise of the imaginative powers will be
necessary to unfold to you the full meaning of this terrible state of affairs。
It is believed by the writer that if the people of the State of Kansas
knew under what circumstances men in the prison were compelled to work；
there would be a general indignation； which would soon be expressed
through the proper channels； and which might lead to a proper solution of
the difficulty。
In many of the rooms of the mines there are large pools of water which
accumulate there from dripping down from the crevices above； this； taken
in connection with the natural damps of the mines； which increases the
water； makes very large pools； and in these mud…holes convicts are
compelled to work and wallow about all day long while getting out their
coal； more like swine than anything else。 How can this be in the line of
reformation； which； we are taught to believe outside of the prison walls； is
the principal effort of all discipline within the prison。 The result of work
under such unfavorable circumstances is that many of the convicts
contract rheumatism； neuralgia； pneumonia and other lung troubles； and；
of course； malaria。 Many persons that enter these mines in good health
come out physical wrecks； often to find homes in the poor…houses of the
land when their prison days are over； or die before their terms expire。 In
the judgment of the writer the coal mines should be sold； until that is done；
prisoners who contract diseases there that will carry them to untimely
graves should be pensioned by the State； and thus kept from spending the
rest of their natural lives in some of the country poor… houses。
Each person in the mines is assigned a task； he is required to get out a
certain amount of coal each week。 In case the convict fails to mine the task
that has been assigned him he must endure punishment； a description of
which wi
