the twin hells(两个地狱)-第17节
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body is to be forwarded to the friends； otherwise； the burial suit consists of
a cotton shirt and a pair of drawers of the same material。 The coffin is very
plain； and is made in one of the prison shops。
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CHAPTER VII
ESCAPES FROM PRISON
Occasionally there is a man shrewd enough to make his escape from
prison。 When a convict has almost served out his time he is generally
selected to perform the duties of a 〃trusty；〃 and allowed to go outside the
prison enclosure。 By good conduct other prisoners gain the confidence of
the officials； and there are instances where these men； though they may
have several months to serve； are permitted to go beyond the walls； doing
duty for the prison。 But they are rare。 Generally a convict； if he has long to
serve； is not trusted to any great extent。 At times these 〃trusties；〃 although
they may have but a few weeks to remain； cannot successfully resist the
temptation to escape。 Ordinarily the escaped convict is overtaken and
brought back。
I recollect an instance where two young fellows were thus trusted。 One
of them had two months to serve； and the other but twenty…seven days。
They were given employment at the reservoir； over a mile from the prison。
No officer was guarding them。 They made an attempt to get away。 After
being absent a few hours they were missed from their post of duty。 The
alarm was given； and officers started in pursuit。 They were overtaken and
caught about five miles distant； hid in the brush。 They had concealed
themselves in this place； intending to make their escape in the darkness of
the coming night。 The officers in search accidentally came upon them in
this brush patch。 They were taken back to prison。 They were compelled to
work for thirty days with a ball and chain attached to each of their limbs；
after which they were taken to Leavenworth； to the District Court； where
they plead guilty to the charge of attempting to escape from the prison。
Each of them received a sentence of one year at hard labor in the
penitentiary for this foolishness。 After their present sentence has expired；
they will have to enter immediately upon the other for trying to escape。 At
this writing； both of these convicts are digging coal in the mines。 They are
not trusted now。
Another prisoner； a much older man than these two whom I have
described； tried to escape； he got as far as Ohio before the officers secured
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him。 During the late rebellion this man was a captain in the army。 He
became involved in a quarrel with some of his relatives and was sent to the
penitentiary for forgery。 On account of his previous good character； on
coming to the penitentiary he was immediately set to work as a 〃trusty。〃
Some few months after he was sent to the Missouri River； over a mile
from the prison； to do some work。 No officer was with him。 Going down
to the banks of the river he discovered a boat tied to the shore。 In a
subsequent conversation； he told me when he saw that boat it suggested
the thought of escaping。 His wife and children were in the State of Ohio。
They had removed there since his conviction。 〃The boat；〃 said he； 〃seemed
to say； 'get in and cross the river。' I thought of my family。 Oh； how I
longed to be with them！ I could not resist the temptation。 I had some old
overalls； and I drew these on over the stripes。 I got into the boat； rowed
across； and hid in the woods on the Missouri side until night。 During the
night…time I walked； and during the daytime would lay by in the woods；
occasionally going out to a house begging something to eat。 At last I
reached my home in Ohio。 I was footsore and almost starved when I
arrived。〃 Continuing his narrative； he informed me that he had no peace of
mind。 He was in constant dread of pursuing officers。 Every man he saw he
took to be a detective in search of him。 At last； so great was his alarm and
uneasiness； that he telegraphed the prison officials where he was。 The
warden went and brought him back； For punishment he remained in the
dungeon several days and nights； and wore the ball and chain for over a
month。 This man has not been tried yet for making his escape。 It will
probably be overlooked because of the change in the prison administration。
His original sentence was five years。
Another prisoner made his escape； was away for five years； was then
discovered； brought back； and is at present eight hundred feet below the
surface； digging coal。
One day a young man was brought to the penitentiary under three
years' sentence。 He was handsome and had winning ways。 It was not long
before the officers had learned to like him。 He was a natural confidence
man。 It was difficult to resist his influence。 After he had been in the
penitentiary a short time he was made a 〃trusty。〃 For awhile he was very
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dutiful and obedient。 He was no fool。 He gained the confidence of the
officers so that many of them would have confided their pocketbooks to
his care。 He was permitted to go beyond the prison walls to quite a
distance。 Finally he walked off。 That convict has never been heard of since。
He was a slick one。 After his departure it was found out that he had walked
away from the Colorado prison in the same manner。
The following is an instance of the shrewdness practiced in effecting
escapes。 A hog…thief was convicted and sent to the prison。 He related that
while traveling through the southern part of Kansas； a mere tramp； passing
by a farmer's residence； he saw a number of hogs in a lot adjoining a grove
some distance to the rear of the house。 Passing up through the grove；
unperceived； he removed one of the boards and drove the hogs out through
the woods into a small pond where they covered themselves with mud。
Then driving them around on to the main traveled road； he started with
them for town some five miles off。 As he was driving along the highway；
the owner of the hogs met him and inquired where he was taking them。 He
replied that he was going to market。 The farmer said he was making up a
car load and would give him as much as he could get in town。 After some
further conversation the parties agreed upon the price； the farmer buying
his own hogs from the tramp； who went on his way rejoicing。 An hour or
two thereafter the farmer； going out into his field to see his hogs； found
they were gone； and upon examining those recently purchased； which by
this time had rubbed all the mud off； he discovered it was his own hogs he
had purchased from the tramp。 He immediately set out in pursuit of the
thief； whose whereabouts were soon determined。 The thief； after receiving
the money； went to town； took a train； but stopped off at a little place
nearby； and instead of secreting himself for a time； began to drink。 While
dissipating he was overtaken； arrested； and held for trial。 Had he left
whisky alone； he could have escaped。 At the trial； which soon followed； he
was convicted of grand larceny； and on his arrival at the prison was
immediately put into the coal mines。 After working there for a week or ten
days he became dissatisfied； and decided to secure a position on the
surface。 One morning； as the prisoners were being let down into the mines；
apparently in a fit he fell into the arms of a prisoner； when he landed at the
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bottom he was in the worst part of his spasm； the officer in charge ordered
him sent to the top as soon as he had partially recovered； stating that it was
dangerous to have a man working in the mines who was subject to fits； as
he might not only kill himself but be the cause of the death of others with
him in the cage。 To make his cas
