the twin hells(两个地狱)-第8节
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pile of dirt； in mining language； is called the 〃gob。〃 I began operations at
once。 I worked away with all my might for an hour or more； picking out
the dirt from under the coal。 Then I was tired completely out。 I rolled over
on my back； and； with my face looking up to the pile of dirt； eight hundred
feet thick； that shut out from me the light of day； I rested for awhile。 I had
done no physical work for ten years。 I was physically soft。 To put me
down in the mines and set me to digging coal was wicked。 It was murder。
Down in that dark pit how I suffered！ There was no escape from it。 There
was the medicine。 I had to take it。 I do not know； but it seems to me that
when a man is sent to that prison who has not been in the habit of
performing physical labor； he should not be put to work in the mines until
he becomes accustomed to manual labor。 It would seem that it would be
nothing more than right to give him an easier task at first and let him
gradually become hardened to his work at coal digging。 Nothing of this
kind is done。 The young； the old； the middle… aged are indiscriminately
and unceremoniously thrust into the mine。 Down there are nearly five
hundred prisoners。 Among them are boys from seventeen to twenty years
of age； many of whom are in delicate health。 Here are to be found old men；
in some cases sixty years of age。 I do not wish to be understood as casting
any reflections upon the officers of this institution。 They cannot help these
things。 If Warden Smith could avoid it there would not be a single man
sent down to that region of death。 The mines are there and must be worked。
Let this blame fall where it belongs。 I must say injustice to our common
humanity； that to work these two classes； the boys and old men； in those
coal mines is a burning shame and outrage。 It is bad enough； as the sequel
will show； to put able…bodied； middle…aged men to work in that pit。 The
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great State of Kansas has opened those mines。 Her Legislature has decided
to have them worked。 It becomes the duty； therefore； of the prison
directors to work them as long as they are instructed to do so； even if
scores of human beings are maimed for life or murdered outright each year。
The blame cannot rest on the prison officials； but upon our lawmakers。
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CHAPTER III
THE COAL MINES （Continued）
After we had mined some twenty…five feet we took down the coal。 To
do this the wedges are set and driven in at the top of the vein of coal； with
the sledge hammer。 After my companion had struck the coal several times
it began to pop and crack as if it would fall at any moment。 I became
alarmed。 I was never in such a place before； and I said： 〃George； had I not
better get out of this place？ I don't want the coal to fall on me the first
day。〃 His reply was； that if I wanted to learn how to mine I must remain
near the coal and take my chances of being killed。 This was indeed
comforting！ Then he informed me that he was going to knock on the coal
and wanted me to catch the sound that was produced。 He thumped away；
and I got the sounda dull； heavy thud。 Now； says he； 〃when coal sounds
in that manner it is not ready to drop。〃 So he continued to pound away at it。
The more he pounded the more the coal cracked and the more alarmed I
became。 I was afraid it would drop at any moment and crush me。 I begged
of him to cease pounding until I got into the entry out of the way of danger。
He tried to make me believe there was no danger。 I was hard to convince
of that fact。 There I lay stretched out on my side next to the coal； he
driving in the wedges； and the coal seeming to me to be ready to drop at
each stroke of the hammer。 〃Now listen；〃 said he； 〃while I knock on the
coal once more。〃 I listened。 The sound was altogether different from the
first。 〃Now；〃 said he； 〃the coal is about ready to fall。〃 It is necessary for
the miner to know this part of his business。 It is by the sound that he
determines when it is ready to fall。 If he is ignorant of this part of his work；
he would be in great danger of getting killed from the coal falling
unexpectedly。 〃Well；〃 said I； 〃if this coal is about ready to drop； had I not
better get out of here into the entry； so that I may be out of danger？〃 〃No；〃
was his reply； 〃just crawl up behind that row of props and remain in the
'gob' until after the coal falls。〃 In obedience to his command I cheerfully
got up behind the props and embraced that pile of dirt。 He struck the
wedges a few more blows and then darted behind the props out of danger。
No sooner had he got out of the way than the coal came thundering down。
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〃Now；〃 said my room…mate 〃go out into the entry and bring in the buggy。〃
〃All right。〃 And out I went on my hands and knees。 I soon found my way
into the entry； but found no buggy； so back I crawled into the room and
reported。 At this my instructor crawled out to see what had become of that
singular vehicle known as a mining buggy。 I followed after。 I did not want
to remain behind in that coal mine。 I did not know what might happen
should I be left there in that dark hole alone。 After we had reached the
entry where we could stand erect my teacher pointed to an object which
lay close to our feet； and said to me； 〃Man； where are your eyes？〃 〃In my
head；〃 I calmly replied。 〃Do you see that thing there？〃 〃Of course I see
that thing。〃 〃Well； that is the buggy。〃 〃Indeed！〃 I exclaimed。 〃I am
certainly glad to know it； for I never would have taken that for a buggy。〃 It
had a pair of runners which were held in their places by a board being
nailed across them。 On this was a small box； at one end there was a short
iron handle。 On our knees we pushed the buggy into the room； took up the
hammer； broke up the coal into lumps we could handle； filled up the small
box； dragged it out into the entry and emptied it into a heap。 This is called
〃buggying〃 coal。 It is the most laborious part of mining。 Whenever a new
man would be placed with the convicts for instructions in mining he would
have to buggy coal just as long as it was possible to get him to do so。 After
a time； however； he would want to take turn about with his teacher。
After we had finished getting out what we had down the noon hour
had arrived。 At certain places in the entries or roadways there are large
wooden doors which； when shut； close up the entire passage。 These doors
are for the regulations of the currents of air which pass through the mines。
The loud noise produced by pounding on one of these doors was the signal
for dinner。 It was now noon。 Bang； bang； bang； bang； went the door。 I had
now put in one…half day of my sentence in the mines。 Oh！ the many long；
dreary； monotonous days I passed after that！ At the call for dinner the
convict； ALWAYS HUNGRY； suddenly drops his tools and makes his way
at a rapid pace along the entry until he comes to the place where the
division officer has his headquarters。 Arriving at this place each convict
takes his position in a line with his fellow…convicts。 All talking now ceases。
They sit on the ground while eating； with their lower limbs crossed。 There
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are no soft cushioned chairs on which the tired prisoner may rest his weary
limbs。 When seated； a small piece of pine board； about a foot square； is
placed across his knees。 This is the table。 No table cloth； no napkins； no
table linen of any kind。 Such articles as these would paralyze a convict！
Thus seated in two rows along the sides of the entry； with their mining
lamps lighted and hanging in their caps； they present a weird and
interesting sight。 The dinner had been brought down from the top about an
hour before on coal cars。 Three
