the twin hells(两个地狱)-第2章
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The fates were against me。 Had I been a State instead of a United States
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prisoner； no doubt Mr。 Caldwell； as chairman of the Board of Pardons；
would have used his influence to secure for me my liberty。 That I was sent
to prison is wholly due to politics。 It is unnecessary； therefore； for me to
inform the reader that I am now 〃out of politics。〃 Having served out my
term I returned to my home in Atchison。 As to the ring that sent me to
prison； some of them are dead； others have left Atchison to make their
homes in other places； others have failed financially； and still others have
fallen so low that they have scarcely friends enough to bury them should
they happen to die。
The big wheel of life keeps on revolving。 Those who are up to…day
may be down to…morrow； and vice versa。 But to continue my narrative。
Immediately after my conviction and sentence I was taken to the
Leavenworth County jail。 Here I remained until the following Tuesday in
the company of a dozen or more prisoners who were awaiting trial。 On
Sunday； while in this jail； my wife； who died during my imprisonment of a
broken heart； and an account of which is given in a subsequent chapter；
came to see me。 I can never forget this visit。 She remained with me during
the entire day。 During the conversation of the day I said to her that； it
seemed that the future appeared very gloomy。 That it would be a miracle if
I ever was able to survive the disgrace that had been so cruelly placed
upon me。 That all ambition and hope as to the future had fled； and that I
could not blame her if she should now free herself by means of divorce； as
my conviction of crime was a legal ground for divorce in Kansas。 In reply
to this； the noble little woman； her face aglow with the radiance of
womanly devotion； said； that for twenty years of married life our home
had been one of sunshine； that I had been kind to her and made her life
one of happiness； and that now； when misfortune came； it was not only a
duty； but the highest pleasure； to prove her fidelity。 She kept her word。 She
was true to the last。 When dying； her last words were a petition for the
blessings of God upon her husband who was far away behind frowning
prison walls。 On Tuesday morning a deputy United States marshal came to
the jail and gave me notice that in a few moments we would leave for the
penitentiary。 This officer was a gentleman； and did not seek to further
humiliate me by placing irons on my person。 I have often thought of this
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act of kindness on the part of this humane official。 We took the train at
Leavenworth； and in a very few moments were at my future place of
residence。 Lansing； the small village where the penitentiary is located； is
about five miles from the city of Leavenworth。 The entrance to the prison
is from the west。 Under the watchful care of the officer who had me in
charge； I passed under a stone archway； to the left of which was a small
office； where a guard was on duty during the day time。 We were halted by
this officer； who inquired if we had any firearms。 No one visiting the
penitentiary is allowed to carry fire…arms within the enclosure。 The
marshal who had me in custody handed over a large navy revolver。
Between this archway and the western wall of the prison is a beautiful
lawn。 The walks are lined with fragrant flowers； beautiful fountains send
aloft their silvery sprays。 Passing up the roadway leading to the entrance
door； and looking about me upon the rich carpet of green； the flowers and
fountains； I came to the conclusion that the penitentiary was not so bad a
place as I had imagined。 I changed my mind； however； as soon as I had
seen inside the walls。
The prison enclosure contains about ten acres of ground。 This is
surrounded by a stone wall some fifteen feet high； and six feet thick at the
base。 It is not more than four feet at the top。 At each of the four corners
may be found a tower rising some ten feet above the wall。 A guard is on
duty in each of these towers during the day。 He carries a double…barreled
shotgun loaded with buckshot。 In case a prisoner tries to escape he is liable
to get a dose of lead； provided the officer on duty is a good marksman。
The western wall is almost entirely made of a large stone building with its
two long wings。 The main building is four stories。 The wings stretching to
the north and south； each two hundred and fifty feet； contain the cells。 On
the first floor of the main building are the offices of the warden； clerk；
deputy warden and turnkey。 The upper rooms are used by the warden's
family。
I was first conducted into the clerk's office and introduced to Mr。 Jones；
the clerk。 He is a very pleasant gentleman； and spoke kindly to me； which
I can assure all was very acceptable； for just about that time I was feeling
very badly。 His remark was： 〃I am very glad to meet you； Mr。 Reynolds；
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but sorry to meet you under these sad circumstances。〃 On his invitation I
took a chair and sat down to await the next part of the progamme。 As I sat
there and thought of the kind words spoken to me by the clerk； I quickly
reached the conclusion that if all the officers of that institution were as
kind as Mr。 Jones； it would not be as bad a place as I had anticipated。 I had
no experience then that would justify any other conclusion。 Soon a side
door of the office opened and in came the deputy warden； Mr。 John
Higgins。 Mr。 H。 is the sourest appearing man I ever met in my life。 At least；
it seemed so to me on that day。 He can get more vinegar on the outside of
his face than any other person in the State of Kansas。 He did not wait to be
introduced to me。 He never craves an introduction to a criminal。 As soon
as he came into the room he got a pole with which to measure me。 Then；
looking at me； in a harsh； gruff voice he called out： 〃Stand up here。〃 At
first I did not arise。 At the second invitation； however； I stood up and was
measured。 My description was taken by the clerk。 In this office there is to
be found a description of all the criminals that ever entered the Kansas
penitentiary。 I was asked if I was a married man； how many children I had；
and how much property I possessed。 These questions were easily
answered。 After the deputy warden had discharged his duty he retired。 I
soon discovered that it was according to the rules of the prison for the
officers to talk in a harsh and abrupt manner to the prisoners。 This
accounted for the way in which I was greeted by the deputy warden； who
is the disciplinarian of the prison。 I may say； in passing； that all the harsh
manners of Mr。 Higgins are simply borrowed for the occasion。 Away from
the presence of prisoners； over whom he is to exert his influence； there is
not to be found a more pleasant and agreeable gentleman。 In came a
second official； and； in the same gruff manner； said to me； 〃Come along。〃 I
followed him out to the wash…house； where I took a bath。 A prisoner took
my measure for a suit of clothes。 After he had passed the tape…line around
me several times； he informed the officer that I was the same size of John
Robinson； who had been released from the penitentiary the day before。
〃Shall I give him John Robinson's clothes？〃 asked the convict。 In the same
gruff manner the officer said； 〃Yes； bring on Robinson's old clothes。〃 So I
was furnished with a second…hand suit！ The shoes were second…hand。 I am
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positive about this last statement； judging by the aroma。 After I had been
in the penitentiary some four months； I learned that John Robinson； whose
clothes I had secured； was a colored man。 Being arrayed in this suit of
stripes I was certainly 〃a thing of beauty。〃 The coat was a short blouse and
striped； the stripes； white and black； alternated with each other； and passed
around the body in a horizontal way。 The pantaloons were striped； the shirt
was striped； the cap was striped。 In fine； it seemed that everything about
that penitentiary was stripedeven to the cats！ Being dressed； I was next
handed an article that proved； on examination； to be intended for a
handkerchief。 It was covered with large blue letters〃Leavenworth Mills。
XXX Flour；〃 etc。 It was a quarter section of a flour sack！ Nine hundred
prisoners very soon empty a great many flour sacks。 After the flour has
been consumed the sack is cut up into quarter sections； washed； hemmed
and used for handkerchiefs。 No better handkerchief can be invented。 They
are stout； stiff and durable！ They will bear all manner of nasal assaults！
There is no danger of blowing them into atoms； and the officials are not
afraid to give them out to convicts sent there charged with the use of
dynamite！ One of them has been known to last a prisoner for five years。
After I had donned my suit and taken possession of my handkerchief； I
was ordered to fold my arms。 Prisoners marching in ranks； or going to and
fro about the prison enclosure； are required to have their arms in this
position。 The object is to prevent them from passing articles。 I was
marched to the building known as the south wing of the cell house。 In this
building； which is two hundred and fifty feet long； there are cells for the
accommodation of five hundred convicts。 The prisoners who occupy this
wing work in the shops located above ground； and within the prison
enclosure。
The officer in charge conducted
