the twin hells(两个地狱)-第8章
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In conversation with the chaplain of the prison I received the following
anecdote； which I will relate for the benefit of my readers。 It is customary
in the prison； after the Sunday exercises； for such as desire to remain and
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hold a sort of class meeting； or； as some call it； experience meeting。 In one
of these； an old colored man arose； and said： 〃Breddren； ebber since Ize
been in dis prison Ize been tryin' to git de blessin'； Ize prayed God night
and day。 Ize rascelled wid de Almighty 'till my hips was sore； but Ize
nebber got it。 Some sez its la'k ob faith。 Some its la'k of strength； but I
b'l'eves de reason am on 'count ob de quality ob dis hash we hab ebbery
day！〃
Accidents are occurring almost daily。 Scarcely a day passes but what
some man receives injuries。 Often very severe accidents happen； and
occasionally those which prove fatal。 Many men are killed outright。 These
accidents are caused by the roof of the little room in which the miner
works falling in upon him； and the unexpected drop of coal。 Of course
there are many things that contribute to accidents； such as bad machinery；
shafts； dirt rolling down； landslides； etc。
One day there was a fellow…prisoner working in the room adjoining me；
he complained to the mining boss that he did not want to go into that room
to work because he thought it was dangerous。 The officer in charge
thought differently； and told him to go in there and go to work or he would
report him。 The prisoner hadn't been in the place more than a half hour
before the roof fell and buried him。 It took some little time to get him out。
When the dirt was removed； to all appearances he was dead。 He was
carried to the hospital on a stretcher； and the prison physician； Doctor
Neeally； examined him； and found that both arms were broken in two
places； his legs both broken； and his ribs crushed。 The doctor； who is a
very eminent and successful surgeon； resuscitated him； set his broken
bones； and in a few weeks what was thought to be a dead man； was able to
move about the prison enclosure； although one of his limbs was shorter
than the other； and he was rendered a cripple for life。
On another occasion a convict was standing at the base of the shaft。
The plumb…bob； a piece of lead about the size of a goose egg； accidentally
fell from the top of the shaft； a distance of eight hundred feet； and； striking
this colored man on the head； it mashed his skull； and bespattered the
walls with his brains。
I had three narrow escapes from death。 One day I lay in my little room
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resting； and after spending some time stretched out upon the ground； I
started off to another part of my room to go to work； when all of a sudden
the roof fell in； and dropped down just where I had been lying。 Had I
remained a minute longer in that place； I would have been killed。 As it
happened； the falling debris just struck my shoe as I was crawling out
from the place where the material fell。
At another time I had my room mined out and was preparing to take
down the coal。 I set my wedges in a certain place above the vein of coal
and began to strike with my sledge hammer； when I received a
presentiment to remove my wedges from that place to another。 Now I
would not have the reader believe that I was in any manner superstitious；
but I was so influenced by that presentiment that I withdrew my wedges
and set them in another place； then I proceeded to strike them a second
time with the sledge hammer； when； unexpectedly； the vein broke and the
coal fell just opposite to where my head was resting； and came within an
inch of striking it。 Had I remained in the place where I first set my wedges；
the coal would have fallen upon me； it had been held in its place by a
piece of sulphur； and when it broke； it came down without giving me any
warning。
On still another occasion； my mining boss came to my room and
directed me to go around to another part of the mine and assist two
prisoners who were behind with their work。 I obeyed。 I hadn't been out of
my room more than about half an hour when there occurred a land…slide in
it； which filled the room entirely full of rock； slate and coal。 It required
several men some two weeks to remove the amount of debris that had
fallen on that occasion。 Had I been in there； death would have been certain
at that time。
Gentle reader； let me assure you； that although some persons
misunderstanding me； assert that I am without belief in anything； yet I
desire to say； when reflecting upon these providential deliverances； that I
believe in the Eternal Will that guides； directs； controls and protects the
children of men。 While many of my fellow…prisoners were maimed for life
and some killed outright； I walked through that valley and shadow of
death without even a hair of my head being injured。 Why was this？ My
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answer is the following： Over in the State of Iowa； among the verdant hills
of that beautiful commonwealth； watching the shadows as they longer
grow； hair whitened with the frosts of many seasons； heart as pure as an
angel's； resides my dear old mother。 I received a letter from her one day；
and among other things was the following：
〃I love you now in your hour of humiliation and disgrace as I did
when you were a prattling babe upon my knee。
* * *
〃I would also have you remember that every night before I retire to
rest； kneeling at my bedside； I ask God to take care of and watch over
my boy。〃
Of the nine hundred convicts in the penitentiary not one of their
mothers ever forgot or deserted them。 A mother's prayers always follow
her prodigal children。 Go； gather the brightest and purest flowers that bend
and wave in the winds of heaven； the roses and lilies； the green vine and
immortelles； wreathe them in a garland； and with this crown the brow of
the truest of all earthly friendsMother！ Another reason I give for my safe
keeping in that hour of darkness and despair： In the city of Atchison； on a
bed of pain and anguish； lay my true； devoted and dying wife。 Every
Sunday morning regularly would I receive a letter dictated by her。 Oh！ the
tender； loving words！ 〃Every day；〃 said she； 〃I pray that God will preserve
your life while working in the jaws of death。〃 The true and noble wife； the
helpmeet of man； clings to him in the hour of misfortune and calamity as
the vine clings to the tree when prostrate on the ground。 No disgrace can
come so shameful that it will cause the true wife to forsake。 She will no
more forsake than the true soldier will desert on the battlefield。 For those
imps in human form that endeavor to detract from the honor belonging to
the wives of the country there ought to be no commiseration whatever。 Let
us honor the wifehood of our native land。 It is the fountain of all truth and
righteousness； and if the fountain should become impure； all is lost。 One
more reason： Before I was sent to the prison I was an evangelist； and was
instrumental in the hands of God of persuading hundreds of people to
abandon a wicked life and seek the good。 During my imprisonment I
received many letters from these men and women who had been benefited
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on account of what I had said to them； and they informed me that they still
retained confidence in me and were praying God for my deliverance。
Now； I believe； in answer to a mother's prayers； in answer to the
prayers of my sainted wife； in answer to the prayers of good men and
women； who were converts to 〃the faith once delivered to the saints〃
under my earnest endeavorsin answer to all these prayers； God lent a
listening ear and preserved me from all harm and danger。
PATHETIC OCCURRENCES IN THE MINES
It is a great consolation for prisoners to receive letters from their
friends。 One day a convict working in the next room to me inquired if I
would like to see a letter。 I replied I would。 He had just received one from
his wife。 This prisoner was working out a sentence of five years。 He had
been in the mines some two years。 At home； he had a wife and five
children。 They were in destitute circumstances。 In this letter his wife
informed him that she had been taking in washing for the support of
herself and children； and that at times they had to retire early because they
had no fuel to keep them warm。 Also； that； on several occasions； she had
been compelled to put the children to bed without supper。 But this noble
woman stated to her husband that their lot was not so bad as his。 She
encouraged him to bear up under his burdens； and that the time would
soon come when his sentence would expire and he would be permitted to
return home again； and that the future would be bright once more as it had
been before the unfortunate circumstances that led to his imprisonment。 It
was a good letter； written by a noble woman。 A couple of days after this；
as I was mining； I heard a voice in the adjoining room。 I listened。 At first I
thought it was the mining boss； but I soon discovered I was mistaken。
Listening again I came to the conclusion that the convict who was working
in the next room was becoming insane； a frequent occurrence in the mines。
Many of the poor convicts being unable to stand
