The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1879-10-23

HoikluB tuo IRON ore. 0elOTe I'D We saw
eeveral hundred ragged creatures, with
terribly rough, long boards, faces pale as
desth, or Of aickly yellow, with red
trimmed eyes, dragging heavy chains, rat
thing them at every motion,
THE PRTsoNERs.
Not one looked healthy, and not one
spoke, or Gang, or whistled; they all
worked in silence, looking askance at us,
aud rattling again their chains, which
had been put upon them in the rsme of
Justice. Many of them we.e barefoot; q
few wore tho remnants of nhoes upon
their feet. The rags which covered them
were completely saturated with the drip
ping water, so that they, could not give TO
the shivering bodies one atom of warmth.
Upon their boards ! saw long icicles !:
and sometimes watched one or the other
blow into his chilled hands or shake con-
vulsively in the icy.cold air. I shall
never forget the dreadful scene: and. In
contemplating it, I would imagine for q
moment that mountain sprites were busy
here at their hidden work; but the clant-
ing Of the chains, the groaning fof the
prisoners, and che rough cries Of the task.
masters soon. recalled the dreadful reality.
The hammering and digging never
ceased, If an exile attempted to rest q
little, the sharp command Of the overseer
soon pnt him TO work again; and there
was feverish, unessy activity. One Of
the prisonera--a slight, fine figure, with
face the profile of which showed extra
ordinary beanty-excited our particular
attention. With Visible exertion- he
swung bis pickaxe, and his breath came
iwheezing from the chest; but he could
not loosen the stone, and sometimes his
arms fell despairingly to his side.
We approached him. "Why are you
here?" I asked. He looked up shyly,
almost frightened, end continued his
work.
"The prisoners are forbidden to speak
about tho cause of their exile" the in
spector informed u.s..
".Who is the prisoner2" asked our
"No: H." he answered, laconicaIly.
$50 I see," ] replied; "but I mean his
name. his family, his crime,
1t is Count de Parentoff," he replied
"a we'll known conspirator. lam sorry
not 70 be able 20 tell you more about No.
I114."
The foul air almost suffocated me. I
beckoned to the guide and to my friend.
He and ! hastily traversed again the mar
row corridors and ascended to the world
again, where the chief commander sa-
luted US. -
"Weli,D 8 asked, "what impression
has our institution made upon your" Is
We bowed in silence.
He seemed delighted, and remarked
ironically: Our boys below work dill
gently, do they not?"
"Indeed they do" answered my friend !:
but with what feeling of relief the mn
happy ooss must great their Sunday,
when they can take rest"
"Reat" he ss;;a, sss;;a woHduriugiy, :'they
have none;
THEY MUST WORK ALwAYsp
"Always?"
"Most certainly They are condemned
to work everlastingly. He who once
enters tho mine never leaves it again !''
but this Ia barbaric," / could not re-
frain from saying.
He shrugged his shoulders. suThe ex-
lies" he replied, "work twelve hours
daily, and on Snndays, too. They are
never permitted to rest. Obi but yes
twice during the year; at Easter, and on
the birthday OF orr glorious Empcror |"
And he removed his nat, as though he
had spoken the memo of the Lord.
We bowed again and hastened to 90
back TO iTobolsk My friend and I were
both very silent nntil We got out of Rus
sia. But hereafter We shall not be SO
very much shocked and surprised when
we Eaaa Of the terrible spread of tii5 a. I,i,
iiticai fanaf cism which is called Nihi-
ism in the great Empire of the European
East. a