The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1879-10-23

NAAAAA WIZ nn1 NAnAN-
ed the various penal establishments OF
Russia with an oflsial legitimation. He
had been to Tobolsk; after which he had
to make a long, dreary journey in a
wretehed car, until a high mountain rose
up before him. In its torn and craggy
flank the mountain showed a colossal
opening, similar 10 the mouth OF q burnt
out crater. Fetid v0pors, which almost
took away his breath, assembled from II.
Pressing his handkerchief upon his lips,
Mr.. Lemke entered the opening OF the
rock, where be found a large watch
house, with a picket OF Cossacks. Hav.
ing shown his papers he was conducted
by guide through o long, very dark and
narrow corridor, which, judging from
its sloping descent, led down into some
unknown depth. In spite of his good
fur, the visitor felt extremely cold. After
a walk Of some ten minutes through the
dense obscurity, the ground becoming
more and more soft, a vague simmer OF
light became observable. I'VE are in
the minel' said the guide, pointing with
a significant gesture to the iron CROSS
bars which closed tho cavern before
them.
The massive bars were covered with a
thick rust. A Waterman appeared, who
unlocked the heavy iron gate. Entering
a room OF considerable extent, but which
was scarcely q mans height, and which
was dimly lit by an oil-lamp, the visitor
asked Where are wef' I'm the Sleep
ing Of the condemned Formerly
it was a productive gallery Of the mine,
now it serves as a shelter
The visitor %shuddered. This subter.
ranean sepulcher, lit by neither sun nor
moon, was called a sleeping.room. AL
cove like cells we're hewn into the rock;
here, on a couch Of damp, half.rotten
straw, covered with a sackcloth, the I'M.
fortunate sufferers were to repose from
the days work. Over each cell q cramp
iron was fixed, wherewith to lock up the
prisoners like ferocious dogs. No door,
no window anywhere.
Con lucted through another passage,
where a few lanterns were placed, and
whose ends were also barred by an iron
gate, Mr.. Lsmke came to a large vault,
partly lit. This was the mine. Adeaf-
ening noise Of pickaxes and hammers
There he saw hundreds OF wfetched fig
ures, with shaggy boards, sickly faces,
Redeemed eyelids; clad in t%atters, some
of them barefoot, others In sandals, fet-
tered with heavy foot. chains. No song,
no whistling. Now and then they shy
ly look at the visitor and his companion.
The water dripped from the stones; the
convicts were thoroughly wet. One Of
them, a tall man with suffering mien,
labored hard with gasping breath, but
the stroke IS Of bis pickaxe were not neavy
and firm enough to loosen the rock.
why are you hereP'M Mr.. Lemke asked.
The convict looked confused, with an
air almost of CONSERVATION, and silently
continued bic work.
1T is forbidden to the prisoners, said
the inspector, 'to speak of the cause Of
their banishmentI'
Entombed alive; forbidden TO say
whyl
But who is the convict Mr.. L9mke
asked the guide, with low voice.
1T is number 1857 the guide replied,
laconically.
This I see, answered the visitor; but
what ore the mans antecedentsY To
what family does he belong?'
He is a cunt replied the guide; "a
well-known conspirstor. More, l regret
to say, l cannot tel you about 1881
The visitor felt as if he were stifled in
the gravelike atmosphere-as if his chest
were pressed in by a demoniacal night
mare. He hastily asked his guide to re-
turn with him to the upper world
Meeting there the commander of the
military establishment, he was obliging-
ly asked by that officer:
We'll, what impression did u penal
establishment make upon your
Mr.. Lemke stifly bowing in silence,
the officer seemed to take this as a kind
of satisfied assent, and went on:
Very industrious people, the men be.
low, are they not?'
But with what feelings Mr.. Lsmke
answered, must these unfortunates look
forward TO q day Of rest after a week of
toill'
Rest! said TIE officer; 'convicts must
always labor. There is no rest for them .
They are condemned to perpetual forced
labor; and he who once enters the mine
never leoves til
But this is %barbarouJl'
The officer shrugged his shoulders,
and said, The exile works daily for
twelve hours; on Sundays, too. They
must never rest, But, no; i am mista-
ken. Twice a year, though, rest is per.
mitted them--at Easter time and on the
birthday OF his majesty the emperor
Women In the Belgian COal-pits.
Tho Relcian authorities have not vet