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


we saw in the distance towering noun
tain, and within its cleft side colossal
opening, similar to the pit of volcano.
From within
FOUL AIR AND D1sAGREEABEE SMELLS
saluted our nostrils, and for some time we
had to draw our breath hard. With our
ocket-handkerchiefs crammed into our
mouths, we entered the gigantic mouth
of the rock. From the walls dirty water
dripped down in large drops, forminga a
little rivulet, which gathered in pool
outside the entrance. Toward the east
and the north the territory rose as high
as 1000 feet above the sea. A chain,
several miles in length, of snow-capped
glaciers gave to the mine the character
Of an unapproachable fortress. To the
left of the entrance an enormous guard
house was built, occupied by number
of Cossacks. The establishment was
about as filthy as any habitation for hu-
man beings can well be. The furniture
consisted only of a few rough benches
and large table. In front Of its door
double file of muskets were stacked, be-
tween which a bearded Cossack marched
up and down. We showed our letters to
the young officer of the day, who regard
ed US wonderingly, searchingly. He
seemed at a loss to understand the grant
ing of a privilege so seldom sought and
80 rarely granted. A guide was given US,
and we passed long, narrow and dark
corridor, which, to Judge from the .incli-
nation of the floor, led into the depth.
The ground was so slippery and so wet
that we were in danger of falling more
than once.
PEsTILENTIAL MIAsMA
filled the air; and, in spite of good fur
cloak-the gift of friend in Moscow
actually shook with the cold. The dark
ness was 80 intense that neither of us
could see the other.
We had gone on perhaps ten minutes
when I perceived, far in the distance, the
lyembling, uncertain glimmer of a light;
ard I felt sure that we we're approaching
the mine proper. The ground became
softer and more Shiny, and cold more
penetrating. At every setp we sank into
the marass for several inches, and there
was smell fputrefaction, as in char
nel-house.
"We are in front of the mine" said our
guide, pointing to high iron railing
which surrounded long cave-its mas
sive rails, through the crevice of which
hardly rat might have squeezed itself,
being covered with rust. The locks were
fastened with chains Of immense thick
ness and weight. A guard made his ap-
pearance, and upon the word of our guide
he opened the Lockout only with a
great deal of strength was he enabled 30
far to turn the railing upon its hinges
that we could pass through into the inte-
rior. We stepped into room which,
although it was large enough otherwise,
hardly permitted full grown man to
stand upright, and was lighted only by q
poor oil lamp, which left all surrounding
things in darkness.
"Where are WEI" I asked the guide.
'sIn the dormitory of the prisoners" he
answered. Formerly this was we'll
yielding lode; now we have made it into
sleeping-room." We shuddered. This
subterranean cave, into which neither
sun nor moon could ever send ray of
light, was called an apartment; and in
this terrible grave, the air of which was
pregnant with fearful miasma, the unfor-
tunates banished here by the unpitiable
law of despotism were compelled to rest,
after the days work, upon poor bed of
strawl Into the dripping walls of the
rock alcove-like cells bad been followed
out, and the entire room gave the i'm
preston of an enormous beehive. Every
cell harbors FIVE prisoners during the
night; and above each of the single cots
strong iron bar was fastened, to which
the unhappy mortals were locked and
chained like so many dogs. No door, no
window, no chair, no table, no shelving I;
everywhere the naked rock and rusty
iron! The straw which served as bed
for the delinquents was
WET AND HALF ROTTEN;
it looked and felt like mass of dung. A
little bag filled with straw served as a
pillow; wet sheet, made of bag-linen,
as coverlet. No bench-no utensils of
any kind. In one corner q lamp family
glimmered, in honor of the Madonna,
WHOSE imaSo Was iasteueu apofo ~ III all
old gilt frame.
An insupportable dread overcame me
in gazing upon this picture of terrible
desolation and misery; and drew long
breath of relief when we passed out of
the "dormitory," and into another corri-
dor. dark as the first one, but less slip
perry. Everything was as quiet as a
graveyard until we reached an enormous
cave, in the centre of which stood q
round table and three benches. Several
torches, fastened to iron rings in the wall,
served to tighten the hall, in the ceiling
of which saw window almost covered
with iron bars, through which a faint ray
of daylight endeavored to penetrate, and
this, mingled with the torchlight, pro-
duced an effect at once dismal and
gloomy beyond description. This was
the mine proper, and here an internal
L., ,sat,o "a