Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1894-03-03
CHAPTER xxXIv
MK MAZE sas.R RsCAPR.

WE MAZE o,'R ESCAPE
lt was getting dark when we overlook
train Of miserable convicts marching with
clanking chains along the road About au
hour later we reached the etape. where VT
were TO stay for the night
had heard much Of the horrors Of these
stations and the loathsome "kameras," OF
sleeping places. In which the convicts werr
herded, and had seen them In the collec
tions Of psintings exhibited by TaraA !
was therefore aatouished TO fnd the log
hus In which passed the night NO decent
and hAbitabie. Il was not overcrowded.
There was rough carpet on the floor. aud
the only real hardship was the absence OF
bed and bedding, for we had 70 sleep on
q sloping board and In our clothes
was much better OF than my compan-
ION, who was thrust into den bnilt TO &C
eommodate $50 prisoners, with no less than
10 criminals of all sorts, and the horrors
Of that night were moro. ] believe, than he
could make light of. for he was extremely
rseieent upon the subject. All that he told
me was that he had found no room 70 lie
down and had bresthed . little atmos
phsrs Of his own by smoking all night.
However" he said cheerfully. "that's
all past. and shall make up for q sleep
less night by good long snooze Ahis after
nood-N we don't come to the end of our
journey before"
We went on BY another mail sledge. but
with the same guard who had left St
Petersburg with u
These two Cosaacks never left uS through
out ouP long journey, which continued
without any break. save the nightly halt
at convict station. for three weeks after
We had passed through Moscow Soon
after leaving that city behind us ! noticed
o change In poor Gordon His spirits
seemed TO be losing their elasticity, his
gAyety 70 be little forced. his pipe more
neoesHsFy. Es-
Bus despite the bitter reflections that
must have arisen to his mind his attitude
toward me displayed no sign Of animOsity.
There WAS no lapse In his gentleness and
tender consideration for my conf 'rt, His
kindness was unvarying Our common
misfortune. which thought would imbit
ter our hearts, served only as q link Of
gym pathy t0 hold us together.
Gordon still spoke hopefully, though at
rare and rarer intervals, Of our being 70
called 70 Sc. Petersburg. but for my part
had quite abandoned the hope Of any revo
cation OF our fate when an accident oc
CURED which gave new turn TO our for
tuneA
One night WAS awakened by "a stvange
outcry Of distant voices. AS turned upon
the wooden platform that served as my
sleepinR place. the woman next to me. who
had already sprung up. cried:
"Hoiy God. we are on firei''
Al that cry all Of US slipped to the ground
In Q moment, with mingled exclamations
Of disnAy
The kAmerA was full of smoke-it choked
us - We breAthed-and through the one
small easement . dull red glow fell upon
ua When we perceived that II WAS not
our kAmera. but another. which WAS in
names, we concluded that It must be the one
In which the men were confined, and shrek
ing the names Of our friends we rushed at
the door. vainly trying to break 1t open.
The muffied clamor Of voices told us that
the men were still shut up. Suddenly there
was great outburst OF voices ss they forced
their door. and the next Instant they were
crying to us from the outside Of our hut
and beating furiously at the door which
separated uA We stood back M the heavy
panels creaked under the pressure OF sturdy
shoulders. and presently n mighty thrust
burst the lock away. and the door few back.
In the midst of the wild confusion that
followed felt my arm Krasped and found
Gordon BY my side
Come along, little woman. Don't give
way; there's brick-it's all right"
HALF faintinR with fright and the sut
eocAting effect Of the dense smoke blowing
down upon us. ! staggered along by his
side, past o crowd OF panic stricken
wretches surginG About the gate of the
yard In expectation OF its being opened for
them 70 escape. and then through shower
Of sparks and past = roaring and cracking
mass OF are into an open space, where 1t
was possible to breathe freely and get q
comprehensive idea OF what was going ON.
This etape. like most others, consisted Of
four or Ave log buildings Of single story.
inclosed by . high palisade Of solid logs,
planted side by side. and each cut to sharp
point at the top One of the buildings,
used a. . storehouse and carpenters' shop,
had taken fire, and the wind, which was
blowing nercely. carried the flames and
smoke down upon the kaMera. The end
Of that one In which Gordon had been shut
up was already blazing. and 1t looked a. II
ell the huts In succession must catch fire
and be destroyed. for the officials could do
nothing 70 sxtinguish the flames and were
solely occupied In dragging what movables
we're worth saving into the sp1ce where W.
and q few others stood.
Just In front Of US was an ugly little man
with . red beard. A sArdonic grin was on
his impish face.
"Lo0k at them." he said. pointing 70 Q
party Of warders hauling along q cum
brous piece Of furniture. Half q dozen
men choking themselves TO save piece OF
wood not worth = couple Of kopecks. and
not one will stir . foot TO prevent those
poor wrstche.i devils trampling each other
70 death at the locked gate"
Els there any danger here" | asked. He
turned around and answered bitterly
"Yes; there's the danger Of living 70 RET