The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-07-09
PREFACE.


fshod by incarceration in these mines for
periods varying from five to twenty-five
years, according 10 the nature or the
offense. The mines are source OF greai
wealth TO the country, the sait--which Is q
state monopoly--boing extracted exclusive
" by criminals. Besides being supplied
90 Roumania. this indispensable necessity
IS now exported in large quantities 10 the
neixhboring countries OF Hungary ano
Seryia. AT the period at which our story
opens the "Ocnt," or salt mines, were
worked In the most primitive manner, ane
the wretched prisoners never saw the lighi
OF day. Now the punishment is not SO
rigorous The felons are allowed 10 sleeI
IN pcntcntiaries above ground. ana are
morning ana night escorted 10 and IRON
their work by q guard or soldiers.
PART /.
"Hail hail" This cry resounded deep
down underground, through lofty darh
yaulted arches, in the vast salt mines
OF Slanic.
Huge blocks of rock salt were being
drawn noiselessly upwards, in immense
baskets, TO hole above, which seemed
distant as "a star, through which shone
red the light of day, while from another
similar aperture came down empty
baskets OF the same kind as the full
ones, falling with muflled thud on te
the gray salt below. Numerous men
wearing shirts of coarse sackcloth, will
drawers and belts of thick leather, anl
laced sandals on their feet, stood to-
gether in mass, and uttered the mel
ancholy "IIai! hail" each time they
flied basket.
When these prisoners moved their
feet, the clamping OF irons was heard,
for around their legs, below the knee,
iron rings were fastened, TO which were
soldered chains, to prevent their run
ming any great distance.
Farther on were other rows of men
ut work, hammer in hand, who struck
the walls of salt at measured distances,
and the immense detached Jumps fell
with heavy thud. Then wedge-like
piece of wood was inserted into the
fallen mass, and some of the felons
struck the wood with heavy stones un.
ill the morsels fell asunder. Every
blow resounded like thunder clap
throughout the shining vaults.
On the floor, before each man. was
placed u small tin lamp, filled with tai.
low, the minute wick of which only
threw light on the spot where the ham.
mer was destined to strike, and shed
a iitful CLEAN over the pallid, gloomy
faces of the men employed. These con.
victs were never permitted to see the
light of day; there they worked, there
they lived, there they died, never see.
ing glimpse of Gods sun! Involun,
tarily they must have cried in the words
of Dante: Abandon hope, all ye who
enter here"
The day on which our story opens
an old man stood apart from the rest
of the criminals, leaning on his ham,
iucr to rest his tired arms; he had !iung
his long brown mantle over his shoul.
der. and his eyes rested on the meager
light at his feet, which ficlxered as ii
1t We're life ebbing away.
Before him passed other prisoners
bearing similar lights stuck in their
caps, and although they spoke to him
he seemed to pay no attention to theii
words. Suddenly a movement took
place in the gallery, lights CLEANED and
fitted about, and glimpse was caught
of good-looking young man. who
shuddered visibly on finding himself
brought face to face with the weird
darkness above and beneath him. The
young fellow was guarded by two sol
diers. for he had made n desperate eff.
fort to fling himself over the edge OF
the gallery. but he was caught and
prevented from committing this act OF
sclf-destructson.
Many sympathizing glances from
around were east upon him, and MANY
remembered how they also had come
down by the same path.
At length. when the young man en-,
tered the principal vault, he looked
about him despairingly. and then fixed
his eyes on the ground. lie stood moi
far away from where the old man
unmoved. was regarding him.
81 cannot live here without any
light" cried he. "Why, oh, why am (
cast into this den of murderers? !
cannot bear It'll 1t is never ending
night"
He stretched out his hands az If &c
feel around him, then rose 10 his full,
height, and. in doing so. stretched the
chain with which his feet wers
shackled.
Chained like wild beastl" he cried
--"and in utter darkness. Set me free
say, set me freel"
Then he saw the old man looking ST,
lently, but pityingly, on him, and fall.
ing on his knees, he sand: Father
have mercy on me, and kill me with o
blow Of thy hammer"
1T is forbidden that should kill
answered the old mnu.
"Thou wilt not be here forever" sail
another convict wishing TO console
him.
The young fellow laughted madly
"Fifteen years. Are they not more
than eternity"
II am condemned for eighteen years,
said the first speaker.
"And for twenty-four years. said a
second.
"And / for my lifetime" said an