The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-06-25
PART I.


So, PART 1.
"Hai! Hail, This cry. resounded
deep down underground, through lofty
dark vauited arches, in the vast salt
mines of Sianie.. n
Huge blocks, of rock salt were being
drawn noiselessly upwards, in i'm
mense 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 muffled
thud on the gray salt below. Numer-
Gus men, wearing shirts of coarse
sackcloth, with drawers and belts of
thick leather, and laced sandals on
their feet, stood together in a mass,
and muttered the melancholy Hal!
hail" each time they filled basket.
When these prisoners moved their
feet, the yclamping of irons was heard,
for around their legs, below the knee,
iron wrings were fastened, to which
were so1dered chains, to prevent their
running any great distance.
Farther on were other rows of men
at 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-
til the morsels fell asunder. Every
blow resounded like a thunder clap
throughout the shining vaults.
On the floor, before each man. was
placed a small tin lamp. filled with tall
low, the minute wick of which only
threw light or the spot where the ham
mer was destined to strike, and shed
a fitful CLEAN over the pallid, gloomy
faces of the men employed. These con-
victs We're never permitted to see the
light of day; there they worked, there
they lived, there they died. never see
ing a 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
mer to rest his tired arms; he had flung
his long brown mantle over his shoul-
der. and his eyes rested on the meage.
light at his feet, which flickered as II
1t were life ebbing away
Before him passed Other prisoners
bearing similar lights stuck in theil
caps, and although they spoke to him
he seemed to pay no attention to theii
words. Suddenly a movement tool
place in the gallery, lights CLEANED ant
fitted about, and glimpse was caugh
of a good-looking young man, who
shuddered risibly' on finding himself
brought face to face with the weirC
FiNl..
young fellow was guarded by two sol
diers, for he had made a desperate eff
fort. to fling himself over the edge o.
the gallery. but he was caught anC
( prevented from committing this act O
self-destruction.
Many sympathizing glances from
around were cast upon him, and many
r, nembered how they also had com,
down by the same path.
At length when the young man en-
tered the principal vault, he looked
about him despairingly, and then fixeC
his eyes on the ground. He stood no
far away from where the old man
unmoved, was regarding him.
/ ~ cannot live here without an,
light" cried he. why oh, why am
cast into this den OF murderers?
cannot bear it! 1t is never ending
nightia
He stretched out his hands as if t
feel around him., then rose to his ful
height and, in doing so, stretched tn
chain with. which his feet were shack
led.
"chafned like a wild beast!" he erie
land in utter darkness. Set me FREE
I,say, set me freei"
Then he saw the old man looking 81
lentH, but pityingly, on him. and fall
ing; on his knees. he said Father
have mercy on me, and kill me with
blow of thy hammer"
''It is forbidden that 1 should kill,
answered the old man.
"rhou wilt not be here forever" sal
another convict, wishing to consol
him.
1 The young fellow laughed madl!