San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-11-07

rye bread, and as soon as this was over
the working parties were made up for
the day. Two gangs started from the
| prison, each surrounded by squad of
Cossacks. Maurice and Platoff were in
one of these. and Phil was in the other
| They marched past the few scattered log
buildings that surrounded the prison
and tramped for an hour or more up
the gloomy valley. The sky was dark
with clouds, and a fine snow was fall
ing. The mining operations ON the
Kara river had reached point some
| distance from the settlement, thus fore
ing on the convicts the additional mis-
cry of long tramp through the snow
each morning and evening.
The gangs consisted of 20 men each,
and as soon as they reached the spot
work was begun. Each party was in
structed by an officer, while the Cos
sacks, drawing complete Gordon
around the convicts, built fires to keep
themselves comfortable.
The gold bearing sands along the
banks of the Kara river lie buried I'M
der stratum of clay and gravel vary,
ing in depth from 10 to 20 feet. This
is dug out by picks and carted away
until the bed of sand is exposed, and the
gold is washed out by rude hoppers.
Under the watchful eyes of the over
seer the men labored increasingly. 1t
was sad sight, the grim soldiers pac-
ing through the drifting snow or group.
ed about the fires, the wretched toilers
bending to their work with aching
limbs, and in fitting harmony were the
clank of chains, the creak of the wheel
barrows and the monotonous tap of the
picks To Maurice this unaccustomed
labor was especially severe. In short
time his back ached and his hands were
blistercd Platoff tried to encourage
=. him from time to time, but he was COM
PEELED more than once to stop work
from exhaustion. The overseer showed
some leniency toward those convicts
who had Just arrived from Irkutsk, and
these short periods of rest were not re-
buked. At midday lunch of tea and
bread was served, and then the labor
continued without intermission until
! late in the afternoon.
They marched back to the prison at
sunset, so weary that every step was
torture. The principal meal of the day
was now served, consisting of weak
soup, rye bread and small quantity of
meat, and then the convicts went to
sleep in rows on the bare platforms,
some with their coats rolled up for pill
lows, others without pillows at all To
Maurice and Phil the first week at the
J mines was period of horror, and for
| the first time they began to realize the
unutterable misery of their situation.
Platoff, with whom they were still able
to converse at night, gave them no
hope, and indeed they could see for
! themselves how perilous an attempt to
escape would prove under the circum-
stances. One poor fellow had made a
dash for liberty while returning from
the mines at shutdown, and his bullet
riddled body was brought to the prison
on plank.
"Try to keep up your courage and
wait, " said Platoff. "That is all can
tell you. 1t may be that harder times
are before us. Captain Daroman Was
summoned away the day after we ar
rived here. When he returns, we shall
feel the change. Do you wonder now
that men turn against the czar and his
| government"
mo-" said Phil, with bitter laugh.
81 am surprised at nothing, Platoff.
and am getting desperate myself.
Some day shall lose all control and
turn on these fiends.
Platoff looked at the lad grimly,
noting his flashing eyes, his heaving
chest.
"You will be shot," he said quietly,
and then to himself he added: Hes a
fine fellow, with good stuff in him. We
might do something after all I'll have
to look into the matter"
Platoff was right. The next day Cap
tain Daroman returned, and the pre-
dicted change came with vengeance.
! The supply of daily food was shortened,
all conversation was strictly forbidden,
and the wretched toilers in the mines
were refused a moments rest, with the
exception of a scant ten minutes for
lunch.
For a time these hardships were
borne without complaint, but it soon
became evident that the commandaIG
had a special hatred against the three
political prisoners, and he lost no OPP
portunity of displaying his feelings
One bitterly cold morning the con-
victs we're trudging in pairs over the
snow clad plains to their daily toll
Maurice and Platoff marched in
front, and close behind them was Phil,
who had been transferred to their gang
some time before. They had barely left
the settlement and were passing along
the base of hill, part way up which
stood half dozen struggling cabins.
"Some of the free command live
there, whispered Platoff, and Maurice
looked with envy at the homes of the
unfortunate people who were yet ten
times better off than himself.
Suddenly he saw, to his great surprise,