Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-10-27
Betrayed For a Reward.

DCudyCu FOI d NCWdlu.
Chicago Chronicle: Condemned to the
mines for thirty years. Convicted Tor
life, in all probability, for few men can
survive many moons in the underground
dungeons of the mountains of Tennessee.
Edward ~Cole-young. strong. contented
as a boy and young man-yielded to one
temptation: he committed a crime. True.
his face is black, but he had a fair chance
in life before the one slip into criminal
life. Aided, urged and tempted by his
elders, the youth just rounding into man.
hood broke into a home and robbed it.
Swift flight followed, but not swift
enough. The law captured him. the law
condemned and the court sent the fright.l
ened. hopeless fellow to the mines for
thirty years. % tu
Shackled to a fellow convict, leaving all
hope behind, Edward Cole went out from
the little town where he had been BORN
and. but for the one act, had led a blaine
less life. Down into the impenetrable
hills, down beneath the grimy surface.
buried alive to work out his sentence
delving coal. He had outraged the 1aw
and must pay the penalty. True, It was.
but once, but once is enough, for the law
is a stern mistress, who exacts the fun
lin - " AAAS VIM 40 IL IN
men passed on their way to their place,
of confinement, a place so full of horror
as almost to bleach the faces of the ne,
gro convicts, a man stood on the side,
walk and idly watched he procession.
He knew Edward Cole. Would he ever
look on him again?
Down into the bowels of the earth the
crew was sent. Down with the men went
Edward Cole. Long hours each day he
labored with the pick and shovel in la
Dor he knew naught of before he was in
generated in that living tomb. Hard
taskmasters are those who buy the
slaves of the law. Heavy tasks must be
performed in stipulated time or the de-
%linquent, whether such from stubborn
ness CT weakness, must suffer additional
punishment and indisnfty. Edward Co.e
was hoEelest, yet not without hope.
Hopeless of release from the clutches of
the law, for he lacked friends to plead
his cause with effect: hopeful that in
time to come he might dodge his watch
full guards and win to light and freedom
in spite of the law. SO he bide- lis time
in silence.
PASSED INTO SLAVERY.
Eight years ago Edward Cole passed
out of the sight and knowledge of man
kind. Living by day under the surface
of The earth. by night in the stcckade
UILll ~ contain lHt III ~ Noll
demned to a life of slavery for that they
had violated the law of the land. Known
not by his nane-eXcepting on the rolls
of the state prison-EdWard Cole became
a number. Only a number. without any
other identity. His food, his cell. his
clothing, everything bore his number-his
only distinguishing mark-so how could
any nan expect to see Edward Cole
again? Guards are Watchful in such
places. Men die who attempt to break
out of bonds. Even the coming of riot
ers brings with it but little hope of es-
cape.
Months of weary planning without
chance of execution. Walls too high to
scale, with guards armed with repeating
frequent intervals. Yet No. 625 still
drudged and hoped, hoped and %drudged.
Another held with him the same hope.
Silently they planned. and as they dug
and dug they remembered that in other
times men had burroWed in the earth and
Won their way to freedom from prison
walls. But in what direction should they
burroW? Under the earth, without en-
gineering skill, without any idea or sense
of direction, it was clearly useless to try
to escape from the mines. The stockadt
was the thing.
Then with the skill born of constant
delving in the bowels of the earth. the
two conspirators planned to dig theil
way out of that stockade. Months oil
patient toll undecided followed. but ne
trench they could dig would lead to out.
err freedom. The stockade was built on j;
rock, impenetrable, fast to the hillside
But running under the ground and OH
to freedom was a huge drain, largt
enough to permit the passage of a man
Could they run into this. freedom a
least from the prison could be gained
pa I~ry 20 mi NV ~ MI Io ~ .,, 4
last within the limits of a year the bur.
rowing men struck this drain. Ther
carefully they reset the broken masonr,
and bided the moment when they dare
escape. sickness paved the way, FOL
} they We're sent to their cells and left L
5 get we'll. Then one night into the drail
!, they crept. No. 625 and his companion
were no longer known on the rolls of tn,
! ~stockade.
, BEGAN HIS LIFE ANEW.
! Seven years ago a young colored maj
/; came to Chicago seeking employment
) Quiet, orderly, silent, he went about hi
business in a methodical way, He dressed
: fairly we'll, was courteous, obliging, am
seemed a desirable servant. He gave tn,
, name of Edward Curtis when he wa
I placed on a sleeper as porter. He soOl
1 became known as one Of the best mel
in the employ of the company. He liv
j, ed quietly and respectfully among TIL
e members of his race down in Armour
2 avenue. He became something of a So
g cial ~favorite without pressing his claim
: too ardentiy. He wooed and won tn
I hand of a dusky maiden, one noted il
her circle for good looks and accomplish
ments. a.
' -Four years ago Edward Curtis and hi
wife set up their home in Armour av
~enue-2S17 was the number where. thei
9 modest establishment was placed. popu
:. L. n ,,A u. ahnir friIttlC- nd -ncSnlin.rc