Chapter XXXVI: The Underground

May 10, 1900.

MY DEAR TONY:

Your letters intoxicate me with hope and joy. No sooner have I
sipped the rich aroma than I am athirst for more nectar. Write
often, dear friend; it is the only solace of suspense.

Do not worry about this end of the line. All is well. By
stratagem I have at last procured the privilege of the yard.
Only for a few minutes every morning, but I am judiciously
extending my prescribed time and area. The prospects are bright
here; every one talks of my application to the Superior Court,
and peace reigns--you understand.

A pity I cannot write directly to my dear, faithful comrades,
your coworkers. You shall be the medium. Transmit to them my
deepest appreciation. Tell "Yankee" and "Ibsen" and our Italian
comrades what I feel--I know I need not explain it further to
you. No one realizes better than myself the terrible risks they
are taking, the fearful toil in silence and darkness, almost
within hearing of the guards. The danger, the heroic
self-sacrifice--what money could buy such devotion? I grow faint
with the thought of their peril. I could almost cry at the
beautiful demonstration of solidarity and friendship. Dear
comrades, I feel proud of you, and proud of the great truth of
Anarchism that can produce such disciples, such spirit. I
embrace you, my noble comrades, and may you speed the day that
will make me happy with the sight of your faces, the touch of
your hands.

A.

June 5.

DEAR TONY:

Your silence was unbearable. The suspense is terrible. Was it
really necessary to halt operations so long? I am surprised you
did not foresee the shortage of air and the lack of light. You
would have saved so much time. It is a great relief to know that
the work is progressing again, and very fortunate indeed that
"Yankee" understands electricity. It must be hellish work to
pump air into the shaft. Take precautions against the whir of
the machinery. The piano idea is great. Keep her playing and
singing as much as possible, and be sure you have all windows
open. The beasts on the wall will be soothed by the music, and
it will drown the noises underground. Have an electric button
connected from the piano to the shaft; when the player sees
anything suspicious on the street or the guards on the wall, she
can at once notify the comrades to stop work.

I am enclosing the wall and yard measurements you asked. But why
do you need them? Don't bother with unnecessary things. From
house beneath the street, directly toward the southwestern wall.
For that you can procure measurements outside. On the inside you
require none. Go under wall, about 20-30 feet, till you strike
wall of blind alley. Cut into it, and all will be complete.
Write of progress without delay. Greetings to all.

A.

June 20.

TONY:

Your letters bewilder me. Why has the route been changed? You
were to go to southwest, yet you say now you are near the east
wall. It's simply incredible, Tony. Your explanation is not
convincing. If you found a gas main near the gate, you could
have gone around it; besides, the gate is out of your way
anyhow. Why did you take that direction at all? I wish, Tony,
you would follow my instructions and the original plan. Your
failure to report the change immediately, may prove fatal. I
could have informed you--once you were near the southeastern
gate--to go directly underneath; then you would have saved
digging under the wall; there is no stone foundation, of course,
beneath the gate. Now that you have turned the south-east
corner, you will have to come under the wall there, and it is
the worst possible place, because that particular part used to
be a swamp, and I have learned that it was filled with extra
masonry. Another point; an old abandoned natural-gas well is
somewhere under the east wall, about 300 feet from the gate.
Tell our friends to be on the lookout for fumes; it is a very
dangerous place; special precautions must be taken.

Do not mind my brusqueness, dear Tony. My nerves are on edge,
the suspense is driving me mad. And I must mask my feelings, and
smile and look indifferent. But I haven't a moment's peace. I
imagine the most terrible things when you fail to write. Please
be more punctual. I know you have your hands full; but I fear
I'll go insane before this thing is over. Tell me especially how
far you intend going along the east wall, and where you'll come
out. This complicates the matter. You have already gone a longer
distance than would have been necessary per original plan. It
was a grave mistake, and if you were not such a devoted friend,
I'd feel very cross with you. Write at once. I am arranging a
new _sub rosa_ route. They are building in the yard; many
outside drivers, you understand.

A.

DEAR TONY:

I'm in great haste to send this. You know the shed opposite the
east wall. It has only a wooden floor and is not frequented much
by officers. A few cons are there, from the stone pile. I'll
attend to them. Make directly for that shed. It's a short
distance from wall. I enclose measurements.

A.

TONY:

You distract me beyond words. What has become of your caution,
your judgment? A hole in the grass _will not do_. I am
absolutely opposed to it. There are a score of men on the stone
pile and several screws. It is sure to be discovered. And even
if you leave the upper crust intact for a foot or two, how am I
to dive into the hole in the presence of so many? You don't seem
to have considered that. There is only _one_ way, the one I
explained in my last. Go to the shed; it's only a little more
work, 30-40 feet, no more. Tell the comrades the grass idea is
impossible. A little more effort, friends, and all will be well.
Answer at once.

A.

DEAR TONY:

Why do you insist on the hole in the ground? I tell you again it
will not do. I won't consider it for a moment. I am on the
inside--you must let me decide what can or cannot be done here.
I am prepared to risk everything for liberty, would risk my life
a thousand times. I am too desperate now for any one to block my
escape; I'd break through a wall of guards, if necessary. But I
still have a little judgment, though I am almost insane with the
suspense and anxiety. If you insist on the hole, I'll make the
break, though there is not one chance in a hundred for success.
I beg of you, Tony, the thing must be dug to the shed; it's only
a little way. After such a tremendous effort, can we jeopardize
it all so lightly? I assure you, the success of the hole plan is
unthinkable. They'd all see me go down into it; I'd be followed
at once--what's the use talking.

Besides, you know I have no revolvers. Of course I'll have a
weapon, but it will not help the escape. Another thing, your
change of plans has forced me to get an assistant. The man is
reliable, and I have only confided to him parts of the project.
I need him to investigate around the shed, take measurements,
etc. I am not permitted anywhere near the wall. But you need not
trouble about this; I'll be responsible for my friend. But I
tell you about it, so that you prepare two pair of overalls
instead of one. Also leave two revolvers in the house, money,
and cipher directions for us where to go. None of our comrades
is to wait for us. Let them all leave as soon as everything is
ready. But be sure you don't stop at the hole. Go to the shed,
absolutely.

A.

TONY:

The hole will not do. The more I think of it, the more
impossible I find it. I am sending an urgent call for money to
the Editor. You know whom I mean. Get in communication with him
at once. Use the money to continue work to shed.

A.

Direct to Box A 7,
Allegheny City, Pa.,
June 25, 1900.

DEAR COMRADE:

The Chaplain was very kind to permit me an extra sheet of paper,
on urgent business. I write to you in a very great extremity.
You are aware of the efforts of my friends to appeal my case.
Read carefully, please. I have lost faith in their attorneys. I
have engaged my _own_ "lawyers." Lawyers in quotation marks--a
prison joke, you see. I have utmost confidence in _these_
lawyers. They will, absolutely, procure my release, even if it
is not a pardon, you understand. I mean, we'll go to the
Superior Court, different from a Pardon Board--another prison
joke.

My friends are short of money. We need some _at once_. The work
is started, but cannot be finished for lack of funds. Mark well
what I say: _I'll not be responsible for anything_--the worst
may happen--unless money is procured _at once_. You have
influence. I rely on you to understand and to act promptly.

Your comrade,

ALEXANDER BERKMAN.

MY POOR TONY:

I can see how this thing has gone on your nerves. To think that
you, you the cautious Tony, should be so reckless--to send me a
telegram. You could have ruined the whole thing. I had trouble
explaining to the Chaplain, but it's all right now. Of course,
if it must be the hole, it can't be helped. I understood the
meaning of your wire: from the seventh bar on the east wall, ten
feet to west. We'll be there on the minute--3 P. M. But July 4th
won't do. It's a holiday: no work; my friend will be locked up.
Can't leave him in the lurch. It will have to be next day, July
5th. It's only three days more. I wish it was over; I can't bear
the worry and suspense any more. May it be my Independence Day!

A.

July 6.

TONY:

It's terrible. It's all over. Couldn't make it. Went there on
time, but found a big pile of stone and brick right on top of
the spot. Impossible to do anything. I warned you they were
building near there. I was seen at the wall--am now strictly
forbidden to leave the cell-house. But my friend has been there
a dozen times since--the hole can't be reached: a mountain of
stone hides it. It won't be discovered for a little while.
Telegraph at once to New York for more money. You must continue
to the shed. I can force my way there, if need be. It's the only
hope. Don't lose a minute.

A.

July 13.

TONY:

A hundred dollars was sent to the office for me from New York. I
told Chaplain it is for my appeal. I am sending the money to
you. Have work continued at once. There is still hope. Nothing
suspected. But the wire that you pushed through the grass to
indicate the spot, was not found by my friend. Too much stone
over it. Go to shed at once.

A.

July 16.

Tunnel discovered. Lose no time. Leave the city immediately. I
am locked up on suspicion.

A.