Wichita eagle., 1889-03-20
THE ISLES OF SALUTE.
Horrors Of the French Penal Col
ony OFF the Cayenne Coast


correspondent OF the Detroit Free Press by
a United States naval officer, who was an
. eyewitness to the scenes, and whose phrase
olOgy shall follow as closely as possible:
In the year 1866 was aboard the United
States steamship Vanderbilt, Commodore
John R. Rodgers commanding, and we were
acting as a consort to a doubie-turreted
monitor on its way around Cape Horn to a
Pacific station. Running short of coal we
put il at the Isles Of Salute to obtain our
supply.
"To the uniformed I must here state
that the Isles of Salute are of the French
Guiana coast, and are to France what Bot
/ any Bay is to England. There al noted
French criminals are sent, and few, if any,
ever return to their native country. On
being convicted Of crime the criminal is
given number, and by that number only
he is known. lis name becomes d thing of
the past II he has friends it would be an
utter impossibility for them to trace him, as
his name and number appear but once to-
gether, and that once upon the criminal
records, which are kept perfectly secret.
/ From this 1t can easily be imagined how
easily he drops from the knowledge of the
world when he is forwarded TO the Isles of
Salute to end his miserable and crime
stained life; for end it he must in one year,
perhaps two years. The climate does it,
and what terrible climate it must be.
Good heavens! never before had seen
such an assemblase of carevorn. hopeless,
fierce and desperate countenances. | be-
lieve the only employment that could be
found for them was coaling vessels AS
we lay in the harbor one thing that struck
me as being singular was the presence of
eating sharks. some tremendous in size
The harbor was literally swarming with
them and their sharp fms could be seen cut
ting the water in every direction. God help
the one who was so unfortunate as to fall
overheard there. l afterward learned that
none of the convicts were ever buried upon
the islands, but that the bodies of the dead
had simply weight tied to them, and were
then thrown into the harbor. This custom,
no doubt, explained the presence OF so many
sharks.
I'VE had completed our coaling one even
ing and were to sail in about two days The
sun dropped below the horizon, and as there
Is, practically, no twilight in that region,
night soon enveloped US in her dark folds.
1t being sultry, there were a number of
officers on the quarterback, among them
Commodore Rodgers and myself. Some
where near SIX bells eleven o'clockl we
were startled by hearing several exClama-
tons, followed by cautious call in French,
from the port side of the vessel. and appar-
entity from the water Orders were inme-
dlately given TO lower q lantern, and when
this was done we behed the form OF man,
emaciated, haggard and wild-eyed, clinging
TO the side Of the vessel. A rope was low
cred; he was soon drawn aboard and
brought before the Commodore He was
attired in a fiimsy shirt and pantaloons.
One glance was sufficient TO inform US that
he was convict. Speaking in French he
made an appeal TO our commander for pro-
lection.
80 But how did you get there, mani cried
the Commodore. Good heavens you never
could have swan out to the vesself'
8 At this question our minds reverted TO
the harbor swarrning with sharks, and l,
for one, could not repress q shudder at the
mere thought.
49, Death, no matter in what form, has no
terrors for me-, answered the convict.
Since coming here. have l not suffered
death athousand times Overt Am not al
readg dead to my relatives. friends and the
worldi The slight hope held out 10 ne by
the coming of your vessel was sufficient.
IQe CHANCES OF pSl0S torn 70 pieces Cy
sharks did not make ne shrink.
Our Imagination can scarcely grasp the
import Of such hopelesspess. Further CUES
tons revealed 10 US that this poor devil had
been French soldier. and had committed
the horrible crime Of striking a superior
officer. For that, he had been numbered
and sent 10 the Isles Of Salute 10 die a lin
gering death. Listening attentlvely until
the convict had finished, the Commodore
said:
49, Ny poor fellow, the laws OF humanity
cry out TO me in your behalf. but / an
forced 10 treat them as secondary consider
atoms, no matter how unjust it may be.
International laws are stronger in this case.
and must tell YOU that il IS NY imperative
duty 10 return YOU
The Frenchman's reply staggered the
Commodore somewhat Said he: You
are the representative Of glorious Repuo-
Lie, and came to YOU for protection: in
stead. find that have come to hear nv
doom pronounced
He then informed Us that those who at
tempted to escape. when caught, were i'm
GedistelY shot. Gut knowing his duty. tie