The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1892-10-18
CONVICT LIFB HORRORS,
iTosTuRts INFLICTED upon PRISON
EMS in VARIOUS COUNTRIES.


nnhuns. Trs.s.sns ssastinsss Were.
TAan Ds.sA s.isias ofssn Prsssrss1
- me Les o. Ch.s. a.ns Labsrsr--
Tsrrisis crssisiss Praetissa.
when the London philanthropists urged
en- international protest against the bar
harfties Of the Siberian prison system the
silence Of the French press was ascribed
70 political considerations, but the resi-
dents Of certain French colony on the
east coast Of South America have sug-
gsstsd different motive, says Prof. r. I.
Oswald, in the San Francisco Chronicle.
"eiberiaf Why, ! have envied that
country" said Henri Rochfort, when his
friends compared his luck TO that of .
Russian refugee. cayenne % worse
than siberia BY Just - much % hell Il
worse than an ice pit"
But Cayenne, with all IT, swamps and
mosquito swsrms, u . pleasant summer
resort compared with the penal colony Of
MoEambique, whore the Portuguese Gov
eminent permits gang Of malsfactors 70
lessen the misery Of thoir exile By work
ing their fellow prisoners 70 death. With
the exception Of half : dozen commits
stoned officers the entire garrison Of 100
mon consists Of convicts; and convicts,
boasting the rudiments Of education, axo
put IN charge Of chain gangs Of loss
accomplished criminals, who wear ont
their lives tilling rice fields and digging
irrigation bitches under the rays Of the
Nercest sun Of the East African tropics.
At night the poor wretches are locked
mp in barracks built Of mud and bricks,
and covered with sheets Of rolled lead,
wood being apt TO disappear in q few
weeks under the attacks of the termite
ANITA. A low door Of heavy iron CRATES,
and one or two grated loopholes near the
centre Of the opposite walls are the only
means of ventilating these dormitories,
which in midsummer become 20 ofien-
sive that the guards hesitate to approach
the door even In answer TO the appeals Of
= sick or dying man.
How could Cullen Bryant blunder
into Z simile OF that sOrtin said Col.
In criticising the " galley slave,
sccurged 70 his den ct night "when
that den n his only haven Of restT' But
In Mozambique . conyict's dread Of the
sunset hour might often vindicate the
author Of Thanatopsis." Portugal Il.
self - semi-tropical country and ma
tive Of Lisbon might survive the ordeal
-. -.
Of the Calcutta black hole, but . ten
years' term ct the South African hades 10
generally enough to break the resisting
force OF the stoutest consultation. On
Sundays and the principal church festi-
walls the convicts get syrup with their rice
raticns, but are obliged to pass the entire
day IN their barracks 70 give the guards
chance for recreation. On week days
their rations consist Of boiled rice and
sun-dried beef. TO lessen the chance Of
escape nearly AL able bodied prisoners
wear balls and chains, and ON Journeys to
an inland port are chained together pair
wise and obliged 70 march In front Of .
mounted picadof.
Privileged conyicts-or "trusties," ~
our penitentiary wardens would call
them-have = chance 70 graduate from
the position Of field guard 70 that Of :
custom house sentry, and the fate Of the
chain gang laborers may be imagined
rom the TACT that the trusties are encour-
aged TO earn their promotion BY extra
severity ana zeal Tor denunciation.
The Spanish Government maintains
similar inferno on the Isle Of Pines, some
hfty miles southwest Of Cape Corrientcs,
On Tine soutn coast OF Cuba. Az viewed
from the eea, the island, with its blue
sierras and magnificent forests Of pines
and tropical evergreens, II the very ideal
OF an earthly paradise, but It ID doubtful
II any other equal area Of the worlds
surface has witnessed more bloodshed
and deeds Of violence.
The Gpaniards discovered the island in
1897, and, a. usual, began the work OF
Christian civilization by the introduction
Of sugar mills and bloodhounds. In lcss
than ten years the native population Of
20, 900 had disappeared, and the oolonists.
loo, mostly left for Mexico and the gold
aelds of Hhyti. The rocky west eoast Of
The abandoned colony then became .
haunt of pirates and the chief stronghold
Df the reckless buccaneers, who for moro
than one hundred years remained the
terror Of the Spanish main. Repeated
expeditions failed to suppress the free
hooters till ct last the Epanish Govern.
ment recolonixed the Island ana a.
tablished q chain Of forts with their
headquarters post 1t Nueya Corona.
however. stin fingered n the
dfatricta aud az .....,A- =.