The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-07-15
A PENAL SETTLEMENT.
The Largest one in the World is at
Port Blair.
New York Sun.

new ORR sum-
Thirteen thousand convIcts are living at Port
Blair ID the Andaman Islands, which is proba-
bly, the largest penal settlement In the world
The Andaman Islands are in the Bay of Ben
gal and 10 Port Blair is sent the refuse of $50,
OOO, 600 people. The worst criminals of Brit
sh India and Burmah, il they incur long
sentences OF Imprisonment, are sent TO
Port Blair. Over eight. thousand OF them
are serving life sentences.
The attack upon the chief official OF the
islands is all The more noteworthy because
since the settlement of Fort Blair was started
in 1857, with the mutinous Sepoys as the first
colOnlsts. there have been only TWO murderous
assaults on Europeans by convicts: and yet 10
guard The army OF evildoerS only one COM
pany OF British Infantry and several hun
dred Punjab police are employed, very
small force when it is considered that there are
no prison walls, and that the convict barracks
are scattered all over the settlement. which is
several miles square. The hundred or more
boats aud canoes required for the WORK of the
settlement are tar more carefully guarded than
the prisoners themselves There is no chance
10 escape exceDt by capturing these boats.
Even then there would be little hope OF free
dom, for the Andamans are far from land and
lie III a region of tempeSts. The only refuge Is
the forest, where runaWayS are sure to die of
starvation. II they are not shot by the natives.
TIE authorities, therefore, have so little fear OF
any attempt 10 escape that as many as 500 of
the convictS are often sent ten miles away with
out any guards except their own officers
Even in this isolated place a remark able Incl
dent occurs now and then to vary he monoronv
OF inces>ant road making and forest telling
Nearly eleven years ago sounds were heard
like the firing of big guns, and it was thought
warshtp had gone ashore on South Andaman.
The station steamer was s'nt TO carry relief to
the crew, but no wreck was found. The noises
came from Krak atoa, 1900 miles away, where
the most tremendous volcanic disturbance of
modern times was III progress.
Years ago the ship Runnymede sailed from
Australia and the ship Briton from England,
each having on board battalion OF the Eight
ieth Foot. The regiment was to be reunited at
Rangoon. One dark night terrible storm
caught both vessels near the Andamans, and a
great wave carried them high on the shore
Next morning the regiment. without a man
missing, was reunited on the island. The bat
talions had Travelled around The world to meet
and stranger meeting never occurred.
The administration of this penal colouv Is a
remarkable system OF rewards aud punish
ments. 1nvarlabe good conduct secures better
food, increased comforts and finally wages for
days work. Twenty years of obedience TO the
rules secures pardon for lie convicts Par
dons are often granted for deeds of gallantry,
and murderers, redhanded ana with weapons
ready have been seized by their fellows, who
risked their lives To gain the coveted freedom.
The attempt TO assassinate the chief Official of
The colony may result In restrictions that the
cOnVicts nlVA hitherto pSplDah