Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1894-04-18
HUGE PENAL SETTLEMENT.
Tue Andaman islands, Whers 5000
"Lirers' alone Are Imprisoned.


"Lirers" alone Are Imprlsc=ed.
Thirteen thousand convicts are
irving at Port Blair, in the Audaman
Islands, which is probably the largest
penal settlement in the world, says
the New York Sun The Andaman
I~iands are in the Bay OF Bengal, and
to Port Blair is sent the refuse of 25O,
600, 600 people. The worst criminals
of British India and Burmah, if they
incure long sentences of imprison-
ment, are sent to Port Blair Over
5000 of them are serving life sent
ences. The attackupon the chief OIL
cial of the island is all the more note
worthy because, since the settle
ment of Port Blair was started in
1857, with the muntinou5 SepOyS as
the first cOloniStS, there have been
only two murderOus assaults on Eu-
rODeans by cOnvIcJs; and yet to guard
this army of evild rs only one COM
pdly of British infantry and several
hundred Puniab police are employed,
very small for. when it is con-
S dered that there are no prison walls,
and that the convict barracks are
oItAbNNACd oil ONCl lllC
which is several miles square. The
hundred or more boats and canoes re-
quGed for the work of the settle
ment are far more carefully guarded
that the prisoners themselves. There
IS no chance to escape, except by
capturing those boats. Even then
there would be little hope OF freedom,
for the Andamans are far from land
and lie in 4 region OF tempests. The
only refuge is the forest, where run
awGyS are sure to die of starvation.
If they are not shot by the natives.
The authorities, therefore, have so
little fear of any attempt to 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 re
markable incident occurs now and
then, to vary the mOnOtOny OF inces-
SAINT road making and forest Telling.
Nearly eleven years ago sounds were
heard like the firing of big guns,
and it was thought a war ship had
gone ashore on South Andaman. The
station steamer was sent to carry re-
lief to the crew, but no wreck was
found. The noises came rom
Krakatoa, l,500 miles away whers
the most tremendous volcanic distur.
bance of modern times was in pro-
gresS Years ago the ship Runnymede
sailed from Australia and the ship
Briton from England, each having on
board battalion of the Eight,eth
Foot. The regiment was to be re-
united at Rangoon. One dark nieht
a terrible storm caught both We seis
near the AndamanS, and a great
wave carried them high on the anC re.
Next morning the regiment Without
4 man missing, was reunited on the
island The battaliOns had Travelled
around the world TO meet, asd a
stranger meeting never occurreE
The administration of this penal
colony is a remarkable system of re-
wards and punishments. Invariable
good conduct secures letter food in
creased comforts, and finally wages
for days work. Twenty years of
obedience to the rules secures a par
don for life cOnvicts. PardonS are
often granted for deeds of gailantry,
and murdererS redhanded and with
weapons ready, have been seized by
there fellows, who risked their lives
to gain the convicted freedom. The
attempt to assasSinate the chief
official Of the colony may result in re-
strictions that the conviCts have
hither to escaped.