The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1895-09-17
CAUGHT BY SONvICTS,
An Adventure with Arab Maiefactors -
the Salvation Islam as.

OFF the coast of French Guiana, OF
Cayenne, there lies a groep of three
islands, called by the French the lies du
Salut, or Salvation islands, which have
long been used as convict station,
Here are sent convict Arabs from AL
gcria, negroes from Senegambia,
Chinese and Annamites from Tonquin
and Anam, and not infrequently
anarchists from Paris. Lately the dis
patches recorded an insurrection
among these motley prisoners on
these lonely islands, which was sup
pressed with heavy hand.
1t was not the first mutiny at this
station. The islands are not regarded
as desirable place Of residence, even
by convicts. They are mere rocks cov-
cred with SO thin coating of soil that
no place of burial can be found for the
convicts who die there. A little spot
of earth is, indeed, set apart for tho
burial Of officers or keepers who sue
| cumb to the climate; but when con-
vict dies his body is rowed out to sea
and thrown into the water, to be quick
ly taken care Of by the sharks.
Escape is practically impossible. Cay
cnne Is twenty-seven miles away, and
there is semaphoric communication
| with that point. A convict who at
tempts to get to shore in boat or on q
raft is perfectly sure to fall into the
| hands of the shore or sea patrol always
on the watch.
Some years ago, according to q re-
| port made by NJ. Bonnetain, a
French administrator at Cayenne,
| warden of the station ut the
| Hes du Salut, who. happened to
be an old sailor, was sent from the
mainland to the islands in a small
sailing vessel, the crew of which con-
sisted of sixteen Arab convicts. A Sec
ond in command, the warden had with
him French convict who had reached
the grade of "trusty," and in whom he
| had complete confidence.
| The Arabs were docfle enough, but
on the way the French ''trusty" melted
them to mutiny. At signal from him
| they rushed upon the warden, bound
him and tied him fast to the rail.
They would undoubtedly have killed
him but for the fear that they would be
recaptured, and that II they had added
the crime of murder to their mutiny
they would be hanged.
They made the best of their way to-
| ward the brazilian shores, but storm
came up ard blew them in the opposite,
| or norsherly, direction. The storm in
creased, and the convicts, not one OF
whom had any knowledge of naviga-
ton, began to fear for their lives.
A day and night had passed.a and they
| were out of food. In their distress the
Arabs liberated the warden. They
were humble enough now, and were
| willing that he should take them any
| where.
"That remains to be seen," said the
warden. 81 think it would serve you
all right if let you go to your death" +"
"But how about yourself?"
II am willing to go, too!''
The Arabs were at their wits end.
They begged the warden to save them.
"Will you do, then, just what l tell
| your he asked the Arabs.
eve will"
Very well, then; shall save your
lives-all you Arabs-but this French
| man here condemn to a deserved
death. Throw him overboardr
The Arabs cbeyed, and the French
betrayer of the warden went over the
rail to his death. The warden then
gave directions which saved the boat,
and brought it into the harbor OF
| Demerara, whence all on board were
| taken to Cayenne.
The warden found the Arabs docile
| to the end, as he knew they would be
after the example made Of the French
man. But his confidence once lost IN
that trusted man, he had felt certain
that as soon as the English coast was
approached the man would lead new
ruutiny, which probably would result
in the warden's death.-Youths Com
panion.