The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-08-19
Where French Prisoners Are Exiled.
Chorley Eng Standard.


The Giles de Saiut" or "Iles OF Safety,
are three small islands of the coast OF french
Guiana, "A few degrees north OF the Equator,
and except this narrow sea frontage aie
covered with tropical forests.
The climate is simply murderous certain
death being the result of standing bareheaoeo
in the sun even for an instant. ,
From November 10 juno IL the Wet season,
during which the average ralnfall ~ Ioo
inohes yet the temperature is never less
than 80 degrees, and rises to ll5 degrees dur
ing the four dry months. .
|, Convict ships bound for these ISLANDS OF
the Curst" generally sail ether from the
lie do Re in the Bay Of Biscay, or the lie
d AK in the Mediterranean.
A month Is occupied by the voyage, the
horrors of which are fit prelude TO those
yet 20 come.
are confined in patches of 30 IN great iron
cages ON the spar deck. Benches are placed
round the sides of the cage and hammocks
are slung at night. But day and night they
are watched by guards standing beside loaded
mitrailieuses, ready to nre at the nrst sign
OF mutiny.
but they are invariably quolled with TO
morseless severity. -
The horrors OF the passage are too repulsive
for description, the scenes resembling rather
those Observable q century or two back tina n
what one would associate with the presen'
times.
On the arrival Of the prisoners at the lies
de Salut they are taken TO the camp,
clearing occupied by strongly built, iron barred
huts furnished with double rows OF ham
mocks. But at night the fetid atmosphere
OF the outer air, and the ever present swArms
of stinging insects, render any but the sleeI
of exhaustion impossible.
From the moment Of his arrival the convict
has no name. He is known only by tht
number in his hammock. The new arrivals
are put to the most severe tasks-drainint
marshes and. clearing ground-"to preaH
their spirits"
They are conducted to their work by armed
guards, who are ordered to fire at the least
| attempt AT flight. Hardly any try to escape
| and they know that III they evade the bullets
| OF the guards and their pursuit, IL VIII ~
necessary TO traverse the sea and the virgin
| forest. At every step will lie In wait FOL
| them death by hunger, by fatigue, by dis
ease, or by the poisoned arrows OF the NATIVES
| who receive a reward for every convict they
| bring back dead or alive.
Meanwhile with bodies broken by thei1
| awful toll in a climate whore walk OF {
hundred yards is formidable task, they
labor i'm the blazing sun with spades ant
picks About their heads hangs clouds o
stinging insects. Great red ants cover theii
| bare legs and sometimes poisonous serpent'
| twist about their ankles and inhict morta
| wounds. They stand in trenches 10 thei
| knees in water and mire, and the exhalation
rising from the earth consume Them VIII
fever or set their toeth chattering as witt
| cold, while the sweat rolls from their fore
Occasionally, in despair, some Of the con
| victs revolt, in the hope which N seldom
| disapuointed, OF finding IN the bullets o
| their custodians n relief from this living tor
ture Others again go mad, or end thei
| lives by deliberately exposing themselves :.
| the sun, while very few ever succeed II
Indeed, only once have any fugitive
| reached civilized countries again, and evei
then their period OF freedom was compare
lively brief.