The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-11-29
ST. ISABEL.
ON Fernando Pc.

There are Spanish convic,s at Ceuta, too. but
they are not quite the rahble that is massed az
M-lilla. According to all accounts. the Cuban
prisoners har. not much TO do except TO keep
Their quarters in order. They have plenty of
time 10 watch the shipping in the strait and 10
wonder how fares the struggle for freedom in
their island home.
OF course Spain could not slight her other
African settlements, and so, after she had plant
ed n goodly Cuban colony in Cru:a. she began
ISLANDS. and the consir nments Of political sus.
poets landed on these uniuviung rocks have
been qptte frequent for six months past. These
little islands are the Tres lnsu!m OF the ancient
geograpiIcrs. and they form n semi-Circle In the
Mcdlt-rrnncan of the Morocco cotsr, jus. q
abort distance west of the Algerian border.
They are near enough 10 the coast 10 form with
II a SORT Of hRrbor in tho only part OF the coast
waters OF that region aflord!ng u safe anchor
age. They arc therefore Of some earthly use
besides being a convict station for Spain, and
any sinner, for they are mere rocks. without, q
sign OF verdure. n this respect they are IN vio-
which the Cuban prisoners have been removed.
Once. nj least. IN TIN, century SPAN got ahead
81 another European pow"r;, inihr first years OF
the conquest al Algeria, France talked OF &C.
cupvinC this little archipelago. and she finally
made up her mind. IN lS4H. to set about it
bni when she, came within sight of the group.
10 and behold. The spanish ilaE WAS floating
from the largest Island: whcrfup1n tile cha
grinrd Frehchinan sailed around the group. sa-
luted. and went back whcrr Ec came from. The
Spanish had arrived there just five hours earlier.
sur spain has a far more remote prison. to
which sns has sent many OF her Cuban victims-
II II at The town az -. Isabel, on the island of
Fernando Pc, hundreds OF miles down the west
coast NJ Africa, in the Gulf OF Guinea. Tie
little picture OF the town shown here WAS made
by the German explorer, Baumann. several years
ngo, and to get the photograph he stood on the
deck OF the prison shin in the harbor. No build
ink IN the town was devoted to the purposes of
"A prison, but ali The convicts from Spain or sup
piled by the island were confined on this prison
No progress whatever has been made by the
Spanish In Fernando 20, and IL Is more than
probable that the CubAns who are now cast
away IT. thar foriorn spot are cooped up on that
floating prison. Spain keeps very quiet about
all tho Cuban eXiles, and practically nothing ID
known or their fate except that they wero des-
tined for one or other OF these three prisons.
About 800 persons live in the town OF St
Isabel. and among them are many Cuban me-
groes and mulattoes who took arms against
Spain in the instruction OF 1868. When they
were caught they were carried of 10 Fernando
Pc. Long ago the Spanish Government gave
these exiles permission 10 return to their native
Island, but many Of them chose TO remain at ST.
Isabel. SO tho present unpleasRntness has NOT
started but has merely reinforced the Cuban
colony on the big African island.
1t is a curious fact that the Spanish hold little
moro than the merest fringe Of the islAnd. The
Bube tribe. who occupy alArge part OF Fernando
Pc. look upon the Island as their property, and
have nothing TO do with the SpaniArds. who are
content TO remain on or near the coast There
are q few Bube natives near ST. Isabel. and they
look upon the Governor of the island As merely
the white chief OF the town. They laugh at the
idea thHt no 10 the ruler OF the iSland; and, Eb
fact. he isn'tin anything bat Mans