The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1896-02-11
AUSTRALIA CONVICT SHIP.
Some Attractions Even in Such Float.
ing HclIs.


ing Hcl1s.
All is grist that comes to the mill Of
the Snowman, and even q convict ship
is serviceable If it can only be made
attractive. There has lately arrived
in the East India dock, at Blackwell.
the Australian convict ship Success,
which Is to be put on exhibition forth
with The vessel belongs to the old
bad system of treating criminals with
barbarous cruelty. bordering on innu
manity. Built in 1870 in British India.
of solid teak, the Success was first an
East India trader and then an emf
grant ship. 1t was in the year 1882,
just at the time of the gold discoveries
in Australia. that she was turned into
convict hulk, and moored NJ williams
town, Victoria. The new gold fields at
tracted many bad characters from all
parts, even cOnvicts breaking loose
from the penal establishments, and in
order TO afford safe quarters for the
worst Of the evil-doers five ships were
turned into hulks. The Success form
ed one Of the group, and was known as
the dark cell drill" ship, being fitted
up with solitary cells that admit no
light. One can well understand the
horrors of the rigorous system of prison
treatment practiccd on board these
hulks by an inspection of this ship.
Lying In the East India dock, she Is
weather-beaten old wooden vessel.
dingy and free from any suspicion Of
new paint The first wonder, indeed,
is that she ever accomplished the voy-
age from Australia to London, which
took no less than five months and a
half, but her stout t,mbers Of teak of
great thickness make her almost i'm
pregnable as Il fortress. The quarters
once occupied by the warders are
shown on the quarter deck. where there
are exhibited various rusty muskets.
pistols, leg irons and manacles. as well
as an original copy of ticket of
leave" signed by the governor of the
colony. The tween deck is fitted with
cells on each side, every cell having
been for the accommodation of three
men, and on the lower deck, where no
light and but little air could penetrate.
are the dark, solitary cells, which must
almost have been living tombs TO the
occupants. At the end of each cell is n
space shut off by iron rails called the
tigers den" which was used for those
regarded as irreclaimable Here the
most outrageous offenders were herded
together in semi-darkness, and often
murder was committed among them.
selves as the result of an old grudge or
dispute.
The barbarity Of the hulk system t.
further Illustrated by iron necklets by
which unfortunate malefactors werJ
fastened by line as if by halters, and
III some torture chambers prisoners
were so chained that they could Meth.
or lie, sit or kneel. Hardened ruffian7
though the convicts were, vet such
treatment could only have the most
iiendish results, and the prisoners on
the Success in 1857 found an opportu.
nifty of revenging themselves by assas,
sinating the official head of the convic,
establishment. Inspector General Price.
The public sentiment revolted against
the hulk system, which was superseded
in 1889. The old hulks were broken I'D.
with the exception of the Success.
which after being maliciously scuttleG
in sydney harbor, was raised and ex.
hibited as show vessel at variou5
ports in Australia. This old hulk. reek.
ing with the memories of many cruel
ties committed in the name of the law.
IS not allowed to tell her own tale. but
somewhat questionably it is sought to
heighten the effect by the aid of wax
T..
with notorious bushrangers, all OF
which appeal rather to morbid tastes
London Chronicle. ~-r,