New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-10-17
no fewer than sixteen thousand convcts va,

ia only since there has been an end put to thia
Objectionable form of immigration that Enc
lands colonial empire has been able to assume
its present phenomenal development and growth.
Emperor Nicholas appears to have devoted
much attention to this subject and to have
come to the conclusion that the English were
right in their contention that convict immigra-
tion was injurious to colonial prosperity For
he is taking steps to put an entire stop to the
deportation Of criminals to Siberia. Those al
ready there are to remain for the purpose Of
providing labor for the construction Of the
trans-Siberian railroad. But no more are to be
sent. The worst class Of criminals, that is to
saw. those who by reason OF their Offences
against society most nearly approach the brute
heast in its most ferocious and dangerous state
will be transported to the island OF Saghalen
situated on the easternmost coast OF siberia
but Sc veral hundred miles rom the MAINLAND
,vh;cb has the double advantage Of possessing
such an inaccessible coast that escape is i'm
nossib,e and a. climate bad that the convicts
sneedily die Minor offenders and those con-
damned for political offences will henceforth
,o.,,n ,heir term OF Imprisonment in peniten.
,;ar;es which are being constructed for the
purpose in European Russia upon '"e "'os' en-
frightened and up-to-date principles.
,,,,.;. denorts to Saghalien, France reserves
. ,;,orous and fever-stricken islands Of
49,, a,t of Guiana which are known as the
,,ds ~ Salvation the worst OF the group,
,a,,.,v the so-called Isle Of the Devil, being
-asorved for the ex-captain. Dreyfus. whom 50
many neople believe to have been unJustly con-
Co., calling To either the Italian or Ger
man Government the secret plans OF moplza-
Arm
Tbere ia likewise a large settlement OF conVicts
on the mainland at cayenne WIN" '''
.r;eo healthier than the island. But only the
worst criminals, those who are co"S'u''eu ao-
so,utev irreclaima BILE are ever shipped to
French Guiana, ordinary iohs -u'"e o"',o"
,o,ro TRANSPORTED to New-Caledona in the Pa
S.a o.o.r where in the event OF good be-
bav,or they may eventually develop into pros
...ov. co,onists being allowed the run OF the
island on which they are stationed indeed the
.-. 1, NewCaledonia Is presented in such
-, attractive light to the criminal class, and a.
so infinitely superior in every way ~ oo''"ne
Wan, in the penitentiares Of the mother coun'
trv that the moment criminal sees t"a' ne
has no chance of escape he generally endeav'
org to make his crime worse ana 10 p'vse"' |"
IN tho most shocking light, with view OF
Thus securing transportation to New-Caledonia
instead Of hard labor in penitentlary al nome
The Botany Bay of Portugal Is on the east
coast of Africa at Mozambique ana Deiagoa
Raw where the convcts lead an aosoluteiy ideai
existence, being merely expected 10 report
themselves once in a while to the police. while
In tho interval those who are possessed OF any
fortuno and culture may be found associatng
m terms of cordial friendship with the army
,e;cers and colonial officials, playing DilHards
with the Governor General in the public billiard
rooms Of the hotels. and actually dining at his
table and entertaining him at their own.
Far less happy is the lot OF those spanish
corvicts who are transported to Ceuta, on the
African coast just opposite to Gibraltar, and
IN fernando Pc on the west coast or the DARK
Continent. The horrors of these two penal set
,lements have been 50 frequently described OF
late in connection with the unhappy Lot OF the
Cuban prisoners that it is unnecessary to say
orytbinp more about the matter here than that
the mortality due to the climate and to the
cruel treatment is sufficiently great TO nave leo
the, authorities to devise characteristic and
peculiar style of coffin. The supply oi coi"i's
not in any way sufficient for the demand. Ac-
cordingly the dead convicts are placed IN
coffin of which the bottom is merely fastened
BY hinges and bolt. The latter Is drawn a.
soon az the coffin is placed over the orlhce "
the grave, the body is thus dumped into Inc
hole and then the casket Is ready Tor another
convict.
No other European country deports It's con
vic,s EXCEPT Turkey, which ships them 20 some
OF the settlements to the south of Tripol on The