The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-10-02
QUEER FRENCH PENAL COLONIES
Unique Lives That French Convicts Live in
the Odd Corners of the World.

In the matter OF her penal settle
ments France is unique. for while the
criminal code % the republic il some
thing the Anglo-Ssxon instinct has
never been able TO grapple with sue
cessfully. the merits OF the system that
has controlled the administration Of
her convict colonies is patent to every
one who has any acquaintance with It.
The most important u these are 10
Gated in New Caledonia. and In Guiana
)r Cayenne-France's solitary foothold
On the continent Of South America.
They are scattered along the coast OF
Guyana on the isles. du Salut at Kon-
ron. and on the island Of la Mere. and
at Maroni. The last named settlement
boasts in Saint Laurent, a neat little
town OF small God houses raised
above the ground on brick piers, and
Inhabited by citizens variously Grim
inal.
But most famous Of all-because Of
the fame Of one mans the Isle du
Diable. where Captain Alfred Dreyfus
has spent three years w~aiting-if the
last developments claimed for his case
are proven true-a tardy justice at tho
hands OF his countrymen.
This desolate spot Is one of accumu-
lated horrors. IL was until recently a
leper settlement. Here the celebrated
political prisoner has lived the long
lays In chains. TO be Gagged at night
ike a wild beast: for the discipline 10
which he has been subjected has been
as rigorous as IL Is mild and humani-
tartan in the case OF an ordinary wrong
doer.
He has grown gaunt. gray n In
firm; the three years on the Devils
Island" have been the equal of 30 else
where. OF his guards number have
died by reason OF the unhealthy climate
while one is reported to have gone
mad because Of the awful loneliness
n isolation.
The first convicts were sent out TO
Cayenne I'm 1852. hen some 1000 were
deported from the prisons of Paris.
Others were to follow as soon as these
had established themselves. but the
fevers OF the swamp coast proved to
be so deadly that in the end II was de-
cided TO only send thither ~convicts from
Asia and Africa, while New Caledonia
was selected as the dumping ground
for the criminal contingent from
France.
This arrangement has been the rule
ever since. except In those instances
where the government deemed Il ex-
pedient to try the effects of the Cay
enne swamps upon some political Of
fender who had mad himself signally
obnoxious at home. and whose taking
OF vas a matter heartily desired.
France separates her criminal colo
nists into three classes - Recidivister.
that Is. habitual criminals: Condammes.
prisoners undergoing sentence; and
There's. or ticket OF leave.
The first enjoy but little liberty; the
second by good conduct may aspire to
II, while the third are practically free.
barring certain restrictions. Yet the
lot OF a Transported man Is no hope
less. no matter 20 what class he be-
longs. He is infinitely better of than
he would be in a French prison.
Indeed, transportation soon became
so popular by reason Of the humane ad-
ministration of the penal settlements
that convicts. who had been sentenced
to solitary confinement In the home
prisons. were accustomed to make more
or less murderous assaults on their
guards in order to insure the coveted
opportunity afforded by the colonies
To such an extreme was this carried
that in 1850 an act was passed decree
ing that transportation should not be
the penalty for any crime committed
I'm a prison. In short, transportation
had altogether failed to inspire the
evil-doer with anything like the meas
uTe of wholesome fear that had been
hoped from Il.
one OF the curious features OF the
French law Is that a burglar convicted
Of his first o~ftense. will-if he is un-
lucky-get three years OF solitary con-
fnement. a sentence which is almost
certain to impair his health and mind:
while he same type Of criminal. who
II an old hand at the trade and known