The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-01-02
CRUEL MENACE TO C0NvICTS.
STEAM USED TO QUELL MUTINY ON
A FRENCH PRISON SHIP.

A FRENCH PRISON SHIP.
One of the Grim Monsters of the Sea
Now on Tampa-The Vessel Just
From the Living Tomb of Capt.
Dreyfus-FOur Steel Cages Each
Holding $50 Persons Provided for
the Men-WOmen Slowed Away in
a Cage Accommodating Thirty
One.
Tampa, Fla, Jan. 1.-The French trans
port ship Carladonic now lying at Port
Tampa, is an object of much curiosity.
This grim sea prisoner annually conveys
about 1000 souls from the land of the liv-
ing-the gay French republic-to an en-
during death on the Safety Islands. A
great deal of interest has been manifest
ed in this ship by the people here on ac-
count of her having just arrived from the
living tomb of Capt. Alfred Dreyfus, whose
guilt appears not quite so conclusive in
the face of recent events which have
agitated Paris.
The officers of the ship, with the easy
suavity of all Frenchmen, appear to find
much pleasure in showing visitors through
the vessel and cheerfully answer all
questions until inquiries are made of
Capt. Dreyfus when they reply, with pro-
fuse apologies, that they are not permit
ted to speak of him.
The CALEDONIA Is an iron ship of 4,40O
tons. For the past ten years she has been
In the employ of the French government
transporting criminals from France and
Algeria to the penal colonies on Safety
Island thirty miles OH the coast of French
Guiana. These are taken aboard at
Rochefort and Algiers and consist of per-
sons convicted of various crimes, whose
sentences are not less than five years.
-Four steel cages, each with capacity
of $50. are ready for the male prisoners
as they come aboard, while much small
Ter one capable of holding only thirty-one
persons, is sufficient for the female con-
victs. This latter cage Is IN the aft of
the ship and is widely removed from the
Others. The women are treated with a
great deal more consideration than the
men, having regular berths and better
fare. The men sleep in canvas hammocks
and are given the ordinary seaman's ra-
tons, which is substantial if not elabo-
rate The ship is provided with a well ar
ranged hospital, a pharmacy, and two
physicians, Drs. Ronault and Wallet, who
are ever watchful over the health of the
convicts entrusted to their care.
A very interesting feature and one hor-
rible to contemplate, is the facility with
which steam can be used should the con-
victs attempt to take possession of the
ship. Pipes 4areAso arranged that were
such an effort made II would he possible
of laa CHI e. 4
prisoner to death in less time that it would
take to count them. Steam can be turned
upon them while they are in their cages,
or should they escape from them 1t can
be so directed that they would be forced
TO appeal for mercy. The law gives the
officers of this ship great latitude ana
whenever they deem it prudent that the
conviCts should be put 20 death in this
manner II is within their power to do so.
Capt. Dano has never had such a case to
arise on board his ship, but it often be-
comes necessary to give them a little of
the. steam to quell discomfort. AS a rule,
however, the eighty guards who are reg.
ularly detailed for service on board are
sufficient to keep the prisoners docile.
Should an outbreak at any time occur a
signal of alarm calls all hands TO the md
ship section of the ship, and then all the
ladders leading to the upper deck of thi.
section are drawn up, the lower doors bar
ricaded and the rightful commanders have
a quickly improvised, but a strong fort,
which embraces the boiler and engine
rooms, the arsenal and provision rooms,
the officers quarters, the chart and steer
ing room and the bridge. The conYiets
cannot come near enough to scale the
walls or batter down the doors on ac-
count of the scalding steam, while from
the fortress the guards and crew can shoot
them as they appear above decks, and as
the steam does not allow them to remain
long below they are forced to quickly can
for terms. If individuals become unruly
they are promptly put in chains, the
steam being resorted TO only when there
is a general disturbance.
The officers quarters are comfortably
fitted up, andtit is a rare treat to be in
vited into the main saloon to partake of
the hospitality of these chivalrous gentle
men. They are delighted with what they
have seen of America, and avow that the |
richly furnished Tampa Bay hotel is n
palace. They expect to ar
rive in France the latter part of this
month and when the ship comes out again |
with convicts they intend TO return via |
Port Tampa.