The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-09-14
DEVILS ISLAND.
Description of the Place by Prisoner
Who Preceded Dreyfus.

In IAN Italian on Devils Island"-the
International for September-some remln-
baldi, are given. Tibaldi was banished by
the judges of the second Napoleonic EN-
pire to the spot which has lately been the
scene of the sufferings of Captain Dreyfus.
This accused island" the Italian says,
throughout its extent of five-eighths OF a
mile in length and LAO feet In width. con,
rocks The arid soil, on which even the
grass withers for lack of nourishment, ana
only few scattered bushes grow, the ION
age of which Is parched and withered by
the pitiless sun, showed the man who was
to live there the sufferings to which he
was doomed. On this bare ridge. the
OF the sun. in the midst OF the cherries,
terrible solitude of the ocean near an
other island whose palms t fruit trees and nd
Tantalus, the exile found other companions
in misfortune, with whom he shared the
frightful agonies of that new existence.
What was what is the life OF these I'M
fortunates whom law or despotism tore
from family joys, often from intellectual la
Dor and every comfort of life, to take them
to be only number. without Independent
WILL without aspiration. without hope, and
in land and a climate where physical
vigor and mental energy are equally pros
trated.
Against this prostration there is no
weapon except Jealous. exhausting toll,
constant occupation Otherwise the dry
Whoever remains in his desolate abode,
sitting In corner or lying on his couch,
resigned to sorrowful reflections which de-
press the mind. and neglects to obtain by
physical exertion the bodily health which
aids in the struggle against the terrible
blows OF fate, is giving himself powerful
impetus toward the grave that awaits most
OF those who are cast away upon these
not grow old
I'm order to make the body more capable
or resisting the violent attacks of fever
caused by the climate and the pestilential
marshes of Guiana. throughout this region.
II Is absolutely necessary to wrest oneself
from lurking inertness, to overthrow and de-
stroy 1t. During the summer. horrible and
murderous as the heat may be. one must
not only find strength to battle against this
heat, which enervates and tempts one to
constant drowsiness. but to accumulate a
store Of vigor that will render the long, bad
season OF the year less perilous.
In the latitude of Devils island there are
really only two seasons-the summer, last
ing about four months. during which time
not drop OF rain falls, and the rainy sea-
son. during which, for eight months. streams
of water pour down necessarily, so that 1t
would be madness to leave the house, on
account Of the fever which attacks the i'll
advised person who ventures forth, and
rarely gives him an opportunity to repent of
his fmprudence.
During the summer the heat is so intense
that the stones one touches leave a mark
upon the hand like a red-hot iron, and eggs
that are taken from the shade burst a few
minutes after coming in contact with the
neat o. the sum- on account of the sudden
decomposition of the heterogeneous SUBJ
stances and the consequent expansion of the
gases contained In them. 1t is imperatively
needful at this season to arm oneself with
superhuman energy, shake off inertness, and
bidding defiance to the scorching rays, keep
constantly at work. One may till a little
patch of ground, fish, or catch the sea tur-
ties which come out of the water to bask
among the rocks of the island; but what
ever happens, one must keep busy
"A special feature, and perhaps the only
agreeable one of the island is-or rather
was. when the Few trees that Struggled for
existence there had not been felled-the
presence of certain very large lizards which
lived In the trees, and were killed with
stones by the prisoners, to be eaten. They
were really delicacy, and when boiled or
roasted, afforded rich, palatable dish,
somewhat similar in taste to pheasants"