The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-04-01
The BIGGEST Prison in the World.

Near the southwest corner OF the con-
tinent OF Australia nesties the little eoa st
town or FreEnantle, and half mile back
OF II, surrounded BY sand dunes and
malice scrub, Is famous old cenvicf
prison-the largest penal institution in
the world. And yer comparatively few
people. even in Australia. know Of its ex-
I istence- Western Australia, the division
IN which Freenantle lies. was
the last crown colony OF the Aus
tralian group, and It was not until TWEEN
ty-nve years ago thar the steady stream
OF convict ships ceased 10 touch its
shores.
Old Botany Bay. near Sydney. on the
east coast has been Britain's principal
convict settlement for nearly half cen
fury. but the rapid growth OF New South
Wales and the force Of public opinion
turned the place with its grim history
from a living hell 10 one OF the most
neantiful little suburban cities on the
continent II was then that the town
OF Freemantle began 10 III up rapidly.
necessitating the erection OF a stone jail
capable OF holding within lis walls -
Gee convicts-the majority of them being
probably the most hardened criminals
OF the century The building OF this
prison was what is known as a crown
job" and, like most British public
works Of that kind. was completed ''on
honor. Probably centuries will pass
before its solid. ssven-foot granite walls
viii crumble or its battlements show
signs of decay.
Western Australia continued to grow.
and. after bearing for many years the
stigma Of convict settlement" was az
last freed from the stain as her sister
colony had been years before, the home
government announcing that il would
send no more OF It's convict classes TO
the continent of Australia. The day that
this proclamation reached western Aus
traiia the people began a week OF JOYFUL
demonstrations and fetes IN celebration
of the decision. And from that day. too.
they began 20 let the very existence OF
the place back in the Fremaatile hills
die out of their memory
But the convict prison continued To
hold ito thousands, for the decree IN
shutting on the immigration also an
nounced that the life convicts already In
the jail should be held there tin they
died. And so, after a few years. the
prison settled down into a humdrum
routine. q city in itself Of death in NE
with no new arrivals, no excitement. no
release from the pItiless daily routine
till the grave claimed the body and held
Il
the jail gates.
The jailers in the prison. one 10 every
twenty-five convicts, were drawn exclu-
sively from the ranks OF war veterans
Old heroes OF the Crimea and the Indian
mutiny. many OF them with their breasts
covered with clasps and medals. went
down the road 10 the grave side by side
with the men they guarded. Win the
passing of the years the hand OF time
began to lay heavy on all alike. n lSS5.
when I last visited the prison. there was
a fascination in watching the quiet.
drOning existence that its few remaining
inmates led There were only about sew
enty veterns and 200 convicts left and
of these nearly all were white-haired
and lettering. Most Of them hObbled
slowly round the enormous quadrangies,
pottered about the gardens that iatterly
they had been permitted TO keep and fra
ternized and meditated together. pris-
oners and keepers alike. Every Saturday
afternoon the veterans donned their
threadbare and faded military uniforms.
pinned on their medals. and with their
old flags carried ahead would march
proudly but slowly down through the
principal street OF the little town 10 the
beach and then back again home Cut
off by many years Of absence from the
clQ ties ana utiu tAtse 70 tlit4E ftlshu
life in the new colony. they had become
obnvious 10 everything but their old war
memories. the village paper and the
prison.
The convicts were past all thought OF
escape. Time and age had dried up
their criminal propensities. and they were
as harmless as little children. indeed not
unlike little children in many ways
There were very few Of them that had
not some black history Of shame and
degradation as a prelude 70 their convict
life, but in the peaceful, strange Inn
mensity Of that almost empty prison they
were doing out their few remaining
years In pure and simple living. Doll
houses made from shells, cunningly 80
ven baskets and carved malec roots for
sale 10 visitors-these things VITA their
flower beds took up all their time. Once,
western Australia, the guards went our IN
q body to the Freman;le wharf 20 greet /
him, leaving the prison gatce open. I
Ialf a dozen Of the convicts followed /
the gay old fellows down % the water
md back again. All could nave gone n T
they had liked. but they preferred 70 /
stay home" Fremsutle jail Is proba- 1
by the only penal institution rs the 4
world where prisoners may wander IN 4
md out, bask in the sun In front ~ The 4
zig frowning entrance and sit and sleep. 4
ls I have watched many % them do 4
NTH their backs pFopped up against the 1
outside q the walls. II was an old mems 4
lone-wit1out the wranFiing ard dlscord 4
hat usually exist IN those Institutions
-Four old cannon that stood guarding 4
he four main walks that lead 20 the .
ntrance gates ard once fIleG night ard I.
ay with grapeshot typihsd IN their ap-
,aaraBce the change that had come orer
his city Of shackles.~
They stood uniasded. covered with rust
heir once "a ping. threatening mouths
luFEed with earth5 ont ~ which grew
eautiful Australian gIth p'sutz with (
heir star-hke scarlet blossoms.