Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-12
COLONY OF C0NVICTS
FRANCIS PENAL ESTABLISH
MENT IN NEW CALEDONIA.
The Great Penitentiary on the Island
of Neu-Treatment Of
Prisoners.

Transla ton in Public Opinion from Die Woche.
The French have made New Caledonia
q vast house of correction, and so long
as the island retains this character free
people naturally seek another colony. After
the suppression of the Paris commune
1sTl) had brought 10000 political convicts
TO this land. whose entire white population
had previously not exceeded 1900, one
entertained for the moment the hope of bet
ter conditions. This hope proved Elusive,
since the political exiles we'll knew that
new order of things In the motherland
would give them their freedom. Expecting
pardon. they gave no thought to establish
ing themselves In New Caledonia. Scarcely
one hundred political convfcts remained
after amnesty made possible their return to
France. Today of a population or apout
IS 600 natives corvicts and coionlsts, inc
convict element Is Of such character ana
numbers as to brand the island penal
colony The total convict population OF the
two penal colonies Of New Caledonia and
Guiana is about 13,OO0 of whom the great
majority are in New Caledonia.
Classification of Convicts.
The punishment of the exiled convict
naturally begins in France, and does not
cease during the entire voyage. Strong
chambers like cages are constructed amid
ships; between the chambers Is small
passage where day and night guards are
stationed; at each end Of the passage are
placed small cannon ready for firing. Who
ever shows the slightest sign of insubordi-
nation or replies to an officer with a dis
respectful answer Is confined in dark cell
provided for that purpose. The convicts
first leave their cages In the harbor OF
Noumea, where they are transferred to a
small steamboat. They are not permitted
to disturb the 1900 or more inhabitants of
the capital city, Noumea; they are taken
directly to the island Nou, where there is a
great penitentiary, with cells for those con-
demned to death. warehouses;, barracks. a
hospital and other appurtenances. This
building can accommodate 1900 men, be-
sides the military company garrisened here
in case of Instruction. The director of
the prison. after examining their papers,
divides the convicts into the three general
classes of incorrigibles. moderates and nov
Ices. A further division separates them
according to natural ability and acquired
skill.
The new arrivals are condemned to the
hardest work-canal digging. road making.
stone breaking. loading and unloading
ships. They are not allowed to speak, re-
ceiye no other nourishment than bread and
water, and are confined between working
hours. Now and then, for good behavior
which he Is nearly always promoted to
the first, when he has served half his time.
In the second class he Is assigned to the
warehouses; or the factories, while once in
the first he Is permitted to go about freely
in the inner half Of the island; 1t is only re-
quired Of him that be engage in some pur-
suit, shop work or field work, and that he
report every week at the head office, to
prove his presence on the island New Cal
edonia affords such liberty that the con-
victs may ultimately earn considerable
money in their business and even become
respected citizens, If they do not bear the
stigma of ''bagne.''
Discipline in the Colony.
The only court of Jurisdiction to pass SEN
tence upon the convicts Is the so-cailed
special maritime tribunal" the judges are
usually soldiers. Acts of violence or insur-
rection ara punished with death, while
flight, attempted escape, or theft meet with
a sentence of solitary confinement from six
months to five years. Formerly the death
sentence could not be executed without the
permission of the president of France;
year ago the president gave over the right
of sentence and pardon to the governor Of
New Caledonia, so far. at least, as concerns
the convicts The guillotine Is used for In
fiicting the death penalty, and the execu-
ton takes place in the presence of the fet-
tered prisoners. surrounded by soldiers and
other spectators. The second punishment
is solitary confinement In a cell three yards
long. a yard wide. and very low. The ra-
lions Of those condemned to isolation are
gradually reduced to dry bread. Every day
they are allowed to 80 for half an hour into