The San Francisco call., 1904-07-22
Horrors of Robben Island.
Special Correspondence.

HEADQUARTERS OF THE CALL,
8 HENRIETTA STREET, COVENT
GARDEN. LONDON, July S.-Had it
not been for the war and the state Of
things political in this country at
present, undoubtedly more attention
would have been attracted by a grim
story which came from South Africa
the other day regarding the lepers on
Robben Island. near Cape Town, for
his account recalls TiVidly some Of the
most grewsome pages Of Ben Hur.'
Robben Island. where for many years
the diseased Outcasts from all South
Africa have been isolated, invariably
excites the curiosity Of passengers on
their arrival off Cape Town, and the
mere mention Of it creates a feeling Of
horror in the minds Of residents in the
Cape Colony. It was in the Cape As
sembly the other day that DR.. Hewat,
who is one Of the most prominent
medical men in South Africa, made
some astounding statements regarding
conditions in the leper island. The
doctor said he knew Of between sixty
and seventy persons condemned to a
lifelong banishment there amid sur
roundings that were indescribable, but
who in reality never had been a source
Of danger TO any one and who would
not be if allowed TO go at large. In
consequence the medical man said that
he now refused TO certify as lepers
those only slightly affected. as he knew
that TO do so would be TO Danish them
at once and for life TO the dread island.
And DR.. Hewat instanced the case Of
a man, who. after having been kept
on the island for eight years as
leper. was finally discharged. it having
been established conclusively that he
had never been affected by leprosy at
all. Then this practitioner went on TO
bring some amazing charges regarding
the administration Of the leper island.
Patients sent TO Robben for examina-
tion, he maintained, received no con-
sideration at all at the hands of the
advisory board there and were left
amid awful surroundings without hope.
The members Of this advisory board.
the accuser continued. who should visit
the island every three months, had. in
fact, only visited it four times in three
years. In consequence Of this neglect,
he declared, the unfOrtunates on the
island were dying like flies from tu-
berculosis, Que TO Overcrowding.
When several members Of the Cape
Assembly. shocked by DR.. Hewat's
statements, visited Robben Island the
other day, they were met by a half
crazy wretch. who implored the Wis
itOrs' help. A carpenter of Southamp-
ton, England, he went 70 work at Kim
berley. contracted Ieprosy in a mild
fern and promptly was dragged off TO
the leper island This was three
months ago. He now has lost all trace
Of the disease. but is as much a pris-
cner as Il he were doing a life term Of
penal servitude. Meantime he is the
more anxious to return TO his family at
Kimberley, whom he has not seen
since his confinement, as they are de-
pendent upon what his son, who is
only IS, can earn. Life on the island
he described as most horrible. There
are few books for the use Of lepers. and
they pass the dreary days in musing
on the terrible fate that has sent them
there. This victim adds that the food
supplied to the lepers is Indifferent and
the mode Of serving it bad. The mans
statements now have been Incorporated
IN q Government blue book and his re-
lease is likely, as well as an official in
vestigation into the conditions prevail
ing on the leper island.