The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1909-02-18
.BlGN|0 OF GUIANA
Penal Settlement Where Life is
Worse Than Death.
AMID THE NAMELESS HEAT.
Besides the Mcrcilcss Severity of the
Labor to Which the Convicts Are
Held the Terrible Climate Encr-
Yates Every White Man.

dignation because his deportation is
looked upon as an encouragement of
murder, and probably the murderer
himself, too, in his solitary contlne-
ment, thinks that after escaping
death he is destined to live there
a happy, idyllic life and end his days
in peace. This is, however, a great
mistake. The bagnio of French Gui-
ana is worse than death; it is hell on
earth. A political criminal, Lard
Courtois, who, afteF living five years
with the deported, was pardoned on
the occasion of the amnesty granted
in the Dreyfus afsrir, gives this de-
scriStion of the penal settlement;
There the most terrible torture ever
devised by the modern penal law
awaits the unforunates. Death is a
hundred times more desirable than
this punishment. Beside the merci-
less severity with which the convicts
are held to their hard labors there,
threatens the terrible climate that
enervates every white man, however
strong his health. No one can stand
this nameelss heat. During the sum-
mer the mean temperature by day is
80 degrees X. in the shade. In the
evening 1t yields to a cold humidity.
During the winter there are incessant
rain showers, but the heat is not less
enervating. If 1t does not rain for
any length of time the swamps be-
come partly dry and produce noXi-
GUS vapors that are the cause of
fatal diseases. The air is permeated
with infectious miasma, to which
more than half Of the new arrivals
Immediately succumb. After six
months the number of the remain
Ing is still less. The statistical in
Quiries go to show that of every hum
dred prisoners eighty die in the first
six months. Marsh fever and con-
sumption accomplish with great
rapidity the work which the Presi-
dents mercy spared the executioner.
To breathe means, in Guiana. to be-
come infected. Add to this, at night,
the swarms of flies and mosquitoes
whose sharp stings pierce all covers;
Of insects that dig into the pores of
| shS ohAh OIL SulIy PolSOn lHlO tHc
body; Of vermin of every description
that attack the unfortunatas when
asleep"
There are. to be sure, some privi-
legged prisoners, who are allotted
piece OF land and can live with their
families; but their number is insight
ficant-five to every thousand. In
1899 there were 35 of such privi-
legged of 1000 deported And all
those who do not enjoy this privi-
lege know nothing but their place
Of work, where they wear themselves
out by incessant hard labor, driven
by the whip of the cruel warden, tor
mented by hunger, despite fever and
disease. without a word of complaint
that would only entail the severest
chastisements.
In few weeks the new transport
of prisoners to which also Soleilland
belongs will arrive on the vessel La
Loire at the Safety Island (between
Royal and Joseph islands,, and at
the floating wharf they will be sub
jected to narrow search. Everything
they possess is taken away from
them, the dearest article of men,
ory that unites them with the world
of yore they have to surrender.
Abandon hope" that dreadful in
scription on the entrance of Dante's
Purgatory, slowly engraves itself
| with flaming letters on the hearts
Of the convicts. In herds of one hun
dred they are being driven to their
places OF labor in the interior, and a
hopeless life, terrible in its monoton-
Gus cruelty, begins for them. They
have to cut trees and transport wood.
Profound silence by day and by
night, interrupted only by the whiz-
zing of the whip, the curses of the
supervisors and the groaning of the
exhausted. When the convict has
borne this wretched life for num-
Der or years and, however dulled
and brutalized, is still capable of
Keeping up his courage by faint
glimmer of hope, he may, perhaps.
advance from the third class of con-
vlcts, to which he hitherto belonged.
10 the second class. This, however.
means only an Insignificant change
or life; there is the same hard labor.
the same suffering. the same priya-
lions. though he has the satisfaction
OF looking down upon others who
rare even worse. And after a num-
Der OF more years he is admitted to
the hrst class. And. If during the
whole time he has not been guilty of
the least infraction of Discipline. If
MS superiors are kindly disposed to-
ward him. II all the conditions re-
CURED by law are complied with.
'hen ne may perhaps be recommend
ed for the dreamed of privilege of
oeing allotted small piece of land
that' despite hard work, affords him
scanty existence and at least allows
MN TO breathe freer. But how many
dream this dream In vain, and the
only relief offered them is a small
spot or earth surrounded with man
go tree-the grave