Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1912-08-29
FAMOUS OLD PRISON
May Be ABOLISHED
Bastile Which Has Served For
Two Centuries Has Held Ter
ror For Criminals.
COST TWENTY MILLIONS
Ceerepit Castle Was Last Stronghold
Of Spaniards In Mexico
-Foreigners Are Re.
turning.
COST TWENTY MILLIONS

Mexico City-Special: San Juan dc
Clua, at Vera Cruz. which for two CEN
turtles and a half under Spanish n
Mexican rule a been a military
prison, will soon have no more terrors
for the criminal, provided the national
assembly consents to the necessary
laws for its abolition now under con-
s~ideration.
President Madero during an inspec-
ton of the prison while he was presi-
dent-elect promised the prisoners that
he would see that they were trans
ferred to some more habitable place,
but the move has me with difficulties.
The only federal prison available for
the transfer was the Castle of Perote,
In h state of Vera Cruz, near the di-
vide on h gulf slope. which was found
to be too small and, until after many
alterations were authorized, could not
be used.
A plan to transfer the prisoners to
the islands of h Three Marias, off
the Pacific coast, opposite San Bias,
Topic. was also met by the undesira-
btlity of mingling the more hardened
criminals with the minors, both men
and women. for whom the island COL
ony Is now reserved.
Quintana Roo, the other Mexican
penal colony, has been condemned on
account of the u%nsanitary conditions
there. and is already full. If the neces-
sary appropriation is voted. houses of
correction will be built in various parts
of the republic for the reception of
those now sent to the Marias, which
Will allow the men and women to be
segregated. This will make possible
n transfer Of the prisoners In San
Juan de Ulua.
The old fort of San Juan, the MORO
Castle of Mexico, has always held for
the political offender and the evil-doer
all n horror ever inspired by the Bas-
tile or The Tower of London. 1t is
built on an island in the bay at Vera
Cruz, about a mile from the shore. and
comparatively few Of The thousands
wno nave entered the gates have come
tally under water when the tide is
full. and the interior ones are veritable
dungeons without light or ventilation.
In these in Spanish times the culprtts
were confined. the water reaching to
their waists.
Under Mexican rules these lower cells
are said to have been abandoned as
places OF confinement; but condemna-
ton to a few months imprisonment in
the least unsanitary portion Of the
grewsome fort, overrun with vermin
and reeking in the filth of centuries.
meant a lingering death, and many Of
Mexlco,s political prisoners have
dropped from sight within its walls.
The cornerstone of the castle was laid
by the ~Spaniards in 1928. Its founda-
tons alone are said to have cost more
than 100000 gold, and the aggregate
iards over $50, 00O, 900 gold. The fact that
The castle is still in use is evidence Of
the efficiency with which the work Of.
construction was done. Escape from
the place is impossible, not only on ac-
count of the guard which is main
!ained, o U because of the sharks which
lnfest n waters Of the harbor.
San Juan was the last STRONGHOLD Of
the Spaniards in Mexico when the
Mexicans triumphed in the War of In
dependence in 1921. Their last act be-
fore evacuation was to turn the guns
OF the fort on the city of Vera Cruz,
smD1ecting It to q b-ombardment that
all but destroyed it.
American, English and foreign resi-
dents of the capital generally, who fed
IN pan1cky haste following the state
departments warning to Americans
v months ago, have been gradually
returning during the last few weeks.
Since the successive triumphs of the
lederal army in the north, the Mexlco-
bound stream of former refugees, with
a fairly liberal contingent, latterly. of
tourists and visitors, has been grow
Ing. until the foreign colonies have re-
suneo practically their normal proper
tons. The social life of the capital.
paralyzed after the exodus, has re.
sumed its customary activity In conse-
Quence.
The conference Of industrial operators
consequent upon the strike Of textile
workers in several of the factories
throughout the country, one of the
strikes having resulted in bloodshed.
has decided that the ten-hour day shall
hold throughout all factories repre-
400 in number-nine
hours at night shall constitute a day,
n overtime shall be paid for at the
rate OF time and q quarter. A mini
mum wage scale will also be adopted
for all factories.
The insistent demands Of the laborers
have resulted in the establishment OF q
department of labor connected with
tne department Of industry and public
works. A committee to take up the
demands OF the textile workers was
but the work progressed
and was not satisfactory to the
men, who recently sent an ultimatum
to The operators. When. in accordance
with the ultimatum. the laborers at one
OF the factories went out, they were
met with the bullets Of a force of vol
unteers. and subsequent public feeling
forced the mill owners to take action.
Railroad construction in Mexico has
suffered little by reason of
the ~insurrection. At the present time
there are 1,116 miles Of new lines and
n various stages of compile
Every German city Of
has a number Of palatial cafes. which