El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-07-27
MAY ABOLISH
SAN JUAN
De ULUB
Famous Mexican Prison to
Be Abandoned For a More
Sanitary One.
LONG A TERROR TO
MILITARY OFFENDERS

Mexico City, Mexico. July 27.-San
Juan de Ulua, at Vera Cruz. which for
two centuries and a half under Spanish
rule has been military prison, viii
! soon have no more terrOrs for the
criminal, provided the National As
Sembly consents to the necessary laws
alton.
President Madero during an inspec-
ton OF the prison while ne was presi-
dent-eIect promised the prisoners that
he would see that they were trans
ferred to some more habitable place,
but the move has met with difficulties.
The only federal prison available for
the transfer was the Castle of Perote,
in the state of Vera Cruz. near the di
vide on the 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 the Three Narias, off
the Pacific coast, opposite San Bias,
Topic, was also met by the undesira-
bility 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 unsanitary 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
the 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 the 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
who have entered its gates have come
forth alive. Many of the cells are par
TALLY under water when the tide is
dungeons without light or ventilation.
In these in Spanish times the culpTits
were confined, the water reaching to
their waists.
Lower Cells Abandoned.
Under Mexican rules these lower
cells are said to have been abandoned
as places of confinement; but con-
demnatiOn to a few months imprison-
ment in the least unsanitary portions
OF the grewSome fort, oVerrUn with
vermin and reeking in the filth of cen
turtles, meant a lingering death and
many of Mexico's political prisoners
have dropped from sight within its
Built by Spaninrds.
The cornerstone of the castle was
laid by the Spaniards in 1928. Its
foundations alone are said to have cost
more than 100000 gold, and the ag-
gregate sum spent on the castle by the
Spaniards over $4,000. 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 account of the guard which
is maintained, but because of the sharks
which infest the 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.
subjecting it to a boInbardment that
all but destroyed it.
Foreigners Return.
American, English and foreign resi-
dents of the capital generally, who fled
in panicky haste following the state de- I
partment's warning to Americans five
months ago, have been gradually re-
turning during the last few weeks
Since the successive triumphs Of the
federal army in the north, the Mexico
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-
sumed practically their normal proper
tons The social life of the capital,
paralyzed after the exodus, has re-
sumed its customary activity in conse-
quence-
To HaFe5Ten Hours.
The conference of industrial operat-
ors consequent upon the strike of tex
tile workers in several Of the factories