The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1920-12-17
DEVILS ISLAND
WORST PRISON
Nothing to Match, for Horror,
French Convict Settlement
in South America.
FEW SURVIVE IMPRISONMENT
Punishments Are Frequent and Of
Fearful Severity, and If Man
Lays Hand on Warder the
Penalty is Death.


London.--We have heard ugly tales
of Siberia. The Spanish penal settle
ment at Fernando Pc is no health re-
sort, while Italy was obliged to close
up her prison colony at Massowah be-
cause wardens as we'll as convicts were
dying by the score.
But of all prisons existing today,
there Is nothing to match, for horror,
the French convict settlement of Dew
lis island. a writer in London Tit-Bits
asserts.
Devils island lies Off the coast OF
French Guiana or Cayenne, the one
colony which France owns in South
America. This settlement is reserved
for the worst cases, and few survive
a term of Imprisonment there.
A prisoner sentenced to Cayenne Is
usually given six months solitary con-
finement in a French prison before be-
ing sent away. The term varies ac-
cording to the length of time required
to collect a cargo of unfortunates.
Arrive at Devils Island.
For q week or two before leaving
the prisoners are given some meat
and wine to prepare them for the Or
deal of the voyage in a convict ship.
The tween decks of the ship are made
into one long passage with cells on
either side closely barred In front
Near the boilers are two punishment
cells in which man can neither lie
nor stand and where the heat is al
most uncomfortable.
Arrived at Devils island the pr1s-
oners are stripped and searched. They
are then divided into large barracks,
each of which holds so prisoners.
These large rooms are perfectly
bare, and paved with stone. and the
unfortunate prisoners are obliged to
lie on the floors all through the sweat
ing nights, tormented by mosquitoes
and other insects.
The food consists of provisions con-
demned by the military and naval au-
thorities. The only exception is the
f1oul, WHICH is of fair quality.
Roll call sounds at five in the morn
ing, after breakfast the gangs go out
TO work in the sweltering sun. They
clear the land and cultivate it. Yet
If one is caught picking up a COCO
nut or any DJfleT lFuIl lie Is di OuCc
ordered 60 days in the cells.
"Cells" means confinement in an air
less place, sleeping on q plank bed,
and only one meal day, that being
bread and water. Punishments are
frequent and of fearful severity, and
IL man lays hands on a warder the
penalty is death.
Sea Swarms With Mar-Eaters.
DEVILS island was first used as
prison about 20 years ago. At that |
time there were no guards. Since
sharks the authorities thought it need
less to take other precautions.
Then came the escape of Henri Cha
banne. one of the most wonderful in
stances of prison breaking on record
Under his directions his companions
built a large raft. They made oars,
a mast and sail; they even construct
ed casks to hold fresh water
Seven in all started away. They
eft at eight in the evening. and next
were out of sight of land
and in rough sea. They were up
20 their waists in water, with hordes
If sharks around.
After four days and four nights of
horror, they landed on
he coast of Dutch Guiana, but there
vas no fresh water. Chabanne and
mother plunged into the forest, and
lfter five days reached a plantation
where the owner received them kindly.
yhabanne asked for assistance to go
Jack and fetch his friends. This was
rranted, but of the five only three were
Hive.
This was the first of long series
t escapes, or attempted escapes. One
nan, Adrian Demerian. possesses the
mazing record of having made three
eparate escapes from Devils island.