The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1932-01-07
BY ]. ROMFEDER,
one mat has been months IN the notorious
prison 'La ROtUnda,")


prison "La ROtUnds,1
CALLING from Curacao, Dutch Island q Gay
} ride from the Venezuelan Coast, one begins
20 hear fri6 stories about ~the regime" One
Of the passengers on board from Curacao told
me about famous case where Frenchman
With his beautiful wife landed in Marracairo,
one Of the generals Of Juan Vincento Gomez
owner Of two-thirds Of the country and poll
neal lord and master Of 1t alb took liking to
the Frenchman's wife, arrested the Frenchman
ana nothing more has been ever heard Of him.
Sis wife still is in the generals harem.
Three years ago part oy Venezuelans TOOK
over the Dutch governors palace in Curacao,
possessed themselves Of all arms and forced the
captain Of an American steamer to carry them
over TO Venezuela, in venture to overthrow
The Gomez regime 1t Is with stories like this,
based on facts but woven into fiction that one
gete introduced TO venezuels as one approaches
it's coasts.
Facing the Land OF HOrTors
Finally we are In 'front.' Of Puerto Caoello We
see men in convict clothes on shore, guarded by
soldiers who hang all around in yagaoond
fashion. Some Of the "convicts" Chamber about
the walls Of an ancient Spanish shore fortress.
Why up on a hin, there is an old Spanish castle,
@A0"N
I'D there ask 8 passenger. Why man. don't
YOU know what that is7 This is the infamous
E1 Castillo" where Gomez sends his political
and personal enemies. there are about 1900 OF
them up there right nov. Anyone sent to this
place may as well consider himself halfway in
the next world.
I took dislike to my informer, ne gave me
the shivers with all these storeis. Anyway,
vent on shore, behind me some guys followed
in an innocent way kept within sight OF
the boat, however, and got back safely
IN the next port called la Guira" was TO
get of definitely. wrote some letters to my
friends, that If they don't hear of me weekly TO
search Qor me through the U. S. Consul. had
no wife-but who knows, fellow like me, who
never lived in a place like this may say some
thing and who knows what may happen next
2 little bit Of precaution might help.
Well, we landed in la Guira" They took
my passport and said should look for 1T at the
police headquarters. Coming there, an old sly
fox looked me over. was asked for $40 for de
posit for entry and 50 for consular fee OF entry,
although 1 paid IS for the Venezuelan visa IN
Panama Well, a little bit Of graft, that's moth
ing after all the gruesome stories heard Then
50 more to grease the baggage examiner for
speedy service, and was through with formal
tiles. Then-a fellow steps up to me and says
AN SSSANSS
me to a shriveled up old cop to take me to the
police station. Fine business, thought gave
him the dollar.
Caracas, the Capital of Captain Blood.
With tadcab travelling over one Of the most
magnificent roads ever saw, speeded to the
capital Fine road, says to the chauffeur. All
made by prisoners, he says. Well there am In
a pension in Caracas. Nice construction for
Darg iy,p hxyA no rNnIfR
headquarters I see a squad Of men seated there
With rifles and fixed bayonets, others with I'm
Sheathed swords-nothing to do but be in readi-
ness
see newspapers for sale, buy them I, 2, 3,
( different ones but not word in them about
Venezuela. There are some cable news about
other countries some wrtte-ups about biology
and ancient history, but nothing about doings
inside tn ecountry. There is nothing more orn1n-
ously impressive to foreigner than just these
simple facts, which is the outward sign Of the
complete muzzNng Of the pre-
After cumming around in all the movies in
town; punk censured stuff and attending to
some business I see in one Of the papers, some
thing about session Of Venezuelan Senate and
Congress, so, after all, there seems to be a Par
lament. read the sessions we're opened-pro-
posed law so and so read unanimously approved,
pears-I no wiser than before.
Thus, pass two weeks, day by day, business
10 rotten, onlinous silence Of everyone I try TO
talk 70, but no one talks about politics bad
business. Around my hotel suspicious individuals
hang around, 1t seems to be an innocent" habit.
I contract for my ticket to go back TO New
York there is nothing to do and no one win
taIk to me. Everybody seems to distrust every
one else, unless 1t Is his BOSOM friend and I
can't make them open up. Then one day, just
by luck met g New Yorker, friend Of mine,
Venezuelan (now in jaiD by the name Of
Mariana FortouL He introduced me to his
friends, inteuectlIals, some Of them Communists.
We have some friendly parties Then one night
about 80 .. m, the police led by the project
hirnseh swoops down on us and next thing we
are In la Rotunds," one Of The most notorious
prisons In the world
~Ts Hotursdp~
s Nhole company OF loyal nercena1es The
'ondinoe" guards the prison, fixed bayonets all
he time. We are told TO strip naked Every
ssAna srd nook and corner Of pockets IN our
clothing ss examined Scw hidden bit Of a pencil
also or ears and rectmn, 10 prevent us from
communicating. Watches, pens, pencils and belts
Workapef Tosrp fho parfy IF