davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1934-10-21

the mainland almost as fast as they were being
sent out from France; that the hospitals"
reeked with filth; that the convicts' food was
being stolen by ofhcials: that pestilence and
disease were worse than they had ever been
in the old French prisons: in short, that the
place had well earned its reputation for being
the dry guiIotine."
This exposure came in 1900. Since then
nearly IS years have passed. And yet the
very same hospitals, the very same rotting
barracks, the same shameful system so bitterly
denounced in 1900 as a national disgrace. are
still in use in 1894. Once the goal sought by
all French prisoners, Guiana has become q
terrible threat held over first offenders-"n
you're brought into court again you're going
to Devils Island. and from there you'll never
come back"
How far from the original ideal has Louis
Napoleon's perfect prison falleni
To find out why deportees never come back.
went to Devils Island of my own accord. I
put on the convict stripes and lived where the
prisoners lived and as they lived, except that
with the connivance of the guards I was able
to move about wherever chose. Nor could L
being free man. ever feel even q small part
Of the degradation and despair that observed.
Landing ON the mainland at Cayenne, the
capital Of the colony and the headquarters of
some 100 deportees, lost no time in finding q
convict uniform, q very simple little costume
consisting of faded cotton trousers and a straw
challenged and was locked up for" the night
with II convicts.
The barrack, 120 feet long by 20 wide, was
more like an army dormitory than q prison.
Down the center ran an aisle, on each side Of
which stretched o row of canvas beds. On the
beds the convicts ate, sprawled and slept They
had no lockers, no possessions, no privacy.
Eight small barred windows near the ceiling
let in q faint breeze and many. many mos
qutoes.
OF the II men In this barrack, 40 were serv-
ing life sentences for murder. Only A were
French. The others were Germans Poles. Ne
groes and Arabs. Among the French more than
half were from the Marseille district-the
Chicago of France. Lyons had the next best
representation. Only two came from Paris.
This division was fairly typical of the 40 other
barracks in the colony. The French prisoners,
with all their misery and hopelessness, talked
animatedly, as Frenchmen viii (the subject Is
usually escape); or they played cards for the
francs that they had earned as servants or
laborers.
Evening star., 1934-10-21

I OOKING at the men In the barrack,
- could believe them capable of numbering
for less. They were q tough and stupid lot,
for. generally speaking. those with refinement
intellect are the first to die of or be killed.
It is o sad fact that under such conditions,
the subnormal live longer and thrive better
Some of them, having become immune to the
prevailing diseases, actually grow strong on
the meager rations and hard work. few in
the barrack were physically magnificent. with
hard muscles and skin burned black by the sun.
These were the strong arms" the dictators,
tyrannizing over the weak and dispirited who
make up the mass More than half my fellow
prisoners were under Is, several hardly more
than adolescent. But nearly all, of whatever
age or color, came from the of -scourings of
the earth. A decent and appealing face was a
rarity, indeed.
Evening star., 1934-10-21

found an empty bed (which was really Just
one of 80 canvas strips stretched taut from
the wall to an iron bar) and made the ac-
quaintance Of my neighbors. On my right was
q tattooed plug-ugly about 80, who said he had
murdered his sweetheart. On my left was an
evil-loodng, beady eyed gangster, who had
killed two policemen during his last hold-up.
But they seemed social enough and were
curious about my own arrival and my crime.
When admitted that ], too, had murdered,
not just one, but dozen sweethearts and
policemen-and passed around cigarettes-we
became fast friends.
Through their yarns learned great deal
that night for they were willing to talk as
long supplied the smokes.
The tattooed gentleman had been in 'the
box seven years. He had come from France
with TOO others on the convict ship. OF that
shipment, less than hundred were left alive.
From him learned that there were about 5000
prisoners in Guiana a. 400 on the mainland.
900 on the islands, and about 5000 hberes
freed prisoners not permitted to leave the
colony.
asked him if there were any woman convicts
with whom the prisoners could marry. He
laughed cynically. Once yes, but no longer.
In former times IL convict wanted q wife he
went to the women's barracks and announced
the fact to the matron, who lined up all the
women and asked "Who wants this man?" The
hands would 60 up. He'd look over the willing
too evfl-looking. And you have no teeth" The
matron would hurry him. Rushed for time.
he'd pick out the most acceptable one and she
would be marched to the office. Their names
would be put in the book. That constituted O
marriage and they could set about rearing o
new unfortunate generation for whom environ
ment sure to accomplish whatever heredity
had left undone. These odsprings. as lawless
as the very prison rats became such problem
that France was forced to ban prison mar
riages and, In time, discontinued completely the
practice of sending female offenders to Guiana.
Moral standards scarcely exist at Cayenne
The heat, the monotony. the debased class from
which guards and prisoners alike are recruited
all combine to encourage depravity. The pop
groes. Chinese scrambled recklessly together.
Not one child In four knows who or what color
his father Is.
CvEN for q convict who cannot afford women.
l. they are stin his chief preoccupation. Each
prisoner in my barrack had q few pictures Of
actresses society beauties, bathing girls cut
from magazines and pasted on the wall behind
his bed: and each cherished a few photographs
of his wife sweetheart-the only personal
property he Is allowed.
1t was Q o'clock when the central oil lamp
was extingushed The card games ended.
Seventy-seven half f-naked bodies, and mine re-
laxed ON the creaking canvas beds. But didn't
-e.
Evening star., 1934-10-21

EN- prisoners escape from Devils
Island-land at Trinidad"
"Fugitives from Devils Island
arrested In British Guiana: re-
turned to French authorities"
Imperial Valley press., 1934-02-21
PAY CUTS To
Be RESTORED

WASHINGTON, Feb. IL. U.P) -
The senate by al to 40 today voted
for full restoration of the Is per
cent government pay cut on July l..
The action was taken on an
amendment by Senator Pat McCar-
ran Dem0, Nevada. 1t was a de-
feat for the Democratic leadership.
The senate previously had voted
to restore 5 per cent of the reduc-
ton now and per cent July l.
During the debate on the Nc
Carran amendment, Senator Will
liam E. Borah (RepD, Idaho, sug-
gested members of congress be eX-
empted from the pay restoration.
McCarran said he was willing to
accept the Borah proposal, but the
McCarran amendment as adopted
covered all government employees.
Restoration of the full Is per
cent pay reduction is estimated to
cost $189,0OO,0O0.
Acceptance of the McCarran
amendment nullified the earlier
action restoring a third of the pay
cut Immediately and another on
July /.
The senate defeated, 40 to 38, an
amendment by Sen. L. j. Dickin-
son (Rep), Iowa, to restore auto
matte promotions in the govern
ment service. All automatic pro-
motions and salary increases have
been halted under the recovery act.
Imperial Valley press., 1934-02-21
INSPECTORS OF
STATE BOARD
VISIT CAMPS

L. T. Mott and F. J. Rugg. rep
resentatives of the state division OF
immigration and housing are now
in the valley to check over sani-
tary and housing conditions in the
labor camps and to see that such
camps are being conducted in &C
cordance with the requirements OF
the state labor camp sanitation
act.
A complete inspection will be
made of the pea field camps in the
Calipatria area and those found to
be operating in violation OF the
state law will be given orders TO
make prompt Improvements. Rein
spections will be made by deputies
to see that orders are carried out.
The state labor camp sanitation
act requires that suitable and ade-
uuate housing be provided for en-
ployees; that proper toilet accom-
modations be furnished; ca m p
grounds be kept clean and sets
forth, among other things, that
responsible person be employed at
each camp to see that it is kept in
q clean condition.
Good camps are good insurance
for the growers against unrest and
dissatisfaction among their labor y,
state the inspectors land our di-
vision hopes TO secure the willing
cooperation of camp operators
toward raising the present stan
dards of poor housing and insani-
tary facilities. After checking over
the pea field camps the state Off
GERS will devote their attention TO
the other vegetable camps in the
valley.
Imperial Valley press., 1934-02-21
New York Stocks
BY ELMER c. WALLER
United Press Financial Editor

NEW YORK, Feb. 21.-The stock
market moved nervouSly in today S
pre- holiday session but rallied III
the last hour to give firm tone at
the close.
The rally followed a mid-sesson
depression occaSioned by a Sell-off
II New York Central-as a result
of the bond proposal which placed
a conversion price of 40 on the
stock-and a criticism of alleged
propaganda activities of the
New York stock market by Sena-
tor Duncan Fletcher, co-author of
the stock market regulation bill.
New York Central, after drop
ping below Al, made a fractional
gain at 42is. Other rails were frac-
tionally higher.
In the industrial group gains
ranged almost to 2 points. Coca
Cola advanced rs to 106as. U. S.
Steel jumped one half point to SO,
Chrysler touched 60 for q of a
point advance and Allied Chemical
was up Ia to 159l2. Among the
SpecialitieS New York Dock gained
2li to 18, Mathieson Alkali prefer
red gained II to l21, American
Typefounders preferred advanced
Is to %. Fractional gains were
shown in a long list of shares trad
ed under $40 share.
Silver stocks were strong with
American Smelling up rs to 49as
and United States Smelling UP i
TO 1907. Howe Sound was up y
at 49l2.
Aircraft stocks were mixed with
United Aircraft advancing rs to
24l4.
matelv 100000 shares against o.
350,000 Monday. Curb sales were
$4,000 shares against 40l, 900 shares
Monday.
I Dow-Jones preliminary averages
showed: industrial 108.59, up O.36;
railroad 5181, up 0.02; utility 1880
uD 0l0,
Imperial Valley press., 1934-02-21
To Haze
NeU Milk War

CHICAGO, Feb 81. U.P)-A long
expected milk price war apparent
ly was under way today in Chicago
as three of the largest dairy COM
panies announced one cent reduc-
tions in the price of milk delivered
TO the consumer home. The new
price is nine cents a quart.
Other dairy companies main
tanning delivery service were ex-
pected TO meet the new cut. The
reduction was seen as a move
against the legion Of so-called in
dependents cash and carry milk
depots which have sold milk one
cent less than the organized COM
panies price.
A price war was heralded several
months ago, Immediately after the
breakdown Of an initial Agricultur-
al Adjustment Administration milk
marketing agreement.
Under a new AAA milk code, the
producer price is fixed at 81
cents a quart. If the organized
companies seek any large econo-
mics in costs they will have to OBJ
tain concessions from their union
drivers.
Imperial Valley press., 1934-02-21
VO|LER HELD
IN FLORIDA

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 81. (U.P) -
Harry Voiler, alleged former men,
ber of the Detroit Purple gang .
wanted here on charge of COM
plicity in the robbery of Mae West,
film star, is under arrest in Miami.
Fla, Buron Fits, district attorney,
was informed today.
Fits ordered S. S. Stone and w.
M. Robinson, detective lieutenants,
to leave tomorrow to return Voiled
for trial.
Stone and Robinson recently re-
turned here to testify against Vol
ler's co-defendant, Edward Fried
man. after an unsuccessful attempt
to extradite Voiler from Illinois.
Imperial Valley press., 1934-02-21
1Oe % VALLEY o zoe
w. C. FIELDS - ALLISON SKIPWORTH
TILLIE AND GUS
STORMS Still
HAMPER MAIL

RENO, New. Feb 81. U.P)-Un-
certain weather Immediately east
of Elko, New, provided new Stumb-
ling block today in efforts of the
U. S. army and private air transpor-
tation companies to link the Pacific
coast with eastern points on air
mail and passenger routes.
Six planes re grounded at Elko.
They awaited 5 break in the unfa-
Sorable weather conditions for take
offs sometime during the day. Three
were piloted by u. S. army officers
On their new mail carrying jobs;
the others were private craft.
Flying conditions form Elko west
ward to the Pacific coast were
good" and both mail and passenger
planes experienced little difficulty
in crossing 'the hump as flyers
call the towering ranges of the Sier-
IA mountains.
The San Francisco-Oa ter
ritory receive dts first air mail un-
der the new system last night when
1t. Ben Kelsey brought in his
plane. He had been delayed on Il
, trip from Salt Lake City, started
Monday.
The first mail eastward from the
coast territory was held up near
Elko, after Lit. A. j. K. Malone had
completed the dangerous trip over
/ the mountains with a heavy load.
| The regular 1870 p. m. plane left
| the Oakland airpOrt on schedule
and experienced little trouble until
he reached Elko. An army flyer
carried mail into Portland, Ore,
yesterday after three-hour delay
at La Grande, Ore.
The storm which interrupted the
service was centered between Elko
and Rock Springs, Wyo.
Imperial Valley press., 1934-02-21
Hitler Rebukes
ToikatiUe Aide

BERLIN, Feb. 81. U.P)-Theodor
Habicht, inspector general" Of the
German Nazi forces in Austria, was
said to be slnarting today under a
rebuke from Chancellor Adolf Hit
Ter for his presumption in threat
ening Austria during radio sreech.
1t was learned on usually relia-
BILE authority that Hitler telephoned
Habicht, forbidding him in sharp
terms from making any important
decision regarding Austria, or an
nouncing any such "ultimatum
without previously consulting the
chancellor.
1t was revealed that Habicht's
"ultimatum" was an independent
action which angered Hitler. Pub
lication of the speech in which it
occurred was banned in Germany
Imperial Valley press., 1934-02-21
BELGIUM To
BURY RULER
By SAMUEL DASHIELL
United Press Staff Correspondent

BRUSSELS, Feb. 2l.-TArough-
out cold, misty night, crowds
pressed in endless line to the roy
al palace to view and salute the
body of King Albert during the last
hours in which it lay in state in the
little Chapelle Ardente.
At 8 a. III. today, four hours be-
fore the doors of the palace were
ordered closed, there was crowd
of 10000 outside, and there had been
no break in the line sine the pub
lie was admitted to view the body
at a. m. yesterday.
The people that waited in the
night to see the loved king for the
last time, the calm face surmount-
ed with bandageS that concealed
the jagged wound that caused his
death when he fell down a noun
tainside Saturday, were of the poor
er classes.
AS the last of the great crowd
waited to enter the palace, arrange
ments were completed for the state
funeral procession tomorrow. Kings
and princes, soldiers of eBlgian and
allied armies who had served under
and with the king in Flanders in
the World war statesmen and men,
hers of the royal family will parti-
cipate, passing along crepe draped
streets between lines of stiffly erect
troops and mournful spectators, to
Laeken, where the king will be bur-
led in the family vault in beauti-
full, quiet garden Of the palace there.
Then On Friday will come the GER
emony Of oath taking by Crown
Prince Leopold.
Imperial Valley press., 1934-02-21
PACHO WANTS
VICTORY OVER
JACKSON HERE

That boxing fans are going to
see a real battle on March when
Bobby Pacho meets Young Peter
jackson in the local arena. is in
dicated in a letter received today
by The Press from Larry Morrison,
manager of the valley favorite.
You can assure the fans, Nor
rison writes, that Pacho would
rather win over Jackson than get
a title by winning over any other
boxer in the world. He is dead
set on trouncing jackson against
whom he has an old score.
The boxing world knows that
jackson won his title OF state
champion when Pacho was too sick
to meet him. had to cancel the
bout. and had his title given to
jackson by the commission. Later
when they met. with Bobby still
weak from his illness, Jackson sue
ceeded in registering a knockout
only in the last half minute OF the
tenth round.
When they met in a second
battle the decision was given Jack
son amid a chorus Of Kisses and
boos from the fans who declared
in no uncertain terms that Pacho
was robbed.
His recent knockout over Klc
Moro made him a standout in 10:
Angeles and he was winning over
Ceferino Garcia until he got care
less, dropped his hands for a frac-
ton of a second and the Filipino
took advantage OF that lapse fol
a knockout. We don't blame Gar
cia and are not kicking. 1t wa;
Bobby's carelessness and Garcia
can wait for another battle until
jackson is out of the way.
I'VE are pretty certain TO get a
match with Barney Ross, the light
weight champion, and hope to have
q win over jackson in El Centre
to boost Bobby's chances for the
Ross fight.
Give our regards to all our
friends down in the valley and tell
them they are going to see new
bigger. faster and harder-hitting
Pacho than they have ever seen
before. He wants to lick Jackson
more than anyone else and there
is nc place he prefers over Ell Cen
tro in which to do it. Bobby stu
feels it is his home town and he'll
come down with dynamite 10 blast
Jackson off the slate as champion
Of California"
Imperial Valley press., 1934-02-21
Hint NeU MoUe
In Mail Dispute

WASHINGTON, Feb. 81. up
Sources close to the White House
indicated today that new action by
the administration in the air mail
contract situation was likely in the
near future.
The intimations followed a cabi-
net meeting at which the situation
was discussed and three hour
White House conference attended
by Postmaster General James A.
Farley and Attorney General Hon.
er S. Cummings.
There were no indications as to
the nature of the next move.
Imperial Valley press., 1934-02-21

which all members of the order look
forward with considerable anticipa-
ton. From the pioneer days it has
been conducted annually and gives
Masons from all parts of the valley
a chance to meet and visit"
Tomorrow's program WI, start at
2 o'clock and will include address,
es by E. Krepela, master of Imperial
lodge; William Rhodes Hervey of
Los Angeles, past grand master OF
California; N A. Mackey, Imperial
postmaster; Leon Whitsell, chair
man of the history committee of the
grand lodge and Ben Hulse, state
senator, who will act as master OF
ceremonies. Dinner and an evening
program will round out the day.
Imperial Valley press., 1934-02-21
Cobb To Address
Local Democrats

Zach Lamar Cobb, Los Angeles
attorney and formerly collector of
customs at Ell Paso in the Wilson
administration, has been invited by
the Democratic central committee
to address d meeting of Democrats
in the court house Saturday night.
Cobb, who is recognized as an
outstanding orator. will discuss the
matters concerning the administra-
ton and of interest to all citizens.
The address will be broadcast
over the local radio station.
Imperial Valley press., 1934-02-21
l. A. Stocks

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 81. U.P) :
Prices moved slightly higher in
light early trading ON the Los An
geles stock exchange today.
TranSamerica moved up x to
7as, with 800 shares changing
hands.
On 400 share volume, Pacific FL
nance sagged u to 9l2.
Union Oil was up Is at 18 7-8,
on a 400 share turnover.
Standard Oil and Claude Neon
were up u each, at AIS and liz
respectively. Socony Vacuum was
unchanged at l7i2.
Imperial Valley press., 1934-02-21

TIC Confer Degree AT the meet
ing Of Oasis lodge No. 664. F. and
A. M. the third degree Of Masonry
will be conferred by the San Di-
ego team. The meeting will take
place tonight at 8 o o'clock in the
Masonic temple and all Masons are
invited.
Or. A. B. Hanson, dentist. New
Professional Bldg. Phone IS Off
Uniforms. childien's dresses and
other items at our SOC sale to be
held soon. Polka Dot Shop. 2ltl
California Hotel Coffee Shop -
Charcoal broiled Steaks and Chops
from 5 TO p. m. Open all night.
2tI
Dry Olive or Eucalyptus wood.
Best in town. Ed Royce. m,w,f
DR.. r. c. CIemons. dentist pro-
fessional bldg. Phone 245.
m VI tt
Watch for our soc sale OF dis
continued merchandise. Polka Dot
Shop. 2ltl
PerishabIe Shipments-According
to B. A. Harrigan, agricultural
Imperial Valley press., 1934-02-21
Jury Fails To
Reach Verdict

Following three hours delibera-
ton during which time they were
unable to reach a verdict, the jury
which heard the evidence in the
battery charge brought against A.
R. Hicks by Ed c. Hall. was dis
charged in police court shortly be-
fore three O'Clock this afternoon
The jury had stood 6-6 throughout
the deliberations.
Hicks then plead guilty to the
charge of battery and was given a
sentence of $50 suspended on con-
diticn Of his future good behavior
He had been arrested on complaint
OF Hall after a fight at the Hall
packing shed on New street, Feb
ruary l3.
Imperial Valley press., 1934-02-21
CATARRHAL DEAFNESS
MAY BE OVERCOME

If you have Catarrhal Deafness
or head and ear noises or are grow
ing hard of hearing go to your
druggist and get ounce of Par
mint double strength, and add to
it 4 pint of hot water and a
little granulated sugar. Take l
tablespoonful four times day.
This will often bring quick re-
lief from the distressing head
noises. Clogged nostrils should open,
breathing become easy and the
mucus stop dropping into the
throat. 1t is easy to prepare, costs
little and is pleasant to take. Any
one who has catarrhal deafness or
head noises should give this pre-
scription a trial. Clements Drug
store. adv.
Imperial Valley press., 1934-02-21
POOL FUNERAL
RITES FRIDAY

Funeral services for Walter w.
Pool manager of the Imperial store
of the Imperial Valley Hardware
company, will be held Friday af-
ternoon at 2 o'clock from Arnold's
funeral parlors in this city, it was
announced today.
Pool succumbed at La Solana
hospital late last night to bullet
wounds suffered yesterday morning
when he was about to leave his
home at Imperial to go to business.
He is survived by his widow and
two children, a son Walter Jr., and
a daughter, Jane.
Coroner A. r. Underwood con-
Quoted an investigation in the case
and decided no inquest would be
necessary there being no indica-
ton that any other person was in
volved in the shooting.
Pool was held in high esteem by
officers of the hardware company,
by whom he had been employed
for Is years, and by friends and
neighbors in Imperial.