1932-04-01 — Page 5

FRIDAY, APRIL 1, 1932.

AMAZING EXPERIENCES ON

ISLAND

DEVIL'S

INMATE OF “DRY GUILLOTINE.”

Average of 1,000 Criminals A Year Shipped from France.

By Mr. Richard Halliburton.]

Correspondence.

REMARKS APPRECIATED.

THE CHINA MAIL.

[To the Editor of "China Mail.”)

Sir,-As Provost McNutt remark- ed when the train containing Queen Victoria had perforce to halt out- side Linkomdoddie owing to over-heated axle, "Goad, this Is fame."

En

I thank you for your good wishes faces and figures, for anything and appreciative remarks contained in that line was very popular. In the leading article in "to-day's first convict friend a fierce tropi- On the night that he made his China Mail.

You may well ask! Undoubtedly

Yours, etc..

It was the experience of the 'members of the Rotary Club of 'Singapore to listen, to a dis- course upon Devil's Island. the cal storm came up and the roof poaching and horse-couping are French penal settlement, by a leaked badly. He understood among the Arts-always provided "self-incarcerated convict." The then why the cot he had found one is not found out.

was not occupied because it was speaker was Mr. Richard Halli-

directly underneath

hole burton, who enjoys the reputa- through which the rain came in tion of having once been an in--the roof was of corrugated mate of this "Dry Guillotine" iron and was 60 or 70 years old. and indeed, of having assisted the Governor of the place. Mr. Halliburton said he had spent three months there looking for something to write about and he had learned more about the pri-

during those

soners

selves

three

Bluff And Good Luck.

Bluff and good luck were the chief factors responsible for his getting to the central island where the Governor had his re- boat, manned by convicts much sidence. Communication was by

When

ROBT. MCWHIRTER.

Hong Kong, March 31.

Sales.

REJUVENATION STILL INSOLUBLE ?

EMINENT SCIENTIST THROWS DOUBT ON THEORIES.

Individuals Who Are Older or Younger Than Their Age.

[By Dr, Alexis Carrel.)

Physiological time differs from *It is a matter of cammon know- [physical time. A boy who has lived ledge that real age differs from

Afteen years may be physiological: | chronological age. ly only twelve.

For this reason, the problem of rejuvenation appears to be ingo luble, according to Dr. Alexis Car- rel of the Rockefeller Institute; in an article In Science.

The value of a year is not iden- tical for short-lived and long-lived animals. Moreover, within a single individual, such value seems to vary. Time is said to flow more quickly in old age than in youth. Our duration, then, appears to be independent of physical time.".

Dr. Carrel, an eminent Franco- American scientist and a Nobel Prize winner, believes that it would "Dr. Carrol declares that each require 2 method capable of re- human being constitutes a relative-| structural and functional state of continuous placing tissues and humours in the ly independent world in a state of

transformation,

and an earlier life period. His article that it is the rate of this transfor- the New York Times:

characterize our specific duration.]

The Process of Ageing. "Discussing the changes that the

LOCAL SHARE MARKET.

The official summary in the same way as the galley the Stock Exchange to-day states:

issued by

slaves of old were employed: He months than the officials them-showed the commander in charge with a firmish undertone. Sterling is thus quoted and summarized inmation which can be assumed to

The market opened quietly steady because he made it his of the boat an imposing looking stocke are now again to the fore business to collect as much in-letter for the Governor. formation as he could, says the he got to the Governor's abode owing to lower exchange. Singapore Free Press.

he explained that he had flown over in an aeroplane, The Gov- formed him that he would not ernor made him welcome and in- be able to leave the island until the boat arrived in about four weeks time. The Governor was a man of about 70 but he was still very hardy. The speaker Div. described how he assisted the Governor in his work and how. through the Governor falling ill, his authority became wider.

There were 8,000 prisoners on Devil's Island. French convicts

convicted of murder and kindred crimes were given the choice of confinement in the dungeons in France or of going to Devil'a Island, where they enjoyed a certain degree of liberty but were never able to get away from this island. For some rea- son the latter seemed the popu lar choice.

The number of cri- minals thus shipped there from France averaged about 1.000 a year. Mr. Halliburton described the cages in which these prisoners were kept during the voyage. Escape from those cages was impossible but there

were

effective

precautions against any chance of mutiny Over the cages were steam pipes which could be turned on the men in the event of trouble.

were

The opportunity of going! through the entire settlement, of mingling with the men and ins- pecting the place thus came his way, He described what were known as hear sheds. They were holes in the ground with iron bars over the top. The guards walked along a "cat-walk" and looked down upon the inmates of these holes. Those who at-! tempted to escape had their sen- The death rate on Devil's Island was, it was gathered from tence increased and they

confined in these cells. There Mr. Halliburton's remarks, some- thing enormous.

was one prisoner whom he could The speaker

never forget. He asked that said that while walking through }

man how long he had been there the graveyard one day he saw a and the answer was 'three days.'į dozen grave diggers at work. They were digging row upon row He found out that the prisoner of graves. Space was limited had been at Devil's Island for 18 and when graves had to be found years; the man was insane and for a fresh batch of dead prison- the time seemed like three days ers, the practice was to dig up the bones lying in old graves, have the remains dumped elsewhere and the graves used again.

to him.

A

Hong Kong Banks, $1,475, Union Insurances, $470. Douglases, $27.

Ewa Cottons, Tls. 14.80. China Lights (new), $20. Hong Kong Electrics. $78, Cements (combined), $18

'Such a method,' he adds, 'bas still to be discovered. It goes with- out saying that no senescent or ganism has ever been rejuvenated by the procedures of Steinach and Voronoff. So far, the process of aging remains irreversible.'

living organism undergoes, he says the body really consists of an un- interrupted modification of tissues, humours and consciousness. Such, he says, la physiological duration. "Pointing out that physical time,"

"The process of ageing,” he says, which is measured by a clock, ob'starts simultaneously with embry- X. viously differs from the time in onic life. It is expressed by which we live, Dr. Carrel asserts irreversible changes progressing| that time is as much a constituent during the entire span of our exist of ourselves as space.

ence. The decrease in the rate of): growth during infancy and growth, Bergsonian View.

the occurrence of puberty and Existence, he asys, la idea-menopause, the lowering of basal tical with duration. This Inherent metabolism, and the rodi- time cannot be reduced to psychoftcstions of the skin and hair, etc, logleal time, which consists of the appear as the stamp of time on the|| succession of our states of con-organism.' sciousness as consecutive instants.

Dairy Farms, $2991. Lane, Crawfords (old) $5. Watsons Rights), $3. Constructions (new), $1.95, H.K. Govt. Loans, 34 per cent. Premium.

Buyers. Hong Kong Banka, $1,475, Douglases, $27. Benguets, $1214. Providents (old), $41⁄2. Providents (new), $2,10, Hotels (right), $2.60. Hong Kong Lands, $76. Chinese Estates, $95. Ewo Cottons, Tha. 141⁄2. Hong Kong Trams, $21.10. Hong Kong Electrics, $72. Macao Electris, $24. Watsons, $15%. Watsons (rights), $32. Amusementa, $20.80. Constructions( new), $1.85. H.K. Govt. Loans, 2 per cent. Premium.

Sellers.

Ewo Cottons, Tis. 15. Hong Kong Electrics, $73. Telephones (P.P.), $24. Malabon Sugars, $22. Hong Kong Ropes, 817 Div.

S.C. Enterprises, $10. Constructions (new), $1.95. H.K. Govt. Loans, 4 per

CURE FOR RINDERPEST.

Cum.

"He describes how, with the aid ***According to the Bergsonflaxof a table established by du Nouy, view, these states of consciousness | it. became possible to ascertain are only instantaneous pictures whether an individual was older or which stand out against a contin younger than his age. ously streaming background. But our duration is certainly much more than the flux of our inner life.

It comprehends the whole organ- ism. Mind and body are two as pects of a single thing. The time which

live we

includes both |physiological and psychological times","

These two are different, asserts Dr. Carrel. He goes on!

"Even at a superficial glance physiological time does not seem to pass at a constant rate through the frame of physical time.

cinating officers.

This me

thod, he says, 'has given us for the first time a means of measuring the passing of physiological time.

"He asserts that old age may ex- tend over a very long period when Bremature senility of some essen- tial organ does not occur; and adda that the physiological process res- ponsible for the phenomenon of ageing are far more rapid in in- fancy than in senescence.

"The passage of physical time." ho saya, is inexorable and irrever- sible, No one can think of con- trolling it. Physiological time also moves irresistibly. It possesses the relative imprecision and variability;

IN A PERSIAN GARDEN Complete Song Cycle ALBUM WORK-By

DORA' L'ABGETTE

MURIEL BRUNSKILL HUBERT EISDELL HAROLD WILLIAMS

Columbia NRECORDS

FIVE RECORDS

IN ART ALBUM.

THE ANDERSON MUSIC

CO.,

Ice House St.

PALL

MEDIUM

VIRGINIA CIGARETTES

at

65 cts.

per tin of 50's.

Sole Agents:-

TABAQUERIA FILIPINA

26 Queen's Road Central,

LTD.

Tel. 21322.

MALL

& Rothman's

Pall Mall

By Special

to H.M.the

Appointment

Kes of Shour

VIRGINIA

MEDIUM

KAIPING HOUSEHOLD COAL

In Lots of not lexa 46an 1/2-x-- Delivero to Peak District (above Bowen Road), $28.00

per Delivered

Bowen Road, and

Lower

Levels, $21.00

to

per ton. Delfrered Pokfulam Road, $23.00 per ton.. Delivered to Kowloon, $19.06 per ton

Diders should be sout in-write ing at least. 24. hours before, the Così in r quired.

All orders

'must be accom

panied by Cash, Cheque, or Compradore Order payable to "The Kailan

Mining Ad- ministration.”.

The production which characterize biological pro- THE KAILAN MINING ADMINISTRATION.

of vaccine was carried out with cent great difficulty as the villagers fraised objections to sick cattle being shot fur collecting the spleens necessary to make the vaccine.

One read and heard a good deal about prisoners escaping from the settlement, said Mr. Halliburton, but such stories Journalista Prohilsted.

were incorrect. Relating two Explaining how he got to De- stories of men who had tried to vil's Island, Mr. Halliburton said escape, the speaker said that one that he flew over in a passenger man got into the hospital on the plane and was dropped at one of pretence that He was suffering the islands. Money, he remark- from appendicitis. He was in Premium. ed, certainly talks over there. hospital for two weeks and dur- According to arrangements, he ing that time he made his plans. was left behind. His money en- He was able to open the door of, abled him to procure a suit of the dormitory with tools which -convict's clothes and he succeed- he had managed to conceal.

ed in getting into the dormitory. friend joined him and they used Writers and journalists were blankets to scale the wall out- prohibited on the island he side, the top, of which was had to make himself look a ton-covered with broken glass. They vict in order to get into the got down to the seashore and place. He found his way into with two cots that they had a dormitory where there were 79 taken with them they fashion- prisoners serving sentence for ed a rude raft. For three days murder. That same might he they floated about on this half-cure against rinderpest in Ceylon made a friend. At about 8 p.m. submerged ráft and they drifted is related in a precis of the annual some of the prisoners played to the shore of Dutch Guiana. report for 1931 of an Assistant! various musical instruments and The negroes there, knowing that Veterinary Surgeon, which states: "During the earlier part of the reward was paid for the capture of escaped convicts, took them year I was stationed at Eppawela

where rinderpest was severe back to the penal settlement.

80

a Hittle later they turned in. The cots were not numbered but the prisoners identified their sleep Ing places by a sort of box at the foot of each cot He found one cot which did not appear to

Good Results of Vaccination.

Colombo, February 26. The success of vaccination as a

"Later the Laboratory was shift. ed to Kahatagasdigiliya.

"Since the arrival of the Travel- ling Laboratory vaccine has been prepared for about 17,729 head of cattle. Vaccination was a success and is now popular among the people."

cesses'."

KING'S

THEATRE

COMMENCING SUNDAY, 3rd APRIL.

"SUNSHINE SUSIE"

Head Office:-TIENTSIN,

DODWELL & CO., LTD., Agents, Hong Kong.

MARTELL'S BRANDIES

V. 5. O. P.

AUSTRALIAN MOTORISTS

SUCCESS.

A BRITISH PICTURE.

BOTTLED IN

COGNAC AND

CORDON BLEU.

CHESON BLEY

and

Tribute To British Cars.

GUARANTEED

PURE GRAPE

BRANDY

Another story he heard was extensive. The necessary precau- how a coloured captain induced tionary measures were adopted but,

a batch of prisoners to pay him owing to the negligence of the

be occupled--he was later to find a sum of money on the promise villagers the outbreak continued to The Intrepid Australian motor- out the reason why. He sat down that he would take them to spread. While on duty here vac-late, Misa Jean Robertson and Miss on to the end of this cot Brazil. He took them to some cination of cattle was attempted Kathleen Howell, who cressed, the and a gruff voice enquired in place and deposited them ashore with unsatisfactory results. Australian continent and Journeyed abusive terms why he had, telling them that it was Brazil. "In April I moved on to the through Malaya, Asia and Eastern chosen to do so since the owner Once the men were ashore he village of Galkulama' and although Europe to participate in the Monte of the voice had his feet stretch-loaded his shot-gun and killed vaccine was prepared it had to be Carlo Rally, were recently received ed across from his cot to that them all. That captain repeated thrown sway as the cattle owners by Mr. Stenson Cooke at Farnúm one. He apologised and struck his brutal ruse and would have were opposed to vaccination. House, the Headquarters of the up an acquaintance with the succeeded a third time but for "However, seven buffaloes were Automobile Association in London. convict: The latter told him he one man whom he did not kill vaccinated and they have resisted in presenting an official dispatch had been sent to Devil's Island The convict, made his way to the the disease, completely. Encourag- conveying greetings and salutations for killing his wife and the settlement and that captained by these results the cattle from the president of the Royal Au- speaker made up a story of havliterally loat-his head,MA owners to produced more cattle tomòbile. Club of Victoria, Miss

ing killed somebody, They ex- In conclusion Mr. Halliburton and the number increased steadily. Robertson and Miss Howell express- changed news and the convict said that Mr. Stevens and him- The total number of animåls vac-ed their edmiration of the A. A. told him about the sweethearts self were shortly going to leave cluated with vaccine prepared by itineraries, customs and shipping he had left in France. Whi Singapore to continue their voy- me before a Laboratory was:

hey were talking to each other

convict

age in the Magic Carpet, They able"was"942. Of these 176

Borneo New Guinea

South Sea Islands

ould then make thei

ptamber

which had largely

to the success of their Starion Cooke, in

RENATE MULLER

with

Jack Hulbert, Owen Nares.

THREE STAR MARTELL

(also in aquare pints

and flasks)"

V.V.ES.O.P.

MARTELL & CO.

GANDE PRICE

CO. LTD.

PINE & SPI

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