1955-07-01 — Page 8

CHINA MAIL

ANEMAN SERBA

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THE CHINA MAIL, FRIDAY, JULY 1, 1955.

ISLAND NATIVES ESCAPE FROM DEVIL'S ISLAND

LOSING THEIR SUPERSTITIONS

By LIONEL HOGG.

Darwin, June 30.

From a tin school-house on lonely Melville Island, the island outpost of Australia, north of Darwin, the sounds of reading, writing and arithmetic are driving away age-old superstitions. T Sturdy, olive-skinned natives they are learning to read and write English and their children sing today the songs which white Australian kiddies learn in their city schoolhouses. But the sacong-clad lubras, four-year-olds, clap and weave squatting in the shade of paw-in the intricate movements of paw, trees and puffing on pipes the tribal dances of their

from the ends of crabs ancestors. mad chu's,

still cling to some their ancient superstitions.

They make routine journey to the hills before their babies are born so that the infants will not begin their lives near, the

To be born near the sea. they say. is bad. The baby be comes a "rairball."

SUPERSTITIONS FADE

JOINED IN

Not to be cutdone, three- year-old Peter Ingram joined in too.

Native welfare authorities are

keenly interested in this pro- gressive settlement pians for its future.

and Have

Nearly all the natives at the MOSCOW VODKA

But under the impact Dimament have hookworm, the If not prepaid a booking fee example and the ideas learned in parzsille pest which comes with

of 50 cents is charged.

WANTED KNOWN

DR. SCHOLL'S Foot Comfort. Ser- vice, Telephone House Siemanmer Hongkong provides the expert atten- tion your feet deserve-by, London- qualified Chiropodist.

MUSICAL

FOR SALE

the tin

The authori- ties plan to move the settlement to higher and healthier ground and hope that the pest will soon disappear.

school, belief in these poor sanitation. superstitions is fading.

When one of the women nearly died recently in giving birth to three-pound baby, the white men's ambulance came from the akies and whisked her away to the safety

છે. hospital in Darwin. The woman lived, and so did the baby.

fני

RACKET

Moscow, June 30. Bottles of vodka are being smuggled into Blessew beer halls and snack bars, where sales of the potent Russian spirit are barred as 3.curb on drunken-

ness.

A year ago, a Government decree prohibited the sale of: vodko anywhere Except restaurants, where it was to be consumed caly with food.

special

feature of this

year's Searchlight Tattoo

which will take place at the White City, London, July 4-8, will be the arrival of a "dying saucer which will land in the centre of the arena bringing two visitors from Mars, This Flying Saucer has been built by RAF Maintenance Command. Uxbridge, as their contribu- tion to the Tattoo. Tho "Martians" who will alight from the

sabeer, wearing space suits, will be 15-year- ald boy Brian Sheppard of the RAOC School. Alder- shot and 23-year-old WRAF Molly Day, a clerk stationed at Ruislip. "Picture shows: "The "Martians Brian Shep-

2115 pard (left)

WRAF (right) seen entering the "Flying SaucET"* · Čuring a dress rehearsal of their part in the Searchlight Tattoo at the White City, --- Express Photo..

Surprise Meeting For Author Of

Dry Guillotine

Port of Spain, June 30.

Twenty years ago, six bearded, bedraggled men crazed with hunger and thirst, stumbled ashore from a small open native-built cance on to a beach in Southern Trinidad. “

They were in a pitiful state and some negro fishermen rushed to their aid. Some of the fishermen climbed up nearby palm trees lining the beach and brought down coconuts.

Froth the water inside the Their food was running out nuts, the sky men quenched and they collected as much rain their thirst, and from the mit water as they could

to quench itself they had their first food for several days.

They had a dramatic story to tell

their thirst. A few days later, they sighted land again This time it was the coast of Vene- zuela and such was the plight

All Frenchmen, they had just of the roon that a dispute arose not they

Paris Treaties taken past in one of the most as to whether

A Bargaining

Counter

Bonn, June 30..

مین

sensational mass escapes - from should head for the land the dreaded Devil's Island in sight.

French

Gulana, en the east The situation became coast of South America:

THE LEADER

in

}

more

tanse when Rene Belbenoit with one hand on the tiller whipped out a revolver and covering his told thema: "We

Leader of the escape and in-companions terpreter for the party was carinot be far from Trindad HERR Erich Ollenhauer, West Rene Belberalt. He had made and when we reach there we

German Social Demceratic three previous attempts to shall be safe."

as

opposition leader, sald here escape. He told how he and his One of the six men had to today the West must betive companions, liberes or time-be tied up following a short prepared to use the Paris expired conricts, decided 40 scuffie which threatened to treaties rearming West make bid for freedom though capsize the canoe.

that recap- a "bargaining realising full well

there Not long afterwards, in the coming ture meant a further term of were cries of joy as the hills &f Geneva Four Power talks.

southern Trinkad were sighted. imprisonmemping-off point Herr Ollenhauer fold his Farty

was They were possibly the same much hills which Christopher Co- executive the treaties could St Laurent de latoni be replaced by

from the lumbus saw when he discover- agreements favoured by escapers

penal settlement. With food anded Trinidad in 1498, Axing another status for #1

water for eight reunified Germany,

alender canoe

ACCEPT DUTIES

rough keel,

Cays

LANDED

in their Abted with

They made for the coast and there was not laried

They had been at sea for enough room fur the six men to stretch themselves, far less to seventeen daya and covered Lie down and

sleep.

The Territory's Director of Native Welfare, Mr H. C. Gless, is hoping to establish industries on the island.

will soon Не have" power to recommend loans The natives realised that had for up to £A1,000 to help any

to the hills, mother native to start a business. the gone LÁTEXT LPS Kansky's Opera Sacco, and child would both have died. Among the island's assets ar Sot:vent de Hangie. Chantez

The whte men call this settle its milions of feet of Tagans, Volens, L'Amo

Flamenco

cypress The natives and a mill to cut the timber. Anthology, Gultas Salos ele. Specialment Snake. Bay. orders accepted for Spanish, French, German, Russian, and Italian lang ay "Milikapiti" meaning "is But Mr Giese hopes that its

This was intended to cut down age courses by D. Esses, 4A, bostone" in their vowel-rich ton-crabs, oysters and fish will find Voeux Ré, Room 1. 2nd Ap«r, tele- [que,

a ready sale in Darwin, to the drunkamess, especially among phone 30108.

For years. the Territory's southk. He died has hopes for a workers who dropped into local Native Affairs Department has market for the cashew nuts, the beer halls or street Corner re- been fighting the battle against bananas and the

Molly Day paw-paws treshment kiosks for "a quick

A reunited Germany must be superstition, polygamy and the

which (papayas)

ready to accept all the duties evil of hookworm in this remate there.

cf a free people towards its comer of Australia, The tin "But looking even further The law is now being broken

own and other nations security Navigating by the sun and school-house is their biggest ahead than these markets," Mr by beer-hall and snack-bar at

within * collective security stars, they held a northward studen

Gies told me, I can't see why tendants who tolerantly allow

system agy

agreed upon between

course. with wind filling their 1 flaw in on the fortnightly the children you saw today in customers to bring bottles of

the big powers, he said. makeshift sail They CHIVALRY ANTIENT SCRIPT. Anmistion run,” which an Avro the school cannot become agri- vodka with them when they

HETT Olenhauer attacked the Georgetown in British Gui stationery of distinctioa.

makes Arson

10 the lonely cultural experts and timber come in for glass of beer.

Government for passivity" in but knew that that was London, June 30. boxre containing 35 By sheets and envelopes or 10 sirutk sherus and northern settlements, and met the workers or even school teachers

Mr Kuruvila Zachariah, Mis- the reunification question and haven. Rene Belbenoit on. one their envelopes Walte or grey, 3 per Protector and friend of Aberi-or professional men and women.

newspaper "Evening torical adviser in the

High

sold it must remale "problem of his previous escapes, had learney to Dox, White envelopes and notapaper

whose

some beer-hall Commission of India in London. "You might think I am ok- Moscow," said

No..1" both at Geneva and in reached Georgetown only to be the also available boxed separately. On Rines, Mr Paul Ingram, sale at S. C. M. Posi

wife and two children have been ing to far ahead, but fust watch attendants ever indulgently pro-died Hammersmith

A

Post-

expected Moscow talks of returned to Devil's at the settlement for nine months.the next generation for the big vided glasses for the illett Graduate Hospital today, He

Mr Ingram has an officiaf titie, changes."China Mail Special vodia-China Mall Special. was 6-France-Presse. A but his unofficial work calls for

18 MM. Motion Picture Camera, Bel and Howell Filme 20 with three lens and Filmo Sound Frojector Bell and Howel 178A, both 20% new, welcorsa ofer Box 11" "China Mail'

Litractive

STAMPS

SUCCESS.

SOMETHING EXCLUSIVE, Collee him to be farmer; sawmiller,

Lora paukels of assorted

stamps. electrician, mechanic, carpenter, patimaker and part-time punter

From 50 cents per pocket upwards,

An entirely new series. South and fisherman. China Morning Post Lit, Wyndham Street. Hongkong and Buad. Kowloo

Salisbury

He has to be all these things to help his native charges in their ALBUMS "Collection any activities from gathering Builder" serless New stock now food and building to their opera-

STAMP

Available. Morning Post

$3. From Sout: Chination of a sawmill, cutting the

Lid Wyndham island's giant cypress log- Street Rengkong And Salisbury Road, Kowloon.

NOTICE OF REMOVAL

ሓ

The practice now carried on by the undersigned registered medical practitioner at I,

Mrs Ingram, a radio announcer before her marriage, is the island's "doctor." +

LUXURIOUS LIVES

"It is like your own island, here," Mr Ingram taki me. "We grow our own vegetables and thero are plenty of Oysters. and tropical fruit. crabs, fish

Salisbury Road, will, as from We, do not live in a palact, but the 1st July 1955, be carried the life is luxurious in ther on at

WONE."

"The

7. Ice House St. (Fu House) Clair

Room 604

Consulting hours: From 10a.m. to 12 Noo

From 5 to 6 p.m. Telephone: No, 22611. Dr. D. ENGEL F.R.C.S. (Edin.). M.D. (Bpest.), L.R.C.P.S. (Edin,)

NOTICE

CHINA FLEET CLUB TOMBOLA

schoolmaster is Mr St ("Sandy") McKay, onc- tim, soldier, teacher

in the more civilsed parts of Australia.

station, hand, and

But, by applying a deceptively casual drive to his work, Mr McKay has achieved cutstanding results with the native peoples. Eight months ago, the island's 160 adults and 40 children could not read or write. Today, the children read and write well, and the adults are not far behind them.

Mr McKay has barred "pid- gin" English" from the island and insists on everyone speak- ing either the native dialect or good English.

DIRECT METHOD' "The direct method of each- In order to comply with newing has been the answer." Mr

McKay told me.

"I show the

conditions governing tombola, children pictures with the names the General Committee regret under them and make them re- that ASSOCIATE MEMBERS Feat the word over and over are no longer permitted play in the Club.

gain." Thetr pronunciation to again.

good

although I have already, not yet started

on phonetics! He encourages the children ta dance corroborees, the natives' story-telling dances.

Edgar a 24-year-old native, To ADVERTISERS and a 28-year-old girl named. McKay. Neither

not

Manager.

booked.

later noon on Wednesdays.

Dally, help Mr

SUNDAY POST-HERALD could read 107 write eight Space for commercial months ago.

But they advertising should be went to Mr. McKay's right

classes than

and are now able to teach the youngsters,

Island schooling is Informal, For the SOUTH CHINA The children walk about talking MORNING POST and the to each other and comparing CHINA MAIL, 48 hours work. Mr. McKay smokes while before date of publication. | he superintends the class.

At corroborze time each day, Special' Announcements the big children hum in imita- and Classified Advertise. tion of the native wind instru- ments as usual,"

Iment, the didgeridoo, while the

MESSAGERIES MARITIMES

P.O. Box 53 Queen's Building Tel: 28851

FAST PASSENGER/FREIGHT SERVICE

“VIETNAM” "CAMBODGE"

*MEKONG" "DONAT

sailing July 17th

Bailing Aug, 18th

FAST FREIGHT SERVICE

sailing July 5th Bailing Aug. 17th

Now

wild one."

The

MANDRAKE THE MAGICIAN

REMEMBER THE

ILLUSION WE DID

AT THE COLLEGE

CF MAGIC?

ALEENA GESTURES|

A FISH SEEMS TO APPEAR --

FERDINAND

LION

NANCY

'

about 800 miles exposed to the alternating torments of biting salt spray and burning sun.

They were brought to Post of Spain and housed and fed, but were told

they would have no to leave Trinidad and continue

that

Rene Gedong

Island.importes, "because it was

to find work in

the Chancelier, Dr Konrad where he Was thrown Into Cayenne or St Laurent de Adenauer-Reuter,

prison again.

By Lee Falk and Phil Davis

YOU DID REMEMBER / SEE? YOU HAVEN'T FORGOTTEN THOSE DAYS! ĮBUT I'D FORGOTTEN HOW WONDERFUL

YOU REALLY ARE, MANDRAKE--

I WONDER

I'LL

| WHAT HIS

THAT MAN IS

NEW IN

FIND

NAME 15

QUT

TOWN

JOHNNY HAZARD

AS THE FLAME SLEWS TO A JOLTING

| STOP RUDY FALLS AGAINST THE

| FRONT PANEL (GARD,

THIS IS FOR SHAP! HAVEN'T SOTATIME NOW TO FINISH THE

·SCORE! REA

SHARI SHARI... WHERE ARE YOUR YOU. ALL RIGHT?

UA-1°C BETTER

SEE WHAT HAPPENED 30} LOTHAR-1

SLOTH

SLOTH

By Mik

By Ernie Bushmiller

· MAY · I HAVE YOUR

| AUTOGRAPH,

MISTER ?

-EANIS QUSHMILLEL

By Frank Robbins

GUTE ALL RIGHT, MR. HAZARD - |WAND ISN'T IT COP HOW SOME | PEOPLE CAN SLEEP THROUGH ANYTHING 77

TALK

ABOUT

MAGIC!

Have you seen

Admiral

AIR CONDITIONERS

AND REFRIGERATORS

GAM

*THE JAM THAT MUS TASMANIA FAMOUS.

DAIRY BOX

MILK CHOCOLATE

this situation

calls for a

San Miguel

Marocl. We are seeking a fresh

start in life."

Their own craft was now un- seaworthy so the authorities in Trinidad provided them with a- boat which was provisioned by sympathisers.

When

again en they put to sep there were only five men, all it and rested. The sixth had re- ceived money from relatives in France and gone by ship to and Germany. Rene Belbencit his companions salled several hundred miles westward and off the coast of Columbia, they were shipwrecked. They were arrested and put in prison

Rene Belbenoit escaped and made his way to Panama whence he was deported to the Republic of Costa Rica. He jumped a ship which took him to Los Angeles. In America, he was imprisoned for illegal entry. EXCITED INTEREST His case excited

some inter- est In America and syn-

among then

pathisers

Eugene Williams,

a

Mr

prose-

well-known!

American lawyer who

cuted General Tojo, Japan's wartime Prime Minister 19

WHIT

criminal, secured

per-

mission for him to remain in

America. Their contention was

that Rene Belbenoit his debt to society crime and

should

had paid

for bls be given chance to rehabilitate himself.

Rape Belbenoit," author of best selling book entitled "Dry Guillotine", dealing with life at Devil's Island and own- er of a small general store in Los Angeles, has now applied for American citizenship. He is the only one of the six escapers still alive.

Recently he had surprise

which brought tears to his eyes. Belloving that he was on way to discuss a film based on his experiences on Devil's Island, he was taken to a studio where he was the central figure in half

| programme

an hour's

telling

yenturous life.

televbion of his ad

But that was not all.

MEN WHO HELPED At various points in the pro gramme men who helped Fene. Beibenoit along his life of s cape from Devil's Island to America: stepped from behind the curtain in the studio, to

per him Rene Belbenoit was

the only one laking part in the £35,000 programme who had not been present at the hurried rehearsals, and there dramatic meetings with friends of tar

hire off years deeply affected

One of those who greeted Rens Belbenait in the studio F. Hitchins, was Mr. Courtenay Editor and

Managing Director of Port of Sprin's Trinidad Guardian. Mr Hitchins was pro migent among those who help ed Rene Belbenoit and his four. companiona do

·TEGIZILE

journey to treador after they had been re-equipped in Trinidad an

They had NOTEGER Hone, and other for twenty

For his one-minu

|ance" on Hutchins

the

traveled by air Fort of Spain to Le

by way of New York and

around trip of 10,000 miles

or nearly half way round the World China Hall Special