![]() ![]() The imprisonment system on Devil’s Island ended in 1938. He was very vocal about his experiences and this brought about the gradual change and eventual closure of the penal colony. He was sent to the penal colony but was later released due to the unjust verdict. French army captain Alfred Dreyfus was convicted of treason in 1894. The harsh reality of Devil’s Island first became publicized during the Dreyfus affair. Many others died due to near-constant violence, either at the hands of fellow inmates or the guards. One in three inmates died of disease or hunger. The conditions were horrific and, of course, unsanitary. A raised footbridge above would allow guards to walk across the cells keeping an eye on the inmates at all times. Repercussions were severe.Īt night prisoners were detained in dark cells with grid roofs. Talking, smoking, and sitting was forbidden as they worked long hours in intense heat. The main part of the colony was a labor camp and the rules for prisoners were incredibly strict. Inside Devil’s Island Image: Cayambe / CC BY-SA Related Content: A Trip to Tarrafal Camp – Former Penal Colony, Cape Verde.The small number of broken survivors that ever made it back to France had such dark tales, they were said to scare other criminals to go straight. Stories of native cannibalism on nearby islands also helped keep prisoners in their place. Tropical diseases ran rabid, and those in charge were particularly known for their harshness and brutality.įew convicts ever escaped as the only way out was via shark-infested waters. The community of murderers, thieves, and rapists would often turn on themselves with prisoner-on-prisoner violence being an everyday factor of Devil’s Island life. Napoleon sent political dissidents to Devil’s Island, (the 239 Republicans who opposed his coup d’état in 1851 were sent there), however, it also became home to vast numbers of hardened criminals from around the French Empire. Situated on the northeastern coast of South America, the three islands called Îles du Salut, ( Salvation Islands) started taking prisoners in 1852. The History of Devil’s Island Image: Cayambe / CC BY-SA
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