Page:Twentieth Century Impressions of Hongkong, Shanghai, and other Treaty Ports of China.djvu/279

TWENTIETH CENTURY IMPRESSIONS OF HONGKONG, SHANGHAI, ETC. 271 a result, an expert was appointed, but lie does not seein to have been a suitable superintendent, for he did not remain long. In 1S64 a hundred prisoners escaped in junks, after disabling their guards. The Stone- cutters Gaol was finished in that year. Mr. K. Douglas succeeded the "expert," and the gaol became known as the " Douglas Hotel." In the working of the establishment matters improved considerably under a rigorous system of discipline, reduced diet, severe labour, and the substitution of the " cat " for the rattan. The Victoria Gaol having been reconstructed in 1865, that on Stonecutter's Island was abandoned in 1870 for financial considerations. One of the most effective measures taken against crime was that of publicly branding and deporting prisoners, with their consent, and on the condition that they were to be flogged and sent back to serve their original sentences if they returned. Twice this system was discontinued, and twice it was re-introduced owing to the serious increase in all classes of crime during its suspension ; and its final abolition in 1880 was only made possible by the fact that its operation had practically rid the island of that class of the population whose room was more to be desired than their company. The number of prisoners in 1871 was 556; in 1872, 596; and in 1874, 398. Mr. Douglas died in the latter year, and was succeeded as superintendent by Mr. Tonnochv, who was followed bv Mr. Tomlin in 1875. The Victoria Gaol has been considerablv enlarged since its reconstruction in 1865. three up-to-date halls having been added during the past few years. These halls are capable of accommodating 231 prisoners, whilst the old structure contains 283 cells, 35 of which form the female prison. The prison is conducted entirely on the separate system. Indoor labour convicts are employed in the manufacture of coir matting, mats, brooms, clothing, boots, shoes, cabinet-making, printing, book-binding, string-making, &c., but short-sentence prisoners are given un- productive work to perform, such as crank labour, stone-carrymg, and shot drill. There are three large yards for exercise. There is a branch prison at Causeway Bay, where prisoners pronounced unfit for hard labour are confined in association when there is insuflicient accommodation for them in Victoria Gaol. Mr. R. H. A. Craig, the assistant superin- tendent in charge of the gaol, was appointed in 1894, after fifteen years' service in the Home Convict Department. He is at present on leave, and Mr. C. A. D. Melbourne is acting for him. THE CAPTAIN ■ SUPERrNTENDENT OF POLICE.— A biographical sketch of Mr. F. J. Badeley, the Captain-Superintendent of Police, will be found under the heading " Executive and Legislative Councils."; CAPTAIN F. W. LYONS, Deputy Superin- tendent of Police, Hongkong, was born on December 26, 1855, and was educated at Portarlington and at Trinity College, Dublin. He entered the Army as a second lieutenant in 1878, and served in the Zulu War in South Africa from 1878 to 1880, being present at the capture of Sekukuni's strong- hold, and receiving a medal and clasp. In 1884 he was promoted captain, and in the following year proceeded to the Soudan, where he served through the Egyptian Campaign, receiving the medal and the Khedive's Star. In 1885 he was appointed adjutant, and from 1887 to 1890 was adju- tant of the 2nd Vol. Batt. Royal Highlanders. Upon retiring in 1890 he was appointed captain in the Reserve of Ofticers. In 1891 he entered the Police Force of the Straits Settlements as Assistant Superintendent, and two years later became Assistant Commis- sioner of the Perak Sikhs. From 1893 to 1895 he acted as Captain-Superintendent of Police and Prisons, Selangor, and he served during the disturbances in Pahang in 1894. He was present at the attack upon, and capture of, the rebels' stockades at Jeram Ampai, and was struck by a bullet, which, however, glanced off a pocket-book, inflicting only a severe bruise. For his services in Pahang he received the thanks of the Secre- tary of State for the Colonies. He acted as Chief Police Officer of Perak from iqoo to 1902, when he was appointed Deputy Super- intendent of Police, Hongkong. On two occasions — H)0i 4 and i(p7-8— he has acted as Captain-Superintendent of Police for the Colony. Captain Lyons is connected by marriage with two colonies, his wife being a daughter of Mr. G. O. Matherson, of " Rosedale," Pietermaritzburg, who was one of the first commanding officers of Volun- teers in Natal ; while his sister is married to the Inspector-General of Police, Straits Settle- ments. He is a member of the Army and Navy (Pall Mall) and Hongkong Clubs, is a steward of the Hongkong Jockey Club, and resides at the Central Police Station, Hong- kong. MR. PHILIP PEVERIL JOHN WODEHOUSE, Assistant Superintendent of Police, was born in September, 1877, and was educated at Elizabeth College, Guernsey. His father, the Hon. Mr. H. E. Wodehouse, C.M.G., was for about thirty years in the service of the Colony, and for a considerable time prior to retiring on pension was Chief Police Magistrate. He was a member of the Executive and Legislative Councils, and was decorated for services in connection with the Colonial Exhibition in 1887, when he went to England in charge of the Hongkong and South China exhibits. Mr. P. P. J. Wodehouse entered the Civil Service on leaving school in 1897. After spending a year or two in the Registrar-General's Office, he was appointed Assistant Superintendent of Police, and was sent to India, attached to the Punjaub police, to pass in Hindu, having already qualified in Cantonese. Mr. Wodehouse has twice been in charge of the general census of the Colony, and during the past three years has been associated with Mr. Badeley in the development of the finger-print system for the identification of habitual criminals. In this connection he went through a course at Scotland Yard, Henry's system being the one in use there. Hockey, tennis, and swimming are the chief recreations of his leisure. He is a member of the Grosvenor Club, Piccadilly.