Sakhalin convicts in the port of Singapore

Sakhalin convicts in the port of Singapore

Ivan Manucharov, a member of the Russian revolutionary organization Narodnaya Volya, who served ten years in the Shlisselburg Fortress, sailed to Sakhalin hard labor in 1896. Later, in his memoirs, Manucharov recalled how, while staying in the port of Singapore, convicts managed to buy alcohol, donate money ashore and receive bottles using bamboo poles inserted through bars into the portholes:

“In Singapore, the public managed to buy a lot of rums, cognacs and wines. Despite the guards, the colored boatmen managed to get to our portholes. Although an iron bars separated the prisoners from the portholes, the merchants managed to use sticks to get money first and then use the same sticks to serve bottles. Although, having received the money, friends of color could leave the ship, there was no deception.”

The photo shows the port of Singapore, circa 1900s.

Previously in Old Photos: Kalmyk in closed Tibet, Brawler Popeye and spinach.