48. PIER 914 RELIC

The Pier started construction in 1873, located in front of the Island Lord’s Palace, this construction lasted for decades, repaired and expanded many times, the reason it was named “Pier 914” was because the French colonialists forced prisoners to go quarry the stones from the foot of Chua mountain to build this pier and a breakwater in front of Con Lon frontage. From the quarrying to the transportation and construction, all were done by prisoners’ labor. The large blocks of stone, weighing many tons, have exhausted and crushed many prisoners. If they can’t carry it, they will die from being punished; and if they can, they will die from exhaustion. Construction of the pier lasted until 1930, and the number 914 was remembered by the prisoners as an estimation of the number of people who died throughout the construction of the pier. Prisoners died for many reasons: Crushed by rocks, fallen trees, overworked while starving, punished by wardens, etc. Over the course of 113 years, the French colonialists and the American Imperialists deported tens of thousands of prisoners to Con Dao. When first set foot on the pier, prisoners will be showered with beatings from the wardens, being hit on the head with clubs and batons with threats and insults as a way to mark attendance. The historic Pier 914 has witnessed the joy of more than 2,000 political prisoners of Con Dao who were liberated in September 1945. Thirty years later, the pier was once again covered with flying flags, welcoming more than 4,000 liberated political prisoners back to the mainland in May 1975. Thousands of people just set foot here once and stayed here forever. The long-hatred verses of the prisoners still echo in each and every stone: “Con Lon, the stone of life...” Or: “Here the stones fill the pier. “How many the stones had dug, so much the blood had spilled” On April 29th, 1979, the Pier 914 Relic was granted special recognition by the Ministry of Culture and Information through Decision No. 54-VHTT.QD. On May 10th, 2012, the Prime Minister signed Decision No. 548/QĐ-TTg classified the Pier 914 Relic as a special National Relic.