DREYFUS IS PRISON.

Evening Star, Issue 10817, 29 December 1898, Page 2 (Supplement)

DREYFUS IS PRISON.

INHUMAN TREATMENT. Some further light is thrown upon the mode of treatment to which Dreyfus is being subjected in his prison on Devil's Island, by M. Jean Hess, in the 'Matin.' It appears that when M. Andre Lebon was Colonial Minister he took fright at the suggestions which were being made that Dreyfus had escaped, with the result that M. Deniel was sent out in charge of the lies du Saliit in general, and of Dreyfus in particular. " ON A PLANK COUCH WITH HIS FEET IN IRONS."

Soon afterwards (says the Paris correspondent of the ' Daily Telegraph,' who summarises M. Hess's article) a really terrible system was inaugurated, which was relaxed in some degree only after a lapse of several months. The writer describes M. Deniel as having entertained a wonderful idea of his mission. During his vo-age out to Guiana he awed his fellowpassengers by repeatedly exclaiming: " I am the bearer of a State secret!" Hardly had he set foot on Devil's Island when the wretched Dreyfus was compelled to pass his nights on a plank couch with his feet in irons, and this in spite of the protests of the Governor of the colony and other officials, who pointed out that this was simply a useless aggravation of the unhappy man's punishment. Appealed to in numerous telegrams, M. Andre Lebon backed M. Deniel, so that further remonstrance was vain. Dreyfus was forced for weeks to lie in a cramped position, his ankles being placed in rings affixed to the boards and kept in a firm position by means of the iron rod passed through them. Day and night (continues M. Jean Hess) Dreyfus is confined as if in a cell. He is watched throughout by a turnkey, who sits on a chair in a little sentry-box. The man locks himself in, and is in his turn locked in from outside, so that he cannot get out if lie would, in point of fact, if all of the six turnkeys were in a plot to bring about the escape of the prisoner, they would yet be foiled by others. After sleeping for two months in fetters on a plank couch, Dreyfus was provided with one of the beds used by the colonial troops, a mosquito curtain being added. This is how his days are spent: At 6 a.m. the keeper opens the large window looking out on the courtyard, and he can emerge to take the air and to watch the sky. At ten o'clock he must be back in his cell, in which he is shut up till eleven, by which time he has had his dejeuner. From eleven to five the window is again open, and then all the doors are fastened with padlo«ks until six on the following morning. So matters go on from day to day, except when the mail boat which passes by the isle is expected. On those days Dreyfus cannot enter the courtyard. Why ? M. Deniel alone knows. In this solitary life, never seeing anything but this chamber, which is a trifle larger than a cell, never walking beyond this walled courtyard, which is only a little bigger than a room, with no amusement out of doors but to wait for the clouds as they speed along, with the perpetual feeling t.at one is being watched by an armed warder who never speaks, who never answers, and that, too, in the climate of Guiana, the most energetic characters would succumb, the bestbalanced minds would become unhinged, the most robust constitutions would be shattered. Well, this regime has not broken Dreyfus down. The 'Soleil du Midi* publishes ayiurious account of an interview which a marine, who has just been discharged, and is now at Marseilles, had with Dreyfus. This man was approaching the He du Diable, in a boat laden with provisions, when u warder appeared in great consternation. Dreyfus bad fainted, and how was he to restore him ? The marine had his flask of rum with him, and, admitted to the little dwelling, he poured some drops of the liquor down the throat of Dreyfus, who presently opened his eyes, and was much surprised to see a soldier by him. " Thank you; it is nothing," he muttered, and when the man, in his anxiety, asked " Are you better? he replied: "Yes; but I shall be better still when I get out of this hell." Then, ere the turnkey could interfere, Dreyfus added, with a chuckle: " Anyhow, lam quite easy in my mind. I shall not be here much longer. 1 know what is going on." The turnkey pulled the marine out of the hut so that he could not hear any more. . %