The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-01-05
DREYFUS' DISGRACE
Painful Military Ceremony
to Punish the Traitor
to France.
BITTER POPULAR HATE
The Wretched Captain Execrated
by His Comrades and The
Street Mob.

ticn of his military rank and title ana
confinement in }fortress for life, for
having divulged Government secrets,
took place at nine O'Clock this morning
On the parade ground of the Ecole Mill
taire in the presence of five thousand
troops and number of newspaper repre-
sentatives and others. Some time before
daylight detachments from all the regi-
ments in the district of Paris were on
the march to the parade ground. These
detachments comprised new recruits,
veterans and men of all grades Of SER
vice, and as they arrived at the Ecole
Militaire took the positions assigned to
them. The weather was clear and
bright, but cold. At $50 A. M. General
Darras, commanding the troops, arrived.
He was assisted by Colonel Fayette and
a major of the Paris garrison. The
troops formed a square facing the main
entrance to the parade ground, where
was stationed a band composed of drums
and bugles. The Thirty-ninth Regiment,
having Captain Dreyfus in charge, was
one OF the first bodies of troops to arrive
at the parade ground.
TERRIBLE CEREMONIAL.
At precisely nine o'clock the prisoner
was led out from the left wing of the
square. He was accompanied by squad
of artillery soldiers. He was pale, but
with a firm step he marched, with his
sword in his right hand, to the centre of
the square, where he was awaited by
General Darras. He halted before the
General and stood at Attention" The
adjutant of the Republican Guard then
pronounced the verdict of the court mar
tial which had condemned Captain Drey
fus. While the verdict was being read
Captain Dreyfus flushed somewhat, but
otherwise showed no sign of. losing his
composure. After the reading of the
verdict General Dreyfus addressed the
prisoner. saying:-
..Dreyfus, you are unworthy to carry
arms. In the name CT the people of
France, we degrade you"
The Adjutant then walked up to Drey-
fus and took from him his sword,
which, with a quick, sharp movement,
he broke across his knee, casting the
pieces upon the ground. He then cut
the buttons and insignia OF rank from
the uniform of the condemned captain
and threw them also upon the ground.
. At this point ia the proceedings Captain
Drey-1essl.s was fer namfGynt moved by
sense Of his Humiliation, bgt he quick
ly suppressed his emotion and shouted
in a loud yoice:-'vive la France!''
Continuing, he said:-"You have de-
graded an innocent man. I swear that
I am innocent"
He seemed about to speak further, but
his voice was drowned by the rolling
of the drums. which was not loud
enough, however. to drown q ringing
shout from the crowd in the rear of
the soldiers of "a mort lie traitre.'
EXECUTION PARADE.
The ceremony up to this time had
lasted just four minutes. The drums
then beat and the degraded man began
his march along the four sides of the
square In what is known as "le parade
do execution" The scene was
very impressive and many of the
younger soldiers turned their heads
away Captain Drefus marched
firmly and soldierly, with a quick
short pace, and when he reached
serves, raised his hand and said:-"Tell
the vnole of France that l am inno-
cent
Turning to the left from the position
of the reserve officers he came before
the members of the press, to whom he
said in firm voice:-"I declare that
am innocent.
The end of the march was reached at
9:20 after which the condemned man was
taken to the barrack gate and turned
ever to the scicil authorities. A large
crowd of people had gathered at the
entrance to the parade ground and from
among them came not one word of SYM
pathy, but the cry of "A mort lie traitre"'
was taken up by them and repeated until
the miserable man was out Of the hear
ing of his tormentors. Dreyfus was re-
ceived from his escort at the barrack
in an ordinary prison van and at $3.50
the troops marched out of the parade
ground en- route to their respective quar-
POPULAR EMIGRATION.
Workinernen who were hurrying down
y the Rue Cherchemedi about seven o'clock
9ais morning stopped for moment to
| haunted Soldiers. when was standing
outside the military prison waiting to
convey Captain Dreyfus to the Ecole
Many of the men shook their fists in the
direction Of the condemned mans cell
and uttered deep. curses upon the head
soldier, employed az 5anitcr in the prison.
threw back the iron gates and Captain
Dreyfus fanked by two soldiers carry
out and hurriedly mounted the steps of
the van, marching from the gates to the
van between lines of Republican guards.
The van, which was driven by a trooper,
took its course across the Rue Dupin and
down the Rue de Babylone and d Es-
trees, crossing the Avenue de Breteuil to
the Ecole Mfl.taire, where il arrived at
Dreyfus mounted the van with perfect
unconcern. He stood erect and his
cheeks were not wbitened by the GUS
tomary pallor of prisoners. His appear
anee was more like that of a man going
on parade than that of a prisoner con-
demned to life imprisonment and official
degradation; As measure of prselparra- sls ra
sigma OF rank, etc., the prison tailor
stripes from Dreyfus' tunic, the red
stripes from his trousers and the regi-
mental number and braid from his col
lar and cap. These were all replaced
with q single stitch SO that they could
be torn away readily. The. condemned
mans sword was also fled almost in
twain, in order that it might be easily
broken. -
annarent effort in breaking the sword
was consequently mere pretence, as only
a mere touch was necessary. AS the
prison van sped through the streets the
peoDIe stood on the sidewalks and with
iluifted hands menaced ana cursed the
Unfortunate Ofticer o4.. .,e,
Il is stated that when Captain Dreyfus
smoke to the officers of the reserve pro-
testing his innocence, the latter retorted: I:
s.Down with the Judas Sliapce,5 tIalt,
or.' etc Dreyfus became greatly exclted
at this and turned again appeaiin ~ ,o 70 9
the officers, but the soldiers escor{slng q e
Il To- continue his humfliating march;
-SD ~F.~a fba onrpn1auy of QeEraQaI1On