The Portland daily press., 1898-09-23
SAILOR WHO SAW DReyFUs.
Strange and Interesting Tale Told by q
Man who Was Sent to Devils Island to
Teach Cooking.


In recent issue OF "Kuche und Kel-
ler, Karl Weinheber, cook of the Nsther-
land steamship Andalusia, gives this ae-
count Of . visit to DEVILS Island: 4
Our ship, the Netherland steamship
was anchored off Devils Is
land on April after visit to Cayenne,
W hen wa were hailed from shore. At the
same time = small boat put off, manned
by soldiers.
They came alongside to ask the captain
for the loan of . cook, whils the Anda'
lusia was waiting for freight. The cook
OF the little garrison had broken his arm.
they said, and our cook was to teach one
of their men, so that he might be able
to attend to the kitchen until another
was sent by the commander.
Tho captain sent me to the island, and
while busy in the little kitchen instruct.
ing soldier in the mysteries of broiling
lamb chops and cooking pork I had
plenty of opportunity to question Capt.
Dreyfus's guards. The men, who had at
first seemed disinclined to speak. became
quite . loquacious after awhile. "He''
was not so iii treated as those In the
world seemed to Think. .she" Ia not con.
fined ;,t.he'' can 60 everywhere on the is
land 1Cf, 6ofirse, two men are always at
his heels. ....talHe gets up between and
z in the morning, and his first breakfast
consists of = cup Of chocolate. If the
weather is good "he'' goes for q walk
soon afterward and winds up his prone
made by bath.
"But are you not afraid he might swim
waylor cemfnit sffbfdep" ] asked.
aiiNotmt all ,5bsaihthe soldiers, ''for
rope is fastened to both his wrists and
the ends of the rope are in the hands of
the guard. After the bath he takes his
second breakfast--butter, bread, ham and
eggs and bottle of beer. Then he goes
in for study. He reads and writes for sew
eral hours sss,.sSS
"What kind of books has he gotf" The
soldiers q looked, at each other. After
awhile one Of them said He is only al
lowed to read technical works. But he
writing an account of his life"
"Must he show you what he writesp'
"No; We read only the letters he desires
to have forwarded. These are sent to the
commander in Cayenne.
s'And does the commander send them
off as reccivedf"
"No; they are copied, and the originals
are retained at Cayenne"
Z what does he do besides reading and
writingf'
"Two weeks ago we received permission
from the commander to play cards with
the prisoner, and he has become an invet-
crate gam bier since After dinner--he as
always soup, a roast and dessert-about 2
O'Clock in Che afternoon we always play
baccart together.
sWhat are the stakesP"
The soldier laughed "He has not got
a sou and there are probably not three
francs on the whole island. We play for
shells. The prisoner gets his supper at b
in the evening-roast or ham and q bottle
of beer u Soon afterward he goes to bed.
He Is not allowed to have any light as
you know. Only the guard at the door
keeps up wood fire. He says the hours
from to 10 are his worst. He cannot go
to sIeep before 10 o'clock and the guard is
NOT allowed to answer any question he
NAV nut. In the day time we may talk to
him. but only on the most trif1ng sub
iects. the weather, is health, etc. Our
own country is not to be mentioned.
"Is he allowed to smoker
s.No; that is, think not he is not, for
tha commander does not. furnish him
tobacco"
MAY leave some cigars for him?"
The soldier did not answer.
I emptfed my tobacco pouch and my
cigar case on the table. I hope he got
what left for him.
AS / was about to return to my ship I
saw a man, followed by two soldiers ap-
preaching from the strand. Dreyfus! He
seemed TO have heard of my presence and
measured me with questioning looks. His
lips moved, but he did not speak. He is
a middle-siNe man, cadaverous and of a
yellow complexion. His eyes are deep in
their sockets, he walks with stoop and
his forehead Is furrowed. He Is growing
old rapidly, no doubt.
Dreyfus whispered with his gnard, and
when the latter had nodded assent, walked
up to me and shook me by the hand:
Bring my good wishes to the wide world, !"
he said, in voice quivering with emo
ion. Then he walked slowly toward his
hut, where he remained standing at the
door, waving his hand as my boat dashed
into the pillows. Half an hour later we
were on our way home.