The age-herald., 1898-11-19
Gasman Addicks is to go to the senate.
DREYFUs IN PRISON

DRE1FuS RR1SUN
 Paris Correspondence London Daily Tele-
 graph.
 Why was Dreyfus suddenly treated with more severity, and what has been the mode of his life at the date of the change and afterwards? These questions with which M. Jean Hess deals in his fresh contribu- tions to the columns of the Matin, and he gives some very interesting, and, indeed, extraordinary, details. The increased vigil lance, to use very mild word, was insti- tuted, according to his explanation. because certain English and American newspapers had announced the escape of the prisoner M Andre Lebon, then minister of the colo nies, took fright, and after long consulta- tions M. Deniel was sent out in charge of the Hes du Salut in general and of Dreyfus in particular. Soon afterwards really ter rible system was inaugurated, which was relaxed in some degree only after the lapse of several months. The writer describes M. Deiiel as having entertained a wonder ful idea of his mission. During his voyage out to Guiana he awed his feow-passen- gers by repeatedly exclaiming, II am the bearer of a state secret! Hardly had ne set foot on Devils Island when the wretch ed Dreyfus was compelled to pass his nights on plank couch with his feet in irons, and this in spite of the protests of the governor of the colony and other offi- cials, who pointed out that this was sim ply useless aggravation of the unhappy mans punishment. Appealed to in numer- ous 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 or the iron rod passed through them.
 Not content with this, M. Deniel had watch-tower built on the top of his house in the He Royale whence he could see the hut inhabited by Dreyfus, and he had them, moreover connected by telephone, so that the keepers of the ex-captain of artillery were being necessarily piled with questions. There were several alarms, and M. Deniel jumped out of bed and flew to a boat on the slightest provocation. Everybody, indeed, with the exception of one two officials, is practically captive in the Hes du Salut All their letters to and from friends at home are read in special bureaYat Cay enne, and passages are eliminated if they are deemed indiscreet or dangerous
 Day and night continues M. Jean Hess, Dreyfus is confined as if in a cell. He Is watched throughout by a turnkey, who slts 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 he 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. As for the furniture of the tiny dwelling. 1t is reduced to the simplest expression After sleeping for two months in letters on the plank couch, Drey- fus was provided with one of the beds used by the colonial troops, mosquito curtain being added He has a small table chair, a cooking stove, but no wardrobe or chest of drawers, his books, linen and provisions being slowed on half a dozen shelves, while his clothes are hung up on pegs. This IS how his days are spent:
 "At 6 a. m the keeper opens the large window looking out on the court-yard, anl he can emerge to take the air and to watch the sky At 10 o'clock he must be back in his cell in which he is shut up until Il, by whcih time he has had his dejeuner: From il to the window is again open, ana then all the doors are fastened with pad locks until 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 court-yard. Why? M. Deniel alone knows In this solitary lie, never seeing anything but this chamber, which is a trife larger than a cell, never walking beyond this walled courtyard, which is only little bigger than room, with no amusement out of doors but to wait for the clouds as they speed along, with the perpetual feeling that 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 best-Dal- anced minds would become unhinged, the most robust constitutions would become shattered Well, this regime has not broken Dreyfus down."
 The writer goes on to say that in 1Sso the prisoner suffered from a liver complaint, and that in 1896 he had a very bad attack of dysentery, which returned in February, 1897. At the last named date Dreyfus was still dwelling in that hut near the beach, on the south side of the island. A friend of M. Jean Hess happened to be lunching with the doctor of the penal establishment in the neighboring He Royale- Learning that Dreyfus wanted him. the medico proceeded in a boat to. the He du Diabe. His guests went to the shore opposite the landing place at Devils Island, and not 200 yards from it. and the writer's informant had good view of Dreyfus, who, far from being in the squalid condition described by some of the French newspapers. was neat with trim beard. clean raiment, and a blue shirt. The prisoner strolled along with his hands in his pockets little bent, as if his stomach was hurting him, and when the doctor landed he advanced a few steps to meet him, and then went with him into the hut.