New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-11-20
PLANS TO RESCUE DREYFUS.
PROPOSITIONS TO HELP HIM ESCAPE RE-
LEYIATING HIS LOT.


Paris correspondence Of The London Telegraph
Continuing his disclosures respecting the life
Of Drcyfus at the lie du Diablc. NJ Jean Hess
gives lis to-day an account of another instruc-
tive conversation which he had 18th the ban,
quier des forcats." who seemed to be wen VerSer
in all the mysteries Of the penal establishments
in French Guiana. This odd ndiVidual arBucd
that even if secret correspondence were prevent
ed there would be many other means OF COM
municating with the prisoner.
you see" he calmly remarked. Il know what
is sent to the captain. These packets or tobacco
these bottles and boxes. all this bazaar which -
to find its way to Devils Island can De 80
manipulated as to answer the purpose
What do they want Drcyfus to learn JUST
now? Why. that revision Is commanding great
deal of attention. that the idea may be carried
out. that this is burning question. / am sur
that if any attempt were made to inform INN OF
this he would understand. The captain is not
stupid. and he must scrutinize his parcels ana
his boxes more closely than his warders do the
man who is being kept in custody always sees
better than the person who Is looking AFTER
him"
1t was then suggested that if. for instance
some Of the letters r in the words on the labels
Of packcis and bottles were burnt with the tip
Of lighted match the prisoner would speedily
comprehend that the revision Of his trial was IN
the wind. At any rate. this individual, VINO mas
a vast amount Of experience IN these matters
expressed the firm conviction that although the
officials were extremely careful. DreyfuS
could guess without much difficulty what was
going on in France His great trouble, how
ever. was that the cX-captain of artillery hld
not tried 10 escape. He must have succeeded,
he continued. and. curiOusly enough. the words
Isl on await vouu' We're uttered by others a.
well.
HE DECLINES TO ATTEMPT ESCAPE.
Projects for the rescue Of Dreyfus were long
discussed with considerable animation at cay
cnne. NJ Andre Lebon when Minister OF the
Colonies was anything but popular in the town.
and il seemed to be generally agreed that this
was only question Of money. million francs
would do the thing handsomely. NJ. Jean Hess
even holds that there were venturesomc
spirits Of the old filiOuSter breed who would
gladly have made tho attempt simply through
love Of excitement. one daring character even
came all the way to Paris to propose his scheme
to Nine. Drey fus. who saw him, but pretended
not TO understand what ne driving at. The
writer had 4 long talk with him at Cayenne
after his return This was the man who mad
communicated with the prisoner on the cause
way between the lie du Diabl" ana the lie Roy
ale. As soon. however, as Drcyfus ascertalned
that his interlocutor ready to plan his es'
cape he thanked him for the interest which he
took in him ana firmly declined his offer
A KINDLY BAKER
l. But although the relatives Of Dreyfus hav,
throughout turned a deaf ear to these seductive
Offers. they have done everything that they
could to alleviate his hard lot. \ baker named
Dufourg. In business at Cayenne. was selected
as their representative and correspondent Hs
is creole. and most kndhearied and obligins
NJ Dufourg told VI Jean Hess that shortly
after the arrival Of Dreyfus he was asked by
friend in Paris to see 10 his material interests
and a check for | 300 francs was inclosed in this
letter. Naturally he could not refuse. though
he had suffered for his kindness. anyhow, he
would not complain. and even after what had
passed. if like request We're put 10 him again
he would grant it, NJ DufOUrg lost no time In
communicating with the authorities. He was
informed that unless special orders We're forth
coming from the Ministry Dreyfus would con-
} tnue 20 be treated like the other convicts. and
a warning was added to the effect that If any
attempt were made to get him off he would be
killed ike a dog. Inquiries instituted by NJ
Dufourg cd to the discovery that Dreyfus was
i'll. Accordingly. he wrote to the family. sayn>
that the Ministry should be held responsible for
the life Of the prisoner, who was unfairly SUBJ
jected to a too severe regime. He also paid
local doctor 1000 francs to draw up report Of
the climate Of the lies du Saut. and. thanks L,
these efforts. the lot Of Dreyfus was rendered
less intolerable Meanwhile. the authorities had
asked whether NJ. Dufourg was really empow-
cred to act on behalf of the prisoners relations
and the following letter. expressly addressed to
him by Nine. Dreyfus. made the position quite
clear: = oa
M Dufourg. Industricl. at Cayenne.
Il request you to be so kind as to undertake
with regard to the penal administration the
measures which will enable you To place your
self in communication 10y means CT open letters
with my husband M. Alfred DreyfuS and 10
do for him all that the law and humanity allow.
! | rely monsieur. on your devotedness and on
your great goodness to alleviate as much as pos
! sible the lot of my unhappy husband. thank
/ you with all my heart for the effort that you
! made as soon as we asked you 20 do So and
am extremely grateful for the painful task that
you are 50 kind as TO undertake. Again, mon
sicur address to you my warmest thanks and
the assurance Of my most distinguished consid-
Grafton. L. Dlttf 10.
No - Rue !, Chateaudun."
! VI Matthew Dreyfus also wrote frequently 10