The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-01
ate the character Of the ccnccs-
obtained from the penitentiary au-

viii indicate the character Of the ccnces-
sions he obtained from the penitentiary au-
thorities:
Paris, June Z, 1885.
Monsieur Dufourg, Industrial. at Cay
enne-I confirm my letter of yesterday. My
sister received only last night the letters
my unhappy brother asks for several OBJ
Jects which it will be impossible for us to
send him by the steamer Of June .. For this
reason l beg you to DO your best TO pny
them for him at Cayenne. Vichy water.
books.
4ly sister has sent you to-day by parcel
post soap, chocolate and two undershirts
Have the kindness to hand the package over
brother. Again once more / thank you 10, Ior
all that you have done to preserve the life
OF that innocent man until the day OF the
sMATHIEU DREYFUs.''
Then followed the best period of the life
OF Dreyfus on the island. 1t was not 70
last. Early In 1897 NJ. Lebon, then minister
for the colonies, began prescribing extraor-
binary measures against the escape OF the
prisoner, who had resisted all temptations
to escape for more than two years.
How NJ. Verignon, directeur OF the admin
istration penitentiare at Cayenne, then pc
gan to make a study OF the chances OF es.
most dangerous type. In the wine shops OF
Cayenne they chuckle over it to-day. For
scenery there are three islands, lying In the
somber night. without moon. without stars.
The wind is on the sea- The breakers dash
against the rocks. 1t was at Such an nour
that M. Verignon got up his expeditlon.
Leaving the lie Royale in a small sailboat'
with three picked men and an Indian plot,
he sailed round the lie du Diable, Landing
in a little creek. Silently they picked their
way to the goathouse beside the little grove
where DreyfuS was locked in. NOBODY
stopped them. Every one was sleeping
peacefully An escape would have sue
ceeded. What is more curious, the adVen-
ture was repeated. This decided NJ. Verig-
non, it seems. He reported TO Al. Leoonl;
at Paris that the prisoner was not saIe
under the regime existing.
MORE HARDSHIPS.
Soon there came from Paris voluminous
secret dossier'' in duplicate, with minute
instructions for the treatment of the pris-
oner Tin all foreseen eventualities." Drey-
fus was made to leave his grove. He was
no longer left to roam about the island
with a guard behind him. The new build
ings down on the sun-blistered shore were
quickly run up, the wooden tower that
holds the Hotchlxiss gun. the house Of the
guards, with its broad porch. the palisade
which is the prison yard OF Dreyfus, ana
the hut inside which is his solitary CELL
1t was now that Dreyfus became reDel-
lious and was put in irons. He ragged against
the new regime of solitary conIlnement III
a tiny prison yard without view or sea
or land. Then they cut off the privilege Of
the canteen, and told him that for occupa-
ton he should do his cooking. Dufourg: the
agent
lily to protest IN Paris against the close
confinement as Illegal contrary to the terms
of tho court martiaPS sentence, Wnlcn We're
that the prisoner should be kept SIMPLY
'in a fortified place." but the campaign
for the revision had already been begun IN
Paris, and the minister would receive no
communication from the family. The DOCTOR
OF the penal colony protested. saying tnat
he could not answer for the lie or DreyIus
under the changed circumstances. Inc an
swer was to send from Paris cohplele
arnha1nainQ outfit
IF Dreyfrs dies" they wrote, 'send on
his body. Otherwise it viii be said that you
Ever since the public sentiment of Cay
enne has been in favor OF the prisoner. Inc
Governor himself admits that Dreyfus mas
been treated harshly. AS for the conv1cts
liberated and confined, 1T has been Tor q
year and more past their ambition ana de-
light to send the prisoner indications OF the
found words written on his shirts as they
came from the laundry Another trick has
on the baskets of provisions that are sent
to Dreyfus monthly. ThuS Wnen every
letter "R" upon label would be scratched
the prisoner might know that the revision shoa
Dreyfus noticed such minute things wlthout
being warned to look for them", one OF
answered. do not be deceived. A prison.
jafler's."
Cayenne that for some months Dreyfus has
had information of the outside world there
is the story of soldier just returned. One
day, when he was helping to convey provi-
sions to the palisade he heard the guard cry
from the hut inside. "Quick! quick! the
prisoner is dying!' He rushed in. Dreyfus
was living in q dead faint on the floor. To-
gether they revived him. When Dreyfus
came to and saw the stranger there he
spoke, the guard said, for the first time in a
year II am not ill.," he said. 1T am very
we'll But I will be much better when get
out Of this hell. You can tell them that I
know"
Here the guard stopped him.
''Tell them am posted Dreyfus shouted
as the door slammed on the frightened sol
der.