The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-12-02
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first two years of his life on the sun
baked little island Dreyfus enjoyed what
NJ Roberdeau, the governor. has called
a bien-etre reatif-"a relative well be-
ing" He then inhabited a cabin, In
which they had kept herd Of goats,
little cabin on a bluff. beside the only
grove OF trees His guards lived IN a
larger building that had been a barn.
At night they locked him in. BY day he
roamed about, collecting bugs and sea-
weed in the cool hours, reading and
writing in his grove when it was hot.
He had his food from the canteen Of the
He Royale. During these first two
years" the governor himself IS credited
with having said. in a moment or indls-
erection, 1.-The prisoner was permitted lib
critics so difficult to explain that they
might well authorize certain SUPPOSE
tons IL would be curious 70 seek along
this line as a psychologist" Guarded by
men OF experience. owing no allegiance
TO the Authorities at Cayenne and acting
under direct instructions from Paris,
Dreyfus. nevertheless was allowed TO
roam about the island as no pleased,
continually tempted 10 engage I'm plans
for an escape At low tide the rocky
shore OF the lie du Diable is separated
from that Of the lie Royale by less than
one hundred yards Of channel Across II
Dreyfus often talked with individuals
from Cayenne. He consistently refused
their offers OF assistance. Did he fear a
trap? Did Dreyfus fear he would be
shot escaping Or. conscious Of his in
nocence, had he resolved TO wait in pa
tience? Ii is the common talk at Ca
yenne, among a population more In SYM
pathy with the eonvicts than their Jail
ers. that he might easily have been res
cued al any time within the hrst two
years. IF he only would" is the con-
tinued phrase which travellers hear In
wine-shOp conversations, now that the
revision has unsealed mems lips. IF he
had given a million he could have been
rescued at any time" The million and
the rescue are synonymous.
POSSIBILITY OF RESCUE.
One individual OF Cayenne. a liberated
convict named Dupont, now acting az a
petty money lender in and out the penal
settlements even made a trip TO Paris
TO propose a plan to the Dreyfus family.
He was received by Mime. Lucie ORGY
fus, "but she would not comprehend"
on the other hand. she was extremely
anxious to employ him as her agent at
Cayenne. with a view OF softening her
husbands captivity. He would be her
known and official correspondent accept
ed by the penitentiary authorities. This
position the good man refused, because
to be the known agent OF the Dreyfus
family would have hurt his business
The man chosen later, Paul Dufourg, a
negro baker and confectloner. has earned
his money.
Some time after the arrival Of Drey-
fus at the Islands" he said recently TO
Jean Hess. the African explorer, Il re-
coived a letter from my Paris correspon-
dent. asking If l would consent 10 occupy
myself with the material interests OF the
prisoner. With the letter came draft
for ]. 500 francs. 1t was such a mission
of humanity that a man of heart could
not rfuse, however unpleasant might be
the consequences. They have been pain
ful TO me- But L do not complain. |
would do 1t again. The authorizes OF the
administration penitentaTie replied 10 me
that they had received no instruction 10
allow the prisoner more comforts than
any other convict. Like the other con-
victs, he might order food from the can
teen. Now, it was known at this time
that the prisoner was III, because no one
had seen him walking on the island. l..
therefore, wrote 10 the family 10 hold the
Minister for the Colonies responsible for
the prisoners life, subjected as he was TO
a regime rot corresponding 10 the terms
OF the sentence OF the court-martial. |
sent them at the same time complete
medical report on the Salvation Islands.
and on the conditions under which ORGY
fus might hope TO resist the action OF the
climate. joined tc the privations OF i'm
prisonment. For this I paid 1000 francs
10 Dr. Susini OF Cayenne. Thanks 10 the
use made OF the document I'm Paris the
material condition of the prisoner. which
had been hard. was notably ameliorated.
SUPPLIES SENT EASILY THEN.
A letter from Matthew Dreyfus to Du-
fourg will indicate the character Of the
concessions he obtained from the peni-
Tertiary authorities:
Paris. June Z. 1895.
Monsieur Dufourg, Industrial. al Cayenne:
| confirm my letter OF yesterday My
sister received only last night the letters
from her husband. In one Of these let
tiers my unhappy brother asks for sew
ersl objects which II VIII be Impossible
for us TO send him by the steamer OF
June O. For this reason ] beg you 10 90
your best TO buy them for him AT cay
enne.
Vichy water, condensed mix, anu II
possible. a few more books.
My sister has sent you to-day by parcel
post soap, chocolate and TWO undershirts.
Have the kindness 10 hand the package
over to the penitentiary administration
for my brother. Again once more l thank
you for all that you have done 10 pre-
serve the life Of that innocent man until
the day OF the discovery OF the truth.
MATHIEU DREYFUS.
Then followed the best period OF the
life OF Dreyfus on the Island IL was
NOT IN last Early in 1897 NJ. Lebon. then
minister for the colonies. began pre-
pairing extraordinary measures against
the escape" OF the prisoner VINO mad
resisted ali temptations 10 escape for
more than two years
THE SCREWS APPLIED.
How NJ. Verignon. director OF the ad-
ministration penitentiarie at Cayenne.
then began to make . stHey q the