Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1899-07-05


hustle attracted many people to the
harbor, but as they saw nothing the
crowd dispersed. The only persons
remaining were those who knew where
the prisoner was to be landed.
Landing Finally Effected.
The weather was very stormy and for
a time it was feafed it would be i'm
possible to effect landing. For hours
the lights of the Caudan and Sfax were
plainly visible, as the vessels pitched
and rolled. 1t seemed impossible to
approach them in the rough sea. On
the landing stage were M. Viguie, the
chief of detectives; M. Hennion, acom-
missary of police, and force or gend-
armes and police inspectors. Finally,
at a. m. cutter manned by ten men
and in charge of a naval officer, put
on from the Caudan and went along
side the Sfax. Thence the boat rowed
to the shore, where Dreyfus was land
ed at l:30 a. m A company of in
fantry was drawn up at the landing
point. Dreyfus, who had been brought
ashore in the boat, was Immediately
placed under the guard of a captain of
engineers and sergeant and corporal
of gendarmes, who formally handed
the prisoner over to M. Viguie.
Start for the station.
The latter then entered a landau
with Dreyfus and two detectives and
started for the railroad station which
was reached without incident. Dreyfus
did not speak word. He personally
opened the door of the compartment of
the special train, consisting of three
carriages and baggage car, which
was in waiting. AS the train was
about to start the local health officer
refused to permit Dreyfus to leave on
the ground that he has just arrived
from the colonies. The matter was
quickly arranged, however, and the
train proceeded Dreyfus was only
visible for moment to the reporters
The train stopped at Rabelais, three
kilometers from Rennes. There the
party alighted and quickly entered a
carriage drawn by two splendid horses,
which Immediately started at a sharp
advance. 1t was $3.50 a. m At the
level crossing of the line a wagonette
containing the project of the depart
ment of Ille-et-Vilaine, M. Viguie and
three inspectors joined the party
Passed Along Unnoticed.
The drive from Rabelais to Rennes
was without incident. Owing to the
precautions taken the prisoner and his
escort passed unnoticed in front of the
arsenal. Workmen reading the post.
ers there did not turn their heads, lit
tie suspecting who was passing. The
clock was striking 6 when the crowd,
which had been waiting since midnight
around the prison, people beginning to
think themselves the very aims of a
practical joke, saw landau surround
ed by gendarmes beyond the station
Then they all cried with one voice:
''There he is"
At the cry people started off to meet
the carriage and suddenly troops and
mounted gendarmes hurried madly
forward, yelling and shouting as If ac-
companying a fire engine instead of
escorting a prisoner. The carriage
was driven so fast that 1t covered the
distance In few minutes, passing the
watchers like flash.
Race for the Prison Gates
II was a race for the prison gates
between the gendarmes with the cap
tive and the spectators. The gates
then opened suddenly and about TWEEN
ty gendarmes rushed out and barred
the street, pressing back the crowd
with rifle stocks. The transformation
from tranquility to wild scene of
gesticulation almost defies description.
The suddenness of the movement stu
pefied Everybody as much as, appar-
emily, It did the prisoner, whose face
showed from the quick passing car