The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-07-09
TORTURED ON DEVILS ISLE.
story of Dreyfus's imprisonment as
Told by Maitre Labori.


NEW YORK, July s.-The Worlds Paris
correspondent says: Maitre Labori, one Of
Dreyfus's counsel, has returned from Rennes.
"Dreyfuss mind has now quite recovered its
equilibrium" said Maitre Labori. 'In fact.
I saw him laugh yesterday. 1t was the first
time he had laughed IN nearly five years
I was telling him OF Du Patty de CLAIMS
interviews with Esterhazy in the cemetery
when they disguised themselves with false
boards and goggles. Dreyfus suddenly burst
out laughing.
why. of all penny dreadfuls!' he ex-
claimed"
Has Dreyfus described his treatment on
Devils island?" the correspondent inquired
Yes, he has told us of the devilish tor
lures to which he was subjected. 1t is
long tale Of unimaginable cruelty. His
guards were the toughest. most heartless
ruffians that could be picked out Of the
Guiana police They imagined that they
would gain favor with the authorities by
treating the prisoner with violence and
meanness. / cannot tell you all the extreme
vexations Dreyfus described to us, but here
is an example: One day when he was in
high fever he accidentally upset a jug of
water near his bed. His punishment was
that no water was given to him to drink for
twenty-four hours. BY noon next day he
was almost raving mad with thirst.
When letter was sent pretending to
warn NJ Lebon, then the minister Of the
colonies. that Dreyfus would attempt to es-
cape, although the letter was proved for
gerry, Lebon ordered that Dreyfus be put
In irons. Notwithstanding he was very Ill,
he was strapped and chained to his bed
Thus he was left twenty days without medi-
cal attendance. But this outrage, Dreyfus
says, saved him. He was so sick at heart,
so III or body, that he was willing to die.
But when he realized there plot to
Kill him he gathered all his energy to re-
sist. So he lived"
lis it true he was confined in a cage?"
the correspondent asked.
NO; the story about the cage is not true"
Lebon devised for Dreyfus was a palisade-
ike Enclosure. tall fence, that was little
IIe than cage age Imagine the refine ,a
or the sea. that kept a man baking In such
trap, scarcely larger than an ordinary
room!
Another idiotic measure was to keep a
lamp burning over Dreyfus's bed all night
long" NJ. Labori went on, Indignantly.
must be watched. What could the prisoner
| do in such lookup? But the light. attract
| ed swarms of the fearful tropical insects
| that eat men alive. They turned sleep into
a nightmare. Dreyfus dreaded night more
| than the broiling sun.
1 VI.
| bori. raising his fists to heaven in indgna-
| ton. And more! Those hyenas stole Drey-
| fuss food and fed him for weeks on the
lily had ceased to send money to him
| Did not his wife. his family's letters
him. Then, again, his guards were instruct
ed to poster and harass Dreyfus to make
| confession.
"'See, even your family has abandoned
YOU. they constantly said to him. Better
The fact is. Dreyfus became the play
heard them making disrespectful remarks
| about his wife: he heard their persistent in
timations that she was anxious TO remarry.
'preyfus wrote urgent appeals, asked for
| explanations. His letters were never for.
warded. So he was left despairing until
wild, he was his guards, playthlng. Why.
| they even took 1t on themselves to deny
| him access to a narrow court where he
locked him in his cabin and barred the doors
and windows. until the heat drove him
| nearly insane.
| threatened to strangle one of his torturers
But he Immediately realized they would
| welcome the slightest pretext to shoot him.
| SO he afterward submitted to all their in
| famies
| And one such infamy." cried NJ. Labori
himself furious was to take from him Tim, an IN
| the love he felt-to read it aloud in his
| hearing, to laugh at his expressions Of
1 emotion 10 make vie comments on tnem
| But when NJ. Lebon was overthrown more
| humane guards were substituted
| How did Dreyfus exist how did he pass
the timer" the correspondent quered.
AT first he read and wrote and tried to
| bury himself In mathematics" replied NJ
| Labori: "but he has confessed he lost hope
as the climate and tortures undermined
| his health and he became less capable of
| intelligent occupation. For months he
| passed several hours of the day pacing the
| fenced Enclosure like a Gagged lion. Finally
| he had not even energy enough to do that
| Painting with heat, he crouched in a corner.
| moving only as the sun moved, that he
| might keep in the shade. At the last he had
| become SO brutif1ed that he neglected the
| most elementary cares of the toilet
did the thought Of suicide ever come TO
| his mind?"
Il asked Dreyfus that question.
Yes. he said. often during the last two
| years. But it would have been impossible
| for me to have taken my life. Since the
| agita ton In my behalf began in France my
| guards have most dreaded my suicide, lest
| they should be accused of my murder
"Dreyfus is now studying his case after
| plan have mapped out. He has all the
| documents. The trial probably will not
| take place before August"
And you are confident of the result?'
CONFIDENT Labori arose and with
combative toss of his defiant head ex-
| claimed: IF they want fight, now Is the
| time Let them all come on"
Peneioua for