Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-08-10
Copyrighted by Associated Press.


capital of Brittany was never less
moved, never more sluggish than on
Monday, the first day of the retrial OF
Capt. Dreyfus. 1t seemed 10000 miles
away from Dreyfus and his exciting
case. He, Dreyfus, has been known to
stiff upper lip and Monday refused to
see the last set of photographs OF him
self brought from Paris 10y his brother
in-law. He had remarked to his broth
er, Matthew Dreyfus, on the strange
ness of his fate, so strange he himself
did not realize it. Nothing, he said,
astonished him more than that he was
an object of hatred to most of the Off
GERS. He said it grieved him to think
that if there were an acquittal 1t would
not change their minds.
But he was spared much of the I'M
seemly manifestations as those which
shook Zola's nerves last year and terri
fed his wife. There was no bowling
mob in front of the prison, no one cry
ing death to the traitor" or death to
The Jews" or anything like that. The
Paris journalists, who had come to re
port the trial, seemed Gained by the
quietude of this city. Dreyfusites and
anti-DreyfusiteS are often seen in each
others company. Not only do they
lodge at the same hotels, but they take
their meals at the same tables. Three
hundred press men, representing jour
mails all over the world were present.
Precisely at the appointed time Mon
day morning the door of the prison
opened and Dreyfus, guarded by cap
tain of gendarmes, appeared. He wore
a brand new uniform, its stiff Innings
not yet formed into the shape of the
figure, but the whole suit seemed to fit
The three rows of gold braid that were
torn from his cuffs on the day Of his
degradation were glittering in the
sun. He was as stiff as
his uniform. He held his
head high as if on purpose, but his
shoulders stopped. His step was that
of man not used to freedom, being
measured and mechanical. His hair
is of reddish gray, and his neat mus
tache frankly red. His face had q
drawn air and there was an expression
in the eyes as if looking out for traps
and pitfalls. His complexion is fresh
the kind of freshness that accompanies
auburn hair. His lips are rather thin
and his chin that of a strong man. In
deed, the chin contradicts the impress
sion of the eyes.
Lieut.. Piquart was cold-shouldereC
by the army people. But apparently
he did not mind it. He had played &
winning card and could afford to be in,
different. No members of the Dreyfus
family were anywhere visible. The
coming Of the court was announced in
military fashion, the soldiers present
ing arms. Col. JouausJ, the presiding
officer, is a man of decidedly fine ap,
pearance, has an upright, martial air
Counsel for the defense have seats anC
desks on the left of the judges table
The seat of the accused is in front
Facing it on the right side are the
desks of the fifteen registrars anC
prosecuting officers. Col. Jouaust in 6
stentorian voice declared that the tria
should be begun aud the accused
brought in. Dreyfus entered with
measured step. His mode of salutins
the court was jerky and very composed
but the fingers betrayed nervousness
His voice was not good, but it was on
of practice for five years. The first in.
cident was the declaration of the pres
1dent-cOlonel that he had unlimited
power to call witnesses. The indict.
ment, that Of 1894, was read. Dreyfus
pleaded not guilty, answering cautious.
ly all questions. Judge Jouaust put
the questions to the prisoner. Dreyfus
seems without dramatic ability anG
lacks ease in all things. However, he
passed through a cruel ordeal. It was
trying after his experience of the las
five years to find himself in the full
blaze of publicity and stared on by al
and scrutinized by several hundred OBJ
servers. At the close of the days pro
ceedings, the court, by vote of to 2
decided to sit in secret session until
Saturday. During the next four days
the secret papers in the case will be eX-
amined.
In the course of a conversation with
the jailer l remarked that Dreyfus
seemed unreSpOnsive. Think" he
answered, what l or you would be il
for five years we were out of the world
and constantly under the eye of a surly
jailor-not only under his eye but un-
der his revolver. Dreyfus was bound
to silence until given leave to speak
He was beset with enemies. was treated
as the vilest of mortals and put in
irons, though docile and submissive
He almost learned to cover. He found
he was losing his lingual faculty and
had t" speak to himself to keep it up
| knew him before he was sent tC
Devils island. He was then hearty
responsive and really good company
with those he liked. His voice was
singularly tuneful and expressive, but
he lost it. Dreyfus is how the ghost OF
his former self All his spirit was
broken by his tyrannIcal treatment, va
por bath, noxious insects and is
olation from all intelligent human be.
ings. He is still proud, but is cowed
That hollow voice is evidence to me O.
long and indescribable suffering: it is &
far-off voice, such as one hears in the
telephone. His lachrymal glands arr
worn out, in short he is a wreck.
wish his pride would suffer him to col
lapse. If it did, he would draw tears
from the most stony-hearted. h
seemed to me miraculous as he bore
himself through all those long hours