The captivity of Captain Dreyfus on Devil's Island.

The captivity of Captain Dreyfus on Devil's Island.

A firsthand account of Dreyfus's daily life on Devil's Island, as told by one of his guards.

"I'm on the Îles du Salut guarding the famous Dreyfus."

An extraordinary and poignant set of two signed autograph letters relating to the imprisonment of Captain Alfred Dreyfus, deported to the penal colony of French Guiana.

Lawyer Henri Rollet forwards to his colleague Fernand Labori – lawyer for the Dreyfus family – a letter addressed to him from Cayenne on March 1, ¹⁸⁹⁸ by one of his former wards, who had become an infantry soldier and guard at the prison where Dreyfus was held captive.

Rollet suggests to Labori that he pass on to Mrs. Dreyfus "the very latest, albeit indirect, news of her unfortunate husband".

We are enclosing this valuable letter from the guard, which details the extensive guard system surrounding the prisoner and the situation of the convicts.

____________________________________________

Henri ROLLET (1860-1934)

Autographed letter signed to Fernand Labori.

One and a half pages in-8° on letterhead of the Maison de Travail pour Jeunes Gens.

Autographed envelope with stamp and postal markings.

Paris, March 24, 1898.

"My dear friend, I am forwarding to you a letter I have just received from one of my former wards, a marine infantryman currently stationed at the Îles du Salut. If you believe it might please Madame ^Dreyfus to have some recent, albeit indirect, news of her unfortunate husband, I authorize you to pass it on to her. Please return this letter to me only when you no longer need it. Yours sincerely."

____________________________________________

A. BLOR

Autographed letter signed to Henri Rollet.

Two octavo pages (slight loss and restorations).

Ile Royale, undated [handwritten note at the top: the Cayenne stamp on the envelope was dated March ^1st ].

"Sir, I am writing this short letter to let you know that I am in good health and I think you are too.

I've changed my residence; I'm on the Îles du Salut guarding the infamous Dreyfus. I promise you he's well guarded ; he's not out of sight for a single minute. Furthermore, a new 24-hour post has just been established, which we're taking up. We stand watch for three to four hours during the night, and we're on guard every two days. Eight days ago, a small sailing vessel approached too close . The boat left, and it wasn't flying a flag.

On Devil's Island, there are 14 guards watching him; every day one guard is locked up with him. Every day, the prison commandant and the senior doctor visit him. We're quite bored because there's no fun to be had; it's what you'd call a real penal colony. The incorrigible ones are in chains; their job is to blast rocks; it's sad to see . Some of them are nothing but skin and bones .

Sir, I am finishing my letter, as I have too much to tell you about the lives of convicts , and besides, I can feel my mess tins approaching. I am finishing my time in the penal colony on the 3rd of the 9th ^and I hope to be in France at the end of the 9th ^, and I will not forget to visit you. Until I see you, I give you a firm handshake . All my best to Madame Rollet. Give my love to your little boy. Your most devoted servant, A. Blor.

____________________________________________

Dreyfus was deported to Devil's Island – a dependency of the Cayenne penal colony – in March 1895 to serve a life sentence. He would not leave until June 9, 1899.

Henri Rollet (1860-1934) specialized in juvenile jurisdiction and was the architect of the law on children's courts passed in 1912. Founder of patronage works, he created the Maison de Travail in 1894, under the honorary presidency of François Coppée.