Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-11-07

rolled by. And, sure enough, there he was,
too long before the time expired but under
very different conditions from those he had
so pleasantly anticipated.
The officer was Capt. Emil Frey Of the
eighty-second Illinois volunteers, still well
and agreeably remembered here as the pre-
decessor OF the present Swiss minister, and
now a member of the highest legislative
body OF his native country, Switzerland, to
which he returned after the war.
He was held as hostage for the life OF
Capt. Gordon, and II the latter had been
executed would also have been shot. srhe
friends OF the Union officer secured pardon
| from President Lincoln for the condemned
man, for whose safety his life was being
held In the balance, and after being re-
turned to Fort Delaware in May, 1854 Capt.
Gordon was finally sent to Fort Monroe to
be exchanged. He arrived in Richmond
January s. 1866. and the Union officer was
sent north on January Ii following.
The two men met here afterward. as ap-
published In The Evening Star OF Septem-
Der IL, 1882:
THE new Swiss minister recently arrived
In this city. Mr. Emil Frey, was confined in
Libby prison at one time II will be remem-
| bered. as hostage for the confederate cap
| tain w. F. Gordon, condemned by a federal
court-martial to death. President Lincoln,
upon being SO Informed, stayed the execu-
the eighty-second regiment, Illinois voun-
teers, now the first minister plenipotentiary
from switzerland to the United States, vir-
tually saved Gordon's life. who was soon
afterward sent to Richmond by flag OF
truce, and in return Capt. Frey was re-
leased. This morning Capt. Gordon, who is
so5ourning in this city. called on Minister
Frey. and the two saw each other for the
| first time.
las may be well supposed, the meeting
was highly interesting to both and to all
who CHANGED to be present. There was an
interchange of experiences during the pris-
on life of each and a recital of the fearful
suspense both were subjected to for time.
They separated. evidently highly graft
| Ned to have personally met each other after
an interval of seventeen years. when the life
| Of one depended on that of the other, and
under circumstances so changed"
In the Ministry.
With death staring him in the face and
surrounded on all sides with the horrors OF
prison life. Capt. Gordon's thoughts natur-
ally turned to the sources Of spiritual con-
| ISOLATION, and Rev. Handy's book speaks
frequently very highly Of his eloquent eff
| forts during the religious meetings held
every day among the prisoners by the au-
thor of the book and those assisting him in
the gospel work inaugurated by him. Soon
after his return to Fort Delaware Capt
Gordon decided to study for the ministry.
He received many valuable and sometimes
even rare books on theological subjects
from sympathizing friends while in prison.
and took them with him to Richmond when
he was sent there to be exchanged. But
the place where he had stored them away
went up in smoke with many other build
ings wnen the city was taken.
During his long Imprisonment he suffered
from sunstroke in July, 1864. from the eff
! fects of which he never entirely recovered.
Subsequently he engaged in journalistic and
literary work in Kansas. Mo-, in this cigy
and later in Colorado. II 1880 he married a
second time, his bride being Mrs. Fanny
Kelly Of this city, the author of book en-
titled my Captivity Among the Sioux"
In Colorado he met Capt. Payne of Okla
homa fame, and warm friendship sprang
up between the two congenial men. During
Payne's progress into the Indian territory
Capt Gordon, who went there with him,
published end distributed a newspaper from
an ordinary movers wagon. on which a
press was carried along. The boomers
/ located in the Cherokee Strip. recently
opened to settlement. but were driven out
Sby the United States troops at the request
Of the Interior Department. and all their
buildings, including Capt. Gordon's printing
office. destroyed.