The evening times., 1896-04-27

| y,
for a number of years past. Il resident OF
Washington. There is probably no man for
miles around who can boas5 of famOre varied
and exciting experience.
In the Italian army, a French soldier Il
member of the papal guards, Il warrior in
| Africa, in military service in Mexico. Il
champion of Cuban Libre which nearly cost
him his life, and for five years an Indian
scout in the service of Uncle Sam, is brief
synopsis or the life Of plain. una ssuming
| man IN Southeast Washington.
| SPEAKS MANY LANGUAGES.
A Times representative found Mr.. Frey
| ut his modest little home, near the Navy
| Yard and he talked freely of his many
exciting experiences, and his lifetime as a
soldier.
| He is fifty-eisht years of age, but looks
| fully fifteen years younger, notwi,hstand-
| ing the many tardships ;nd deprivations
he suffered during his long army career.
| Beside his proud record as Il soldier, he is a
| linguist of no mean ability. He speaks
English, German, French. Italian and Span
| ish.
| Inheriiing from his heroic ancestors a
fondness for military life, and anxious 10
| main ain the honors they had won, when but
| a had of sixteen years he shouldered his
| fathers musket, which had seen many a
hard-fought hattie under the great French
| generals and enlisted in the army OF the
| little republic of Switzerland.
IL was at the time such strenuous ef
forts We're being made TO bring about
United Italy. King Ferdinand ii was on
the throne of Naples and hired four regi-
ments of Swiss TO aid him. Young Frey
was among them. This was in 1856.
Mr.. Frey relates some very interest
ing accounts OF the troubles which led
| up TO the assassination of King Ferdinand.
In 1SiS there had been plo, laid by
forty priests TO dethrone the king and
overthrow his government. The scheme
was detected before it could be carried
out. and the priests were tried for treason
and hanged.
ASSASSINATION OF KING FERDINAND.
A nephew OF one of the priests had en-
listed in the kings army, and for ten
years afterward had sough, his sovereigns
life TO avenge the death of his uncle. At
last the opportunity came. Ferdinand was
reviewing the troops, after successful
campaign. There was much rejoicing. loud
huzzahs. and cries OF - Long live the king"
sprang from the ranks as he passed and
thrust the deadly stilctto deep into the
breast of his imperial majesty.
Young Frey being in The company which
acted is a guard TO the king was an eye
witness to the murder. and aided in cap
turing the assassin, and was one of the
soldiers chosen TO carry out the order of
the coun-Dartial which condemned the
n Al is Of b.a
affair. and OF the tumult and riot which
cnsucd, is most thrilling. He is. perhaps,
the only man in America today who was
n witness to the assassination of Ferdi-
nand II. King OF Naples.
From sunny Italy, in 1863, ne returned
10 Genoa more enthusiastic than ever in
regard to army life. Accordingly, he at
once enlisted at Marseiiles. in the Roman
army. and was stationed at the Vatican as
guard 10 T opc Plus TX.
FREY TAKEN PRISONER.
In the battle OF Castle Vierdo, about
200 miles from Rome, the Papal army was
badly defeated by the father OF the present
King HumLcr of Italy. Frey WAS taken
prisoner and sent to Genoa. With him
wercalso the world-famed Irish V VClunteers,
under command or Mujcr O'Rcilly.
During his confinement he suffered untold
nardships, but Immediately after his re-
lease again enlisted in the French Legion of
Honor and was dispatched TO the French
possessions in Africa. one year he spent
upon the dark continent. marching across
the dry sandy deserts and fighting the
barbarous and half-ciyliZed tribes Of the
interior and northern ports Of Africa.
Mr.. Frcy's "reminiscences of trials and
expeditions in that great unexplored region
arc rivaled only by those of Stanle himself.
Washingtonians, swcltering and complain
ing when the mercury stands at Sc, have
no idea of the fatigue and exhaustion ex-
pcricnced in long marches where the tenn
pcrature is 100 and many times more.
One night when sleeping upon the dry,
barren ground. tented only by the canopy |
of heaven, his expedition was attacked by a |
party of savag ges and a number behe AIDED. |
In the darkness of the night others made |
their escape.
CONFLICT WITH MEXICAN BANDITS. |
One quart of water was allowed for
days rations. The soldiers were obliged |
to carry all their luggage and ammunition, !
the camels being laden with the water sup |
ply. to last sometimes for weeks.
While in Africa his command was Or
dered to Mexico. where France, England
and Spain had become involved in dis
pute with the Mexican government. He
there entered the cavalry. under command
of Marshal Farrei. Three times in one inn
portant contest was his horse shot from I'M
der him.
In command of twenty-five men. he was
sent into the interior OF Mexico. The old
fashioned stage coaches were then used
on the cross-country routes, and were fire.
Quently held up by Mexican bandits. His
party on one occasion pursued band of
la wiess bandits and captured fourteen of
their number. Upon order of Gen. MUIR
phey. the secretary of war for the govern
ment set up by the Triple Alliance. they
were all shot by Mr.. Frey's company. and
their bodies hanged along the highway as a
warning to other robbers.
REWARD FOR FREY's HEAD.
The Mexican general offered a reward
of $4,000 for Frey's head, and he was
obliged to remain in disguise for q con-
time TO avoid capture. During
the two years that Gen. Maximillan, who
was n brother of the king of Servia, and
whom Napoleon III appointed as the EN-
peror of Mexico, ruled that country, Mr.
Frey was one Of the body-guard of the en-
press.
Upon the Withdrawal OF the European
troops Maximillian was left practically
alone, and Don BenitO JuareZ, returning
from exile in the United States, Maxi
milan was deposed, and Frey was taken
a prisoner by Gen. DiaZ. the present chief
of the republic of Mexico. Two
n ba mi a Eo1 1