Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-03
BY JUNIUS Il. WOOD.

neither heard from the outside world
nor was able to communicate with
his friends from behind the barred
walls, julius NJ. Overwhelmingly
sensing the meaning of freedom
called at the American embassy in
Berlin today to inquire as to the
whereabouts of his two children ana
communicate with his brothers in
Dallas, Tex.
Since he was arrested at Batum at
am. on November 20, 1924, CheVa-
lier has been in % Soviet prisons, in
Guiding the famed SolOvetzky, on the
fringe OF the Arctic circle, where he
spent eight months of his three-year
sentence, last Winter, during
terrible 'typhus epidemic, which swept
away about 5000 of the 5000 prison
ers. On Chevalier's prison itinerary,
Solovetzky numbered 13.
Received Two Letters.
During his entire term of wander
ing imprisonment, until the SOVIET
authorities notified this correspond
dent a couple of months ago that IL
was willing to release him, CheValier
received two letters from the outside
world. These were the only sugges-
lions that anybody was interested in
pered message from an occasional
newly arrived prisoner.
One of these letters came from a
friend in England just before last
Christmas, which Chevalier spent at
Solovetzky. 1t announced the death
of his wife at Constantinople, whittier
she had gone with their children
Chevalier was not informed that Sir
Robert Hodgson, the British commits
sioner at Moscow. had vainly at
tempted to secure his release, nor that
the American State Department could
not find q record of having issued
American passports to himself and his
wife.
Sole American Prisoner.
With Chevalier's release. the only
native born American so far as known
to have been imprisoned in Russia,
and certainly the only one ever Inn
prisoned at SolovetZky, now is outside
of Russia. Peter Romberg. former
amploye of the REQ Automobile Works.
Detroit, now is in Solovetzky. Aaron
Koomp of 1875 Sheffield avenue, Brook
lyn, now Is In Buterka prison, MOS
COW. Alexander n. Kudrashov of chi
cago was last reported at Tlf1is, men
tally deranged by his suffering in
prison. All these were Russian born,
secured American citizenship and re-
turned to their natal country, where
they fell afoul of the law.
MY only regret is that l did not
leave Russia year earlier, after /
had completed my work for the
Standard Oil Co. and the Barnsdall
Oil Co." Chevalier said. Possibly
my wife would have been alive today
and I would be united with her and
my children"
Health Is Unaffected.
Though Chevalier's two years of
penal service were filled with har-
rowing experiences and amending
hardships, his health apparently is
unaffected, though his eyes were in
jured through the breaking Of high
powered lathe which he was Operat-
ing at Buterka prison a month ago.
But his years in prison have left
their mark in Notwithstanding eyes
that see all, though his face is ex-
presSionleSS.
When he trod the streets for the
first time in two years he was thrown
into a panic by the automobiles, while
the sight of short skirts and bobbed
hair was distinct novelty. At Riga,
seeing two girls getting a bob when
fed in alarm back to his hotel, be-
lieving he had stumbled into the
midst of a dread typhus epidemic.
Release Is Sudden.
Chevalier's ultimate departure from
Soviet territory came with the same
suddenT1eSs as his arrest on a Winter
morning two years ago when, with
his property packed and his family
ready, he waited to take steamer for
America eight hours later. Though
the Soviet authorities announced their
Willingness to release him early in
November, it was not until seven
weeks later that he reached Bigosovo,
the last station before the Latvian
frontier
A soldier accompanied him aboard
a second-class car and the train pulled
out from the snOw-covered station.
Three miles out it slowed up for the
frontier.
"Good-by, comrade. l hope every
thing is for the best" said the sol
der, extending his hand.
"Good-by citizen soldier. Thanks,
said Chevalier.
On Hunger Strike.
The soldier grinned and from his
pocket dug out an old passport which
Chevalier did not know existed, ran
to the door and jumped out into the
snow, waving farewell as the train
gathered speed, leaving Russia behind
While at Buterka, Moscow, await
ing his release, Chevalier attempted
to precipitate action by means of
Joint hunger strike with Victor
Knorati, a brother of the assassin of
Soviet Ambassador VorovSky during
the Lausanne conference. Both were
due to be released Knorati having
served three years, which he claimed
was the sentence imposed on every
member of his family in Russia. while
Chevalier had been promised his free
dom.
Both wrote TO Commandant Adam
son announcing the purpose of their
demonstration. Two days fast
brought quick results for Knorau,
who was released, but with the stipu
lation that he should be eXiled for
three years to Narim, Siberia where
he expects to find his younger sister
Red Cross Aids.
Chevalier's hunger strike continued
for nine days, when he was shown
the unusual honor of a visit by an
agent of the Gaypayoo. Lying weak
on his cot, having refrained even from
taking water, he heard the agent ex
plain patiently that the authorities
would not retaliate for his breach of
discipline by returning him to Solo.
vetzky because they sincerely intended
10 release him.
"JuSt throw me across; I'll take the
chances" Chevalier urged, using the
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