The Davenport daily gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1869, 1856-10-11
THE Daley GAZETTE
THE SMITH OF RAGENBACH.

l1auStHDuIs, 10 II siiiaSt S1Ai A'nSSh
bach, where about twenty years ago
the following heart rending but also
heroic event took place. One after
noon in the early spring or autumn
my kind informant dia not exactly
know which, in the tavefn.room OF
Regenbach, several men and womelI
having assembled from the village, sat
at their ease, none anticipating what
would happen on hat eventfui day
The smith formed one Of the merry
company, q strong, vigorous man.
with q resolute countenanee, and dar-
ing mien, but also with such good
natured smile upon his lips that every
ono who saw him admired him. Eq-
/ cry evil disposed person summed him
] for the valiant smith would allow
nothing wong in his presence, and il
was not advisable to have anything to
! do with him except in a proper man
ner His arms were like bars ofiron,
and his fists Ike forge hammers, so
that few could equal his strength of
| body.
The brave smith sat near the door
chatting with one Of his neighbors,
know not what; all at once the door
| sprang open. and large dog came
staggering into the room, q great,
strong, powerful beast. with tero-
cioaa, frightful aspect, his head was
hanging down and his eyes bloishot.
his red coiored tongue hanging half
way ont Of his mouth, and his tail
dropped between his legs. Thus the
terocions beast entered the room. out
Eof which there was no escape but by
one door Scarcely had the smithfs
neighbor, who was bath keeper the
place, seen the animal, when he be-
came deathly pale, sprang up and ex-
claimed with horrid voice. s.Good
Heavens, the dog is mad."
Then rose an outcry. The room was
tull Of men and women, and the foam
ing beast stood before the only en-
trance; no one could leave without
passing him. He snapped savagely
right and left. and no one could pass
him without being bitten, This in
| creased the horrible confusion. All
sprang up and shrank from the ftn-
ous dog with agonizina countenances.
Who siioultrleliyer them from HIM
The smith also stood among them. AMI
az he saw The anguish ofthe people. il
flashed across his mind how many Of
his happy and conterted neighbors
| would be made miserable by a mad
dog. and he formed q resolrtion. the
like 0f which is scarcely to be
found iii tine history oithe human race
for high luindedness and nobleness.
Certainly his brown cheek paled lii.
tie, but his eyes sparkled with divine
| fire, and an elevated resolution shone
from the smooth brow Of the simple.
minded man.
Back ALL" thuna ned he With his
| deep strong voice, LET no one stir,
for no one can yanquish the beast but
|. One victim must fall in order to
save all, ana will be that victim. /
win hold the brute, and whilst l do so,
| make your escape" The smith had
scarcely spoken these words, when
the dog started towards the shrinking
people BIT lie went not far. with
Gods he PIP cried the smith. and he
rushed upon the toalnino beast, seized
him with an iron grasp. md dashed
him to the floor.
Oh, what terrible struggle follow.
ed The dog BIT fariously upon every
side in most ffightful manner His
long teeth tore the arms and thighs Of
| the heroic smith, but he would not
let him loose. Regardless alike Of
the excessive pain and horrible death
which must ensne, he held down with
an iron grasp the swapping, biting,
howling brute till all had escaped
till all, were resened and in SAFETY.
He then flung the halistrangled beast
from him against the wall, and drip
ping with blsod and venomous foam,
he left the room, locking the door al
ter him. Some persons shot the dog
through the windows. But oh! mer.
eiful God, what viii become Of the
brave, unfortunate smith!
Weeping and lamenting, the people
surround him, who had saved their
lives at the expense of his own "Be
quiet, my friends, do not weep for me-
he said, cone must die in order to save
the others. Do not thank me. for
have only performed my duty. When
| am dead, think ofme with love, and
now pray for ME that God will not let
me sntfer long or too much | will
take care thot no further mischiefshall
occur through me, for | must certain
lv become mad" He went straight
TO his workshop, and selecteda strong
chain, and heaviest and tirmest, from
his whole stock. He then, with his
own hands, welded il upon his own
limbs and around the anvil so firmly
that no power on earth eonld break it.
There, !" he said, sits DONE" after 81,
lently and solemnly completing the
work snow you are secure, and in
offensive, 40 long as | live, bring me
my food. The rest leave to God: in
to his hands | commend my spirit"
Nothing could save the brave smith,
neither tears, lamentations. and pray,
ers. Madness seized him, and after
nine days he died--but truly, he died
only to awake tot more beautiful and
glorious life at the right hand OF God.
Hedied, but his memory will live from
generation to generation, and will be
venerated TO the end of time.
Search history through, and you
viii find no action more glorious and
sublime than the deed of this einpla
minded man, the smith of Ragenbact.
1t is easy for noble minds 10 die like
Winkelried or Martins Cunius, tho
high spirited Roman YOUTH but to
go to the sacrifice with the certainty
Of death, so awful, during long, fearful
hours aud days---that is TO die not
once but thousand times. Andsuch
a death was that of the smith of Ra-
geubaeif. Sncl q sacrifice the smith
OF Ragenbach made in order TO save
his neighbors. May his memory ev-
er be sanred.--Practieal Carastsqa.
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