Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1857-04-16
The Blacksmith of Rasenbacf
A TRUE INCIDENT.

In the principaIity of Hohenlohe, now
part of the kingdom of Wirtemberg, in
village called Ragenbach, where, abou
twenty years ago, the following event tool
place:
One afternoon in the early autumn, il
the tavern room of Ragenbach, several mel
and women having assembled from th'
village, sat at their ease The smith form
ed one of the merry company strong
vigorous man, with resolute countcnanc,
and daring mien, but also with such gooc
natured smile on his lips that every one
who saw him admired him. His arm.
were like bars of iron and his fists like forg,
hammers, so that few could exual him il
strength of body.
The smith sat near the door chatting witt
one of his neighbors, when all at once the
door opened, and a dog came staggering
into the room, great powerful beast, with
a ferocious, frightful aspect; his head was
hanging down, and his eyes bloodshot his
lead coIored tongue hanging half way oul
of his mouth, and his tail dropped between
bis legs. Thus the ferocious beast entered
the room, of which there was no escape bu
by one door. Scarcely had the smiths
neighbor, who was bath keeper of the place
seen the animal, when he became deadly
pale, sprang up and exclaimed, with a hor-
rifed voice;
"Good heavens! the dog is madr'
There rose an outcry. The room was
full of men and women, and the foaming
beast stood before the only entrance; nc
one could leave without passing him. He
snapped savagely right and left; no one
could pass him without being bitten. This
increased the horrible confusion. All
sprang up and shrunk from the dog with
agonizing countcnances. Who should de-
liver them from him2 The smith also
stood among them, and as he saw the an
guisn of the people it flashed across his
mind how many of his happy and contenled
neighbors would be made miserable by a
mad dog, and he formed resolution, the
like of which is scarcely to be found in the
history of the human race for high minded
ness and nobleness. Certainly his brown
cheek paled little, but his eyes sparkled,
and an elevated resolution shone from the
smoth brow of the simyle minded man.
"Back all J" thundered he with his deep
strong voice. "Let ne one stir, for none
can vanquish the beast but l One victim
must fall in order to save all, and will be
that victim; l will hold tho brute, and
whilst do so, make your escape"
The smith had scarcely spoken these
words when the dog started toward the
shrieking people. But he went not far
"With Gods helpr cried the smith, and
he rushed upon the foaming beast, seized
him with an iron grasp, and dashed him to
the floor. A terrible struggle followed
The dog bit furiously upon every side in a
frightful manner His long teeth tore the
arms and thigs of the heroic smith, but he
would not let him loose. Regardless alike
of the excessive pain and the horrible death
which must ensue, he held down, with an
iron grasp, the swapping, bowling brute till
all had escaped till all were rescued and
in safety. He then flung the half strangl-
ed beast from him against the wall, and
dripping with blood and venomous foam,
he left the room, locking the door after him.
Some persons then shot the dog through
the windows.
Weeping and lamenting, the people sur
rounded him who had saved their lives, at
the expense of his own, "Be quiet, do not
weep for me-" he said, zone must die in
order to save the Others. Do not thank
mel have only performed my duty
When l am dead think of me with love,
and now pray for me, that God will not let
me suffer long nor too much. l will take
care that no further mischief shall occur
through me, for must certainly become
mad" He went straight to his workshop
and selected strong chain, the heaviest
firmest from his whole stock. He then,
with his own hands, welded it upon his
own limbs, and around the anvil firmly
''There," said he, " it's DONE" after having
silently and solemnly completed the work.
"Now you are secured, and Fam inoffensive.
So long as live bring me my food. The
rest 1 leave to God; into his hands l COM
mend my spirit.
Moth ng could save the brave smith,
neither tears, lamentations nor prayers
Madness seized him, and after nine days
he died. He died, but his memory will
live from generation to generation, and
will be venerated to the end of time
Search history through, and you will find
no action more glorious and sublime than
the deed of this simple-minded man, the
smith of Raoenbach