The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1870-11-10
A Singular Story.

The present European conflict, and indeed
all wars, have been prolific in illustrations OF
the value of Free Masonry in dangerous emer-
gencies, and the anecdotes are endless of the
lives saved by its means. Among the cart loads
of wounded of both nations which arrived from
Sedan were two men whose consideration Tor
each other was so marked as to occasion inquiry.
They wore the Prussian and the French uniform
respectively, and though neither could under
stand word of the others language, they
shared their rations, and seemed to be inter
changing signals of amity all day long. Their
story was very simple one. The Prussian,
who is an officer, aud man of thirty-hye or
so, with stern, grave face, and heavy, over
hanging moustache, had met the Frenchman,
who is at least dozen years his junior, on the
battlefield, the latter being supported by cou-
pie of comrades.
Twice did the wave of the conflict bring
these men in contact, and on the last occasion
the Prussian, who was himself badly wounded
in the chest, pressed the young Frenchman
hard, and had indeed his sword uplifted to ad-
minister the coup de grace, when the latter,
who was faint from the loss of blood, made a
hasty siga to his victor, which caused the lat
ter to stay his hand Parly was impossible
from the exigencies of language and the tur-
moil of battle; and besides, both men lost con-
sciousness and fell at each others side. 1t
turned out that che young Frenchman had
been made Free Mason few months before
the outbreak of the war, and that he had in
stinctively made sign by means of which
members of the fraternity are taught to ask
their brethren for help. The Prussian was an
old Mason, who recognized it instantly, and
who instinctively paused, and before there was
time for consideration both men tainted away.
When consciousness was restored they found
themselves side by side, and with the dead and
dying around them.
By strange coincidence, their wounds were
such that each could give the other some slight
relief. and the late enemies employed their
weary hour, in which they lay disabled and un-
tended, in rendering little kindnesses to each
other, and in thus cementing the friendship
which had begun so strangely. When help
came, they petitioned to be permitted to keep
together, telling their story with considerable
efusiveness to the doctor, who after some time
came to them on the field. This gentleman,
who was not military surgeon, but member
of the blessed society which dates from Geneva,
raised his hands in pleased astonishment at the
tale he heard, and at once showed himself to
be Free Mason, too; so that three brethren
of the mystic tie were to be seen wondering
over the strange chance which had thrown them
together.
The wounded men are supremely satisfied at
the result, and their story has given them quite
a celebrity among their fellow sufferers. AT
Iges, where the French prisoners were placed
after the capitulation of Sedan, and where, it is
too true, they were all but starving, some of
their numbers contrived to make it known to
their captors that they were Masons, and
though this was Intellectual in many instances,
the sturdy and d,uninitiated Prussians laughing
the Masonic gestures to scorn, wherever it sue
ceeded the men obtained little comforts which
were priceless.
A stout trooper was seen handing warm
frieze coat to one prisoner, and giving part
of his rations to another, and explained his
conduct to an enquirer with sheepish smile,
which spoke volumes, "They are my brothers,
though 1 have fought them, and they are
hungry and cold, and must be helped. They
would do it for me-" These are mere typical
cases. But it is impossible to mix much with
the troops particularly after battle, without
hearing of these kindred instances of Masonic
usefulness,
WONDERFUL BR1DGE.-The bridge now in
process of erection across the Mississippi at ST.
Louis is one of the wonders of the age. 1t is
to be tubular, cast steel, arch bridge, suppor.
tod nv the abutments and two piers the latter