The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1872-02-23


white marble terrace, surrounded by
nicely arranged flower beds, covered
with choice odoriferous flowers
from here to black gloomy sea at
some distance, where a boat lies
waiting for the traveller to take him
on an excursion over this Subter
raenean Sea. 1t was like crossing
the Styx, and its associations not
unlike. The picture was heightened
and impressions made strong by the
CLEAN of the torch. This cave
was discovered by accident, in 1899.
The bones of the Cave Bear, ursas
spalams, were found in it and de-
posted in the Museum at Miningen.
From here leads fine road to the
summer residence of the Duke of
Miningen, the Castle Altenstein,
with its beautiful, terraced park. 1t
is one of the finest natural attrac-
tions in Germany. Not far from
here are still seen the ivy covered
remains of the ,-Neumburg. This
property belonged formerly to
Prince Frederick, the Wise, who sold
it in 1892, to the Dogs of Wenk-
helm, and this family becoming ex-
tinct, the castle fell into the hands
of the Duke of Miningen. 1t was
burned IN 1773. As the legend of
the Dogs of Wenkheim may interest
some of the readers, I will give YER
batim what history tells of this re-
markable family: A poor fsherwo-
man asked the wife of the Knight of
Wenkheim for aims. But received,
instead of aims, the reproach that
she had lived untrue to her marriage
VOWS; that it was impossible for a
woman to conceive twins from one
mans embraces. This irritated the
fisherwoman to such a degree that
she wished the other might give
birth to six instead of two children.
In fact, the Knights wife, gave birth,
in due time, to six children. The
mother fearing the anger of the alb
sent husband, selt her servant with
five of the infants to the river to be
drowned. But on the way she was
met by the Lord of the castle, who
inquired what she carried in her
basket, "Dogs," said she; but he,
doubling her answer, opened the
basket and found the babies. Of
course they were not drowned, but
were ever after called the dogs of
Wenkheim."
Back of the castle is the Knights
chapel, with its collection of antiq-
uities. From here we pass down
over the DEVILS Bridge, and on
through a forest ravine to pretty
waterfall, and to the right beauti-
full little Swiss House with its cum
ningly arranged Aeolian Harp, hid
away among the rocks, producing
an impressive but melancholy effect.
Opposite the castle is Bonefacious
Rock, with its inscription "God, Fa-
therland, Liberty, Peaee-154S."
Close by is the chapel IN which the
great Apostle preached. Then we
pass the deer park, with it's fine col
lection of variously colored deer;
then the Hoenstein cliffs, and back
again over the Chinese house to the
road to the Lutherbeech and Ruhla.
Two miles brisk walking brings
guide and myself to the turning
off point, and at the edge of the
woods is the long looked and
wished for Luther Monument, with
its famous Lutherbeech. Only a
shell remains OF this once mighty
tree, (gince my visit destroyed by a
Storm from which grew at the
time of my visit, but one limb, green
and full of leaves well supported by
props, which was all that was left
standing after the storm in July Is,
I1649. Here rested Luther, May, 4,
l1521, as he returned from the
Reichstag from Worms, and was on
his way to Wittenberg, when he was
secretly and forcibly carried to the
Wartburg, by order of Frederick
the Wise, so as to save him from
the evil designs of his enemies.
The Duke Bernard II, of Miningen,
erected, close to this tree, a gothic
sandstone column, 80 feet high,
which bears the following inscrip-
ton in front: Here was DR.. Mar
tin Luther, MAY 4, 1921, by order of
Frederick the Wise, Prince of Sax
ony, taken up and carried to the
Wartburg. He will drink from the
brook on the way side, therefore will
he raise his head" Psalms ITO. v.
z. On the back, Erected by Ben
ard Erich, Freund, Duke of Saxon
Miningen, in the year 1857. On the
sides, "Who in righteousness walks
and speaks, what right is, he will be
elevated, rocks viii be his fast place
and shelter" Lsaias, 80. q. 10. Is.
Lord, my rock, my castle, my Sa-
viour, my God, my treasure, whom I
trust" Psalms, Is. q. 3.
The occurrence is as follows:
As Luther returned from Worms,
: he visited his parents in Moehra.
; After remaining a few days, returned
or intended to, over Altenstein and
f Gotha to Wittenberg. He was on
/ his way, May 4, 1921, and had just
taken farewell from his friends and
-1..:o, ,,-t,o bod oo,or,,rav-;ad him