Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1874-07-03
The story Of Carl Sch ur. R.tOId.

capoS Whlle neelng from Prussia, and OF his
return, disguised, into the very heart of the
kingdom, to rescue one of his companions
imprisoned there-matches the romantic
tales of the middle ages and at the time
the rumor of the chivairic deeds of the
young hero rang through half OF Europe.
Born near Cologne, in 1929, he was nine
teen years old when the revolution broke
out. He was then student at Bonn,
young, enthusiastic and courageous. He
became editor Of liberal paper, and then
Joined with his sword in the defence of
Rastadt. When the town fell he was
thrown into prison and sentenced to death.
During the night preceding the day on
which he was to be put TO death he and his
servant, who had been imprisoned with
him, excavated passage through the floor
of their prison into the sewer of the town.
There they remained all night, up TO their
waists in water. In the morning they
found their way TO man-trap in one of the
streets, but there stood sentinel armed
and watchful, for it was then known that
two prisoners had escaped. Their only
way Of exit from their liz ing tomb seemed
to be cut off. There they stood for hours
weak and trembling, hoping that the senu-
mel would be withdrawn. They could not
sit down, for the water was too deep, and
once one of them became SO weary that he
let fall weapon he had with him, which,
splashing in the water, attracted the guards
attention, who thrust his bayonet several
times into the sewer, passing ii within
few inches OF their bodies. At last there
occurred a fortunate disturbance a short
distance from the trap, and the watchman
for a moment forsook his post. This was
their only opportunity, and they profited
by il without delay. They had barely time
to leap from the sewer and TO throw them
selves into a ditch near by when the guard
returned. They lay in the ditch, motion
los', the rest of the day, and at nightfall
they crawled away and fed across the
fields. Faint aud hungry, they ventured
to approach the house of farmer, and to
trust TO his compassion to afford them food
and shelter. He permitted. them to hide in
the loft of his barn, but even there they
were forbidden the boon Of sleep; for, no
sooner were they concealed, than party
of soldiers took possession of the lower
portion of the barn, preparatory to spend
ing the night in revelry. They did not
dare to sleep lest they should move about
or snore and thus attract the attention OF
| those below. Each kept the other awake
until it was nearly morning, when, the
jewellers having fallen into heavy slumber,
they stole forth and renewed their flight.
During the next day, and for many sue
ceeding davs, they concealed themselves,
travelling only by night, and, when they
became hungry beyond endurance, trusting
to the sympathy of the more humble OF the
peasants to give them food. In this way
they proceeded until they passed the boun
darv OF Prussia and entered Switzerland.
Worn ont by this fearful journey Mr.
Schurz fell i'll for several months he lay
prostrated with fever. Upon his recovery
he learned that one of his.associates,in the
revolution, Gottfred Kinkel, like himsel
condemned TO death, had had his sentence
commuted to twenty years imprisonment
The young hero had saved his own life
after the narrowest escapes, and he had th'
world before him. But he was possessed
of too generous heart and too chivalrou
a nature selfishly to enjoy his own freedom
without making an effort to rescue hi
friend from prison, and to this end he ben
all his energies. He spent several month
at Zurich and Cologne, arranging his plans
and at length he set out on his knight.
errand. Spandau was fortified town,
few miles from Berlin, surrounded by
high wall, having eight guarded gates, an
was the stronghold in which state prisoner
were confined. Upon his arrival there h
obtained, through his friends relatives, th
eutree OF the fort, and made the acquaint
ance of the officers in charge, passing him
self off, of course, as reing friendly to tn
throne. Kinkels friends were wealthy
and supplied Schurz pleDtifully with fund
His plan was to bribe guard within tn
fort and a sentinel at one OF the other gate
He spent weeks in sounding them, befoi
venturing TO make his proposition, know
ing that if they declined his offer and b.
, traved him all would be lost. The bargai
, was finally concluded, and he communica
, ed his plans 10 Kinkel. Still he could n
be certain that the guards, whom he ei
g trusted with his secret, would not betrf
him at the last, for they had made 1t po
tive condition of the bargain that thu
-. should receive their money in advance.
- At length a propitous night arrive
There was to be great ball within the fo
and Schurz was invited to attend. 1
therefore fixed upon that night for the G
cape, and did not omit to improve the
chances by drugging the liquors which I
. officers would use. When the revelry W
at its height, by the conniVance of the ia
or. whom he had bribed, he liberated XII
kel from his cell, when they made thu
way to the roof of the fort, and descend
to the ground by means of rope-ladd
:. which had been provided. The sentinel
the gate, true to his agreement, pass
- them without the wall, where their frier
- we're in waiting. Fleet horses were
:. readiness, and they set off Immediately
Hamburg, which was the nearest pc
=. Relays had been provided along the rou
n, and they reached their destination with'
accident or adventure. They lay cOncea
10 several days, when, securing fish
schooner, they embarked for Scotland.
was then the month of November, and th
VOYAGE was most perilous and paini
u They reached Edinburgh in course OF ii
- and went ashore weary, forlorn and hi
: gry, having hardly tasted food since
as night of their departure from the prls
-. They then proceeded to London and
'b, the two years following Schurz was
NV gagged, in London and in Paris, as a teaci
re- and as a correspondent Of the Germ
q; press.
When it became known that Kink
he deliverance from prison had been effeC
ed through the bravery and address of
It faithful friend, young Scnurz becam
ID hero throughout Western Europe, his Fl
even reaching England. Men wondere
| Lilo n,rn,rana and Inaidana nalnInd hin