The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1874-11-20
The woman Of sohornaorf.

one OF the strongest tOftlne0 towns
Of Northern SWabia, and the pride
of the beautiful valley of the Rems
After the treaty Of Westphalia,
when the bishoprics Of Metz Tul,
and Verdun were ceded to France,
the idea entered into the French
mind to search carefully through
the public records for the names Of
all towns and cities which during
any former period had been the prop
erty Of either Of the three bishopries,
and to demand them from Germany
as portion Of the rightful spoils.
Although this preposterOus demand
failed to be presented in its original
shape, it led to a series of aggres-
sions which finally eliminated in that
devastation Of the Pals in 1858 and
1859 by the French armies under
the directions of Monscals and Me-
las.
Msnnheim, Rsstast, Baden, Held
elberg, and many other places were
already in ruins, and the French
forces we're rapidly advancing toward
the boundaries of SWabia, their thirst
for robbery and destruction inceras-
ing with every step.
The Government of Wurtemburg,
in the hope Of saving Stuttgart deliY-
cred all the towns Of Northern SWa-
bia into the enemy's hands, and the
only fortifcation which had not been
destroyed by the French troops was
that of Schorndorf, to which the peo-
pie looked as to last hope.
The French commander sat CON
fdently in his camp at Esslingen,
laying plans for his winter quarters
in Wurtemburg. The Royal Com
missioners had already left Stuttgart
to give orders to Schorndorf to fling
open its gates to the invading host,
and the French gave little heed to
this last stronghold Of the Wurtem-
burg Government, so sure were they
Of its speedy surrender. But exactly
at this point was the invading army
to meet its check; for within the
walls of Schorndorf was q determin-
en- man, and, what was still more i'm
portant a determined woman.
The man was the commander Of
the Notifications, Peter Krummhaar.
Although he had received the royal
command to make slight show Of
resistance, and then surrender the
city, he refused to obey.
At last a special messenger gp-
peard from Stuttgart, stating that
the French commander had given
orders to burn the Royal residence
and take immediate possession Of
the city, unless Sehorndorf complied
with the demand made upon it. But,
in spite of all demands and orders,
Krummhaar remained firm. He had
strengthened his forces by drawing
in large numbers of patriotic vii
layers from the surrounding country,
and was determined to hold out IN
til the Imperial army arrived. But
treachery and coWardice were so
rampant in the highest places that
Krummhaar found his strength
growing less and less. At length he
summoned q meeting in the town
hall of all the officials and leading
men to consult upon the possibility
Of a continued defense.
Frau Kunkslin, the wife OF the
mayor of the city, was tall woman
of about fifty years, whose word was
law with all the women Of Schorn-
dorf. Ola firm, upright character,
she had made herself universally be
loved and respected. She suspected
that the voice of the City Fathers
would be for surrender, and, secretly
following them to the council hall,
she hid herself to listen. As she
had feared, the patriotic determine
ton Of Peter Krummhaar was over
ruled, and the city doomed to fall
like its sisters.
Frau Kunkelin rushed wildly from
the hall. Sending messengers
through the town, she summoned
all the women to assemble before, her
armed with whatever they could lay
hands on. "We have not laid mp
riches for these rascaly Frenchmen
to live and grow fat on" said she
"and Stuttgart will see that Schorn-
dorf will not be humbled in the
dust, like Tubingen and Asberg."
An army of women was soon as
sembled. Armed with every con
ceivable weapon, from brOOmstick
to a sword, they presented q very
strange appearance. Then with
Frau Kunkelin at their head, they
marched to the Town Hall, and
broke in upon the solemn conclave
of their husbands. Frau Kunkerlin,
advancing toward the astoRished
CITY Fathers, made them a speech,
| in which she called upon them to
protect their homes, closing with
these words, addressed to her hus-
band himself: Il viii kill you with
nv own hand ifyou act the part OF a
traitor"
After announcing these intentions
the women proceeded to take pos
session of the Town Hall, and, or
ganizing themselves into companies,
held strict guard over the gates OF
the city. For two days and three
nights the town remained IN the
hands of the women, the City Fathers
"on pain of DEATH being compelled
to obey their commands. Mean
while, Peter Krummhaar was assist
ing the women in every way. Every
moment was a step toward salvation
for the Imperial army was rapidly
; approaching. The moral effect, too
of this patriotic uprising Of the Wo
, men was immense; and the whole
: codntry, which had been coWet
down with abject terror, rose Will
one accord to save the fatherland
The heroine of SchorndOrf, Fral
I Kunkerlin, lived many years sfte
! the uprising OF the EOmen tool
place, and it is said, related the his
g tory to a goodly number of grand
> children and great grandchildren
, Aldine.
Fowls in Winter.
o w NJ T,+biU CrROIbr Tounfv N