The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1874-11-20

Nv" httit nioit tndn nltrt pS~th stAtioH
IL was formerly one of tho strongest forti
fled towns of Northern Swabia, and the
pride Of the beautiful valley of the Rems
After the treaty of Westphalia, when TIM
Bishoprics OF Metz. Tul. and Verdun
were coded To France, the idea entered
into the French mind to search care
fully through the public records for the
names of all towns and cities which dur
ing any former period had been the prop
erty Of either of the three Bishoprics, and
TO demand them from Germany as por-
ton OF the rightful spoils. Although this
preposterous demand failed To be present.
ed In It's original shape, it led to a series OF
aggressions which finally eliminated in
that devastation of the Pals i'm 1858 and
1859 by the French armies under the direc-
ton Of Montclas and Melac.
! Mannheim, Rastaat Baden, Hedelb erg,
and many other places, were already in
ruins, and the French forces were rapidly
advancing toward the boundaries of Swa-
bia, their thirst for robbery and destruc-
ton increasing with every step.
The Government Of Wurtemburg, in the
hope OF saving Stuttgart, delivered all the
towns of Northern Swabia into the enc
my's hands. and the only fertilization
which had not been destroyed .y the
French troops was that OF Schorndorf, 10
which the people looked as TO last hope.
The French commander sat confidently
in his camp at Esslingen. laying plans for
his winter quarters in Wurtemburg. The
Royal Commissioners had already left
Stuttgart 10 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 Wurtemburg Govern
ment, so sure were they of lis speedy sur.
render. But exactly at this point was the
invading army TO meet its check for with
in the walls of Schorndorf was a deter
mined man. and what was still more i'm
portant. determined woman.
The man was the commander of the for
tifications. Peter krummhaar. Although
he had received the Royal command 10
make slight show of resistance and then
surrender the city, he refused to obey.
At length a special messenger appeared
from Stuttgart. stating that the French
commander had given orders to burn the
Royal residence and take immediate pos
session of the city, unless Schornd0rf COM
piled with the demands made upon ii. But,
in spite Of all demands and orders. krumm-
haar remained firm. He had strengthen
ed his forces bv drawing i'm large numbers
of patriotic villagers from the surrounding
country. and was determined to hold out
until 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 n meeting in the
Town Hall OF all the officials and leading
men, TO consult upon the possibility of
continued defense.
Frau kunkelin. the wife OF the Mayor of
the city. was a tall woman of about 80
years, whose word was law with all the
women i'm Schorndorf. OF firm. upright
character. she had made herself univer-
sally beloved and respected. Her patriot
ism was of that kind which allows nothing
Ia stand in its path, but sacrifices every
thing 10 the beloved country. She sus-
pected that the voice Of the City Fathers
would be for surrender, and, secretly fol-
lowing them 10 the council hall, she hid
herself TO listen. As she had feared, the
patriotic determination of Peter h-umm-
haar was overruled, 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 wamen TO as
semble before her. armed with whatever
they could lay hands on. 1--WE have not
laid up riches for these rascally French
men 10 live and grow fat on" said she
land Stuttgart will see that Schorndorf
VIII iOl IN uuiilDltu III lilt Qhsl, like
Tubingen and Asberg."
An army of women was soon assembled. !
Armed with every conceivable weapon,
from broomstick to sword. they pre-
scented 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 hus-
bands. Frau kunkelin. advancing toward |
the astonished City Fathers. made them a |
speech, in which she called upon them to |
protect their homes. closing with these
words. addressed to her husband himself: |
. will kill you with my own nand if you
act the part of a traitor"
After announcing their intentions. the |
women proceeded to take possession of the |
Town-Hall. and. organizing themselves
into companies. keld strict guard over the |
gates OF the city. For two days and three |
nights the town remained i'm the hands of |
the women, the City Fathers, " ION pain of
DEATH" being compelled TO obey their com
mands. Meanwhile, Peter krummhaar
was assisting the women in every way.
Every moment was step toward saliva
ton. for the Imperial army was rapidly /
The moral effect, too. OF
this patriotic uprising of the women was
immense, and the whole country, which
had been cowed down with abjcct terror.
rose with one accord to save the Father
land.
The heroine Of Schorndorf Frau Kun
kelin. lived many years after the uprising
Of the women took place. and. il l. said,
related the history TO goodly number of
grandchildren and REORGANIZATION. -
dtdme.