The weekly clarion., 1874-11-12

From the Aldine.l

, From the Aidine-l
In the southwestern portion of Germany
: Is the Village Of Schorndorf. Although
now little more than mere postal sta
ton, it was formerly one of the strongest
fortified towns of Northern Swabia, and
the pride of the beautiful valley Of the
. Rem.
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 property oil
either OF the three Bishoprics, and to de-
mand them from Germany as portion
of the righttul sp0ils. Although this
preposterOus demand failed to be pre-
sented in its original shape, it led to a Sc
ries of aggressions which finally culmin-
ated in that devastation of the Pals in
1858 and 1859 by the French armies un-
der the direction of Montclas and Melac
Mannheim, Rastaat, Baden, Heidel-
berg, and many other places, were already
in ruins, and the French forces were rap
idly advancing toward the boundaries of
Swabia, their thirst for robbery and de-
struction increasing with every step.
The Government of Wurtemberg, in
the hope of saving Stuttgart, delivered
all the towns of Northern Swabia into
the enemy's hands, and the only tortifca-
tion which had not been destroyed by the
French troops was that of Schorndorf, to
which the people looked as to last hope.
The French commander sat confidently
in his camp at Esslingen, laying plans for
his winter quarters III Wurtem burg. The
! Royal Commissioners 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 Wurtemburg Gov
ernment, 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 de-
termined man, and, what was still more
important, determined woman!
The man was the commander Of the
| fortifcations, Peter Kummhaar. AL
though he had received the Royal com
and then surrender the city, he refused to
obey.
at length a special messenger appear
commander had given orders to burn the
Royal residence, and take immediate pos
session of the city, unless Schorndorf COM
piled with the demands 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 villagers from
the surrounding country, and was deter
mined 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 sum
moned Il meeting in the Town Hall Of all
the officials and leading men, to consult
upon the possibility Of continued de-
tense.
Frau Kunkelin, the wife of the Mayor
of the city, was tall woman of about so
years, whose word was law with all the
women in Schrondorf. Of firm, up
right character, she had made herself
universally beloved and respected. Her
patriotism was of that kind which all )ws
nothing to stand in its path, but sacrifices
everything to the beloved country. She
suspected that the voice of the City Faith
ers would be for surrender, and, secretly
following them to the council hall, she
hid herself to listen. As she had feared,
the patriotic determination of Peter
Krummhaar 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 women to as
semble before her, armed with whatever
they could lay hands on. eve have not
laid up riches for these rascally French
men to live and grow fat on, said she,
"and Stuttgart will see that Schorndorf
will not be humbled in the dust, like Tu-
bingen and Asberg"
An myOf women was soon assembled.
Armed with every conceivable weapon,
from broomstick to a sword, they pre-
sented a very strange appearance. Then,
with Frau Kunkelln at their head, they
marched to the Town Hall, and broke in
upon the solemn conclave of their hus-
bands. Frau Kunkelin, advancing to-
ward 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: g will kill you with my own
hand if you act the part of a traitor.
After announcing their intentions, the
women proceeded to the possession of the |
Town Hall, and, organizing themselves
into companies, held strict guard over
the gates of the city. For two days and
nights the town remained in the hands |
of the women, the City Fathers ION pain |
of DEATH" being compelled to obey their |
commands Meanwhile, Peter Krumm- /
haar was assisting the women in every
way. Every moment was step toward /
salvation, for the Imperial army was rap t
idly approaching. The moral effect, too, /.
of this patriotic uprising of the women
was immense, and the whole country,
which had been cowed down with abiect
terror, rose with one accord to save tie /.
Fatherland.
The heroine of Schorndorf, Frau Kun
kelin, lived many years after the uprising
of the women took place, anl, il i SAID
related the history TO 4 g"naiv number @.
grandchildren and or ~ grandchildren.
The Chicago Times has had It's eyes
oDened For several months DaSt Il has