Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-11-22
A SOLDIER OF THE GREAT
NAPOLEON.
The Remarkable History of a
Citizen of Wheeling.

The Remarkable History of a
Citizen of Wheeling.
The subject OF our sketch Is Anthony
Deiters, Esq, now living on the Island,
who is intimately known throughout |
this city as an old citizen. Many OF our 1
prominent business men were known to /
him when quite small boys. Mr.. Deiters /
was born January Is, 1898, IN the Dis |
trict of Westphalia, Prussia, and at the /.
time OF the outbreak of the Old French /
war, under Napoleon l., was living IN I.
the now Lorraine country, a subject oil I
Prussia.
Under the laws then existing. the pa |
rent would be imprisoned If subject /
was not furnished for the army. The |
subject of our sketch was quite young
perhaps in his seventeenth year, he be-
ing the oldest son-stepped forward aud
offered himself as the ransom Tor tqs
father. After some eleven months OF
fighting he was captured by the French
army, and that portion, now Lorraine,
was ceeded TO France. and he became
French subject. From that time until
the close OF the said war he fought IN
the French army, a period OF seven
wears and three months, receiving some
nine wounds, and to-day carries them IN
honor of those great events, forming a
part Of the history OF the world. lie
took part in all the great battles OF Ma
poleon Bonaparte, among which are
BOredino, Leipsic, Austerlitz, Moscow
and Champagne, in Russia, witnessing
the burning of the city of Moscow. lie
was also in the fatal disaster in crossing
the river Britsina. where the Old Guard
and bridge were blown up, closing his
fighting career with the famous battle OF
Waterloo, in which he received two
wounds. He also crossed the Pyrenees
mountains with the army, pulling can
non 10y hand and ropes over this noun
tain OF ice and snow. Mr.. Delters was
i'm Marshal Ney's corps and member
of the famous Old Guard Of Napoleon
French army. He recollects distinctly
of the famous POnatoski at Waterloo,
and how the Old Guard knew how Ia
die rather than surrender. These armies
moved without wagons or tents, AMI
but two pair of boots were issued year,
Jour pair OF socks and one suit OF clothes,
no blankets, or baggage, save an old IRON
stew pot carried turn about on the back
OF soldier. These, with gun and ann
munition, they toiled under day alter
,lav through ice and snow. Their tracks
could often be traced for miles 10y the
blood in the snow, caused by the crust
of ice on the snow cutting their panta-
looms off to the flesh. This is but a small
norton OF what a French soldier had 10
rndure-no ioOd but such as could Ice
found i'm the frozen cabbage stock and
raw horse flesh for six long months.
This formed the article of diet, the raw
flesh being sprinkled with gunpowder.
His services extended TO nearly all parts
of the world-tO Spain, Tunis, Morocco,
Tripoli, Asia, Russia, Egypt, and the
countries named. After the close OF the
war he was employed as clerk Tor the
East Indian Company at Cape Horn.
There he served four years, and then
went home, practiced law for some
time, in which he was a grad
uate, and since coming TO this county,
i'm 1927, he has been very often con-
Quoting cases before the Kings Court
FOR claims due citizens Of foreign birth
here. He came here about 1881, lived
i'm North Wheeling where his first son,
Chas. III. DcItcrs, clerk OF The Board oi
Commissioners, was born, and to-day
is the father of six sons and seven
daughters. shortly after he came 10
! this city, lac engaged with Mr. Cum
ningham, then an extensive chair man
uiacturcr the father OF Mrs. Benjamin
~ 4 N,l. MI u.tf Ia
him he remained until his death; after
which Geo Mendel, deceased, then quite
young, and merging into life ont Of his
apprenticeship, started To manufacture
! furniture on the corner Of Market and
| Twelfth streets, the site OF the present
Washington Hall. With Mr.. Mendcl
our subject engaged, he 10 be book
! keeper and manager Of waTc-TOOm. Mr.
/ Mendcl was in the manufacturing and
| finishing department. This continued
until the firm of Mendel Il Harbour was
| i'm force. He continued with them I'M
| Ill its dissolution, when Mr.. Mem
del carried on the manufacturing and
| carpet business on his own ac-
count. lie continued with Mr.. Mendel
| from the smallest beginning, unlnter-
ruptcd until sometime after MIR. Men
| dei's death, business from very small
/ beginning to that of the most extensive
one i'm our midst. lie lived to see this
| business grand successful see his de-
parted friend and business manager
| raise a large family, and build up a large
! business i'm our midst. To-day the sub
| iect OF our sketch is still living, almost
! 81 wears of age, and with him his aged
partner During the past few days he
/ was quite i'll, but is somewhat better
/ ana in hopes he may continue To I'M
! prove. Both he and his wife are now
! quite lnirm, and cannot, through the
| course of nature, last very long. This
remarkable man and respected citizen
! has had and vet retains powerful con-
| stitutiOn, and this has been kept with
out any sickness in life by regular hab-
| its. As TO meat, drink and sleep, al
WAYS prompt in these matters; never
negligent concerning them. Never IN
| trouble with others; always a prime
point in life to attend 10 his own
| business. His word was his bond, and
| those who knew him knew him only to
! love him--cOurteous. polite and pleas
ant in all his dealings. Many Of the
| living of to-day can attest this. And
now. while the old veteran soldier OF
| the French army is deprived OF out
| door exercise only waiting the Masters
! call, waiting to complete the last grand
! batte---we wish for him pleasure, con.
tentment and peace, for very few live
to-day who witnessed the burning OF
! Moscow.
Our patriarch is about the oldest
Free Mason in our State, and, we be-
! Heve. i'm the United States. lie was
made a member some - or "a years
ago, and, we believe has led perfect
| life. He is still iull Of his accustomed
vim can relate many things Of the past,
snd is as full of joke rs of wore. In his
room can be seen his gun, his sword
and what was left OF Waterloo II balls
out Of l25, and the blood-stained bullet
patch.
This is but brief outline Of a citizen
in our midst, a patriot. And while he
could not 90 to our wars, he had three
sons who were engaged during its time,
two i'm our West Virginia regiments and
one I'M Tennessee. Such a life is Ia Ice
enyied. Yet but few that now live, liy-
ing as we do, will ever reach the ripe
old age OF 90. As we have stated, he Is
somewhat better to-day, and may con
tinue so for some time. We hope 80.
Best STYLES Of Cloaks. |. Blum K Bro
Nv TEI EDtGnNE