The Penn's Grove record., 1888-03-31

READS LIKE A ROMANCE.
The Strange and Eventful Career OF
a German Divinity Student

Henry Hoffmeyer, a trusted private
Waterman In the employ Of the Mar
shall Field, was asked whether he had
seen a brother Waterman on duty at
any time within two weeks. Hoffmeyer
said that he had not. Soon after mid
night George Hitler, the Waterman
guilty of neglect, struck Hoffmeyer
with a loaded cane, telling him to the
ground. When Hitler was a~rralgned
for the assault, Hoffmeyer's counsel
said: my client is no coward. and he
would have defended himself with his
revolver but for one thing"
"What was that?" asked the magis-
trate.
Next week" said the lawyer, "Mr.
Hoffmeyer will be ordained a priest of
the Catholic church. and had he shot
his assailant his chance would have
been gone"
This statement led to believe that the
witness had q history, but no such
thrilling narrative as was afterwards
learned was anticipated.
Hoffmeyer's life had been n full OF
events connected with some OF the most
tragic occurrences In modern European
history. Having graduated from the
university of Gottingen In Hanover.
Germany, he went to Hamburg and
studied even years for the priesthood.
In 1870, when % years old, he was
taken from his studies by order OF Bis
marck, and for eighteen years his sole
ambition has been to return. to his
calling as a priest, In those eighteen
years he has passed through experien.
ces that would fill several large vol
umes, if written. The same mandate
that took him from his studies in the
Jesuit college, forced him to enlist in
the German army, then engaged In the
Franco-Prussian war. The young men
preparing for the priesthood we're so
well drilled that they were valuable as
soldiers, and the laws of the country
made it possible to take them at any
time before they were ordained. A
month after he had enlisted Hoffmeyer
fought in the battle of Gravelotte
under Capt. Won Steub,ns. After the
battle Hoffmeyer was promoted from
the ranks to second-ljeutenant. His
education fitted him to command. At
Sedan he was severely wounded. He
had fallen In range of a gattling gun.
One bullet carried a portion OF his skull
away, one pierced his side and one
shattered the bone of his left thigh.
For four days he lay on the battle field
with 20.00U wounded men. When
Lieut.. Hofmeyer was picked up and
taken to the hospital his life was de-
SPARED Of, but he recovered, though
his injured lung prevented him from
ever doing active service again.
When Paris surrendered Hoffmeyer
was detailed by Gen. Won Moltke.
During the riots of the commune lie
mounted his horse but was taken with
hemorrhage of the lungs and never was
well afterward until a few years ago.
He requested a furlough and was sent
to a fort near Amsterdam. Here he
had a three days leave of absence, and,
in company with six others. deserted
and fed to Ireland. In 1877 Bismarck
issued an order for all deserters to re-
turn or they would be brought back by
force. The lieutenant did not wait.
but sailed for America. Hoffmeyer
has been struggling to become a priest,
but as he had no papers from the Ger
mar university his efforts were in vain.
The story of how he secured those
newspapers is interesting,
In 1881 he was employed at the stock
yards when a carriage, driving by, hal.
ted, and a voice called him. He went
up, and to his surprise recognized his
old commander, Capt, Won Steubens.
The officer, in company with his six
brothers, was visiting here. The cap.
tain said he would do all in his power
for the lieutenant, but Hoffmeyer mis-
trusted him and took out naturalization
papers. When that vas done he wrote
his uncle in Germany and a formal de-
mand was made for his credentials.
Being an American citizen his demand
was acceded to, and at last the papers
arrived. That was the day he
received the injury on the head.
He will now receive his ordination and
return at one to the home of his child
hood to visit his parents, who are still
living.