The morning call., 1891-01-25
A PRETTY STORY
OF CARL SCHURz.
The Way in Which HG Effected The Escape
Of a Political Prisoner.
He Went to the Fortress of spandau Dis
guised as an 0rgan-Grinder to Release
Gottfried Kinkel-The Romance.


ing few evenings ago and one Of the selec-
tons was "The Soldiers Farewell" piece
that is familiar, for every one has sung 1t
until the soldiers farewell has come to be
much like PATHS. However much it has
been butchered, saws the Post-Dispatch, it
is beautiful musical composition, and dur
ing one of the intermssiOns Professor w.
NJ. Pommer, the director, said:
III you will look at the top OF the page you
will see that this piece was written by 10
hanna Kinkel woman, and it is one Of the
very few pieces of music woman ever
wrote that is worth singing. 1t always re-
calls to me the story of Mrs. kinkdePs hus-
| bands Imprisonment and release, in which
the celebrated Carl Schurz figured, going to
the prison in the guiSe of a hand-organ
grinder IL order to communicate with Kin
| kdel."
And then Professor Pommer told the
| story Of the escapade in which Carl SchurZ
eX-Cabinet Minister, journalist, philosopher
and scholar, figured as an organ-grtnder
A REVOLUTIONARY PROFESSOR.
Guttfried kInkel was a professor at Bonn
and man of learning and thought. He
| had given much attention to sociology, and
eventually came to the conclusion that
| there were many things in the laws and
| the Government which needed reforming,
and under the Government in Germany the
| citizens were not permitted TO effect changes
/
! feeling that they must be made by force, If
! net otherwise, joined the revOutionists. and
| III the attempted uprising of IS49 he figured
! prominently. He was arrested of course,
! tried of course, found guilty of course, and
/ OF course sentenced to Imprisonment. lie
! was committed to the prison at the fortress
| OF Spandau, OF which the jaiier was dis
| clpllned sergeant of the army whose creed
was duty, whose God was the commanding
| officer. Though strict aud rigid official in
| the discharge Of his duty, he was by no
! means an unklndly or ungrateful man, ana
kinkefs Imprisonment was not more IN
| pleasant than 1t, perfurce, must be.
! The Sergeant-Jaler had Il wife and child
| to whom he was pasSiOnately devoted. OHe
| day his child was taken sick. 1t had malIg-
! nant disease, and as soon after it first
! showed the symptoms of the maadY it be-
I came desperately sick. Spandau is about
twenty miles from Berlin, ana the Sergeant
| sentt 10 Berlin for physician of prominence,
! who, he thought could save him bis child.
/ The Sergeant could not afford to pay the
! physician a fee commensurate with his ser
| vices, scarcely any at all in fact, but that
! dld not deter the doctor. He attended ithe
| little one faithfully and finally by his skill
and carefulnesS he saved the chlld's life.
! The jailer was gratItied beyond measure and
! told the doctor that any time lie could serve
him he would do it, even at the risk OF his own
! life, to show his appreciation Of the services
( that had been rendered him. Tne doctor
! did not call on him then, bat this offer was
not forgotten.
sCHURZ IN BERLIN.
| Carl Schurz then appeared in Berlin
dressed as an Hungarian student He was
student and attended College there. The
physician who had saved the jailer'S child
was reyoiutiontst, and SO was SchuTZ.
SchGlZ had a mission and the ductuT knew it.
They thoroughly understood each other. lie
lived IN tile doctors house, and there they
discussed their plans. Schurz had been
Studentat Bonn. and kin6el had been one OF
his professors. SchurZ was much attached to
him, and be was determined to rescue him
fIOm prison If possible. They devised several
schemes, out dozen were finally thrown
aside as impractical, and at last they con-
GUIDED that nothing could be done with
out the assistance OF some one connected
with the Jail. The doctor thought of the
JaileG, aud approached him with a remem-
brance OF his promise. the afailer had not
forgotten The promise nor the doctors ser
vices 10 aim, but 1t was one thing TO risk his
life, another to disobey duly, and he did not
want TO violate the trust imposed in him as
a tr!ed and faithful soldier and use the posi-
ton given him as u reward of merit to be-
tray the Government 1t was hard work to
draw the old fellow into the scheme, but the
doctor finally succeeded and all that WAS
left 20 be done was to perfect the details of
the plan. 1t was decided that the escape
should be made on the Governors birthday,
which occurred in November. 1850. and was
celebrated with Domp and ceremony Great
crowds assembled AT the fortress OF Spandau
erai merry-m liking.
sCHURZ's DISGUISE.
Then Schurz and the doctor went down to
Spandau, carrying a bundle. They had pre-
viously made arrangements to have a car
Rage IN waiting aud relays of horses b.
tween Spandau and the NJ ckienOurg from
tier, which Is ride of about ten hours.
The physician remained some distance from
the fortress and Carl Schurz, dressed as an
organ-grinder, with his hand-orgau swing
ing from strap and hanging from his Shout
der approached the prison with the bundle
under his arm. The bundle was quietly
Struggled 10 the Jailer, who was directed TO
give 1t to the prisoner. Then Schurz began
playing his organ IN the prisnn-yard and
took his stand directly under the wind oW of
kmkePs cell. kinkel had been notified to
be on the lookout, and when he heard the
music he went to the windOw-with an ac-
compartment OF hand-Organ, Carl SchurZ
related to klnkel the details of the plan.
The bundle passed Ill was au officers unI-
form. kInkel was to put it OIL, and. with
the assistance OF the jailer, pass out of the
Jail and through the inner guard of the gar
Iison. he was then to join the doctor aud
Schurz at the rendezvous. Having informed
kinkel. Schurz joined Ih e physician and
they waited
THE ESCAPE.
The jaier was true to his promise. He
opened the doors and Kinkel walked out,
dressed as an officer IN the Prussian army.
easily passed the inner guard, and 1t was not
difficult then 10 get outside the fortress, be-
cause discipline was somewhat relaxed on
account OF the celebration, and for this
reason also the presence of strange officer
did not attract attention. Away from the
fortress, kinkel joined SchuIZ aud the doctor
aud they fastened to the carriage. Once in
side, the lash was put 10 the horses and
away they dashed The carriage rolled
away at a terrific speed and never stopped
once except to change horses when the re-
lays were met. At last, after ten hours
hard riding, the fugitive and his friends ar
rived at the Meeklenburg border, crossed
the line and were comparatively safe. Kin
KEEL alterwaro kept very quiet, but remained
in Europe.
OF course the escape created tremendous
amount OF excitement, for a professor of
Bonn, convicted of being a leader in an at
tempted revolution ana sentenced to long
term OF years IN prison, became q prisoner
OF Importance anu his escape was soon dis
covered. A searching investigation fol
lowed.
A ROMANCE.
OF course the jailer was found out and he
confessed to his share in the escape without
giving the names of those who were asso-
elated with him, though the Government
found out that Schurz the student, was the
leader. The jailer was dismissed the army
ana sentenced to Imprisonment for three
years. lie served out his sentence, and
when he was released Kinkel's friends
bought Tor him small estate on which
he llVed comfortably and happily to the end
of his life.
OF course in story of such dramatic in
tereSt there ought to be n romance and til 10
romance is not lacking in this one.
, Alter the escape Of kinkel, Schurz found
that Germany was not a safe place for HIM
anu he did not dare attempt to leave, for
lhal would certainly lead to his arrest He
made his way TO Hamburg, where there
was very wealthy family named Meyer,
the members OF which were all III sympathy
win the revolutionary movement SchuIZ
reached their house aud remained concealed
there for several months, One member of
Inc family who assisted him greatly in hid
ing was the daughter of the house, Miss
Meyer, and during the months they spent
under the same roof, under circumstances
W N,i brought out their stronger emotions,