The Portland daily press., 1894-06-27

IN. Y. Sum-
What do you think of centenarian who
wanted $1,000 and young wife for birthday
gifts yesterday?
What would you do with the money;?'
Sun reporter asked him.
why" said Henry Muller, as he slipped
a glass of brandy and shook hands with his
friends at the soldiers' Home at Kearny,
would start vineyard and drink bottle
of wine every day in the year.
Men who live on hundred years are
mighty few; those who are as vigorous as
Henry Muller are fewer yet, and others of
that age who have had careers as unique
and interesting are as scarce as hens teeth.
Yesterday was his day at the Soldiers
Home, and, from early morn until evening,
when he received delegation of women
from Newark, he was verv busy receiving
congratulations and recounting his exper-
fences in war. Some one said that a book
should have been written BY this man, who
served more than fifty years as private
soldier in four wars and who is the oldest
veteran in the United States. Mr.. Muller
said that he was getting too far along in
years to write the book, although he ex-
pected to remain on earth some time yet.
Then he OF on his feet stepped about with
the ease of a Splinter, and lighted a new
German pipe presented to him by some adj
miring woman in the auxiliary association
of the Grand Army Post at Newark.
This remarkable man was born in Bruns-
wick, Germany, June "a, 1891. Fifteen years
later he was soldier under command of
the Prince of Brunswick in the Prussian
army. He fought often and hard against
the French. ut was forced to capitulate
with the others, and in 1872 he was among
the Prussian soldiers who marched with Ma
poleon to Moscow. He saw the great fire
which lasted three days, and he is one of
the few living men who ever talked to Ma
poleon the First That incident occ cured
in this way, as Mr.. Muller explained yester-
day:
On the second day after the Russians had
departed from Moscow the fire had encir-
cled the city and WIS being driven in
round mass toward the centre. The Krem-
lin was burning, and the Empe TOR had been
forced TO leave the palace. He went to the
camp of the French army on the southern
edge of the city, and frequently rode
through the streets where the fire was
smouldering. Young Muller was stationed
on atalry guard duty in one of these
streets when the Emperor came along
mounted on his white horse and wearing
heavy military cloak. AS Napoleon turned
the corner of a street one of the stirrups
of his saddle got loose and fell to the
ground. Napoleon called to Muller, who
was near. After vain endeavor to repair
the stirrup, Napoleon asked for exchange
of saddles. Muller compiled and twos days
later he received new saddle, which he
says he would gladly have given away and
ridden bareback the rest of his life if he
could have kept the Emperor's saddle as a
souvenir.
Napoleon and Muller were on opposite
sides three years later at the battle of
Waterloo. Mr.. Muller says he was held back
in the PrussIan reserves and did not see
much OF the fighting. He saw enough, how
ever, to know that they fought like hell on
both Sides
Muller served fifteen years in the Prussian
army. He came to the United States in
1880, and joined the army in time to take
part in the Seminole war. He was with
Gen. Zachary Taylor at the battle of Okee-
chobee. He reenlisted in the army in Cali
fornia and fought through the Mexican war
to the close, when Gen. Scott entered the
city of Mexico. For many years afterward
he remained in the regular army He got
his discharge in 1856, but the civil war
aroused his fighting blood in 1861. He was
then 66 years old, and thought that he
might be rejected on account of his old age.
He dyed his whiskers and made himself up
so cleverly that he secured an enlistment
His son, William Muller, who lives in Union
Hill, n. j., served in the same company
Mr.. Muller served four years in the Federal
army, and he says that In all of his battles
inssfour wars he saw the hardest fighting at
Cedar Greek. After the war he learned the
trade of putting slate roofs on buildings,
years ago, when he was admitted to the
Soldiers Home at Kearny. He was never
wounded in fight and was never in hos
pital