Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-02-21

Our men cried to each other to
stand. The kaiser was leading the
troops in person. The white cavalry
of B~randenburg broke from cover and
dashed out upon the plain.
1.-The French were checked for the
moment. But a terrible battle ragged
about the three bridges that
the stream before US. The French
were dragging mitrailleuses acress and
planting them on the bank to meet rs.
Our forces were hurled against two
of the bridges. The soldiers began
splintering the beams under a heavy
fire.
But the third bridge was COM
pletely in the hands Of U foes. They
were already dragging cannon upon It.
one company of u regiment was
thrown against it. A mitrailleuse was
IN the hands Of the French at the
other n of the bridge. Our men
were moWn down like tin soldiers.
Not a mar or beast ESCAPED from the
sheet OF flame that broke with it's
sinister rafting from the mouth of the
mitrailleuSe.
1.-The company in which + found NV
self was ordered forward. The brjdra
must be regained at any cost. Our
enemies had gained their main foot
Mold II they retained it, and the sortie
itself might be successful.
1T was horrible to dash right into
the jaws of that death dealing ma
chine. l saw it flash. My comrades
about me seemed to sink soundlessly
Il the earth. Ny horse was shot
from under me, and l fell beside the
bridge.
There was a terrible tumble on the
bridge. Cannon and wagons were
mixed hopeleSsly together. In the
midst of this confusion l saw a DOW
der wagon half u%pturned, but diff
cult of access. The mitrailleuse was
on an eminence upon the other side.
There were three men beside it. From
where they lay l could easily pick
them off.
Il fired four shots at them. Two of
the Frenchmen fell. In this sinister
lull that had come in the attack the
thlrd man saw me-, and dropped to the
earth in hiding. 1t would take some
moments before the others could run
to the rescue and manage the mitrail-
leuSe.
Il rose and bounded to the bridge.
While yet some distance away | man
aged to gain the position that would
enable me to fire into the powder
wagon. | fired three shots in what
| Judged to be the most effective di-
r%ection, aid fell into a hollow of the
earth. The suspense of those few mo-
ments was horrible. l heard the shout
ing of the foes close to me. Had !
won or lost? 1t was death to me OF
death to them.
Il had not struck the powder. !
thought that my plan had failed, and
that the explosion would not come.
Then, with Il rending, heaven stir
ring crash that shook the plain, q
%frightful mass Of llamo AND llt1aI
hurled itself into the air before my
very eyes. The shock stunned and
blinded me. When | looked up | saw
that the bridge had been blown to
pieces. The Frenchment had retreat
ed from the side of the bank. At
that very moment from beneath the
dead bodies Of the horses lying about
me there crawled into view the figure
of a man Of my regiment. Like myself
he had survived the sheet of fame
from the mitrailleuse.
Through the light film of smoke
he ran back to meet our troops that
were rapidly approaching.
"That man." cried the speaker. "was
the man you call your friend. He was
welcomed with cheers. He was re-
warded with the iron cross by the M
peror, and publicly praised for an act
Of bravery that he never performed.
q, who lay bleeding in the hollow,
had won his laurels for him. Ny cor
pOral laughed at me when | told him.
My comrades tainted me, and yet the
iron cross another wears by right is
mine. What is more, he knows it. 1t
is only l who have witnessed the flash
of guilt and shame in his face when
l confront him.
Il was taken to the hospital. The
man who had won distinction through
my bravery died out of my life. But I
never forgot his face, though years
Upon years have passed.
"When / attacked him the other
might, l was only seeking to regain
my own. Yes, my very own"
The speaker paused and eyed me
sullenly for a moment. His clenched
fist struck the table.
"All manner Of misfortunes have
Overtaken me. Just at this time, wien
my life seems most hopeless, 1 am con-
fronted by this man who stole my
honor from me. He shall not retain
the cross. l will yet have my own"
SO saying, he rose and, without a fur
Their word, left the coffee house.
One day, when I called upon Griff at
his lodgings, 1 found the old Prussian
sunk half upon his chair and half
upon his cot. He was unconscious
from a blow. From his neck had
been torn his treasured iron cross,
and his hands still clntched the chain
that ho1 nnca c1nnnrta 1 ~