The sun., 1895-02-08
Damsen's Defence.

Against numerous and increasing charges
Of grotesque and scandalous incompetency
made against him, DAMsEN, the Sheriff,
defends himself with vigor and spirit in the
columns of our esteemed contemporary, the
Pldttdetttsche Post and Hdnseatisch Fest
Journal.
According to that authority, DAMsEN en-
listed in 1870 in the First Hanseatic In
Thirteenth Army Corps. He enlisted for
the period of one year, but how much Of
that year he served our contemporary does
not state. This detail, which might other
wise seem unimportant, becomes of value
when it is remembered that DAMsEN on
Jan. enlisted in the service of the city as
Sheriff for the period of three years; and
there is no one so sanguine as to suppose
that from present appearances he will serve
longer than three months, If so long.
Precisely what were the military services
OF DAMsEN, the warrior, is not known. Like
SoLoN SHINGLE. whose father fit into the
Revolution" he "driv a baggage wagon" :"
DAMsEN may have been, so to speak, a SOL
dier by proxy. The German records of the
strife of 1901 bear frequent and honor
able mention OF those chieftains, Won
MoLTKE, Won STENMETZ, and Won MAN
TEUFFEL, whose military achievements were
the glory OF German arms, but we find no
mention of DAMsEN.
He was a private, and It is known only
that he took part in the battle Of Weissen-
burg, or rather that he was seen in the ranks
before the beginning of the battle. This is
what fragmentary record, addressed to the
Berlin War Office, is said to contain on the
subject of DAMsEN. 1t is the only evidence
at hand OF his prowess as warrior. We
quote (attesting the accuracy OF the transla-
tion, but not, of course, the accuracy of the
statements, which were In Plattdeutsch):
"Private DAMsES OF the seventy sixth Infantry was
conspicuous hsure at the muster OF Aug. L. 1870 He
wore huge blue coat with brass buttons as large a.
the size OF Pomeranan goose eggs He wore sailors
trousers, bagging AZ the kneeS and his high riding
boots OF red morocco had spurs Upon his head was
black oxidEed iron helmet TO the top which were
Amxed two peacock featherS His knapsAok, with
TO oonspicuously upon II, strapped a carbne
with two TeVolyers, dagger, dirk, a battle axe and
swo tomahAwkS In his right hand he carried huge
spear somewhat resembling Auctoneers wand in
use In the United States OF America, and in his left
hand he carried tin pail, uncovered which bore
resemblance to tho tin receptacle beer in transit
from q saloon 10 the home OF . consumer and called
Asrowler (KanHs,."
This WAS before the opening Of fire, and
Tho official records stop abruptly at this
point. That Private DAMsEN took an active
part in the battle Of WeissenburR probably
Is known, but how active a part he took
even the Pldttdeutsche Post does not tell us.
His name does not appear in any OF the Off
cial records after this yet 1t is reasonable to
believe that perhaps DAMsEN was one OF the
race OF military giants anonymous in war
bulletins An explanation OF the oversight
may be furnished by the fact that, after
WeissenburR, he may have served under one
OF the names which various SUN CORE
Spondents have bestowed upon him. Gen.
Won MANNsTEIN commanded the Ninth