The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1895-05-02
HOW SCHURZ RESCUED KIN
kFT,
BY JAMES r. GILMORE.
l"Edmnnd kirkn y

("Edmnnd kirke.'0
The United States have received
many valuable citizens from Germany
but few have come here from that
C antry in recent wears who have
brought with them an already acauir
e. European reputation. Franz Sigel
who landed in New York in May IS5-
was known throughout Europe IN con
sequence Of his distinguished services
in the German Revolutionary army in
1913 and 1919. and Carl Schurz. who
came here In 1852. and had won
q wide celebrity by his rescue Of
G0ttfried kinkel from Prussian
dungeons; but aside from these two
| can at this movement call to mind
no others who nave. since 1850 come
to this country heralded by an
European fame. The single act by
which Carl Schurz became celebrated
throughout Europeis not much known
! mere. and II it We're it was Of so heroic
a character that it would be worthy of
repetition for the benefit Of the gener-
alton that has been born since it made
Carl Schurz famous.
GUttfried kinkel was an ilIustrious
poet, philosopher and patriot. who oc-
cupied d high rank in the literature
Of Germany and held the position Of
| professor Of rhetoric in the famous
University Of Bohn, in Rhenish Prus
sIa. When the revolution OF 1913
broke out his strong democratic sym
r thles led him to take an active part
IL the stuggle against despotism. He
set on foot liberal newspaper. and in
the spring Of 1910 headed an inaur
rectIOn OF the students at Bonn, whi.h
failing He fled to the Palatinatp.
where he entered the revolutionary
army and took part in the defense Of
|, -7tadt, a strong town and fortress in
Baden. At the fall Of that fortress he
WAS among the prisoners, and being
speedily tried for high treason, he
vas condemned to long imprison-
Il" ut at hard labor.
III 1916 Carl Schurz, at the age Of
seventeen. entered the University Of
BJhn, and came at once under the in
tlnence Of the renowned professor. \
close and atfectionateintimacy sprano
uF between them, and when kinhpl
established lis liberal newspaper
SchurZ became, at the age Of nineteen,
hls principal assistant. and soon.
for a time the sole conductor OF the
journal. He was involved with Kin
ke. IN the Insurrection Of the students
ari feeling with him to Ratstadt, was
u ~ I1lsal - nn -
re5s. He, too, was tried by court
martial, and-then only recently past
his twentieth birthday sentenced
to be shot. However. before the few
days allotted him to live had expired
he managed to escape from has jailers
and TO get safely across the frontier
intO Switzerland
The illu5tlious kinkel was arrayed
In convict 5arb, immured in a com
mon prison and was set at work in
| company with the lowest criminals in
the manufacture Of shoes. All Ger
many still trembling with the recent
revolutionary upheaval. heard with
! Indignation Of the outrages inflicted
upon the eminent man, and numerous
petitions were. forwarded to the Prus
sian government, praying for the
anelioratiOn of his condition: but the
authorities turned deaf ear TO all
such solicitations, and it was not long
before the petitions ceased, and Kin
kei seemed to have entered upon a
living death, forgotten by his friends
anl by the German world which had
50 recently delighted to do him honor
1t WAS as t our own Longfellow, in
the very zenith Of his fame, had been
suddenly clapped into prison, and so
etiactually hidden away from the
sight Of men that the very name Of
hlm hal been erased from the public
memory.
Bat kinkel was rot altogether for
gotten, BY Carl Schuz. now just en-
!tering upon his twenty first year, he
w. auIl atfectionately remembered
IL was ignorant of Kinkel's condition
anl even OF his place OF confinement,
bnt he determined to learn. and if
p ssible, concoct some plan for his
liberation In the face of instant
death, III case Of detection. he entered
Prussia, clad in rags. and carrying a
heavy organ upon his shoulders. By
day he gathered a few coppers il
playing his organ from the passers- by
on the highway; at night he laid his
organ aside and sought out the friends
OF German liberty to ascertain the
fate Of kinkel and reawaken an inter
est IN the lmprist ned patriot. In this
way he jOurneyed on foot more than
300 leagues. and through numerous
towns and villages, sleeping at night
IL barns or under waySide hedges
| DE had several narrow escapes. and il
Is marvel that he was not discovered
for he was then. as he Is now, mar
Of strictly personal appearance
On one occasion as he was trudgins
along the high road, he was accosteC
! by several Prussian soldiers. who in
! qnired where he was going.
ITO the next town" was the answer
Would you like to earn a handful
Of pfennings?'
OF course | should replied Schur
with decided promptness.
linen come with Us TO our barracks
We are to have a dance there thi
evening, and your organ will suit u
exactly"
1t was going directly into the lion
den: but Schurz could not have declin
ed without exciting suspicion, so witt
profuse expressions Of gratitude h
went along with the soldiers. and dun
ing the entire night ground on
waltzes and quadrilles to the grea
delight of battalion Of police. Just til
men whose business it was to ARE.
and lead him out to execution. H
left this dangerous society early 0
the following morning, but not unit
he had discovered that kinkel wa
confined in the fortress of Spandal
. one of the strongest in Prussia. onl
! IL