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


Two years ago, when l first came to
New York and plunged into Bohemian
life, l frequented a Swiss cafe close
upon Second venue. In this haunt l
made acquaintance with an old Prus-
sian named Griff-Salm.
Griff-Salm was a campaigner of the
war of '70-71. New York is inhabited by
hundreds Of those ancient war-dogs. l
have met men who belonged to the
famous White Cavalry, men who tast-
ed fire at Magenta and SolferinO, men
who heard the c~annonade at Sedan.
Uhlans, ~chasseurs, dragons, SCARED
and wounded, all mingle in that het-
erogeneous life of the East Side.
How is it that these war-dogs, once
the bitterest of foes, Austrians, Prus-
slams. Italians and Frenchmen dwell
here together in amicable Bohemian
ship?
Griff-Salm had had a married son in
New York and had come to live with
them. But five years ago the son, his
wife and child, had died. Now the old
Prussian warrior dweIt alone in Bo-
hernia.
Griff a white imperial. He
limped from the effect Of a bullet
wound. He was full of "reminiscences,
and, whether in or out of his cups,
a delightful companion. His most val,
liable belonging, the possession of
which he was %proudest, was an iron
cross, which he wore beneath his coat
and guarded as though it were an un-
told treasure. 1t was the Iron Cross.
'"The kaiser hung it about my neck
with his own hands," said Griff, as
his eyes gloWed at the recollection.
"It was at the siege of Paris. l won
it on the battle field. How many men
can boast of such a thing?"
On the cross of iron was embossed
the word "Tapferkeit." He had won
distinction by defending a bridge
against the French on the outskirts
Of Paris. He told me the story in all
its details, many times.
One night as Griff and Itwere saun-
tering across Union square 1 noticed
that a man who approached US cast a
look at my companion, stopped and
looked again, as he uttered a low eX-
c4amation Of surprise. Griff was too
much absorbed in his pipe tc notice
the incident.
l turned to look at the stranger. He
was a man with sallow cheeks and a
moody countenance. His frame was
somewhat emaciated, though sturdy,
and his bearing indicated that he had
een military service. AS he observed
me watching MIN he skunk into the
crowd.
We continued our walk. 1 had for
gotten all about the stranger when, as
we went up Broadway on the eastern
side Of the street happened to glance
across the way, and beheld him for a
moment plainly in the rays of al cleo
trio light, watching us ~intently. He
was following us.
"Who is that fellow across the way,
Griff" l asked, somewhat irritably,
for the burning eyes of our pursuer
made me somewhat uneasy. do you
know him?"
what man. asked Griff.
There" l said, pointing. Gle is
just across from u.s."
"What about him." asked my COM
panion, c~omposedly.
"Why, he looked at you a while
ago and seemed to recognize you. He
uttered an exclamation at seeing you.
He has been following US ever since"
Nonsense" observed Griff-Salm,
casting a careless glance across the
way.
1T is true. He is pursuing u.s."
"It is your fancy" with d shrug Of
the shoulders. Il never saw the fell
low before. Come, I'm going to have
a glass of Culmbacher."
Our pursuer had again vanished. He
noticed that We were observing him.
The walk that we took that night
an extended one. 1t was at a late
hour when we again crossed Broadway
and turned into East Tenth street.
The thoroughfares of this quarter of
the city seemed deserted.
Grif-Salm had again reverted to mis-
war "reminiscences. He had just been
entertaining me with an account of a
m~anoeuvre, when he thrust
his hand into his breast and added,
usual: But this is the sweetest
recollection of ALL"
He brought forth the iron cross and
regarded it.
"This trophy of war I won at the
risk Of my life. You will never know
how n can prize suchI@a mark of
honor unless you have faced death and
and damnation to win it.
Eyes, there is many a poor comrade
whom I have seen lying mangled on
the battlefield who would have de-
and even attained the iron
But how many, OUT Of that
army of half a million, survived the
war of '7O-'71 and gained this mark
bravery? Scarcely a dozen"
While he was thus commenting on
iron o a figure suddenly sprang
out of the shadow of a building that
were passing. It sprang upon
.riff and struck him a blow in the
face that sent him Keeling.
On the instant I recognized the as
to be the stranger who had
US earlier in the night.
Before I could 60 to the assistance
If my companion a fierce conflict be-
yan between the two men.
"You are a s~coundrelr,' cried the
man who had suddenly sprung from
the shadow. at is mine, miner