The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-05-21
A BRAVE SOLDIER.
How Blanther Saved a Battalion of
Soldiers During the



There is such a pretty story that is so
little in keeping with the horrible light in
which Blanther has been placed through
the murder of old Mrs. Philippine Lang
feldt. 1t is the story of how he earned the
decoration of the iron crown.
The Order of the Iron Cross, created by
Frederick William III during the French
war of 1928, was again established as
the Order of the Iron Crown by William /,
son OF Frederick William III, out of
respect to his father. during the Franco
Prussian war in 1901.
There is no man to-day, no matter in
what position be may be placed, who can
not point TO that cross of the Iron Crown
with iustihable ride, if he is entitled to
wear it, for 1t has never been accorded any
one who did not earn it by some deed of
valor.
Daniel Eisenberg, a cadet in the Aus
TRAN army, who is resident of this City,
and who knew Blanther well, years ago,
tells the story.
''Blanther," he stated to CALL reporter.
was studying at one military college
while l was studying at another. We en-
tered the army, but after years he went
to the front much faster than l did
| Owing to some family affairs l was
OOilSCA w quiL tuC oClNlCS III i've years as
private
"In the course of affairs in 1877. during
the war in herzegovina, in the Balkans
Blanther earned the decoration of the
Iron Crown. l was soldier fighting in one
of the battalllons and remember the occur
renee well.
1--WE had taken a fort from the ene-
my, and while the victory was still
warm and we were not looking for further
hostilties the enemy suddenly and I'M
expectedly returned.
I'VE We're unprepared and were about to
be overpowered, as we did .not have our
guns.
''Blanther, although only a lieutenant,
| was the only officer in charge of the fort
and he knew of some Turkish Moorish
| guns in the citadel. He was well-posted
man, learned In the use of weapons, and
| with but few men under his command
| but he handled them with such general
ship that he protected our entire battalion
ana we were able to re-enter the fort with
| out great loss of life.
"There were eighteen hours of hard
! fighting with the mountain guns, that
| never could have been carried on success
! fully had not Blanther and lis men
helped US out.
THAT is how Joseph Blanther earned
| his decoration of the Iron Crown
| HE was decorated in Vienna upon the
recommendation of Lieutenant Colonel
! Ferdinand Bachner Won Egendorf
Royal Archduke Albrecht in person
conveyed the decoration to Blanther in
the name of the Emperor and King, Fran
els Josef, in 1881
Another medal which Blanther held is
called the "War Medal" 1t was awarded
to every soldier who fought in the war of
| 1901.
| Mr.. Eisenberg, who gave these details.
| was but private in the Herzegovina war.
but he, too, was decorated for acts OF
bravery on the field of battle. He was in
one OF the battalions protected by Lieuten-
ant Blanther, and for particular acts of
bravery he was decorated not only with
the WAR Medal" but another silver one
as we'll
Blanther was educated as a cadet at the
! Wiener Neustadt near Vienna. He first
entered the Thirty second Infantry Regi
ment at lara Dalmatia.