Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1899-01-19

Il am-and you?"
Although there was no verbal reply
to this, my attention was attracted the
next moment by, but anticipate.
1t was an oppressiEely close evening
in 1870. when Ga self-appointed war cor
respondent) 1 was deposited at the lit
tie railway station of Mulheim, in the
Black Forest 1t came about in this
way: 1 was on long vacation ramble
in Switzerland when the declaration
of war between France and Germany
startled Europe. ] had no sooner heard
the war cry than I sent kilograms to
several London and one or two CONT
mental papers, announcing my willing
cess to represent them at the front
with pen or pencil, or both.
II was Lord Beaconsfield who said:
THE seizure of opportunity is the Sc
-cret of success" This, at least, was the
turning point in my somewhat eventful
career. when, re-packing the knapsack
with which / was provided for noun
taineering purposes, left Lausanne
via Basle-for MuIheim, there to await
the arrival of the next train for Sar-
bruck. where the French and German
armies were concentrating. 1t was
while thus waiting that 1 realized the
focusing of many eyes upon me. A
soldierly sergeant of a Baden regiment
and several local luminaries. including
the station master, all glaring at me
with undisguised curiosity.
your passport" said the sergeant, in
French almost as execrable as my own
II have none"
..Soh! No passport, and in war time
tool Your card. then"
Alas. 1 had given my last to fell
.ow tourist in Switzerland.
'Donnerwetter!" He was breaking
into his own vulgar yernacular now, so
7 saw things were getting serious
'sWho in the name of der teufel are
-you?" Then, coming closer, he said
impressively: Il tell you, my young
friend, you are nothing more nor less
than a French spy. Consider yourself
my prisoner"
"A French spy! Why, I'm an En-
zlishman," / replied in my innocence.
$50 much the better for French pur-
poses" he promptly replied, as he lndl-
Gated the nearest way to the little wait
ing-room, where 1 was forthwith
searched. a revolver with which had
been amusing myself in Switzerland)
giving much color to the accusation,
which was again supported by my nav
ing a return ticket from Switzerland via
Paris TO London, quite outside WHICH
had Just been arrested in Germany.
Nothing on the face of it could look
.blacker At this moment the incoming
train for which l had been waiting dis
persed the little crowd surrounding me,
all save thai burly sergeant, who fol-
lowed steaIthily behind me, and direct
" I attempted TO open the carriage
door. seized me unceremoniously by
the collar, and dragged me back on the
platform. Fritz (for this was the name
the station master addressed him) was
a man of herculean strength, on which
he relied perhaps just little too much,
for my blood was now thoroughly up.
The moment he relaxed his grip made
for him, and "boxing" being with him
an unknown quantity" l sent him
with the first well-directed blow Keeling
against the waiting-room door, from
which he had just emerged. But IN the
meantime, two things had happened
the train had gone, and Fritz had re-
covered himself. His tactics were SIM
pie Wrestling was his speciality and
he had no sooner succeeded in closing
with me than. by a dextrous movement,
L was thrown heavily to the ground.
and secured by four soldiers Of the
same regiment who had now come upon
the scene. and by whom l was being
taken off to the common cell a. Null |
helm. when they were intercepted by |
Young lieutenant. who. having had my |
case put before him, examined nv
sketch book with as much gravity as IL |
a ground plan OF renbreitstein were |
therein delineated. but who al the |
same time decided that I should be |
taken TO the 9Ua~dhcuse in the Black |
Forest. 10 which place I was now sum |
marty marched O.. followed by al ex-
cited CROWD Ottag. TSg and bohtaii. who |
would. ! believe. have lyncheG me had |
not my escort been too strong for them. |
I shall not rasiiy forget the rough /
handling to which ] was subjected. the
ignoniny With which was treated. OF
my subsequent delight on being taken
into = dimiy-liJ room n this guard
house. which. III The way. was n In
prov;sed one. Il being IN reality a forest
have been a; once requjSij:onsc V the
military on the declaration. 81 vsr.
On being ushereE into tae 5reary
apartment 10 which / have referred.
two guards were placed IL special at
tendance on rne D.: my f~ieoG he IN
ei..y.' CT. Eathe-. tbs sergeant. - whom
now seemed soIGshow 10 cling as he
ing the only one tnot knowing word
of Germany with whom 1 cou,G how
ever Imperfect my French, discuss the
situations, Indeed. / went 80 far rs to
feel shat Fritz might rot De proof
against 4 Gextrousiy sdluinist cred two
frame piece. which / slipped in his hand
unseen.
Monsieur" he said. his features re-
taxing into bread grin, Il shall have
the honor tonight OF drinking the
health o. his majesty. the king!" and. if
bis los2Ity conid he accounted for BIZ I