River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1899-01-26

Although there was no verbal reply
TO this, my attention was attracted the
next moment by, but l anticipate.
1t was an oppressively close evening
in 1870, when Ga self-appointed war cor
TespondenO ] was deposited at the lit
lie railway station of Mulheim, in the
Back Forest 1t came about in this
way: l was on a long vacation ramble
in Switzerland when the declaration
of war between France and Germany
startled Europe. | had no sooner heard
the war cry than [ sent kilograms TO
several London and one or two CONT
mental papers, announcing my willing
-ess to represent them at the front
with pen or pencil, or both.
1t was Lord Beaconsfield who said;
1.-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
MA Basle-for Mulheim, there TO await
the arrival of the next train for SaT
bruck, where the French and German
armies were concentrating. 1t was
while thus waiting that ] realized the
focusing Of many eyes upon me. A
so!dierly 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
Il have none"
"Soh! No passport, and in war time,
tool Your card, then"
Alas! / had given my last to fell
low tourist in Switzerland.
'Donnerwetter!" He was breaking
into his own vulgar vernacular now, so
l saw things we're getting serious.
"Who 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 q French spy. Consider yourself
my prisoner"
a French spy! Why, I'm an En-
giishman." I replied in my innocence.
80 much the better for French pur-
poses" he promptly replied, as he indi-
Gated the nearest way to the little wait
ing-room, where l 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 hav-
ing 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 that burly sergeant, who fol-
lowed stealthily behind me, and direct
~ | attempted to open the carriage
Coor, seized me uueeremoniously 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 : IttlS 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" | 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 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 | was being
taken off TO the common cell az Null
helm, when they were intercepted by a
young lieutenant. who having had my
case put before him, examined my
sketch book with as much gravity as if
ground plan of Ehreubreitstein were
therein delineated, but who at the
same time decided that I should be
taken to the guardhouse in the Black
Forest, to which place | was now sum-
marily marched off, followed by an ex-
cited crowd of tag, rag and bobtail who
would, l believe, have lynched me had
not my escort been too strong for them
i shall not easily forget the rough
handling to which I was subjected, the
iguominy with which l was treated, or
my subsequent delight on being taken
into dimly-lit room at this guard
house, which. by the way, was an inn
provised one, it being in reality forest
hotel, so situated on the frontier as to
have been at once requisitioned by the
military on the declaration of war.
On being ushered into the dreary
apartment to which l have referred,
two guards were placed in special at
tendance on me by my friend the en-
envy" or, rather, the sergeant, to whom
now seemed somehow 10 cling as be-
ing the only one (not knowing word
of Germany with whom I could. how
ever imperfect my French. discuss the
situation; indeed, l went so far as 10
feel that Fritz might not be proof
against a deXtrously administ cred two
franc piece which slipped in his hand
unseen.
Monsieur" he said, his features re-
taxing into a broad grin, 4 shall have
the honor tonight of drinking the
health Of his majesty, the kiug!" and if
his loyalty could be accounted for by
the color Of his nose. he must have been
a patriot indeed With this he, as sup
posed. departed for the night, but it
appeared afterwards it was only TO
make arrangements for my safe Gus
tody, for he presently returned with
marching orders. This lime was taken
down a long corridor, at the extremity
of which | was conducted, closely fol-
lowed by my villaiuous looking escort.
TO a veranda, where rows of empty
tables aud tip-tilted chairs betokened
the hotels departed luXuriance This
place had now quite a sinister aspt ct. 10
which the Black Forest Immediately be-
yond gave an additional gloom One
table, however at the end of the verau-
ds, was occupied by a group of four
who, by the light Of small lamp placed
thereon, I discovered, to my delight, to
be ordinary travellers, who, as later
on ascertained, were only awaiting re-
mittances expected the following
morning. to make rapid tracks from
the scene Of coming hostilities; fer the
rest the place was now "guardhcuse, !"
pure and simple, the sergeant appear
ing to have taken over the entire con-
troll of the well-stocked cellars from
which, he informed me, could on pay
ing war prices, have whatever refresh
ment | pleased. Nor was he long in
supplying my wants in this respect at
an exorbitant charge-brandy. settler