Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-04-15

orders. Once he thought he saw SOME
thing black moving afar off, but con-
cluded it only existed in his magma
ton. With yawn he turned to Watch
his comrades in the valley. Tlrlng OF
that too, he shouldered his gun and
began the weary round once more. But
as his eyes rested on the nearby nils
he was startled at the sight OF BODY
of men winding over the passes and
through the defiles. Slowly, cautious
ly they advanced, sometimes pauslng,
then resuming their march. Could they
be friends? No! Not coming from
that direction. AS they approached
the mound on which he stood they d.
vided, one party skirting it on the left,
the other on the right. Plainly, they
INTENDED to surprise the German forces
fall upon them from both sides at once,
and slaughter them at their leisure in
a trap. What should he do? Call?
No one was was within hearing dis
lance. Signal? Impossible. Allow his
friends to miserably perish? Never!
Disobedience of orders was the only
alternative. He had but one life to
give for his country. When could he
offer it in nobler sacrifice than now?
Throwing discretion to the winds
and thinking only of the lives of his
comrades, Biihler dashed down the
hillside and gave the alarm and, turn
ing, back to his post as quickly as
possible, but not in time to escape
the eagle eyes of the higher officers,
who discovered him away from his
post of duty.
The day was saved. Warned just
in time, the army had withdrawn from
} the ominous shadows of the hills and
: had taken it's position in the open.
There, by force of greater numbers
} and superior bravery, it had Won a
glorious victory. Adam Biihler had
seen all from his station on the
4 heights. He was at his post when the
guard came to relieve him. But he
4 had disobeyed. He was placed under
arrest and thrust into the guard
house. He had expected it, he was
neither sorry nor resentful In day
n or two the court martial would try
him, and would sentence him to the
\ death of a coward
Lying awake in the dead of night
he heard noise outside his cell. Thu
Y door opened. The faint light of tn
4 waning moon revealed a group of men
Il Their faces were masked, their voices
a subdued. $50 soon?" he thought, a
q he was ordered to step out. He knew
that among them were the crow
prince and others of his officers. Blu
there was no word of recognition
Il only hoarse command "You hav
a horses. See how fast you can CO." H
was hurried to the door of the prison
and placed in the saddle. Two mount
ed attendants rode beside him. On
on they sped through the night. A
each post fresh horses awaited them
:, Not stopping for sleep, hardly for food
= they pursued their mad race to The
: north. On the second day they reach
ed the "Bremer-Haven," and the three
parted. Strangers met Adam Biihlel
and placed in his hands passports ant
money 'The ship is ready, now sail,
!, they said.
l In a few days he landed in New
J. York, an exile. After short stay in
| the east he came to Eddyville where
| lived an elder brother, the village tail
! or. Time passed and messages began
I to arrive from the fatherland. His
king knew that he had saved the lives
: of others. But he was still an exile
!. Bismarck could not allow such {
Z breach of discipline to go unnoticed.
William QleQ aHu CroWH Tilncs
5 Frederick succeeded to the throne
l. Bsmarck's influence was no Longer
9 great enough to keep the hateful pen
e atty in force. Adam Biihler was mott
!, fed of an imperial decree permitting
0 him to return to his country fret
y man. In 1887, after disposing of his
e property in Eddyville, he went back Il
q Germany A purse of more than 100,
900 marks, or $4,000, was presented
!, to him by the emperor. He married
!, a little later. and two years ago died
IL surrounded by the friends of hi
y youth.