The Oskaloosa herald., 1902-04-10
EXILE OR DEATH.
Romantic Experience of an Eddy
vile Citizen.
tFrom Des Moines Leader }

|
saving the crown prince OF Prussia
from capture by the French. Years
ago Adam Biihler came to the town Oh
Eddyville, in Wapello county, and OPP
ened a small shop. He talked llttie'
He worked hard. His business grew
and prospered. Then he went back 70
Germany. And that was all people
knew. Adam Biihler, the butcher
they met in business way every day.
They did not suspect that his lie
history was different from that OF any
other German immigrant. But In a
moment of confidence he told MS
story to few friends who had gath
cred in his shop. Later it began 10
be noised abroad; at last it became
public property.
In an early period of the Franco
Prussian war a regiment commanded
by the Crown Prince Frederick or
Prussia was encamped on the west
bank of the Rhine in the valley OF
small tributary stream. The troops
were bound for Paris, but had halted
in their expedition to await reinforce
ments. There had been one or two
slight skirmishes with the French
short time before, and guards had been
posted on the sides and SUBMITS OF
two hills that hemmed in the valley or
either side. Stationed upon the very
highest point of one of these, whence
he had a view of the surrounding coun-
try for many miles, was Adam Biihler
He coul hear, far down in the valley,
laughter and shouting, for the soldiers
laughter and shouting for the soldiers,
fancying security from attack, had
given themselves up to revelry. He
could discern the white tents of the of.
ficers, and the little rivulet flashing in
the sun. But in the opposite direction
there was no sound, nothing was to be
seen-only the monotonous hills, green
in the foreground, then hazy, then lost
in the distance. Back and forth, to and
fro he paced, stopping now and then t.
rest upon a stone, now gazing toward
the camp and longing for the hour
when the relief should come, now scan
ming the hills for some sign OF
the enemy.
Leave your post under no circum
stances whatever" These were his or
ders. Once he thought he saw some
thing black moving afor off, but con-
cluded it only existed in his magma
ton. With yawn he turned to watch
his comrades in the valley. firing of
that, too, he shouldered his gun and
began the weary round once more. But
as his eyes rested on the nearby hills
he was startled at the sight of body
of men winding over the passes and
through the defiles. Slowly, cautiously,
then resuming their march. Could the,
be friends? No! Not coming from that
direction. AS they approached the
mound on which he stood they divided,
one party skinting it on the left, the
other on the right. Plainly, they in
tended to surprise the German forces.
fall upon them from both sides at once
and slaughter them at leisure in a trap
What should he do? Call? No one was
within hearing distance. Signal? I'm.
possible, Allow his friends to miser-
ably perish? Never. Disobedience of
orders was the only alternative. He
had but one life to give for his
countrv. when could he offer it in
nobler sac"ifice than now?
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 glor-
ious victory. Adam Biihler had seen
all from his station on the heights
He was at his post when the guard
came to relieve him. The solitary
crow that kept him company, even if
it had had intelligence, would not
have noticed his absence. But he had
disObeyed. He was placed under arrest
and thrust into the guard house. He
had expected it, and was neither sorry
nor resentful. In a day or two the
court martial would try him, and
would sentence him to the death of
coward. Lying awake in the dead of
night, he heard a noise outside his
cell. The door opened. The faint
light Of the waning moon revealed a
group of men. Their faces were
masked their voices subdued. $50
soon?" he thought, as he was ordered
to step out. He knew that among them
were the crown prince and others of
his officers. But there was no word of
recognition-only a hoarse command,
you have horses. See how fast You
can 60" He was hurried to the door
of the prison and placed in the saddle.
Two mounted attendants rode beside
him. On, on, they sped through the
night. At each post fresh horses
awaited them. Not stopping for sleep,
hardly for food, they pursued their
mad race to the north. On the sec
ond day they reached the "Bremer.
Haven" and the three parted.
Strangers met Adam Biihler and
in his hands passports and money.
THE ship is ready, now SAIL" they
said.
In a few days he landed in New
York. an exile. After a short stay in
the east he came to Eddyville, where
lived an elder brother, the village
tailor. Time passed and messages be-
gan 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
a breach of discipline to go unnoticed!
William died and Crown Prince
Frederick succeeded to the throne.
Bismarck's influence was no longer
great enough to keep the hateful pen
atty in force. Adam Biihler was noti-
fled of an imperial decree permitting
him to return to his country a free
man. In 1887, after disposing of his
property in Eddyville,. he went back
to Germany. A purse of more than
100000 marks, or $4,000, was pre-
sented to him by the emperor. He
married little later, and two years
ago died, surrounded by the friends of
his youth.
Two things In the treatment of
nasal catarrh are now fully understoo
nasal catarrh are now fully un-