The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1912-01-20
Continued from Page ~
ANDREAS HoFER.

natlOnal nOl1Qay the feast day OF the
Sacred Heart, to whom he consecrated
again the land of the Tyrol. The
Tyrolese were victorious, and Hofer
entered the town of Innsbruck at the
head of his men; the inhabitants re-
NAMED in their houses listening to the
triumphant songs of the fierce noun
taineers. Great was their astonish-
ment when the tumult ceased, and pro-
found silence reigned, the bells of the
Churches were ringing out the An,
gelus, and the victors prayed kneeling
in the streets, their rifles in their
hands.
A month of tranquility passed; then
Napoleon again crossed the Danube,
to win at Wagram. Again Hofer was
placed at the head, and again, after
fierce fighting, the Tyrolese were vic
torious BY the unanimous consent of
the nation, the Sandwich took over
the civil and military government of
the country. With difficulty he was
persuaded to take up his residence in
1.-THE Palace at Innsbruck. He took the
smallest and most unpretentious room,
and placed in the dining hall a large
crucifix and statue of the Blessed
| Virgin. At all functions he wore his
| peasants dress, and for decorations
he wore a copper crpcifix and medal
of St. George. Morning and evening
he visited the parish church to pray,
and after supper in the presence of
his retainers he recited the Rosary
On the .4th of October a great
thanksgiving service was held in the
Hofkirch. The Bishop of Wilten re-
ceived Hofer and his councillors at
the church and conducted them to a
place of honor before the high altar.
The TIE Deum was sung, and the
Bishop placed a chain of gold, sent by
Emperor Francis. on the neck of their
leader.
But peace was short-lived.
{. Hofer's last days were tragic, but
beautiful. He made his way over the
snow, after placing his wife and fam
lily in safety, accompanied only by the
secretary, to the top of the Brantach,
where he took UP his abode in "a little
Alp hut. Provisions were brought
every night by brave peasant. Gen
eral Huart set out with 1900 men to
hunt him, and his family had to fee,
his wife and son taking refuge with
him. The other children were hidden
in house at st. Martin
i A worthless wanderer betrayed
Hofer's hiding place, and the next
morning at four o'clock it was sur
rounded by soldiers. Hofer stepped
outside. cart thou .Andreas Hofer?'
demanded an officer. Il am" an
swered Hotter. you have come te
take me prisoner? Well, do with me
what you will, but spare, I pray you
my wife and child and this young
man"
: Hofer and his wife were bound; and
, the secretary and the boy were obliged
to walk over ice and snow with bare
feet to st. Martin The following day
Hofer arrived at Bozen, where Genera
d'Hilliers treated him with great kind
. ness, and released his wife and son
Under strong escort Hotter was sem
to Mantua in Italy, and on the 18th o.
February he was placed on trial
: There was not a majority in favor 81
his death sentence. and they sent tx
Milan for instructions. The order came
for Hofer to be shot in twenty-foul
hours. The few hours that remained
to him he spent in writing to his wife
and old friend. He heard Mass anl
! received Holy Communion. The cor
poral would have bound his eyes, bu
Hofer refused, saying he did not feal
to look death in the face, whereupol
! the corporal came forward and sho
him through the head
So persisted Andreas Hofer. the herr
and martyr of Tyrol.
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