Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1915-02-19
A HERO.

by Fred Brulat)


After the battle Of Charlcroi the Ger.
mans without firing a shot took possess
ion of the village of Diu in the Dcarpt-
mcni Of .Aisnc. a few kilometres form the
Belgian frontier.
4 company II Prussian Guards took up
thti in quarters ia the village and remained
there Il few DAYS. There Was no panic.
the population remaining calm. attending
Ia thgIr duties and business as usual.
Tie major who had a long conference
with the officer ia command gave his word
thai no acl If violence should be commit
ted by The inhabitants and in return r..
l%ceiNcl that their lives and property
should bc respected and that everything
taken should be- paid for in gold. a prom
isc which by the way was faithfully kept.
The people grew used 10 netting the Bo-
clspS without fear and the only thing that
surprised them was the good behavior of
the enemy
The declaration of war had been follow
cd by a reconciliation Of the mayor and
the priest 0f the village. the common dan
ger az eliminating all political quarrcls.
The only person ~ the village. who still
held a lopf was the school teacher. III.
llickan Il tiniid. silent person who did
not show himself outside his house until
the people began To whisper that he must
be afraid of hiS precious skin.
Tow ar,lS the end oi the week when the
Germans were getting ready To cyacuaic
the village 4 shot was fired just after sun
down. IL created u trriblc sensation.
Who had fired lhe shot? Nobody knew.
but every body felt sure that The Germans
would exact 4 dreadful punishment. a
few minutes later 4 German officer 4 inter-
n the mayors residence. The discussion
was very short. Twelve hostages were i'm
mediaiely asked for. and these were Ia be-
shot before nightfall unlsS the guilty par
a. gave himself mp.
Nohody had been hit. but \ Pru>>ian
corporal had heard the bullet whiz past
his head. Ia vain did the mayor ask for
forgiveness.
You want hostages" he said at last.
Then take me as the first"
And me as the second. said the priest.
Three old men also offered themselves
and the Germans themselves picked ont
seven rsorc inhabitants and all were lined
mp against "A wall at the nd Of main street.
The dreadful moment approached. \
deep silence broolctl over the village. cv-
crybudN was terrified.
Suddenly 4 man burst thru the firing
squad. lie was very pale. but carried him
self proudly erect and his face wore an cx
preston of determination. Ii was the tea
cher. NJ. liickan. At this moment no one
could accuse him Of being timid.
III am The guilty one. TX said simply.
Yes. II was ! who fired the shot. Rclca>'
thc>g mca and take ntc. | am ready and
10 not fear death
There vas q moment of general amaze
mrni. Several villagers had seen the tea.
cher IN the midst Of his pupils "a the mo
mcnt when the shot was fired and knew
that hc could not possibly be- the guilty
one. The oilers were set free Immediately.
1t was eight o'clock When = volley rang
out and VI. IIickan died the death Of 4 he
ro-onc ~ The unknown heroes of whom
history will never Snak aud whose fate il
had hrcn "a ~ mi>iudgvd by his fellow
/ citizens unit Ian extraordinary event re-
vralcl to them and perhaps To- himSeldi
the s~trlngcSt trait in his character.