WENT TO WAR FOR HER BROTHER.

Otago Witness, Issue 2456, 10 April 1901, Page 64

WENT TO WAR FOR HER BROTHER.

Albert Hasser of Germany was a Christmas visitor to Allegheny to see his sister. Kunieunde Hawser, who 30 years ago served in his stead a term in the army of the Fatherland. For two years and six months she served before it was discovered that sthe was not her brother, who was the person drafted.

The German lass of 20 years swas one of a family of eight children, seven of whom were girls. The mother was an invalid, the father blind and the (bread-winner for the family was the only son. Albert Hasser. TJje Fatkerla&d jyas engaged in was, 'Al-

bert Ha^sei vps drafted and starvation stared ths family in the fc.ee, when Kumannounced her intention of going into fie ai my ia her mother's place. The ia nily i, aited, trembling and fearful of discovci}', while the br«.\e gill put on her hi other' ■> clothes, imitated Ins appeal ance in eveiy po^ible way, pnd marched away with the others dialted to the war. Patnotistn is strong in the German woman, and it !^ci\ c to the spirit of Kunigunde Hasser a coaia^e full} equal to that of the men m her company. Htr letters Tftinie were ireqtient, and they were all signed wjrh rer brother's name and addressed to heraeif.

Duung her term of service she fought in thiee hnttlea, but was ne\ er once wounded. To ice she was made a prisoner. 111 1 took quite as much coinage to face the rough tieitment of the pr.bon life as it did to -tand Him to her pin pose on the battleiield when the bullets weie singing in her ears. They were subjtci, to the gicatest hardships ar.d fed on water and haid tack, with barely enough of that to keep them from staivalion. After being a prisoner for six w eel:s Miss Hasser escaped. fche cunningly eluded the guards and when, the prisoners, weie next counted ons was missing. She as recaptured m a week or two, and her second period of imprisonment was throe months long. All the suffering th\l could go with being huddled with a host of other pnsoneus in a place tluit was not a decent abode foi iats>, and ne\er once getting enough of the roughest fare to s>:itibi'y hunger, she endured and no one ever i>asnc^ted her seeiet.

lt^ was just after her thiid battle that trouble came in the shape ot discovery. 'lhcre had Lven great «-Jaugluer among the forces. It ree.ned .. s if most ot the^men in her company had been killed. She expected to bo killed herself, but a special Piovidence recced to jiotcct her, for .she was not c\cn wounded. The rcrnunt ot the company about a c misfire, some drooping on the grvund, nora out with the strain of the battle, otJieis b->th-ing the grime and perspiration from their faces and hands 'J he woman *was f> r nong the latter, rrd something .iious-d the suspicions of a i,lot soldier. He watr.Led life!" tor a lew p-iument* and then went up to whcie :-he stood and a--ked her name. She gave the name of "her brother. " Are you sine jou're a man? ' t>s"':ed the comiade doubtfulfy. " Quite sine, ' she responded coolly, but with trembling knees.

He went to the captain of the company end toM his suspicions. He called tl.e -iugeon and then the woman knew the hist hope of remaining undiscovered was gone, and she confessed that she had come in her brother's place and told the siory of the substitution. She expected to be shot, although the officers assured her that no luim diould come to her. On her kueos and in teirs ih& begged them to allow her to c ay a prayer and write a farewell to her mother before they condemned her to death. For some time she could not be made to understand that she was to receive no punishment, other than an honourable discharge for the noble pirt she had pliycd. 'I he scene around the ramp fue was one that will never be forgotten by those who ."aw it. Ihe heroic arid patriotic part she had played touched the hearts of the ioughest of the men, and many a soldier who would not have uttered a groan beim.ith the surgeon's knife blushed away a tear with the soiled, folood^ialnecl sleeve of his uniform.

George Hik'ebrand, who now lives in Chestnut street, Allegheny, was in the same company. Her"bravery caused Adam Karl, an officer of the company, to fall in love with her. She was sent home at once, ar.d for a long time he lost track of her, but w hen his term of service in the army expired he sought for her until he found her, but slu* could not be persuaded to become his wife.

Miss Hasacr's fear that when the company discovered her deception her brother v.ould be obliged to go and finish out the term of service, of which several months yet remained, was never realised, and he was not only left at home to take care of his parents and sisters, but the family was placed in a position from which not even a far-off glimpse of poverty could toe had. Miss Hasser came many years ago to Allegheny, where a number of her relatives reside, among them her aunt, Mrs Margaret Suttenger of Bigelow &treet. Eveiy year since she left the army her lover, Adam Karl, pays her a visit, but she still refuses to change her name. He also took up his aibode in this country some time ago and lives in New York. This Christmas her brother Albert, in whose stead she went to war, came over from Germany to see her. They have gone to New York now for a few days to visit her relatives. Miss Hasser has in her possession the uniform she wore in the army, her papers of honourable discharge and many other mementoes of her service as a soldier. — Pittsburg Post.