Tyrol (Austria) -- History -- Uprising of 1809 -- Fiction
In 1824, a tardy act of justice was done by the Emperor of Austria.
The remains of Hofer were removed to Botzen; and thence, in solemn
procession, to Innsbruck, where they were interred in the imperial
church, on the day following the fourteenth anniversary of his
execution. The Tyrolese flocked to join the funeral in astonishing
multitudes. The governor of the Tyrol took part in it; the nobles and
dignitaries of the land swelled the train; long columns of imperial
troops slowly marched to the solemn strains of music that befit a
soldier's funeral. Then came the priests in their sacred vestments,
with crosier and crucifix borne aloft. On the coffin lay Hofer's
hat, sword, gold chain, and medal. Twelve of his brother innkeepers
bore the pall, and many of his companions in arms followed in the
procession. The Abbot of Wiltau pronounced the funeral benediction,--a
requiem was chanted; and then--they left his perishable remains with
all the honours that perishable men have to give.
A monument has since been erected over his tomb, which is not far from
that giant-guarded one of the Emperor Maximilian, and excites as much
interest, though of a different kind. His statue well represents him
in his accustomed peasant-garb, his face turned heavenward, one hand
grasping the national banner, the other holding the barrel of the rifle
slung from his shoulder. His sword-belt bears his initials, and the
date of the Year Nine. The whole embodies your conception of the man.
His name continues to be a dangerous spell. It is spoken under the
breath, if spoken at all. Gold cannot buy any memoir of his life
in the Tyrol. The German accounts of him are in the highest degree
depreciating. His poor relics in the Innsbruck Museum were at one time
deemed too exciting to be seen. But his spirit still lives among the
mountains: his name will never perish.
It was soon after the statue had been erected, that a couple of men
might have been seen attentively gazing upon it. The taller and elder
of the two leant strongly on the shoulder of the younger--the likeness
they bore one another bespoke them father and son.
Speckbacher gazed long and earnestly--then dashed away a tear. "'Tis
himself," murmured he, in a low, emphatic voice; "as like as stone can
be to flesh and blood. See, Anderl! how a plain, homely, upright man
may achieve fame! But yet this sinks into nothing, compared with his
heavenly reward."
THE END.
* * * * *
R. CLAY, PRINTER, BREAD STREET HILL.
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Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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