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he has several companies of the militia under his command； and with
these brave men he has already penetrated into the heart of the
city； up to the principal guardhouse！ He has already surrounded the
Engelhaus； General Kinkel's headquarters； and is negotiating a
capitulation with the general。〃 This almost incredible intelligence
raised the enthusiasm of the Tyrolese to the highest pitch。 They
rushed forward with irresistible impetuosity toward the barracks and
disarmed all the soldiers who had remained there in order to relieve
their exhausted comrades。 Then they rushed again into the street；
toward the principal guard…house； where an obstinate struggle was
going on。 There； at the head of his regiment； stood Colonel
Dittfurt； firmly determined to die rather than surrender to the
peasants。
But the peasants came up in overwhelming numbers； and detachment of
sharpshooters； headed by Major Teimer； had already penetrated into
the general's house； and entered his sitting…room。 From the houses
all around； the Tyrolese were firing at the soldiers； who； gnashing
their teeth with rage and grief； did not even enjoy the satisfaction
of wreaking vengeance on them； for their enemies were concealed
behind the walls and pillars； while the soldiers were defenceless；
and had to allow themselves to be laid prostrate by the unerring aim
of the sharpshooters。
Angry； scolding； imperious voices were now heard at General Kinkel's
window； and a strange sight was presented to the eyes of the
dismayed soldiers。 Teimer's face； flushed with anger and excitement；
appeared at the window。 He was seen approaching it hastily and
thrusting General Kinkel's head and shoulders forcibly out of it。
〃Surrender！〃 threatened Teimer； 〃surrender； or I shall hurl you out
of the window！〃 ＇Footnote： Hormayr's 〃History of Andreas Hofer；〃
vol。 i。； p。 249。＇
〃Colonel Dittfurt；〃 cried General Kinkel； in a doleful voice； 〃you
see that further resistance is useless。 We must surrender！〃
〃No！〃 shouted the colonel； pale with rage； 〃no； we shall not
surrender； no； we shall not Incur the disgrace of laying down our
arms before this ragged mob。 We can die； but shall not surrender！
Forward； my brave soldiers； forward！〃
And Dittfurt rushed furiously； followed by his soldiers； upon the
Tyrolese who were approaching at this moment。
Suddenly he reeled back。 Two bullets had hit him at the same time；
and the blood streamed from two wounds。 But these wounds； instead of
paralyzing his courage； inflamed it still more。 He overcame his pain
and weakness； and； brandishing his sword； rushed forward。
A third bullet whistled up and penetrated his breast。 He sank down；
blood streamed from his mouth and his nose。
The Tyrolese burst into deafening cheers； and approached the fallen
officer to take his sword from him。 But he sprang once more to his
feet； he would not fall alive into the hands of the peasants； he
felt that he had to die； but he would die like a soldier on the
field of Honor； and not as a prisoner of the peasants。 Livid as a
corpse； his face covered with gore； his uniform saturated with
blood； Dittfurt reeled forward； and drove his soldiers； with wild
imprecations； entreaties； and threats toward the hospital； whence
the Tyrolese poured their murderous fire into the ranks of the
Bavarians。 But scarcely had he advanced a few steps when a fourth
bullet struck him and laid him prostrate。
His regiment； seized with dismay； shouted out that it would
surrender； and； in proof of this intention； the soldiers laid down
their arms。
The Bavarian cavalry； to avoid the disgrace of such a capitulation；
galloped in wild disorder toward the gate and the Hofgarten。 But
there Speckbacher had taken position with the peasants； who； mostly
armed only with pitchforks； had hurried to the scene of the combat
from the immediate environs of Innspruck。 But these pitchforks
seemed to the panic…stricken cavalry to be terrible； murderous
weapons； cannon would have appeared to them less dreadful than the
glittering pitchforks； with which the shouting peasants rushed upon
them； and which startled not only the soldiers but their horses
also。 The soldiers thought the wounds made by pitchforks more
horrible and ignominious than utter defeat； and even death。
Thunderstruck at their desperate position； hardly knowing what
befell them； unable to offer further resistance； they allowed
themselves to be torn from their horses by the peasants； to whom
they handed their arms in silence。 The Tyrolese then mounted the
horses； and in a triumphant procession； headed by Joseph
Speckbacher； they conducted their prisoners back to Innspruck。
＇Footnote： Hormayr's 〃History of Andreas Hofer；〃 vol。 i。； p。 250。＇
There the enemy had likewise surrendered in the mean time； and the
barracks which； until yesterday； had been the quarters of the
oppressors of the Tyrolese； the Bavarian soldiers； became now the
prisons of the defeated。 Escorted by the peasants； the disarmed and
defenceless Bavarians were hurried into the barracks； whose doors
closed noisily behind them。
Innspruck was now free； not an armed Bavarian soldier remained in
the city； but the Tyrolese； to the number of upward of fifteen
thousand； poured into the streets； and the citizens joined them
exultingly； and thanked the courageous peasants for delivering them
from the foreign yoke。 The city； which for three hours had been a
wild scene of terror； havoc； bloodshed； and death； resounded now at
the hour of mid…day with cheers and exultation； nothing was heard
but hurrahs； songs； and cheers for the Emperor Francis and the
beloved Tyrol。
Every minute added to the universal joy。 The victorious Tyrolese；
mounted on the horses of Cite Bavarian cavalry； and headed by the
proud and triumphant Speckbacher and a rural band of music； appeared
with their prisoners。 Two badly…tuned violins； two shrill fifes； two
iron pot…lids； and several jews'…harps； were the instruments of this
band。 But the musicians tried to make as much noise with them as
possible； and the citizens considered their music sweeter and finer
than the splendid tunes which the bands of the Bavarian regiments
had played to them up to this time。
New cheers rent the air at this moment。 A squad of peasants brought
the great imperial eagle； which they had taken down from the tomb of
Maximilian in the High Church of Innspruck。 They had decorated it
with red ribbons； and carried it amid deafening acclamations through
the streets。 On beholding the eagle of Austria； the excited masses
set no bounds to their rejoicings； they flocked in crowds to gaze at
it； citizens and peasants vied in manifesting their devotion to the
precious emblem； they blessed it and kissed it。 No one was permitted
to stay a long while near it； for the impatience of his successor
compelled him to pass on。 But an aged man； with silvery hair； but
with a form still vigorous and unbent； would not allow himself to be
pushed on in this manner。 An hour ago he had fought like a lion in
the ranks of the Tyrolese； and anger and rage had flashed from his
face； but now； at the sight of the Austrian eagle； he was as mild
and gentle as a lamb； and only