# Ollendorff — Roughing It character guide

> Ollendorff in Roughing It by Mark Twain.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Poor Ollendorff

**First appearance:** 0001-roughing-it

## Snapshot

A German miner whose good intentions keep capsizing canoes and losing trails, and who forgives his comrades beautifully when they all expect to freeze to death.

## Who they are

Ollendorff carries the camp's bad luck and its softest heart: he turned over the canoe, led the party in circles through the snow, and has nursed a wound ever since Mr. Ballou called him a logarithm. Facing what looks like death by freezing, he tearfully forgives everyone, throws away his whisky, and vows to devote his spared life to nursing the sick and pleading against intemperance. His sincerity is total and his reform lasts about as long as the weather, making him the expedition's most human and most forgiven failure.

## In the story

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/roughing_it_se/chapters/iii)

Mentioned as part of the party; the narrator refers to 'we three' climbing onto the seat behind the driver.

### [XXIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/roughing_it_se/chapters/xxix)

Implied as one of the younger partners (Clagget and Oliphant) who also resigned from the mining work.

### [The Flood at Honey Lake Smith's](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/roughing_it_se/chapters/xxx)

A Prussian traveling with the narrator and Ballou; present at the inn during the flood.

### [XXXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/roughing_it_se/chapters/xxxi)

The Prussian who panics during the canoe crossing, causing it to capsize, and later claims his instinct can guide them but leads them in circles.

### [XXXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/roughing_it_se/chapters/xxxii)

Attempts to light a fire with his revolver, forgives others, renounces whisky, and breaks down in tears.

### [XXXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/roughing_it_se/chapters/xxxiii)

Emerges from a snowdrift, later caught drinking from a bottle.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/roughing_it_se/characters/ollendorff
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/roughing_it_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/roughing_it_se/characters