The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1868-02-22 00:00:00

A RELIC OF BYGONE DAYS.

A short time ago a human skeleton was found at
Droughty Ferry Castle while making a drain. The
skeleton appeared to be that of a strong, full-grown
man, and was lound about two and a half feet from
the surface of the ground. The skull bore a mark as
if a wound had been inflicted with a rapier. Great
numbers of persona visited the spot, and considerable
curiosity was manifested as to how any skeleton could
have been found there. A person residing in Dundee
supposes the skeleton to be that of a French officer
who was killed in an encounter with a British cavalry-
man at Broughty Castle, and furnishes the follow-
ing particulars as his reason for thinking so:—About I
45 years ago there resided at ('spar an old man
who earned his livelihood by teaching young men I
sword exercise. In his young days he belonged to a
cavalry regiment, and hail the reputation of being a
first-class swordsman. His regiment was stationed
at Cupar during the imprisonment of some French
soldiers, but, notwithstanding the utmost cordiality
exhibited between the French and British offi-
cer!, while the latter were dining together one
day a conversation rose on sword exercise, and one
of the French officers set himself forth as a match
for any. The feeling of rivalry naturally existing
between the officers of the two nations was excited to
a high pitch, and the conversation ended by the
officer of the British regiment engaging that he would
even find II man in the ranks who would beat him.
The day for the combat was fixed, and the betting was
heavy on both sides. The young man beforcimentioned
was the man chosen to test the ability of the French
officer. The combat resulted in the ignominious de-
feat of the latter, and in the British officers pocketing
a large sum. The French officer left the ground
indignant and ashamed at being defeated by a common
private, and before his coniraAes and the British
I officers. To retrieve his lost honour he challenged the
cavalryman to a second encounter, which the latter
accepted, and again proved victorious, disarming his
opponent, and carrying off his sword as a trophy.
Shortly after this the officers entertained the gallant
young swordsman to dinner, and offered to reward
him with £'2.00 if he would teach them the " cuts' and
"guards" which he used This offer was refused
by the young man replying that he would not,
and but for the antagonistic relation of the two
nations, he would have taught them for as many
shillings. The French officers, determined if
possible to "turn the tables," sent another chal-
lenge to him a few days afterwards; but on this
occasion he was to be opposed by another French offi-
cer, a powerful man, reckoned to be one of the best
swordsmen in the army. A spot at Broughty Castle
was fixed upon as the meeting-place, and both men
appeared punctually on the ground. The contest
lasted for an hour, and the greatest excitement pre-
vailed among those who were spectators. The
French officer became enraged at being unable to take
advantage of his opponent, and the latter, suspecting
that his antagonist would kill him the first opportu-
nity, dealt him a fatal blow and he fell to the ground
lift4e.eg. He was buried at the spot by his comrades,
and the skeleton lately found is thought to lie his
from the supposed rapier mark on the skull.