M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1859-09-29
Correspondence Ofthe n. Y. Tribune.
DueIs at Heidelberg.
IErrpr1nEna. Germany. Anr. ~. Is

! HEIDELBERG, Germanyi Aug. 10, 1863.
| went the other morning with as
many as sixteen Americans to see
some duels. We met at Z A. M. on
the bridge that spans the Neckar, and
as we saw the members Of fvarious so.
cieties 90 over, we followed, and soon
were at the lane which leads up to a
hotel, where, in the different rooms
were the respective members of those
respectable (D societies. All was a
mystery, No one knew anything Of
what would occur The students were
running to and fro with swords and
weaving apparel, such as fighting
gauntlets, long boots, &c. About S
o'clock a signal was given that all
was ready, when the swords of each
party were placed in a barn near by,
where the fighting was to take place.
But suddenly policeman was seen
to come in the direction Of TIE
house, when all the swords were
secreted under the floor ola woOdshed,
and from the hotel hurried forth in hot
haste the two parties (ready fer the
fight accompanied by their seconds
and the doctors, in the direction of
the woods behind the house. The re-
naming parties all ordered beer, col.
fee, soup, cigars, &C., which was to
cover the whole affair in case the po-
lice should appear. thought it was
q capital scheme of the landlord to get
the police there about that time, as
we were all hungry and he made
money BY the operation.
After.all had breakiasted, the bel
ligerent parties came sneaking back
from the hills, and soon were LED forth
by their seconds to said barn, ana the
duels commenced. The combatants
are well protected from injury, save
their heads, which are bare. The
right arm is wound with cloth until it
is as big as a mans thigh, and too
heavy to hold; it is supported, when
not fighting, by the seconds. The neck
| is also wound with cloths to the ears
to protect the jugulars. The swords
are about four feet long, three ,tourths
ofan inch wide, blnnt pointed, with a
rough edge, being regular feucing
swords. If all is ready they begin.
and endeavor to cut each other only
on the head or face. Ifthe swords are
bent or broken, the parties are stopped
Iby the seconds, who examine the
wounds, sew them up, if necessary,
straighten the swords, ard the fighting
recommenccs. For fifteen minutes
this continues, unless one of the par.
ties give ont, orthey declare their re.
venge satisfied. Now and then an ear
ora nose is cut of, ard always some
more or less slashes are givon across
the scalp, forehead or face. These
marks are regarded as honorable dis
tlnctions, giving evidence of bravery
on the part ofthe bearer. That NOR.
ming | saw no less than eight duel8. =
At half-past ten all was finished, the
heads bound up, the parties satisfied,
sufficient lager beer drank, when all
returned to Heidelberg. The police
knew full well when they saw so many
students what had occurred, but, as a
German woman said to me, they "put
their hands before their eyes when the
students 60 over the river" Seven
hundred students could overpower the
police in case they were inclined, and
hence the dueling is allowed, au many
disgusting things are elsewhere. Ger.
ltainly lhave never seen fighting more
indicative Of cowardice Gf endeavors
to prevent being hurt would indicate
IiD than in this manner Of fdueling with
SchtGgerS or swords. .. r..
| . ..