The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-10-14
Duels Of Heidelberg.
Correspondence the New York Tribune.
HEIDELBERG, Germany, Aug. l6


HEIDELBERG, Germany, Aug. 16, 1859.
l went the other morning with as many
as sixteen Americans to see some duels.
We met at seven A. M. on the bridge that
spans the Neckar, and as we saw the mem
bers of various societies 60 over we fol-
lowed, and soon were at the lane which
lead up to hotel, where, in the different
rooms, were the respective members of
these respectable (O societies. All was
mystery. No one knew any thing of what
would occur. The students were running
through and fro, with swords and wearing
apparel such as fighting gauntlets, long
boots, &C., &c. About eight o'clock sig
nal was given that all was ready, when the
swords Of each party were placed in barn
near by, where the fighting was to take
place. Bat suddenly policeman was seen
to come in the direction of the house, when
all the swords were secreted under the floor
of a wood shed, and from the hotel hurried
forth in hot haste the two parties (ready for
the 6ght.) accompanied by their seconds
and doctors, in the direction of the woods
behind the house. The remaining parties
all ordered beer, coffee, soup, cigars, &C.,
case the police should appear. l thought
it was 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 breakfasted, the belligerent
parties came sneaking back from the hills,
and soon were led fortn by their seconds to
said barn, and 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 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 jugu-
lars. The swords are about four feet long,
three fourths of an inch wide, blunt pointed,
with rough edge, being regular fencing
swords. If all is ready they begin, and en-
deavor to cut each other only on the head
or face. If the swords are bent or broken,
the parties are stopped by the seconds, who
examine the wounds, sew them up, if neces-
sary, straighten the swords, and the fighting
recommences. For fifteen minutes this con-
tinues, Unless one of the parties give out, or
they declare their revenge satisfied. Now
and then an ear or nose is cut Oft, aud
always more or less slashes are given across
the scalp, forehead or face. These marks
are regarded as honorable distinctions, Civ
ing evidence of bravery on the part of the
bearer. That morning saw no less than
eight duels. At half past ten all was fin-
ished, the heads bound up, the parties salts.
fed sufficient laper beer drank when all re-
turned to Heidelberg The police knew
full well when they saw SO many students
what he'd occurred, but, as German wo-
man said to me, they "put their hands be-
fore their eyes when the students go over
the river" Seven hundred students would
overpower the police in case they were in
clined, aud hence the ..dueling is allowed, as
many disgusting things are sewhere. Ger
tainly l have never seen fighting more indi.
cative of cowardice (if endeavors to prevent
being hurt would indicate it) than in this
manner of duelling with scilagers or swords.