The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1867-09-21

said Pcrdious would conform to certain condi-
tions, it is hereby agreed that OH tomorrow
morning ut ---, the said parties shall meet
with their respective friends, and such others
ms may choose to attend at the old brick yard
tltar Nlarigny's cniial, to decide the question
lt is further agreed, that the parties shall
meet with broad swords, and that neither of
tlcm shall use the point or thrust, but shall
conlinc himself to the counter point game, tls
dcf the penalty of being ruled ont; the fight
to continue until the bet be decided or either
party agree to forfeit his stake
This curious document, after having been
critically examined by the principals, was Sign
cd BY them, and their seconds, who, untortu-
natcly, happening to be young. reckless fellows,
could not sec anything in this beyond a ''gool
joke"
| The two advcrsares then resumed their
friendly game Of dc,ninocs, drank their usual
amount of pony brandics, and parted as usual
about midnight, with The most cordial wishes
for uarh others health and prosperity.
During the evening, however. the news
sprrad like willtirc. that Hermann had engaged
to cut off Pcrlio,,s head for ten dollars side
and that the fight was cnn,ing off ut Fix in the
morning. The police as usual. took good care
to take no notice Of it; but to let their friends
at leiH"rr know Of the sport in store, which
they. with sigh said they could not convcn-
ientIy attend.
| The spot chosen Tor tho mctting was ntar
the old "a""l Marigny, formerly Il plantation
drain, enlarged afterwards to accommodate the
growing city.
At an early hour cray crowd was COLLECTED
on and around the ground, discussing the pro-
bablc result Of the bet, and warmly taking part
each fct his i;,vortc
| Soon afterwards the two antagonists. arm in
arm, were seen to approach. ;,hd we're greeted
with mrst upr"arous cheers. which they ac-
Eho@lcdgcd in Il C urtcu,,y manner. and for
time it seemed ii the main object had been
entirely overlooked, and the PARTIES M the
ground were preparing for some great hunt or
picnic.
There Was, however. II notable dilTccncc i,
twsc" the inspect "i the men. l1cvman:,, !:kc
true '].unicicr:" WAS full Of boast and !,gag.
twisting his gray :nuustachc: and swinyn. to
- .:2 Oh his long, nervous Ices. while Per
diou: w:s mere reserved, more guarded. and
slight nervous ;rcridation ct the muscles Of hi,
handsome face WAS clearly rcrccp,bc
Finally the scconls>ucccclrl in clearing the
ground or at least much a- WAS at first ne
ccssary and soon the parties stood face to face
the advantage of the sun having been fairly
divided. 50 that each had it one side and ncli-
cr i'll front. BY the necessity of the arrange
mcnt. Pcrdious was placed with his back to the
canal the banks Of which were II little higher
than the ground on which he stood and from
which he WAS separated by not more than one
acre of clear open ground.
The conditions having been read aloud. the
parties were then respectively armed by their
friends, when Hermann, who had slightly i'm
bibcd i'll the morning called 20 ssccon,ls, and
as VIC learnt afterwards, that he knew full well
'crdious wls no match for him, and that he
did not intend to hurt HIM but only give him
IL lesson by compelling to break" or retreat as
far as the canal, and there force him ill.,
Inexperienced as were his seconds, they
strongly demonstrated against such a plan
which almost invariably proves fatal and lad
but few years before, under similar circnnl
stances and on the very same spot, caused the
death Ola celebrated French fencing ,,<tcrlmuch
addicted to bullying, who having picked up y
quarrel with ii French journalist not skilled in
the use Of weapons had been challenged by
him. chose the broad-sworl, and rs much with
Il view to spare the mans life rs to make him
ridiculous had succeeded in driving him to
within IL few inches of t. c brink of the canal
when, i'll the attempt to lrghtcn him into
further retreat, he aimed terrible blow at his
head, thus throwing himself completely ont Of
guard. while the young Frcnchnan, who, as
brave as he was unskilcd seeing that further
retreat impossible, stood the attack WITH
out ilinching, and instead Of losing. time III the
attempt to parry the threatened blow, made II
terrible straight ungc at his uncovered ad
ycrsary and buried his sword to the hlt i'll his
| breast.
But this example could not dieter Hermann
from having his fun, and tllcswords having been
finally crossed about four inches from the point, !,