The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-02-15
A DUEL BY GAsLIaHT.
Exciting Sword OOmbat-FiRht Between n
Cuban and an EnRlishman-Tbey Fight with
sabres-BOth Men Wounded.

sabres-Both Men Wounded.
The latest New York sensation Is as follows
The name of Francisco de Porto is we'll
known. He is Cuban, and has already proved
his love of country. Young-his age being
twenty-eight = muscular, though 1.-the and
active, and of ordinary height De Porto is
handsome, dashing fellow, with a brilliant black
eye denoting fire and energy. II appearances
form any criterion, he Is modest and unpre-
tending.
It may be mentioned that De Porto has al
ready figured prominently in the Cuban war,
and since his return TO this city has taken an
active part in the affairs of the Cuban Junta.
His latest opponent was Mr.. George Proude,
an Englishman, not very dissimilar in either age
or appearance to his antagonist.
WHAT CAUSED THE QUARREL.
That the members of the Cuban Junta have
recently been subjected to severe criticism for
the alleged tardness of their actions has hereto
fore fully been explained. Moreover, the Cubans
in this CITY, those at least ever seemingly anxious
about expeditions, have from time to time been
subjected to censure from some cause which
even their critics could not clearly define. IL
was alleged, forsooth, that the Junta intended
nothing practicable, that the young Cubans
were disportlng them around the city, wishing
at the same time that men of other nationaltles
should go forth and fight for their freedom.
Matters went on in this way for o week or
two, when at length the seeds of enmity which
had so quickly ripened bloomed forth in anger
on Saturday night. By design or accident the
quarrel was renewed Words were spent freely
until at length characteristic observation by
Proude--an observation significant of an APP
preaching kiek-placed De Porto In fever heat,
the result OF which was that he
sPAT IN HIS OPPONENTS FACE.
There was crowd present and the issue was
apparent. The circumstance created considera-
BILE eXcitement-the duel was at hand. Boiling
with indignation, Proude Immediately rendered
the challenge to mortal combat-a challenge
xu1f oh hxraa at rtn1 md
contentment was thereupon displayed by ali.
The only question to be disposed OF was as to
THE WEAPONS AND THE BATTLE GROUND.
With what weapons should they fght2
Pistols? no; for, said they, "any fool can shoot:
It takes ,H to ht and
foils, but Proude desired the ordinary sabre
used by cavalry. This question formed the
subject of much wrangling, but finally De Porto
consented, and so far matters afforded mutual
satisfaction. All this occurred up town, near
the house of common friend and fashionable
one at that in West Nineteenth street.
To that house, then, the parties, accompanied
by their seconds, on Sunday. night repaired
There was no noise, no unusual sound to disturb
the ouietude of the place. Few were aware that
within an hour one of two human beings
might probably breathe his last. The prepara-
tions were made In silence, and the hour of 3
o'clock yesterday morning was awaited with
anxiety.
STRIPPING FOR THE FRAY.
Ding, dong--it was 2 o'clock. In the spacious
back parlor of the house in question the parties
assembled ere the echoes of the chimes had
died out. Both combatants stripped for the
contest the seconds now and then whispering
something to those about to engage. only a
half dozen persons were present, each one OF
whom was thrilled by nervous excitement. A
splendid chandelier shed food of light around
the room, though otherwise the place was ex-
cessively cold so cold, indeed, as to necessitate
the wearing of thin walking coat by each of
the duellists, both of whom were attired in tight
pantaloons, all under-cloihing being entirely
dispensed with.
"A DEAD SILENCE
ensued, while an ashy paleness seemed to be the
prevalent complexion of every man in the room.
The word was given and the duellists crossed
swords, and, having taken three PAGES back
wards, the fight commenced. AT first slight
timidity was apparent on both sides-not so
much timidity, perhaps, as the nervous expecta-
tion incident to the opening of the encounter.
Finally, after some little hesitation, De Porto
advanced Proude meanwhile on the alert to
receive him. The scene was exciting. All at
once the few spectators were startled by sud
den cut made by Proude at the head of his
opponent, who, however, deftly parried and
retired pace or two.
ADMIRABLE swoRDsMANsHIP .
was displayed, the cuts being rapid, we'll
directed, and parried with precision. Up to the
present. which was about five minutes from the
commencement, De Porto had escaped with a
SllglJ ScraJcn on his Cnebb fTOuuC DelnS uQ-
harmed, when suddenly, De Porto offering a
| tempting chance, Proude advanced upon him
and inflicted diagonal cut upon the right thigh.
| 1t was fatal move for Proude, for no sooner
had he leaned forward to make the cut than,
with lightning-like rapidity, De Porto following
up the contrGfilio, gashed his opponent on the
! right shoulder causing wound some 1--WE inches
| In length and about one and half inches in
| depth. His sword arm was disabled
! THE DUEL WAS OVER.
Proude dropped his blade exclaiming, ''Enough
| for me to-day; you will give me my revenge
another time" to which De Porto replied
~ am always at your disposition"
Subsequently the parties shook hands and
| the wounds were examined That Inflicted on
| De Porto, though some eight inches in length
was scarcely quarter Of an inch in DEPTH while
! Proude's was of q serious character the blood
streaming from it in profusion. He was imme.
diately conveyed to his residence in Brooklyn
where the proper assistance was procured.
And thus terminated the sanguinary contest
the chivalrous Cuban on the one hand vindi
eating the slight cast upon his countrymen, and
the Englshman avenging the bitter insult he
had sustained. At the conclusion OF the duel
DE Porto-who, by the way, was an officer or
the Lillian-intmated with marked GOODNESS
that he was always at home in West Twenty
second street for any person who took the
liberty of questioning the rectitude OF the Cubar
cause and Its supporters.