The Greenville enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1870-1873, 1870-03-09
A Duel With Swords in How York
.a Etesn.rrEr City. as.Ea, 'ev.s;

A Duel With Swords in New York
'esr.r.1 City. a ~,
The New York Herald states
that q duel took place in that city
on Sunday night, between Mr..
George Proude, an Englishman,
and Mr.. Francisco de Porto. the
Cuban who was seriously wound
ed in a duel with Mr.. Del Couto,
the editor of the Spanish journal
Ell Cronista, in Canada, last Sum
mer. The cause of this last affray
arose from certain taunts uttered
by Proude on Saturday, night, in
reference to the conduct of Gu
bans in New York city, which so
enraged De Porto that he spat in
Proude's face. Preparations for
a hostile meeting were at once en-
tered upon. The Herald says:
The seconds were not far away,
and, after a little consultation,
there was chosen on behalf of De
Porto a Mr.. Alfred Neill, and tor
Proude Mr.. Charles Pittman. The
compact was then agreed to; the
only question to be disposed of
was as to
THB WEAPONS AND THE BATTLE
%. ,E. .-.,f GROUND.
The combatants were deter,nin.
ed to Fl ght. Both were good
swordsmen both had wrongs-
the Cuban to avenge the slander
on his countrymen, his opponent
to wipe out the stain that the def
ant expectoratioH of De Porto had
inflicted. With what weapons
should they fght2 Pistols9 no /;
" for," said they, "any fool can
shoot; it takes q swordsman to
fight duel" and 30 swords we're
the weapons. De Porto insisted
on foils, but Proude desir d
the ordinary sabre used by cav.
airy. This question formed the
subject Of much wrangling, but f.
nally De Porto consented, and &C
far matters afforded mutual salts,
faction. All this occurred up town,
near the house of a 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 quietude of the place.
Few were aware that within an
hour one of two human beings
might breathe his last. The pre-,
parations were made in silence,
and the hour of two o'clock, yes.
terday morning, was awaited with
anxiety. The edges of the keen
blades were carefully. examined,
and for q heightened period scarce.
ly a word was spoken.
| STRIPPING FOR THE FRAY.
Ding, dong-it was two o'clock
In the spacious back parlor of the
house in question the parties as
sembled ere the echo of the chimes
had died out. Both combatants
stripped for the contest, the seconds
now and then whispering some
thing to those about to engage
Only a half dozen persons were
present, each one Of whom was
thrilled by a nervous excitement. a
splendid chandelier shed O food Of
light around the room, though 9th
erwise the place was excessively
cold so cold indeed, as to necessitate
the wearing of a thin walking Goa,
by each ofthe duelists, both of whom
were attired in tight pantaloons
all underclothing being entirely
dispensed with. All the arrange
ments having been completed, tn,
combatants announced their readi
ness to proceed.
II A DEAD SILENCE
ensued, while an ashy palenes
seemed to be the prevalent com
plexiou Of every man in the room
The word was given and the duel
lists crossed swords, and havin.
taken three paccs backwards, thu
fight commenced. At fret a sligh
timidity was apparent on bott
sides--nOt so much timidity. per
haps, as the nervous expectation
incident to the opening OF the en-
; counter. Finally, after some little
. hesitation, De Porto advanced
Proude meanwhile on the alert Il
receive him. The scene was ex
citing. All at once the few spec
tators were startled by asudden Gu
made by Proude at the head o
his opponent, who, however, def
ly parried, and retired a pace o.
} two. Up to the present both bat
Observed q comparatively seren,
demeanor, but it was evident th,
duel could not be a prolonged one