Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1873-05-09
HEIDELBERG.

HEIDELBERG.
Description Of German Student
Duel.
Correspondence Cleveland Herald
One of the most exciting and in
tcresting phases of score" student
life is dueling, which flourishes in
this city with all the vigor of the
eighteenth century. If your readers
are fond of bloodshed | will take
them to a scene which one would
hardly expect to exist in this age of
refinement.
We go down the Hauptstrasse
(principal street), over the bridge
that spans the Neckar, thence along
the river to house called the
Hirshgrassa, an isolated building
about quarter of a mile from the
town. Ascending to the second
story, in our journey passing some
five or six large, ferocious dogs,
which are kept at the entrance to
terrify the police authorities, we
find ourselves in an antc-room, ad-
joining the Schlaght thinner Eight
ing room.)
This room contains all the para
phernalia of photographers, broad
swords, padded gloves, bandages,
coats, dueling glasses, etc. Here
the parties to the strife are stripped
to the waist and a coarse linen shirt,
without the sleeve for the right
arm, is put on. Then a pad is put
under the arm and tied up close by
a string around the neck, SO that
the wcarcr is obliged to keep this
arm extended in horizontal posi-.
ton. Next the arm is wound with
silk bandages to the shoulder. A
heavy padded glove is put on and a
padded coat which protects the
body. Another pad is placed upon
the neck, iron spectaclcs over the
eyes and this elaborate toilette is
completed.
Now let us 60 into the next room,
the scene Of action. 1t is large
well lighted apartment, containing
one or two tables and a small bar
| A few waiter glrls are in attendance,
and the room is filled with "core'
students. They are talking in an
undertone, probably discussing the
merits of the two belligerents, as
they are now taking their ground
and stand advising with their sec
onds.
The contestants are then placed
with the right foot forward, and
the left side turned from the oppo.
nent, so as to e out of danger, SO
that only the head and face are ex-
posed to injury.
The timer stands ready with note.
book and watch in hand, while op-
posite him stands the referee aud
contestants, with their seconds
The old surgeon is buzzing around
like floor manager, completing his
arrangements for taking care of the
wounded.
When everything is in readiness
the timer speaks to the referee says
a word to the two seconds, and amid
breathless silence the latter gives
the word of command, "JNessiers,
or, gehen sic los" Gn plain English,
ego loose'), the dueiists make three
strides toward each other, and the
clash commences.
The rapiers are seen to vibrate a
few seconds in their nervous grasp,
and then stroke and parry are given
in quick succession. So rapidly
are the blows given that one can
scarcely see the slender blade as i,
cuts through the air with whist
ling noise. At each parry the fire
flies from the ringing blades, and
soon the cry of "halt' is heard. as
blood is discovered flowing profuse'
ly over the faces of both, from
wounds in the head.
The dark-red stream which flows
from the face of one shows that a
small artery has been cut, and he is
still bleeding fast when the next on
slaught begins.
In few seconds 'shalt" is again
cried, a bent blade is soon straight
ened, and they ego loose" for the
third time with more sanguine re
suit, as both receive cuts in the
forehead. They look pale and ex
cited, but determined. The blood
is wiped off, the flow quenched as
much as possible, the wounds ex
amined and pronounced "not dis
abling," those ominous words
"4Nonsieurs, on, gehen SIC los," re
peated, and again is heard the clasf
of the blades and the sparks fly as
from a blacksmith's anvil.
The fight is long, fierce and ex
citing, but at last a lock of hair is
shot up into the air, and before i
falls to the floor, "halt" is cried, and
the blood IS seen streaming down
the face Of the younger man. The
surgeon, with sleeves rolled up and
hands and arms covered with blood,
looking like butcher, steps up,
examines the wound, shakes his
lead, sponges off the blood, looks
again, again shakes his head and
whispers to the referee, who tells
the audience that the wound is OF
too dangerous character to admit
of further strife, and the duel is de-
clared over.
THE POSTAL CARDS.