The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1873-06-27
Settling aDuelist


The Compile de B, a Colonel
in the line, distinguished for his gal
lantry in the field, as well as for the
length Of his service, was ordered to
Martinique with his regiment in the
year 1898. At that period the rage
for dueling was everywhere preYa-
lent, but in no place more so than in
the West India Islands, where the
civilian and the military man alike
endeavored to establish his reputa-
ton by the questionable test Of can
affair" Among the officers quar-
tered in the garrison Of st. Pierre
was one, a Capt. C., whose de-
light consisted in figting OF foment-
ing duels, and who measured every
mans character by the number he
had fought. He was a man of
brusque manners and arrogant bear
ing, but of undoubted, though mis-
applied, courage.
1t happened one day that conVers-
ing with Compile, the subject Of
dueling came on the tapis, when the
Colonel observed, that although he
had seen much and various service
it never been his chance to be en-
gagged in a single affair. The words
appeared to act like Wild-fire on the
mind of his inhammable companion.
"What?" he exclaimed-"Whatl
you never had a cause for q qurrel2"
''Neyerp replied the Colonel, calmly.
"Eh, bien DONE" cried Capt. G.,
"viola unep' and raising his hand,
while his eyes cleaned with fero-
cious pleasure, he struck NJ. de
B-a violent blow on the cheek.
The latter eyed him for s moment,
nor attempted to return the blow,
then pointing significantly to his
sword, he left the spot.
The consequence was inevitable
the preliminaries were arranged, and
the same evening the parties met.
1t was decided to fight with swords;
indeed, dueling with pistols was
rarely if ever practiced in the French
service. The Compte de B. came
to the grouhd, wearing a patch of
black Taffeta, as if to conceal the
place where he had received the in
furious blow. They were both ex-
pert sWordsmen. but the Colonel,
though no duelist, was a perfect
master Of his weapon. His antagO-
mist was soon at his mercy, but he
contented himself with infieting q
severe wound in his sword arm, and
having disabled him for the time, he
took out a pair Of scissors, and clip
ping off a corner of the patch, very
coolly observed, ,''Cest an peH mieu;."
1T is a little better. As soon as
Capt. c. recovered from his
wound, he received a second message
from III. de B, and a second
meeting was the consequence, at
tended by a similar result. Again
they met, and again, on every oc-
casion, the Colonel wounded his ad-
Yersary and clipped of a corner from
the taffeta on his cheek, accompany
the act with the same observation.
For the fifth time the Compile de
B. invited his enemy to the field,
and with stern determination equal
to the perseverance which which
dogged him, Capt. C. obeyed
the summons. Their swords crossed
again, but the Colonels aspect was
changed. After q few passes he saw
his advantage, availed himself Of it
in q moment, and in 3 moment his
sword had pierced Captain G-'s
heart. who fell dead to the ground.
The Colonel sheathed his weapon,
turned around to his friend and
pulled of the remainder of the psteh.
Then, glancing at the dead body at
his feet, he quietly observed, Snow
it is cured"