Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-07-30

1
was weighed solemnly by the combined
presidents, and two dissenting members
were found in the seven. These gentle
men, the presidents Of the two aristOcratiC
corps, declared that Hirschel had not borne
himself braYely in the initial duels, and
that he was not worthy the cOmpaniOnship
of braves like himself and his comrades.
The decision was communicated 10 the
young fellow, and the result was an in
Simultaneous challenge to the two dissen-
tients-a challenge which was Instantly &C
cepted, the weapons named pistols, the
hour set, and the preparations pushed
promptly forward, so that the affTay came
of the next day. So serious an event of
course leaked out, and some efforts were
made to have the police interfere, as they
refused to obey the college authorities. II
was useless. The corps rule the colleges
and the college towns, and there was
nothing for it but to trust to lack of skill
for harmless encounter.
at o'clock in the morning the party,
principals and seconds, took carriages and
drove rapidly 20 the neighboring hills.
The trees were heavy with dew, the groves
wet as with rain, the birds singing peace
fully, aid the yellow sunlight breaking
through the branches as the murderOus
work was begun. There were few spec
tators. Short WO.k was made Of the pre-
liminaries, when the two enemies placed
themselves before each other. They were
mere boys. The responsible person, the
leader Of the Saxe-Banassin corps, who
had voted against the admission Of the
other, was Ia fine specimen of the average
mN
than usually shapely, with the cOlOrs Of
his corps over his shoulders and across his
breast to his left hip, he made a striking
picture. His challenger was slighter Of
build and more cOmely, a boy Of perhaps
nineteen-neither Ofthem over tWenty-one.
The seconds made a last effort to settle the
affair amicably, even when the two were
standing ready for the signal. The
younger and the aggrieved had shaken his
head simpatiently. He declared life
unbeara5le under such a stigma as his
enemy had put upon him. He refused to
live to be obliged TO meet a man peacefully
who had so grossly wrOnged him, and in a
perfect frenzy be demanded that the work
should 90 on. With some misgivings the
young fellows consented, for they could see
that it was
SIMPLY MURDER
to let a man in such a nervous state Of
mind and body attempt TO defend himself
against the cool and rather scOrnfUl antag-
Onist, who showed no symptoms OF undue
agitation. The method Of dUelling with
pistols here is TO load one weapon only,
and give both to the cOmbatants- Neither
knows which he has, Of course, the loaded
or the unlOaded pistol, the man receiving
the first choice 10 whom the lot falls. The
details ended az ten minutes past six, the
words one, two, were spoken, and two re-
ports were heard. The challenger had
drawn the empty pistol, the work Of his
antagonists ball being plainly visible iD
the body Of tree behind him. The lad
had proved bis willingness TO stand fire,
and if the other had only the presumption
of his lack Of bravery to guide him in vOt-
ing against his admission, this ought TO
him Of his mistake. But to the
surprise Of everybody the young rutfian de-
manded the three shots to which by the
code he was entitled. The seconds
could only demur, they could no. re-
fuse. "YOU can't escape now"
said the murderer. 81 don't want TO
escape, you cowardly slanderer,' - responded
his victim, promptly. Another shot k.Ssed
through the intervening snace. No nam
was done, however, and the seconds
breathed freer. One more, and the evil
work might yet end happily. Again the
young savage was pleaded with. He was
that It was he who was now act
ing the coward. He responded with wrath
that any man asserting It would have to
meet him after he had finished 'that fel-
low He demanded bis third shot, and it
was given. He raised the weapon delib-
erltely; a beam of sunshine glistened on
the barrel; he lowered the point, waited,
raised it slowly, took careful aim, and at
the word otwO7 fred. he had kept his
promise; his victim cOuld trouble him no
more. The ". etched boy lay on his back
on the soft, wet grass, blood pouring from
his body in streams. The ball had entered
the stomach just below the navel, and death
in short time was inevitable.
THE M6RDERER
calmly replaced his coat and gloves, entered
his carriage, and without a glance at his |
victim drove back into town. A police |
man was on duty at the "carlsher," the !
eastern gate Of the town, as the cOrtega re- /
turned. He wished the procession swell |
10 do" and so the murdered in one vehicle, |
and the murderer in the other, drove down
the long main street Of Heidelberg as the
busy stir of the day began in the quaint old
town. Toward afternoon the result was
known, and an intense excitement resulted.
The physician who had been called in re-
ported the last scene; the boy was dead. /
The warden was attending to his aecus- /
toned pleasures, for, being a ''nOble born"
this class Of university youth does very |
little study, wasting the time mainly in |
pleasure, private gambling, and other ex-
cesses, carried on in indeCOrOus discretion, |
rs becoming the aristOcralic classes, Com !
mon dissipation would be out Of place in |
superior creatures of this breed. The |
friends Of the murdered boy were sent for |
after he died; but before, not even a nOtif- |
cation, and as they drove from the station |
10 the body Of their son, the murderer, with |
an escort Of four companions, passed them |
in high revel.
On the next day the morning print of |
his city published a garbled account Of |
he tragedy. II isn't policy, you see, TO /
.rade Of the town. Without them Hejdel- |
berg would relapse into swift decline. |
if any wrong had been done, il |
was 10 be righted. The dead body was 70 |
be treated with unwonted honor. The |
,ofin was to be conducted to the depot by /
Ill the corps in regalia. Herr Won Manck- |
Il, the murderer, at the solicitation # his |
friends, graciously consented TO walk next
he bier, in token Of reconciliation.
A SPECTACLE.
When the funeral cortege passed through |
Haups.rom 70 the depot, al Heidelberg, |
3, 700 to $4,000 people, lined the windows
md curbstOnes, with heads uncovered and |
IN respectfully sympathetic attitudes, that /
not being considered rejecting upon the 1
or the authorities. The spscta-
lie itself was unique Elevated far above 4
he heads Of the crowd, the coffin stood |
lpOn hesped pyramid Of funeral furni-
.ure and college insignia. ImmOrelies and
yraye blossoms Of many kinds covered the.
,Ofin, the caCafalque, and the bearers.
Flaring torches glared smOkily through the
eeble darkness Of an early June dusk. The
own lay buried in the black shadows Of
he OveItOwering hills, the streets in semi.
llackness where the shades lay thickest.
Through the packed thousands the cortege
wound its way slowly, the band playing |
he dismalest sort Of diTge. Behind the
learse were a group Of the dead boys
,Orps comrades. Alter these, groups Of all |
he other corps. But the most remarkable
pectacle Of all was the murderer in white
NEE -breeches, low shoes with siver buckles,
md sword, with a plUmed hat under his |
I'm, and flaming torch in one hand just
lack and next to the hearse. as though he |