The daily gazette., 1875-08-04
n SA NG UINARY DUEL.
Startling Picture of Student Lite
in Germany.

Heidelberg Correspondence St. Louis Globe
/ Democrat.
A week ago brilliant young fellow
from Frankfort, Hirschel by name,
having enjoyed the place and privi-
ledge of ''tox,' for year or more,
sent to the Corps Court to be admitted
to the "Bursch." His case was weigh.
ed solemnly by the combined presi-
dents, and two dissenting members
were found in the seven. These gen.
tlemen, the presidents of the two aris-
/ tocratic corps, declared that Hirsche,
had not borne himself bravely in the
initial duels, and that. he was not
worthy the companionship of braves
like himself and his comrades. The
decision was communicated to the
young fellow, and the result was an
instantaneous challenge to the two dis
sentients-a challenge which was
instantly accepted, the weapons man,
ed pistols, the hour set, and the prep.
arations pushed promptly forward, so
thot the affray came off the next day.
Short work was the preliminaries
whe the two eneLaies placed themselves
before each othe-. They were mere
/ oOJos liz ACSpOhoApAS DNAoOh1 INV
| leoder of the Saxe-Banassin corps, who
had voted against the admission of the
other, was fine specimen OF the noble
born German Tall, rather more 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 build, and more comely,a boy
perhaps of nineteen-neither of them
over twenty one
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 to whom the
lot falls. The details ended at ten
minutes past six, the words one, two,
were spoken, and TWO reports were
heard, The challenger had drawn the
empty pistol, the work of his antago-
nist's ball being plainly visible in the
body of tree behind him. The lad
had proved his willingness to stand
}fire, and If the other had only the pre-.
sumption of his lack of bravery to
guide him in voting against his admis-
sion, this ought to convince him OF
his mistake. But to the surprise of
everybody the youeg ruftian demand
ed the three shots to which by the
code he was entitled.
| The seconds could only demur, they
could not refuse. "You can't escape
now," said the murderer. 81 don't
want to escape, you cowardly SANDER
er," responded his victim, promptly.
Another shot Kissed through the inter.
vening space. No harm was done.
however, and the seconds breathed
Jfreer. One more, and the evil work
might yet end happily. Again the
young savage was pleaded with. lie
was reminded that it was he who was
now acting the coward. He responded
with wrath that any man asserting 1t
would have to meet him after he had
finished "that fellow" He demanded
his third shot, and it was given. He
raised the weapon deliberately; beam
of sunshine glistened on the barrel; he
lowered the point, waited, raised it
slowly, took careful aim, and at the
word "two" fired. He had kept his
| promise; his victim could trouble him
no more. The wretched boy lay on
his back on the soft, wet grass, blood
pouring from his body in streams. The
ball had entered the stomach, and
death in short time was inevitable.
On the next day the morning print
of this city published a garbled account
! of the tragedy. 1t isn't policy, you
see, to offend the students. They sup
port the trade of the town. Without
them Heidelberg would relapse into
swift decline. However, If any wrong
had been done 1t was to be righted.-
The dead body was to be treated with
unwonted honor. The coffin was to
be conducted to the depot by all the
corps IN regalia. Herr Won Manckel,
the murderer, at the solicitation of his
friends, graciously consented to walk
next the bier, in token of reconcilia.
tion.
Ihear of steps being taken to bring
the murderer to justice. The penalty,
according to the college code, is two
years detention in some semi-prlson,
generally at large in some small town.
i A member of the German Parliament
has set to work to frame a law making
duelling capital offence in college
| towns; but since the law Of the empire
/ recognizes court of honor for affairs
j of this sort, I don't see how this Is to