The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1875-08-05
Two Adverse Votes That Led to a
Sanguinary Duel.
heidelberg Correspondence St Louis Gloffe


1
| A week ago brilliant young fellow
from Frankfort, Hirschel by name. having
enjoyed the place and privilege of 'sfox"
for year or more, sent to the Corps
Court to be admitted to the 'sBursch."
His case was weighed solemnly by the
combined presidents, and two dissenting
members were found in seven. These
gentlemen, the presidents of the two
aristocratic corps, declared that Hirschel
had not borne himself bravely in the
initial duels. and that he was not worthy
the companionship of braves like HIM
self and his comrades. The decision was
communicated to the young fellow, and
the result was an instantaneous challenge
to the two dissentients-a challenge
which was instantly accepted, the weap-
ems named pistols, the hour set, and the
preparations pushed promptly forward,
so that the ARRAY came off the next day.
So serious an event leaked out, and some
efforts were made to have the police in
terlere, as they refused to obey the coll
lege authorities. 1t was useless. The
corps rule the colleges and the college
towns, and there was nothing for it bat
to trust to lack of skill for harmless en-
counter.
At 6 o'clock in the morning the party,
principals and seconds. took carriages
and drove rapidly to the neighboring
hills. The trees were heavy with dew,
the groves wet as with rain, the birds
singing peacefully, and the yellow sun
light breaking through the branches as
the murderous work was begun. There
were few spectators. Short work was
made of the preliminarles, when the two
enemies placed themselves before each
other. They were mere boys. The re-
spOnsible person, the leader of the Sake
Bannassin corps, who had voted against
the admission Of the other, was fine
specimen of the average noble-born Ger
man. Tall, rather more than usually
Shapely, with the colors Of his corps over
his shoulders and across his breast to his
J hip, he made a striking picture. His
challenger was of slighter build and more
comedy, a boy of perhaps nineteen
; neither Of them over twenty-one. The
seconds made last effort to settle the
affair amicably, even when the two were
standing ready for the signal. The
younger and aggrieved had shaken his
head impat;ently. He declared life un-
bearabe under such stigma as his
enemy had put upon him. He refused to
live to be obliged to meet a man peace
fully who had so grossly wronged him,
and in perfect frenzy he demanded that
the work should 90 on. With some mis-
givings the young fellows consented, for
they could see that it was
SIMPLY MURDER
to let man in such nervous state of
mind and body attempt to defend him.
self against the cool and rather scornful
antagonist, who showed no symptoms Of
undue agitation. The method ofduelling
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 unloaded pistol-the man re.
ceiving the first choice to whom the lot
falls The details ended at ten minutes
past SIX, the words one, two,were spoken,
1na two reports were heard. Tic ohaI-
: lenger had drawn the empty pistol, the
, work Of his antagonists ball being plain
l ly visible in the body of a tree behind
: him. The lad had proved his willingness
to stand fire, and if the other had only
the presumption of his lack of bravery to
, guide him in voting against his admission,
! this ought to convince him of his mistake.
, young ruffian demanded 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 slanderer, > respond
ed his victim, promptly. Another shot
5 Kissed through the intervening space. No
harm was done, however, and the seconds
breathed freer. One more, and the evil
work might end happily. Again the
young savage was pleaded with. He was
, reminded that it was he who was now
| acting the coward. He responded
with wrath that any man as
sorting it would have to meet him after
he had finished ''that fellow" He de-
manded his third shot, and it was given.
He raised the weapon deliberately; e
CLEAN of sunshine clistened on the barrel;
he lowered the point, waited, raised it
slowly, took careful am, and at the word
two fired. He had kept his promise;
mis- 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 just below the navel, and
death in short time was inevitable.
THE MURDERER
calmly replaced his coat and gloves, en-
tered his carriage, and without a glance
at his victim drove back into town. A
policeman was on duty at the ''carisher,
the eastern gate Of the town, as the cor
tege returned. He wished the procession
''well to do and so the murdered in one
vehicle and the murderer in the other.
drove down the long main street of Held
elberg, as the busy stir of the day began
IN the quaint old town. Toward after
noon the result was known, and an in
tense excitement resulted. The physi-
clan who had been called in reported the
last scene; the boy was dead. The war
den was attending to his accustomed
pleasures, for. being snoble horn, this
class of university youth does very little
study, wasting the time mainly in pleas
ure, private gambling, and other excuses
carried on in decorous discretion as be-
coming the aristocratic classes! Common
dissipation would be out of place in SUI
perior creatures of this breed. The