Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-10-21


In America one reads occasionally that
the oncc.famons dueling-clubs Of the
German universities are DOW almost ex-
tjnct. and, with this impression upper
most an American will not be little sur.
prised 10 find. after some residence In
Heidelburg, Bonn or Gottengcn, TINT these
remarkable associations. so far from being
extinct are still tiourisning in full yigor,
and by little management stranger can
even have the high privilege of being
present at one OF the warlike perform
ances.
The plan on which the dueling is man.
aged Is az follows. A new man joins a
corps, and as soon rs he has made some
little progress in fencing his society sends
challenge TO some other OF equal stand
ing, requesting the honor of a combat
Then the corps so challenged appoints q
man 10 meet the member OF the chaileng-
ing party. The preliminaries being all
settled, the two corps and a select party
Of friends go of To some secret place
where the university officers will not be
likely TO interrupt them, and the sport
comes off. Thus 1t will be seen that no
personal animosity exists between the
conbatants in such duel, but each man
simply fights for the honor OF his corps,
and 70 win his own spurs.
The first students duel which IL fell 10
my lot To see was here, on misty, threat
ening Saturday afternoon, in the early
part of last summer.
II Is 10 be remembered that the pariici.
pants In these duels are animated by no
desire to seriously injure each other, for II
often happens that two students about to
| fight are total strangers, and have 10 be in
troduced, and in many cases they are very
good friends, or at least acquaintance on
good terms. Therefore some precautions
are necessary to guard against the infiic-
ton Of fatal or dangerous wounds, and,
with this view, each CONTESTANT Is invested
in suit of arInor which completely en-
circles the body and neck and covers the
right or sword arm, and sometimes the
| left arm The arnor for the body Is made
Of padded leather, something like the
| quilted skirts OF saddle, being an inch
or two thick, and provided with straps
and buckles, by means Of which II Is fast
| ened in position. The gorget," or neck
piece is made Of quilted silk and Is sim
ply wrapped round the neck and secured
with strings. The protection for the right
arm ii afforded by means Of a complicated
series of stuffed silk bandages which,
when wrapped around the arm by an ex-
pert, completely shield that member from
| Injury, but al the same time permit OF con-
siderable freedom of motion.
The process Of dressing takes some
| time. Each hero Of the coming combat
4 removes his coat. vest and shirt, and puts
on an old shirt that will serve TO catch the
blood, and, having his breast armament
strapped around him, he takes scat and
| has his salient arm done up In the above
described silken bandagcs, applied by a
skillful and practised attendant Then
the "gorget" Is adjusted, and, lastly, the
eyes are shielded by means Of a peculiar
| pair Of spectacles, consisting Of two oval
| leather plates perforated with eye-holes,
In front Of which project circular steel
| fringes, or rims, to a distance Of perhaps
| half an inch, by means Of which the eyes
are protected from all but direct thrust,
which Is not allowed in the dueling code,
the plan being simply to cut, not to stab.
When man Is completely done up in
this fashion he presents q most extraor-
binary appearance, reminding one, not Il
little, OF diver preparing to enter the
water In his submarine armor. He looks,
moreover, perfectly helpless, for, when he
attempts to walk, he must be accom-
panied by two or three friends, one OF
whom supports his pondcrous arm, while
the others lead him forward The field
of vision permitted by the steel spectacles
Is very limited; and, If c0mbatant had
to support his own arm half an hour
with all that bandaging around ii he
would be too tired To lift sword, much
less fight duel. The swords used are
very peculiar. They are of the usual ra-
pier length, very thin, so thin in fact,
that they become bent after every few
strokes, and have to BIC Strengthened before
the duel can proceed and they have a
point as square rs that Of case-knite
would be II broken across near the end
They are about three.fourths of an inch
wide and double.edged. This square
point and the edges for about five inches
back are very carefully sharpened, so as
| 10 insure the inflictiOn of a neat, clean
cash. and not Of a ragged, ugly tear. The
handles are provided with immense bas.
ketguards, which completely cover the
hand, and the interspaces between the bars
Of these baskets are filled in with the col
ors Of the corps 10 which the sword be-
longs, in velvet or plush.
A. soon as the two combatants were
arrayed in their warlikc attire they were
| led forward as above described and sta
toned opposite each other. A ring Of
spectators was instantly formed around
them. The dueists stood motionless
while an umpire read the terms of com.
bat. Then the second on one side stated
the claims OF his champion, and was an
swered by the second of the opposing
party. These seconds, IL may be re-
marked, also wear protective breast
plate and visor, to prevent their being
hurt In case blade breaks. The com
mand was then given by one second
"AHf die meJ,snr btHden de hiagen" (lit.
orally, JON the blades upon the meas
ure;" or, literally rendered Assume
your attitudes'), and instantly the two
hitherto motionless figures sprang into
life and assumed the first position, upon
which the second cried out; "Gebu1sden
sing {" Joined they are"), and then came
the word Los" simultaneously with
which the two began 10 lay about each
others heads with their swords, making
these weapons fairly whistle through the
air as they whirled In flashing circles
round and round, striking fire when
they meet, and bending nearly
double with every stroke The necessity
for having the swordarm so well pro.
tected was now obvious, for II was used TO
| receive these tremendous blows after the