The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-09-05

| ! uoeO uOt dwell upon tHo Necessity VI
having these duels take plaza privately, mol
explain why the belligerent youths must al
ways seek quiet or selected spot at some dis
lance from the regular beats of the police fol
their exercise, or else shut themselves up in 9
room. During the winter season most all
these duels are fought indoors, from the sim.
pie fact that the fierce cold of the air in win.
ter would perhaps act in an unpleasant man.
ner upon the wounds received in combat, OF
so chill all parties that the pleasure of the oc.
casion would be seriously marred; but in sum.
mer weather it is always preferred to fight
under freiem Himnet, as they say; and the
scene of which was today witness took
place in an old parade ground, almost mile
from the city, where there was plenty OF
room, and where it would be simply impossi-
BILE for the officers to surprise them, as the
! fields we're open in every direction.
REPAIRED to the place, in company with q
| German studen. friend, who had invited me
| to be present. and soon after our arrival
some six or eight carriages drove up, bearing
| the com batants and their friends. They had
a very sensible plan of economizing time, by
having number of duels to come off on the
same occasion, by which there is avoided the
trouble and inconvenience of making SO many
secret expeditions, and so all the duels that
had accumulated during the past month OF
so, took place this afternoon. Of coure the
duelists were all corps students, j. O., men,
bers Of the sword club, as were most of the
spectators The carriages were drawn up in
hollow square, like Caesar tells US he used
to arrange the baggage wagons in his camp,
and within this enclosure the affair took place.
First there were produced several large
trunks containing the suits of padded armor,
which is worn to prevent any fatal cuts being
given, and few bundles of swords done up
in sacks, and the two gentlemen who were to
participate in the first encounter, proceeded
to prepare the mselves. Each first put on an
old shirt-to catch the blood-and then with
the assistance of friends, were invested with
the armor in question. This consists first
of q thickly padded breast plate, then of
number of quilted bands which are wound
and bound about the right arm and around
the throat. and lastly Of pair of spectacles,
of a peculiar construction, in which the eye
holes are surrounded by a projecting cap of
sheet-iron, that would turn aside any blow
except direct thrust, such as is never given,
and presume not allowed.
1t really seemed like the height of absurdity
for a couple of fellows to go out to fight each
other, all done up in pads and quilts. except
their faces and the top of their heads, but it
must be understood that they have not the
slightest wish to kill or injure each other, but
only fight for the honor of their respective
corps and for the glory of having few scars
on their faces. The regular formula of send
ing a challenge is gone through with, and
they have seconds just as in serious duel |
but the parties who fight SO far from being |
enemies are often actual friends. When each |
man was ready they were led forward by their |
friends and placed in position. 1 |
say led forward, for such was really the case,
and in order that the right arm might
not become weary with the pom
derous weight of padding that sur
rounded it, each man had his arm
upheld by friend all the time he was dress
ing or waiting, and when they advanced to
their places, these friends still continued their
kind office until the very moment the swords
were placed in the hands of the belligerents
must say that it did look outrageously ridic-
ulous, however, to see fellow stuffed to twice
his natural size, armed with iron spectacles,
and led up to his post like helpless creature;
and the arm supporting business was per-
hsps, the most ludicrous of all. However
when they we're stationed opposite each other
md were given their weapons, these helpless
looking arms seemed as light as air and as
1.-THE as need be. These swords are very thin
md fiat, with square point, out very sharp,
md large basket handle that completely pro-
ects the hand.
If they were sharp like rapier, they must
necessarily do some damage, but, having this
quare point can only cut After taking their
places sort of judge read out the terms of COM
,at, and the seconds on either side responded,
much after the fashion of the old-time tourna-
to o,,I al H. | '
vas given to cross swords, and the two Sec
nds hold their swords in between until the
ommand "Los Literally loose lis given, !
nd instantly the two combatants began to I
~ about each others heads with the most
etermined fury. They had scarcely struck
oxen blows before the word "Halt!" was .
allied out, and one of the two was found to !
ave had his cheek laid open for an inch or /
NO. Then the doctor stepped in, made an a
kamination, pronounced the wound harmless,
,e record of who drew the first blood was :
uly made, and the fight was allowed to con- a
nue.. 9
There were eight rounds, of about ten v
,conds each, and each round marked by a C
ash, until at last one of the men got
rious cash, and the doctor ordered them c,
desist. Then the victor was led forward C
shake hands with his adversary, and Il
9TH parties were conducted away by their 5
lends. One man received two slight cuts
Id the other six. What Was particularly re- F
arkable in this first duel was that one man
ught with his left hand, but, contrary to nj
neral expectation, he came out the worst of
e two. Then followed the sponging off of r.
Q heroes and the sewing up of their gashes,
ter which the next two came on, and at the
cond round one of them gave the other a fir
/ on the top of his head that made the hair FL
I like feathers and laid the scalp open to the
me, which, of course, put an end to the 90
n. Then came the third couple, and so Ill
rcely did they fly their weapons that at the :.
st round one got a cash on the TO ehead "a r.
at was at once pronounced serious, and he Of
d to retire. That is the way the students Ss
ell in Germany. VI
Yours, truly, STAHLFEDER. u