The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1876-11-23
snln salm story.


Prince Salm Salm, who was killed in the
Franco-Prussiau war, married am American
circus rider, Miss Ls C,e,c, great beauty.
She Is about 40 years Of age now, and has
just been led to the altar by Mr.. Charles
Hensage, an untitled son Of an English lord,
attached to the English legation at Bonn.
The following story Is told as happening
when the Salm Salms were in Mexico, at
tached to the fortunes of Maximihan;
The Princess Salm Salm entered cafe
ana walked down TO a vacant place. Two
or three Austrlans attached TO her hus-
bands brigade saluted as she passed, and
several of the Frenchmen acknowledged her
salutation. She sat down and ordered soms
refreshments. The Bslgians, flushed with
wine, turned to stare at the princess, and it
was easy to see that the conversation and
hadinage. were directed against her. sOne
OF the party, gigantic officer of the foreign
legion, Maj. Medomark, was especially per-
sistent. Without understanding anything
that was SAID, the princess seemed to feel
instinctively that she was the object of the
coarse remarks, and that her former life was
the theme OF these lceutious foreigners
conversation. Without waiting for the ser
want to return she pushed back the plate,
which had been placed before her, and with
n naughty tread, started toward the door.
She had just reached it when Medomark,
turning his head in her direction, laughed
derisively, and shouted out the old circus
slang, 'Hoop la" giving to it the peculiar
and meaning ntonation of the profigate.
Nothing in the language and no amount of
study could have conveyed deeper insult.
Everybody in the eys heard it The p IN
cess wheeled lik" flash, with cheeks
which famed in face OF white. She bent
on Medomark look that should have
crushed him. The Austrian officers sIpped
their wine in silence, and not one Of them
moved to defend the honor OF their COM
manders wife. The Princess glanced
around the room with a quick, searching
look until her eyes fell on Hazel, and there
they rested. The South Carolinian got up
and walked at once to the Princess, as II he
had been called. Without waiting to be
spoken to, Hazel said ''You have been in
suited. Your husband is away. You are
an American, and you are in trouble. Will
you trust your honor in my handsp
Hazel was slight in stature, and the prin-
cess had almost to look down TO him. But
she saw in the firm liues OF the clear eyes
the nervous, unshrinking courage peculiar
~ American which never fails in desperate
straits. She gave Hazel Ler hand, smiled
upon him, and bade him whip the coward
as he deserved. Then she went away with
out an apparent thought as TO what was to
follow, acting as if she had only asked
right in putting upon her young country
man task in which the chances Of death
were better than hfe.
Hazel walked over to the table where
Medomark was sitting, now half sobered.
The contrast between the two became moro
striking as they were seen together. Hazel
asked the Belgian if he understood English.
"a little" was the reply" Enough 10
understand the truthI" added Hazel, with
a touch of hArshness in his voice. The
Belgian intimated that he could, but II it
was too plain he might have to mash the
American.
"That lady," said Hazel, coming at once
to the poiRt, ''is a countrYwoman of mine.
Whatever she may have been in the past
don't care. We don't insult women in our
country. You have insulted her. Will you
apologze9"
mo" said Medomark, bluntly.
''Then" continued Hazel, "here Is my
card. My friend will call on you in the
morning."
Hazel was true to his word, and the morn
ing following the affair at the cafe Mis-
souri, soldier, James Wood, called at Medo-
marks quarters and presented n challenge
drawn up under the code. A French lieu
tenant named Massac received the message,
and between him and Wood all the prelimi-
naries were arranged during the dav. The
| meeting took place at sunrise the next morn
ing. in little valley few rods southeast
of the American cemetery. The terms were
duelling pistols at ten PAGES. In the choice
of positions Hszel was unfortunate. The
sun, just rising, slsnted down the valley
and poured its tantaliziDg rays right into
his eyes. The first FIRE both missed. At
the second Hazel planted his ball in the
Belgian's right shoulder, crushing the bone
to splinters, and severing the artery leading
| to the right arm. 1t seemed as If the man
would die before the bloody fountain could
be choked, and finally, when the hemor-
image was stayed, the giant lay as helpless
rs an infant and had TO be carried of on q
stretcher. There were no soldiers to spare
in those days. Maximilian's situation was
growing dangerous, and young Hazel was
Immediately put under arrest, with all who
had been concerned ia the duel. A court
martial was convened, but at the urgent re-
quest of Bazaine 1t was dismissed, and the
prisoners release without hearing.