The Van Buren press., 1876-01-25
MISCELLANY.
An Old-Time DuelI.

1t was in 1903 that Captain Fournie
of the Chasseurs, and Captain Dupont o
the Hussars. commenced a duel which
lasted nearly five years. Fournier wa.
the most famous duellist in the French
army at that time. He was a skillfu
swordsman, and even more skllful witt
the pistol. When quarrels were scarce
he would frequently smash with his pis
tol balls the pipes in the mouths of sol
ders, who sat unsuspectingly thirty pa
ces away, And quarrels, Of course, be-
came lamentably scarce with such an cx.
pert as Fournier, and the soldiers, be-
coming wary, would not sit out doors as
usual, nor in fact at their windows, with
their pipes in their mouths. While mat
ters were in this strait, young Blumm, q
wealthy burgher, who had been roister
ing around Fournier's quarters in Rouen
one evening, was found corpse the mex,
morning, with rapier thrust in his throat
Baumm being inexperienced, some indig
nation was excited among the citizcns
against Fournier, who was believed to
have dispatched him Fournier, however
never replied to the indignant mnrmurs
that reached his ears, except by a shrue
of his shoulders. A fight" he would
say, is too precious to lose"
On the night succeeding Blamm's fune
raj, ball was given at the Grand Opera
the finest ball that it was probable Rouen
would see for many a day 1t w3s repor
| ted that Fournier naa evp-eseea III inten
ton of coming This followed so close
ly on the disastrous duel, public decency
was shocked at the suggestion. The gen
eral said it must be prevented. He sent
for the captain of the guard, who happen
ed to be young Captain Dupont.
Captain said the general, -Four
nier proposes to come 20 the bali to night
You see it is plainly impossible that he
should he admitted"
Yes, general
"You will, therefore, prevent his en-
trance, captain
Yes, general
Captain Dupont knew Fournier b,
sight and fame alone The two coulC
not be intimate friends, for Dupont detes
ted duelling and duellists He was &.
good swordsman. man of honor, ant
had brave heart He loved Marie Hu
ton, a lovely young lady of Rouen, anc
the day just before the ball she had con
sented to become his wife. Now he fel
that he must be a better swordsman thar
Fournier, if he won her Not that Four
nier loved her, or even knew her, bu,
Dupont saw that duel was inevitable
and he must kill or be killed.
The ball opened, and Dupont was a
his post Late in the evening, Fomnie
arrived.
Captain said Dupont, "t woulc
seem somewhat indecorous for you to at
tend a ball on the night of young Blumm's
funeral
| 81 presume" answered Fournicr
that | alone have the right to judg
that
apparently not" replied Dupont
"the general has decided that you should
not attend"
Has the general directed you to pre-
vent my entrane 7"
"Yes."
| 81 suppose you are willing to answe
at the swords point, for impertinences
you retail second, hand'
81 am willing to answer at the swords
point"
Early in the morning then, captain
at the usual spot" said Fournier, eagerly
:" so, bon soir; assure you l do not re
gret the ball"
The parties met at the appointed time
and place and, after few well contested
thrusts, Dupont was wounded in tn,
shoulder. AS he fell, he exclaimed; 90.
claim another fight"
Then he sank into insensibilty.
Perhaps you will claim it when yo,
recover, and perhaps you will not sale
Fournier, and, leaving Dupont in the care
of surgeons, he withdrew Within two
weeks Dupont was well again, and he sen
word to Fournier that he claimed his
privilege.
The code of honor.in those days guar
anteed fight Until death or surrender
but cessation when either party received
wound sufficient to incapactate him.
Fournier was gratitied at Dupont.s de
mand for another fight
One man for two or three fights,
said he, as economy
They met again, and Fournicr this time
received a severe thrust in the shoulder
"Ah," said he, in anguish rs he fell
81 claim the privilege.
They met third time, and Fournier
was again wounded, and again claimed Tho
privilege When he had nearly recover
ed from his second wound, he sent a note
to Dupont asking him to call and see him
Dupont went.
"My dear captain" said Fournier "wt
have had three bouts, and hope we shal
have many more. | therefore propose
that we draw up convention by which
TO govern our future oombatS F"