The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1877-03-31
FIGHTING IN FADERLAND.
--O---
UOW THEY SETTLE DLSP U1ES At
THE UNI TERSIIILGS,

German Student Duels- How the Code
| under Legof Beers Influence has De-
| generated into mere Brutality.
Special Correspondence Chicago Times
GoETTINcEN, Feb 10 The mcnsu,
is a place where pugnacious German
students fight d1els, II is the field
! OF honor. The duc]ists of GOctten>
gen have located their field of honor
in an old building about two Eng~
lish miles south Of this city. They
are not fond of having outsiders
witness their fights but DR., Koencr,
from the University of Virginia,
through his acquaintance with sew
eral "corps-studcnts," gained admit
tance for both himself and the
! writer. Although we walked out to
the mensur before daylight, few
were before us and others arrived soon
after ; coming only two or three at
time, SO Us not to attract the at
tention of the ,e0eUs. The pctzeHs
ore the police Of tho university.
Before the fighting commenced,
four or five sentinels were stationed
between the n,eusetr and the city, to
aignal the approach of any officer,
or other suspicious-lo looking person.
Should the officials go to the ncnsu,',
thoir approach would he known no
Ia t,ne l,ns
would find as orderly place rs they
ever visited; they could see nothing
there but harmony and brotherly
love. The authorities, however,
take little notice of these duels, Tho
students fight two or three days
each week, and near the close of tho
semester, when many quarl ols ore to
be settled before parting, they fight
eyely day yet it is rare thing for
q pedeU to visit the n.ens,H', and
still rarer thing for him to catch
any of the duelists. These occa
siona! visits are probably made MOI Q
for tho sake Of appearing to dis
countenancc the practice of duclling
than for the sake of disturbing the
"boys" in their sport. Not n few Of
the professors onco onjoyod duelling
themselves, as is shown by the scars
on their faces. One Professor in
Goettingon recently adviaed u dys-
peptic American, for the sake Of
his health, to take little exercise
l. e., to fight few duels. On enter
ing the old building wo found tho
interior to consist of one largo
room. In the southeast corner was
q restaurant and bncr saloon ; in the
southwest corner doctors Office !;
at the east end Of the room, among
some tables loaded with implements
for tho duel, was q student equip
ping himself for the combat at the
west end, among other tables, was
second student employed in q like
manner. These two duelists boz
longed, one to the Bremensian, and
tho other to the Guestphalion corps.
gave my attention to the Guest
phalian. Aftor removing all CLOTH
ing except pants and boots, ho put
on an old dirty night shirt with the
sleeves torn off. A large buclIskin
pad, about two and half inches
thick, and much the shape of
blacksmiths apron, was then placed
close upon his arms, and SO strapped
round his body rs to covor his sides,
his abdomen, and the lower part of
his chest; the lower portion Of the
pad, which was divided into two
parts, was strapped round his thighs.
A piece of hard leather was also
placed over the heart. At the back
hung q strap for the duelist to grasp
with tho left hand when in action,
and thus keep the left arm out of
Danger The strap looked like an
artificial tail The right arm was
covered with heavy silken sleeve
nearly IN inch in thickness, and the
right hand with buokslin glove.
Between the sleeve and glove
was wound O bandage for the pro-
lection of the wrist. Another band
age protected the right shoulder,
md third, much thicker than tho
others, was wound closely round the
neck. The eyes were shielded by q
pair of heavy iron goggles, without
glasses. Clad in this defensive
armor it is hardly possible for the
duelist to receive any fatal or seri-
GUS would, The weapon used in
&boco 1,,a1o Ia Tho ecbLue[,er The