The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1877-03-14

of the duelists These occasional visits are
probably made more for the sake of appear
ing to discountenance the practice of duel
ing than for the sake of disturbingtthe
fessors once enjoyed dueling themselves, as
is shown by the scars on their faces. One
professor in Goettingen recently advised q
dyspePtic American, for the sake of his
health, to take little exercise e., to fight
few duels. On entering the old building
we found the interior to consist of one large
room. In the southeast corner was a res
taurant and beer saloon; in the southwest
corner a doctors Office; at the east end of
the room, among some tables loaded with
implements for the duel, was a student
equipping himself for the combat; at
the west end, among other tables, was sec
ond student employed in a like manner.
These two duelists belonged one TO the
Bremensian and the other TO the Guest
phalian corps. / gave my attention to the
Guestphalian. Afer removing all clothing
except pants and boots, he put on an old
dirty night shirt with sleeves torn of. A
large buckskin pad, about two inches and
half thick and much the shape of a black
smiths apron, was then placed close mp un-
der his arms and so strapped around his
body as to cover his sides, his abdomen and
the lower part Of his chest the lower por-
ton of the pad, which divided into two
parts was strapped around the thighs. A
piece of hard leather was also placed over
the heart At the back hung a strap
fe sns d %sen ito . sfP s wsh ts the
keep the left arm out of danger This strap
jerked like an artificial tail The right arm
was covered with a heavy silken sleeve
nearly an inch in thickness and the right
hand with a buckskir glove. Between the
sleeve and glove was wound a oandage for
the protection of the wrist. Another BAN
daOa rr0taafad fho rioht chn,lIar
third, much thicker than the others, was
wound closely round the neck. The eyes
were shielded by pair of heavy iron Cog
giles, without glasses. Clad in this defensive
armor, it is hardly possible for the duelist to
receive any fatal or serious wound. The
weapon used in these duels is the schl1eoer.
The blade, which is about three feet long. is
straight, narrow and slightly flexible;
the point is blunt, and the edge
is blunt, excepting about eight inches
next to the point; the guard is
made of strong wire and forms kind of bas-
ket which covers the whole hand. Inside
this basket is always displayed in three
broad stripes the colors of the corps to which
the duelist belongs. The hilt of the Guest
phalian's schLaeger displayed the colors green,
white and black. The Guestphalian's Sec
ond was armed with like weapon. Round
his body he wore broad belt which also
showed the colors Of the corps. His right
hand and arm were protected by heavy
buckskin glove and sleeve, and his neck by
a heavy bandage. The Bremensian duelist
and second were equipped in the same man
ner, except that the sword, hilts and the
seconds belt were ornamented with red
blue and orange. All is now ready, and the
umpire shouts SILENCE on the me1asur."
The hum of voices ceases and there is 81
lence. The seconds step toward the center,
raise their caps and bow to each other like
1na1
proach, each with his second at his left in a
position to ward of any glancing blows.
LAY outl' cries the Bremensian's second.
The Bremensian raises his right arm, with
the elbow slightly bent, brings the hand
above the head and little to the front, and
lets the blade of his schlaeger slope toward
the left shoulder. The left hand has in the
meantime grasped the artificial tail, and is
now twitching it with a nervous energy.
Lay outi" says the Guestphalian second
and the Guestphalian assumes his posltio
"Loosen commands the Bremensian Sc
ond. There is sharp clash as each tries
strike over his opponents guard, and at III
same time protect his own head. With al
quick turn of the wrist the Bremensian drops
the point of his schldeger and strikes
up at his antagonists face The blade just
touches the left cheek. Halt" SHOUTS the
Bremensian, second, and points out to the
umpire the blood which is oozing from the
Guestphalian's cheek. 1t proves TO be not
new cash but an old one knocked open.
The seconds shout in quick succession,
Lay outr' Lay outl' "Loosel" and the
duelists ''go loose a second time. There is
flash of steel over the Bremensian's caput
and lock of hair flies off. The Guestpha-
lian's second cries Halt and examines the
Bremensian's head; but he finds no blood.
The third round is hardly begun when the
Guestphalian's second cries Halt" A
little stream of blood flows from the
Brenensian's left check and another from
his mouth. The cheek is cut through. The
unlucky duelist is led away into the doctors
corner to have his face stitched together.
The fighting has occupied less than half
minute. The boys fought and the doctor
stitched from O'Clock IL The morning till
in the afternoon. There we're nine duels.
Three of these were to settle quarrels to sat
! isfy injured honor; the other six were moth
ing but friendly fights, in a spirit of emula-
ton. The German students, by so carefully
elimlna ting from their duels the element Of
uanger, have eliminated also the element of
courage; they have left little but brutality.