The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-10-26
POLITICAL DUELS in ITALY.
How Eighty Young Men Got Themselves
Into Trouble.
IPall Mall aazotte.]

A trial liz pending In Genoa which Will, Il
continued, illustrate one side OF Italian man
ners and customs not altogether edlfyinR
when the King and Queen visited Genoa II
WINS rumoIed that the lnternnticnalists had
planned Il repetition VI tho Passanante at
tempt. Tho Ministers and project were
alarmed, the citizens indignant; for they felt
that the honor Of Genoa was at stake. md
eighty young men of NIL rnnks-a rlstoernts,
merchants and shopkeepors offered them
selves as u special body-gnard to their mnjes-
ties. On the day of the entrance tho offer WIS
declined, but during tho visit the said eighty
escorted the carriage. were received ut court
and performed their voluntary service 10 the
last
The rnpoio a Democratic paper Of small
rTepute, not only cast ridIcnle on the young
men, calling Thorn ackeys and other oppro
brious titles but also iusntod the objects Of
their homage. The eighty cast lots and sent
three challenges to the Office Of the Popolo.
All were accepted. y. fought e., wounding
him III the arm Y and q. had their affair
arranged by their seconds. ~ they had long
ibeen friends. Two other duels took place
with slight consequences, and It was hoped
that the affair was ended.
Meanwhile. Cnvaiatti. the poet. wrote n
scathing satire on "The Eighty and a. he
has fought over twenty duels -fo,r last July
tn one week. III Bologna, wounding all his
a6versaries 1t was expected that some fresh
episode would occur On that score. But mean
while Marco Gihelli, nephew Of Bixio, one of
&'The Eighty" challenged Bruto Parodi, one
OF the writer's of tho Iopolo. on his own ac-
count
Brute observing that hc had on the NOR
row to fight another man, sent In his stead
H., an ak .enyary sergeant Gbeli refused
the substitute, and Bruto recovered from his
wound In the duel which took place On tie
following day, returned to- his duties at the
postoillce. Gibelli went to his Office, insulted
him. slapped his face, and insisted OH fight
ing him. Bruto, who could not from behind
the postollice window return the blow, did so
on another occasion. GiRellt struck him on
the head and now In his turn refused to fight
On this the partsans Of Bruto Kissed Gibeli
through the streets as u Coward and an
*'assassin." Gibelli'a@father called his son.
and said: Whether you be right or wrong,
know not: you must fight or leave Genoa
iibelli, who had only declined the duel to
cast further odium On his adversary, instantly
sent his seconds To Brute Parodi who chose
Distols--three shots apiece leave to take aim
and twenty-five PAGES distance.
The affair had become SO notorious that the
parties. thinking 1t possible that the police
would interfere, sct off with their seconds for
Monaco. Gibelli fired taking aim, and missed
Bruto's pistol went of without his having
time to aim but he said: TT is well; the shot
counts" This Gibell would not allow, and,
after a long alteration between the seconds,
Bruto's pistol was reloaded. He aimed,
fired and his adversary fell, wounded through
both lungs. He was taken In q carriage to
Mentone, and there expired of hemorrhage
fifteen hours afterward, his father and mother
arriving after his death.
As the duel was not fought on italian Soil
lit Is held by some thnt. rs OF course the
family will not bring m action. the govern
ment can do nothing. Public opiRton Ii most
decidedly In favor OF the duel and OF dueinR
In general; and, given this, and SO inter-
preted by Gibelli's own father, the tragedy
was inevitable.