Morning journal and courier., 1880-07-23

est. and their long sharp swords played over each others heads with hghtninglike rapidity, but so skillfully were the blows parried that most of the wounds were only caused by the bending or breaking of the blades. The mo- ment a sword became disabled, which was constantly occurring, the seconds interfered and cried stHaIt '" and the uplifted arms came to & rest. Soon as fresh swords, which had been sharpened like razors, were brought and placed in their hands, there was no cere- mony or waiting The seconds gave the sig nal and the two men sprang forward at each other like bIood-hounds. Steel clashed against steel again. sparks flew as if from black smiths forge, and tufts of hair, cut as If by invisible hands, were waited Ilong distances from each others heads. Occasionally 8 spurt of blood would tell that a bad wound had been given and the seconds would in- terfere while the surgeons could examine and hastily ouench the flowing current. The duellist who first attracted my attention by his gory face was evidently getting the worst of the battle Blood was flowing down his face and body like rain and forming little pools in the sawdust that was scattered around his feet. The scene reminded me of the bu Il fights witnessed in Spain, only this was the more brutal and inhuman of the two. It SC emed every moment as If the man would from loss of blood fall back dead in the arms of his comrades, who were watching the con fict with terrible eagerness and suspense. But not for a moment did he show signs of weakness or 8 disposition to give up the com bat Two or three times he signalled for a rest that his friends might wipe the blood that had gathered in his eyes and blinded his sight, A glass of water that was held to his lips became as red as port wine from the blood that flowed into it from his face, but he drank it all the same. His adversary, 1t was evident, was at the end to be the cham pion although he had received some bad cuts, one of which came near severing his nose. He was the superior swordsman and had giv- en five wounds where he received one. The bloody man was to be the ''under dog in the fight'' The contest lasted thirty minutes, and would have continued until one had been killed had not the two surgeons 1nterfered and ended the fight. The two gladiators, leaning and partly supported on the arms of their brother students, were led out into the hospital to have their wounds dressed.
 Thus ended the second duel, which was fought by member of the white-cap and one of the green-cap corps. The third duel, which was the next to take place, was to be tween a red-cap and a green-cap. There are five separate corps in the university which are designated in the streets by the color of their caps-the whites, reds blues, greens and yellows. Among the 800 or 900 students n Heidelberg only about sixty belong to ithem. The white-caps the most numer- ous, and they number bat sixteen. The corps are very aristocratic and very select.
 
 nobility and to the best German families, with only the best blue blood fowingIthrough their veins. To become a member 1t requires as much influence, diplomacy and red tape as to belong to the most select of the London clubs. Whoever Is admitted is under the necessity of fighting duels-that is, they are not under the necessity, but, if they don't fight, they are tabooed as towards and Heidelberg would become an uncomfortable place of 1es- idence. If they don't volunteer the presl- dent of the corps volunteers them, or rather appoints them to meet adversaries, and then there is no showing the white feather; they must fight, and they do. In the duelling hall all the membesr of the different corps, with one or two exceptions, were pres ent. They all appeared to be over twenty | five years of age and physically were splendid | looking fellows. Their cheeks and foreheads were scared and furrowed by deep welts | criss-crossing each other, and occasionally | furrowing down through the mouth and chin. | The noses of two or three had been grafted off and had badly healed. They were all l seated around the hall those who were not | administering to the wounded in the outer room were seated at their respective tables, | each corps by itself, drinking wine and eat 1 ing their lunches. Two or three German 1 girls were tending refreshment table at the | end of the hall, and appeared to take no more 1 interest in the duels than they would in chick en fights.
 The waiting for the third duel was long and tedious. The sword-sharpener, an old gray | headed man, came into the hall two or three times bearing freshly ground weapons which he placed in convenient positions. Another man came and scattered fresh sawdust to cover the blood where the last duellists stood i that those who were to follow might not "stand on the slippery places" It was | like the little episode in the Spanish bull l fights when the arena has been cleared of the 1 dead bull and horsesand occasionally the deaC ] bull-fghter, and the attendants come in witt | rakes and sawdust to obliterate the traces o1 the bloody conflict. Ere long we heard tho noise of hurried footsteps, and the two men came striding into the hall each surrounded by several friends and surgeon supporting | their sword arms. There was no waiting ol hesitating in moment the men were placed in position, swords placed in their hands the signal given and the bloody work began ir earnest We were told this was an ''affair o1 | honor,' and that some affront imagined | insult was to be cancelled or wiped out witE | blood. It seemed an uneven match. One | was tall, powerful athlete while his adyer sary was small and below the ordinary stat ure. But in sword duels the victory is more | apt to go with the smaller and more agile o
 the two. There were several short and sharI | encounters, in which the contest was abo u
 evenly balanced. Both were splendid swords l men, and their skillful strokes and thrust' 1 were watched by their friends Swith intense interest. Each received three four sligh | cuts, but it was difficult to determine which drew the first blood. Several times theil swords were disabled and fresh ones called for. Once the sword of the large man brokC in the centre, and the flying end came whiz
 zing past me and struck student in the ches l who standing by my side He jumped as if shot, but fo1 tunately wRs not injured Finally the small man received blow on tht | head, which was to end the days ''sport I oh tyVn tv fnnt6 | sword strike the skull with 0 peculiar thuC | which had a terrible meaning A large loci | of hair fell to the floor from his head, anG we could see by the twitching of his body | and the partial closing of his eyes through the | steel goggles that the blow had nearly stun ned him. In moment his face was covered 1 with blood which flowed freely down his body | and formed a pool in the sawdust at his feet
 The seconds instantly cried ''halt'' and the l surgeons and the friends of the wounded mar | rushed forward and caught him in their arms | His wound after a nasty examination wal l pronounced serious and he was led away veal and tottering to the hospital, The duel
 which was now at the end, lasted lest l than ten minutes. Those who did not belong to the corps of the wounded student soo1 left the building and hurried away to Heidel | berg for their dinners It was after 1 o'clock and we were also anxious to get back to oul hotels. Passing through the hospital we saw 1 the young man stretched out on reclining | chair, the two surgeons and several student
 busy at work over him. The surgeons ha6 partly shaved the head and were sewing up ghastly scalp wound that extended several in
 ches across the skull. We hastened dow stairs, jumped into our waiting carriage ant
 drove away.
 Among the sixty or seventy English anc American students at Heidelberg none O
 them belong to the fighting corps. They ar
 not towards either. It is known that if oc
 casion requires they can fight their own way
 but they have no desire that their good-1ook ing faces shall be hacked and chopped III like dogs meat and be disfigured ever after
 Not long ago an American student had slight quarrel with one of the fighting corp
 students and received from him a challenge
 Being the challenged party the American hat
 the choice of weapons. He sent word to thu
 German by friend that he would meet hin the next morning at o'clock at place out
 side of the city, and the weapons should bt navy revolvers Che had a good pair) at ter paces. The German and his friends conclud ed it would not be good day for duels ant the matter was dropped
 As a food and as a medicine othing il medicine can compare with Malt Bitters