Saturday press. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1880-1885, 1880-09-18

showing the white feather; they must
fight, aud they do. In the duelling hall all
the members of the different corps, with
one or two exceptions, were present. They
all appeared to be over Is years of age,
and physically were splendid looking fell
lows. | don't think there were half a doz.
en- among them whose faces did not bear
evidence of those bloody conflicts. Their
cheeks and foreheads were SCARED and
furrowed by deep welts crss-crossing each
other, and occasionally furrowing down
through the mouth and chin. l observed
that the noses of two or three had been
grated on and had badly healed. They
were all seated around the hall; those who
were not administering to the wounded in
the outer room were seated at their re.
spective table, each corps by itself, drinking
wine and eating their lunches. Two or
three German girls were tending a refresh
ment table at the end of the hall, and APP
peared to take no more interest in the
duels than they would in chicken fights.
Mr.. ConifTe and myself, the only strangers
or outsiders present, were the guests Of the
yellow-cap corps, who were very polite and
showed us every attention possible. True
politeness is virtue either natural or &C.
CURED, which all the Heidelberg students
seem to possess. The rules of etiquette,
however, established by the dueling corps
forbid any intimacy or recognition between
the different members. We were intro
duced to no one outside of the yellow-caps,
and | noticed that the several corps were
as strangers to each other and not nod or
&c ra,1,~,,t,,,, n~obo.,al
The waiting for the third duel was long
and tedious. The word-sharpener, an DID,
gray.headed man, came into the hall two
or three times bearing freshly. ground
weapons whick-he placed in convenient po-
stions. Another man came and scattered
fresh sawdust, to cover the blood where
the last dueists had stood, that those who
were to follow might not "stand on slip
perry places. 1t was like the little episode
in the Spanish bull-fghts when the arena
has been cleared of the dead bull and
horses and occasionally the dead bull
fighter, and the attendants come in with
sawdust to obliterate the traces of the
bloody conflict. Through the open door of
the hospital room could see the surg.
cons and students washing bloody bodies
and patching up the wounds of the two
who had just fought, while others were
dressing and preparing the two who were
next to measure swords.
Ere long | heard the noise of hurried
footsteps, and the two men came striding
into the hall, each surrounded by several
friends and surgeon supporting their
sword arms. The first glance Mt them,
with their black goggles, muffled threats,
ETC., reminded me of professional divers
with their armor on ready for service.
There was no waiting Or hestating; in
moment the men were placed in position,
swords placed in their hands, the signal
given and the bloody work began in earn
est. was told that this was an "affair
of honor" and that some affront or i'm
agined insult was to be cancelled or wiped
out with blood 1t seemed an uneven
match. One was tall, powerful athlete,
while his adversary was small and below
the average stature. But in sword duels,
the victory is more apt to go with the
smaller and agile of the two. There were
several sharp encounters, IN which the
contest was about evenly balanced. Both
were splendid swordsmen, and their skill
full strokes and thrusts were watched by
their friends with intense interest. Each
received three or four slight cuts, but it
was difficult to determine which drew the
first blood. Several times their swords
were disabled and fresh ones called for.
Once the sword of the large man broke in
the centre, and the flying end came whiz-
zing past me and struck student in the
chest who was standing by my side. He
jumped as if shot, but fortunately was not
injured. Finally the small man received a
blow on the head which was to end the
days "sport." Although 20 feet distant,
heard the sword strike the skull with a
peculiar thud, which knew had terrible
meaning. A large lock of hair fell to the
floor from his head, and ! could see by the
twitching of his body, and the partial clos
ing of eyes through the steel goggles that
the blow had neatly stunned him. In n
moment his face was covered with blood
which flowed freely down his body, and
formed pool in the sawdust at his feet.
The seconds instantly cried "halt," and
the surgeons and the friends of the wound
ed man rushed forward and caught him in
their arms. His wound after hasty ex-
animation was pronounced serious, and he
was led away, weak and tottering to the
hospital The duel, which was at an end,
had lasted less than 10 minutes. | think
most of the students regretted that it was
SO quickly terminated. Those who did not
belong to the corps of the wounded student
soon left the building and hurried away to
Heidelberg for their dinners. 1t was after
l o'clock and we were also anxious to get
back to our hotels. Passing through the
hospital we saw the young man stretched
out on a reclining chair, the two surgeons
and several students busy Mt work over
him. The surgeons had partly shaved the
head and were sewing up CHASTITY scalp
wound that extended several inches across
the skull. We FASTENED down stairs, Jump
ed into our waiting carriage and drove
away.
Since witnessing these civilized and arts.
tocratic combats my opinions of Morris.
sey, Heenan, and Sayers have undergone
a decided change. am afraid that have
misiudged them heretofore. Taking
brutality as standpoint, why shouldn' I
they be heroes of the tirst CLASP
Among the 60 or 20 English and Ameri.
can students at Heidelberg none Of them
helonU In tho hoht;pe, corn, Tba, n IN a, ..