Morning journal and courier., 1880-07-23
Duelling at Heidelberg.
A Graphic Description of Sword Combat, RetHreen the Gecmnn Corns Students.

A GraP Phic Description of Sword Comba4s
 Between the German Corps Students.
 1.-The Springfield Republican Heidelberg Letter.
 Passing over the historical old bridge that spans the Neckar, we took a road by the rivers bank in northerly direction for about a quarter of a mile, when we turned up into a deep gorge between two high overhanging hills. We soon came to large old styled building two stories high, the upper one formed by huge gable roof reminding one of the old Dutch taverns to be seen through out Holland, and built 150 or POO years ago. The yard in front was used for beer-garden and the rough tables and benches under the shady trees and trellises were covered up with half empty beer-mugs, as if some party of jewellers had taken sudden flight No person was to be seen stirring, and an omin- ous silence seemed to brood over the building and it's surroundings. The place appeared to be deserted but for the presence of a doz- en or more of huge and ferce-looking bull dogs. mastiffs and deer-hounds of rare breeds which were chained about in the garden, and which the students carefully lead through the streets in Heidelberg.
 The driver dismounted from his seat and gave several heavy raps with his whip handle on the old fashioned door. In few minutes it was cautiously opened and 8 mans head, evidently O domestic, appeared He was handed our cards and told to take them to the president of the yellow-cap corps Soon a yellow-cap student came out, and after giv- ing a ceremonious salute requested us to fol- low him. After passing through long hall we mounted two flights of stairs, mad turn, passed through dimly-lighted corridor and entered large ante-room which some of the students call the ''repair shop" The room was like a field hospital during bloody bat tie. Sponges, towels strips of cotton cloth and rags saturated with blood were lying about the benches and tables, while wash bowls, pails and foot baths partly filled with bloody water were stationed around the room either on the floor or benches. Blood was to be seen everywhere. A case of surgi- cal instruments was on a table, near which were piles of lint, rolls of bandages. sheets of sticking plaster two or three f1asks of brandy and various remedies and medicines used as restoratives when people have tainted from loss of blood or other causes. The floor was sprinkled with blood that had escaped from wounds caused by sword-thrusts, not only this day but on former occasions.
 It seems one duel had taken place before our arrival. It did not matter-the results were before us. Passing the hospital room in which we did not tarry long to scrutinize, we entered the duelling hall, 8 large high room about 50 feet long, 30 wide. The sec ond duel was in progress of which we had been forewarned by hearing the clash Of swords in the outer room At one end of the he'll and facing each other were the two duellists engaged in what appeared to be a deadly combat The face of one wns so cov- cred with blood that I could not recognize his features. The other duellist although his face. was bloody, had evidentlysnot been so badly punished as his adversary. He had only received so far two or three slight cuts in the face, from which blood was flowing down his bosom. Each wore aprons origin ally made from some white material that looked as if they had seen long service in a slaughter house-and so they had, for they were almost black with the human gore that had accumulated from many previous duel. Their heads were bare and their faces unpro- tected, save by black steel goggles without glasses, which covered their eyes. Heavy wrappings of silk-layer upon layer-were wound around their necks, and their sword arms were incased in thick shields of sleeves wadded or padded with cotton, so that the sharpest blade could not penetrate them Aside from these precautions they were at the mercy of each others swords. Both combat ants were about thirty years of age, athletes in size and strength, and had been practising for years under skilled professors for such an