The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-07-21

A urapAsc Dssrrspslen Of sword Coma
bass netw cen enc Gcrmam Corps

pxssIur over the historical old bridge that
snars the Necksr, we took road by the
rivers bank IN a northcriv direction Tor
sho,,, quarter Of a mile, when We turned
ar into a deep gorge between two Gigh
overhanpjpg hills, We soon came to large
oId.strle building, two stories high, the
unuer one formed by huge gable roof, re-
nindtng one Of the old Dutch taverns to be
seen Throughout Holland, and built 100 OF
900 wears ago, The yard In front was used
Tor beer.gartleu, and the rough iabies
and benches under the shady trees ana
trelllscs were covered with empty ana nan
cmptv bccr.mugs, ms II some party OF reve'-
lers had taken a sudden fight. No person
WAS 10 be seen stirring, and an omln0us
silence seemed 10 brood over the building
and lie surroundings. The place appeared
deserted but for the presence OF q dozen OF
more of huge and 'ferce-looking bulldogs
mastifis, 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 scat ana
gave several heavy raps with bis whip-han-
die on the old-fasbioned door. In Few
minutes 1t was cautiously opened, and q
mans head, evidently domestic, appeared.
He was handed our cards and told TO take
them 10 the president OF the yelow-cap
CORPS. Soon a yellow-cap student came
out, and after giving us avery ceremonious
salute requested us 10 follow him. After
passing through a long hall we mounted
two flights OF stairs, made turn, passed
through a dmly.ligbted corridor, aud en-
tered a large ante-r0Om which some oil the
students call the "repair shop" The room
was like field hospital during bloody
battle. Sponges, towels, strips OF cotton
cloth and rags saturated with blood were
living about on the benches and tables, whilc
wasb-bowls, pals, ana foot baths, partly
filed with bloody water, were stationed
around the room either on the floor or
benches. Blood was 10 be seen everywhere.
A case OF surgical instruments was on
table, near which were piles OF lint, rolls OF
bandsges. sheets OF sticking plaster, Two or
three TASKS of brandy and various remedies
and medicines used as res.oratives 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.
Ii seems one duel had taken place before
our arrival. II did not matter-the results
were before us. Passing the hospita-roOm,
i'm which we did not tarry long to scru-
tinize, we entered the duelling-hall, large,
high room about 80 feet long and 80 feet
wide. The second 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 ball and facing each other
were the two duellisis, engaged in what APP
peared to be deadly combat. The face OF
one was so covered with blood that could
not recognize his features. The other
duellst, although his face was bloody, had
evidently not been so badly punished as his
adversary. He had only received 81 far two
or three slight cuts OH his face, from which
blood was flowing down his bosom.
Each wore aprons originally made froU
some white material that looked as
II they had seen long service in slaughter
house-and so they bad for they were
almost black with the human gore that had
accumulated from many previous duel.
Their heads were bare and their faces I'M
protected save by black steel goggles with
out 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 or sleeves.
wadded or padded with cotton, so that tue
sharpest blade could not penetrate them.
Aside from these precautions they were at
the mercy OF each others swords. Both
combatants we're about thirty years Of age,
athletes in size and strength. and bad been
for years under skilled professors
for such an occasion as this. They were in
terrible earnest, and their long, sharp
swords played over each others heads
with lightning-like rapidity; but so
skllfully were the blows parried that
most OF the wounds were only
caused by the bending or the breaking OF
the blades. The moment a sword became
disabled, which was constantly occurring,
the seconds iDteifered and cried Halt :"
and the uplifted arms came TO rest. Soon
as fresh swords, which had been sharpent
like razors, were brought and placed in their
hands, there WAS no ceremony or waiting.
The seconds gave the signal, and the two
men sprang forward at each other like blood.
hounds. Steel casbed against steel again,
sparks few as if from blacksmith's forge,
and tufts OF hair, cut as if by invisible
hands, We're waited long distances from
each others heads. Occasionally squirt Of
blood would tell that bad wound had
been given, and the seconds would in
terfere, while the surgeons could eX-
anime and hastily quench the flowing cur
rent. The duellist who drst attracted my at
tention by his CORY face was evidently get
ting 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 bis feet. The scene
reminded p1e OF the buli.fghts witnessed in
Spain, only this was the more brutal aud in
human of the two. 1T seemed every mo-
ment as il she man would from the loss Of
blood fall back dead in the arms OF his COM
rades, who were watcliing the conflict with
terrible eaSerness and suspense. Bue not
for morbent did he snow signs Of weak
ness or disposition TO give up the combat.
Two or three times he signalled for rest
that his friends might wipe the blood that
had gathered in his eyes and blinded his
sight. A glass OF waser that was held
TO his lips became as red as port
wine from the blood that flowed. into
it from Ais face, but he drays; it
all the same. His adversary, 1t WAS evil
dent, was at tae end to be the champion,
although he had received some bad cuts, one
Of which eaEle near seve:ing his nose. He
was the superior swOrdssan, and bad gwen
five wouGds where he had received one.
The man opposite him, the bloody maH, ,yas
to be the -1under dog ia the fight" Ehe
contest lasted thirty minaites, aud would
fave continued until one had been Ltled
had not the tSvo surgeons in!erfered and
ended the fight. The two sgladators, .es IL
Tag aud partly supported on the arms OF
their brother-students. were led out intothe
ospital TO haze their WOUNDS dressed.
fhus ended the second dsel, which was
fought by a member OF the shite-cap aas
one OF Tue egeen,cap corps. The thirG