Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1880-08-20

Thus ended the second duel, which
was fought by a member of the white
cap and one of the green-cap corps.
/ The third duel, which was next to take
place, was TO be between q red-cap and
a green-cap. There are five separate
corps in the university, which are desig-
mated in the streets by the color of their
caps--the whites, reds, blues, greens
and yellows. Among the 800 or 900
students in Heidelberg only about sixty
belong to them. The white-caps are
the most numerous, and they number
about sixteen. The corps are very
aristocratic and very select. The MEM
bers are supposed to belong to the no.
biity and to the best German families,
with only the best blue blood flowing
through their veins. To become
member it 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 neces-
sity of fighting duels-that is, they are
not under the necessity, but, if they
don't fight, they are tabooed as cow
ards, and Heidelberg would become an
uncomfortable place of residence. II
they don't volunteer, the president of
corps volunteers them, or rather ap.
points them to meet adyersaries, and
| then there is no showing the white
feather; they must fight, and they do.
In the dueling hall all the members OF
the different corps, with one or two ex.
ceptions, were present. They all ap.
peared TO be over twenty-five years of
age, and physically were splendid look
ing fellows. l don't think there were
half a dozen among them whose faces
did not bear evidence of these bloody
conflicts. Their cheeks and foreheads
were SCARED and furrowed by deep welts
criss- crossing each other, and occasion
ally 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 seat
ed around the hall; those who were not
administering to the wounded in the
outer room were seated at their respect
i've tables, each corps by itself, drinking
wine and eating their lunches. Two or
three German girls were tending a re-
freshment table at the end of the hall,
and appeared to take no more interest
in the duels than they would in chicken
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 saw-dust to
cover the blood where the last duelists
had stood, that those who were to follow
might not "stand on slippery places. -
1t was like the little episode in the Span
ish bull-lights when the arena has been
cleared of the dead bull and horses and
occasionally the dead bull-fighter, and
the attendants come in with rakes and
saw-dust to obliterate the traces of the
bloody conflict Through the open door
of the hospital-room / could see the
surgeons and students washing the
bloody bodies and patching up the
wounds of the two who had just fought,
while others were dressing and prepar-
ing the two who were next to measure
swords.
Ere long heard the noise of hurried
footsteps, and the two men came strid-
ing into the hall, each surrounded by
several friends and a surgeon supporting
their sword arms. The first glance al
them, with their black goggles, muflled
throats, etc, reminded me of profes
sional divers with their armor on ready
for service. There was no waiting oil
hesitating; in moment the men were
placed in position, swords placed in
their hands, the signal given and the
: bloody work began in earnest. | was
told that this was an "affair of honor ,
: and that some affront or imagined in
suit was to be cancelled or wiped ou
4, L., tol,
One was q tall, powerful athlete, Will,
his adversary was small and below tn,
ordinary stature. But, in sword duels
: the victory is more apt to go with thu
: smaller and more agile of the two
There were several short and sharp en-
counters, in which the contest was abou
evenly balanced. Both were splendiC
swordsmen, and their skillful stroke
: and thrusts were watched by thei
I friends with intense interest. Each re
3 ceived three or four slight cuts, but
was difficult to determine which drew
the first blood. Several times thei
swords were disabled and fresh one
called for. Once the sword of the larg
man broke in the center, and the fyinl
, end came whizzing past me and struck
4 student in the chest who was standing
I by my side. He jumped as if shot, bu
1 fortunately was not injured. Finall
Z the small man received q blow on tn
n head which was to end the day
7, "sport.'' Although twenty feet distant
+ l heard the sword strike the skull with
g peculiar thud, which | knew had ter
S rible meaning. A large lock of hair fel
e to the floor from his head, and l coul
see by the twitching of his body, an
a the partial closing of his eyes throug
!, the steel goggles that the blow ha
a nearly stunned him. In a moment hi
d face was covered with blood, whic
3 flowed freely down his body, an
T formed q pool in the sawdust at hi
l. feet. The seconds instantly erie
n halt" and the surgeons and tn
3 friends of the wounded man rushed fol
II ward and caught him in their arms
n His wound after hasty eXaminatio
IS was pronounced serious, and he was lie
II away, weak and tottering, to the ho
J. pital. The duel, which was now at a
q end, had lasted less than ten minutes.
+ think most of the students regrette
Q that it was so quickly terminated. Tho'
g who did not belong to the corps of ii
s. wounded student soon left the buildin
ohu hhlliCN away W AANiNSASSi5 ~
g. their dinners. 1t was after / o'cloC
10 and we were all anxious to get back
a our hotels. Passing through the ho
pital we saw the young man stretche
u out on n reclining chair, the two su
], geons and several students busy at woI
re over him. The surgeons had part
III shaved the head and were sewing up
le ghastly scalp wound that extended Sc
u l.
g down stairs, jumped into our waitir
a, carriage and drove away.
~ ~ Among the sixty or seventy Englis
SO and American students at Heidelbel
As none of them belong to the tightir
80 corps. They are not towards eithe
" 1t is known that if occasion requir
rs they can fight their own way, but thu
nc have no desire that their good-lookiT
n, | faoos obol1 ha haclyad an1 ohonnad I