The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1880-06-25

wore. This rendered him absolutely
defenceless before M. Koechlin's Wig
orous thrust, and he was hit right in
the pit of the stomach, the weapon
penetrating some way. NJ Koechlin
could not have held his hand, as the
thrust was already directed, and many
praise his generosity for withdrawing
his sword as soon as his adversary was
touched, thereby rendering the wound
far less severe than it might have
been, for Rochefort might easily have
been run through. NJ. Koechlin is a
tall man, of strong build, thirty-two
years Of age, and retired cavalry
officer. He is an admirable swords
man, which Rochefort, it appears, is
not, he having one great disadvantage.
that of too much impetuosity in his
attack. Rochefort is now fifty-One.
It is stated that the wounded man
would have preferred to fight with the
pistol, but that his adversary refused.
Rochefort, though badly hurt, will, it
is hoped, recover. He has, however,
lost great deal of blood, and requires
careful nursing and attention. A GU
rlous incident in connection with this
otherwise tragic affair occurred short
ly after the encounter. AS the seconds
were driving to Coppet to draw up the
process 0erbol Of the duel they were
met by the Swiss gendarmes, who
questioned them; but they passed
themselves off as tourists proceeding
to Lausanne, and were allowed to
move on.
This is Rochefort's eighth duel in
all, and it may not be uninteresting to
mention a few of his principal encoun-
tiers. The first was with M. Alfonso
de Albania, young hidalgo of nine
teen, who challenged him on account |
of some remarks he had made in Fi-
caro- on Queen Isabella's departure |
from Madrid when cholera was raging |
in that city. Rochefort was slightly |
wounded. Then came the duel with |
Prince Achille Murat, who took the
offence at another of Roehefort's ar
ticles. The Emperor's consent was
asked. At first he refused; but he
afterwards permitted the duel, which
came off in the Cavalry Riding School
at Saint German, which was placed
at the disposal of the combatants.
The arm chosen was the sword; Roche
forts aWkwardness soon placed him in |
his adversary's hands, and he was hit
in the hip. The duel with M. Paul de
Cassagnac made great noise. Roche
fort had attacked Cassagnac in the
L01aterne, and challenge was the re-
suit. They fought with pistols on the
plain near Saint Denis. Two shots
were interchanged without result; at
the third Rochefort was severely |
wounded in the groin, his life being
for some time in danger. Another
celebrated duel was the one with M.
Ernest Baroche, who, previously in
suited in the LG11te771e, left at once for
Brussels, where ROchefort was living.
NJ. NJ. Charles and Francois Hugo were
seconds. and swords the
arms employed. In this duel M.
Baroche was seriously wounded. AT
ter the combat Rochefort, of his own
accord, effaced the obnoxious passage
from the L011te171e, and addressed his
father, the Minister III
eloquent terms, on behalf of those
who had been prescribed after the
coup a. et0t, appealing to him as to
one who had held his sons life dear.
On Jan. 10, 1870, Rochefort sent his
seconds to Prince Pierre BonaparteI;
one of them was Victor Noir. The
tragic result of this interview and the
excitement which it produced at the
time are too well known to require
more than passing mention. Roche
fort was once asked whether he had |
been fortunate in his duels. The re-
ply was characteristic of the man. |
g Yes, very fortunate, for [ have al i
most always been wounded.