Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1880-06-05

ments the quick-eyed seconds would
notice that sword was bent-then
they called "Haltr' struck up the
contending weapons, and an assist
| ing student Strengthened the bent
| one.
The wonderful turmoil went on
presently a bright spark sprung
from a blade, and that blade, broken
in several pieces. sent one of its
fragments flying to the ceiling. A
new sword was provided, and the
fight proceeded. The exercise was
tremendous, of course, and in time
the fighters began to show great
fatigue. They were allowed to rest
a moment every little while; they
got other rests by wounding each
other, for then they could sit down
while the doctorapplied the lint and
bandages. The law is that the bat
tie must continue fifteen minutes if
the men can hold out; and as the
puaSeS do not count, this duel was
protraeted to twenty or thirty min-
utes, / judged. AT last it was de-
clded that the men were too much
Wearied to do battle longer. They
were led away drenched with GRIM
son from head to foot. That was q
good fight, butt could not count,
partly because it did not last the
lawful fifteen minutes fof actual
fighting), and partly because neither
man was disabled by his wounds.
1t was drawn battle, and corps
be re-fought as soon as the adyersa-
rfes are well of their hurts. So
During the conflict, l had talked
little, now and then, with a young
gentlemen of the white cap corps
and he had mentioned that he was
to fight next-and had also pointed
out his challenger, a young gentle
man who was leaning against the
opposite wall smoking cigarette
and restfully observing the duel
then in progress. N
My acquaintanceship with a party
to the coming contest had the effect |
of giving me q kind of personal in
terest in it; / naturally wished he
might win, and it was the reverse /
of pleasant to learn that he proba-
bly, would not, because although he |
was a notable swordsman, the chal- |
lenger was held to be his superior. /
The duel presently began, and in.
the same furious way which had
marked the previous one. / stood |
close by, but could not fell which /
blows told and which did not, theyt
fell and vanished so like flashes of
light. They all seemed to tell; the, |
swords always bent over the oppO- |
nents' heads, from the forehead /
back over the crown, and seemed to
touch all the way; but it was not so
IA protecting blade, invisible to |
me, was always interposed between.
At the end of ten seconds each man |
had struck twelve or fifteen blows, /
and warded off twelve or fifteen,
and no harm done; then a sword |
became disabled, and a short rest
followed whilst a new one was
broIght. Early IN the next round |
the white corps student got IAN ugly
wound on the side of his head and |
gave his opponent one like it. In
the third round the latter received /
another bad wound in the head ,and /
the former had his under-lip diVid- |
ed. After that, the white corps stu
dent gave many. severe wounds, but /
got none of consequence in return. |
AT the end of five minutes from the
of the duel the surgeon
stopped it; the challenging party
had suffered such injuries that any
addition to, them might be danger
Gus. These injuries were fearful |
spectacle, but are better left unde-
scribed. 80, against expectation, my
was the victor. I, ~.