The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-03-08
A Duel with Rum.

A remarkable duel has Just taken place
Which for its novelty and fearful termlna.
tion has set the Purslans agog. Two
brothers, Auguste and Andre Bcrni, the
former aged torty. the latter thirty-thrce,
both employed I'M the great glass manufac.
tory at st. Denis, became enamOrcu OF
Adele Ver2eri, u cook at La Fillette.
Adele Vcrgcri ia described as a woman Of
plain, simple habits, one who had, by dint
OF hard work and economy, managed to
save few hundred francs. In appearance
Adele Is but q humble representative of
France, but she Is modest and retiring, and
not given TO resorting to balls and theatres.
She formed the acquaintance of tho broth
ers at baptism. Both, it appears from
the first, began paying her attentions.
Adele Fergeri received the visits of the
brothers with much sang froid. 10 her
1t was amusing to see first one, then the
other, come putting and blowing in lis de-
sire to be first to greet her. Neither would
give In to the other, and Adele had to
escort them both out, as neither would
leave tho other alone with her. SO terri
bic became the jcalously between the
brothers that they would not speak with
each other. 1t had, however, to be settled
at last, as Adele Vergeri threatened that
unless their courtship ceased to be mixed
with hatred she would have to ask the
brothers TO desist from calling upon her.
The brothers met. They had parted with
Adele Vergcri, and both confronted each
other in one of the great wine shops Of tn,
SAINT Denis quarters, SO appropriately
called by lola "Assommoir." They glared
at each other, and their friends saw at once
that trouble was brewing. They finally
molioncd to each other to withdraw to a
table. They spoke low, but excitedly :;
they smoked quickly, and the blue smoke
OF their pipes was hot. GA duell Yes, a
ducl!' This was distinctly heard, and
then the brothers bcckoncd to Jules Rcmri
and Alfred Poulier, friends of theirs, They
had decided upon fighting n duel, but not
with swords or pistols. 1t was to be duel
to the death. Two bottles Of rum, brought
from the cellars of jacques BARRIERS AS
sommoir &c saint Denis, were put on the
table. Two tum6lers were set beside the
bottles, and then this contract was made
by the brothers in the presence of witness
ses:
"lt vas agreed between the brothers Au-
guste and Andre Berni to drink rum until
either is unable to drink any moro. The
first who succumbs will consider himself
beaten, and surrender all claims to Adele
Vcrgcri.'. The contract was signed, the
bottles tapped, and tumblers filled. At
first the men drank slowly, but as the
liquor began TO excite their brains they
lairly poured It down their throats. Al
the ninth glass Auguste, the younger of the
brothers, gave yell Of pain and sank sen
selcss TO the floor. Andre Berni then
arose, and, with smile on his face, turned
TO leave. Hardly had he reached the door
OF the cabaret when he threw up his hands
ricd> TO tho hosplIa. tie wa. oied shortly
after reaching 1t Of conclusion of the brain
and paralysis of the heart. Augustlc Berni,
crazed by the rum he drank recovering
from his taintlng fit, ran madly through
the streets, and has not been seen since.
Adele Vcrgerl, the humble cook of Sa
Vlllete, when she heard Of the death of
Andre and tie disappearance of Augustc,
merely shrugged her shoulders