Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1881-03-10
A Duel with Rum.

A remarkable duel has just taken place
which for its novelty and fearful termlna-
tion has set the Psrisians agog. Two
brothers, Auguste and Andre Berni, the
former aged forty the latter thirty three,
both employed in the great glass manufac-
tory at ST. Denls became enamored of
Adele Ver9eri, cook at La Villette.
Adele Vergeri is 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 a humble representative of
France, but she Is modest and retiring, and
not given TO resorting TO balls and theatres.
She formed the acquaintance of the broth
ers at baptism. Both, it appears from
the first, began paying her attentions.
Adele Vergeri received the visits of the
brothers with much sang froid. To her
it was amusing TO see first one, then the
other, come putting and blowing in his 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 the other alone with her. So terri
BILE became the jealously 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 Vergeri, and both confronted each
other in one of the great wine shops of tht
Saint Denis quarters, 30 appropriately
called by Zola "Assommoir. They glared
at each other, and their friends saw at once
that trouble was brewing. They finally
motioned 10 each other to withdraw TO @
table. They spoke low, but excitedly /;
they smoked quickly, and the llue smoke
of their pipes was hot. "a duell Yes, a
duel!' This was distinctly heard, and
then the brothers beckoned 10 Jules ReInri
and Alfred POulier, friends of theirs, They
had decided upon fighting a duel, but not
with swords or pistols. Ii was to be duel
TO the death. Two bottles of rum, brought
from the cellars of Jacques Barbier's As
somnioir de saint Denis, were put on the
table. Two tumblers were set beside the
bottles, and then this contract was made
by the brothers in the presence Of witnes-
Ses:
''It was agreed between the brothers Au-
guste and Andre Berni TO drink rum until
either is unable TO drink any more. The
first who succumbs will consider himself
beaten, and surrender all claims 10 Adele
Vergeri.h The contract was signed, the
bottles tapped, and tumblers filed. At
first the men drank slowly, but as the
liquor began TO excite their brains they
fairly poured it down their throats. At
the ninth glass Auguste, the younger of the
brothers, gave yell of pain and sank SEN
seless TO the floor. Andre Berni then
arose, and, with smile on hIs face. turned
10 leave. Hardly had he reached the door
of the cabaret when he threw up his hands
and fell senseless. He was quickly car
ried to the hospital Tenou, but cied shortly
after reaching 1t of conclusion of the brain
and paralS sis of the heart. AugustIe Berni,
crazed by the rum he drank, recovering
from his tainung fit, ran madly through
the streets, and has not been seen since.
Adele Vergen, the humble cook of Sa
VIllete, when she heard OF the death OF
Andre and disappearance Of Auguste,
merely shrugged her shoulders