The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1882-11-15
German Students Sword Fights.

4llC tllISl1CO 4sCLCI0 ftcOft Pu1
fishes a long letter from Minister Sar.
gent to his son, describing some duels
he has seen fought in Germany. Here
is one of them Two young men were
seated in chairs facing each other. The
right arm, neck and breast of each
were protected by heavy quilted stuff,
and over the eyes a pair of iron goggles.
So heavy is the padding on the arm
that two men support the weight for
the fighter in the intervals of rest. So
protected, the face and head are liable
to cuts, but it is difficult to inflict a
serious injury. In the pending case it
was said that one Of the combatants
was an officer in the reserves, and the
other desired to be, but some reflection
on his courage had been made by the
officer, and hence this duel. Perhaps
it was some evidence in favor of the
truth of the assertion that the chal-
lenger sought this comparatively HARM
less mode of satisfaction, rather than a
combat with saber and a naked breast.
At a word of order the men took
their feet, their seconds put rapiers in
their gloved hands, the handles of
which had been well chalked. These
rapiers are about three feet and a half
long, sharpened about a foot at the
end, but not pointed. They advanced
to within about two feet of each
other and stood with the weapons
raised above their hands, waiting for
the word. At the side of each was his
second, an umpire was close by, and a
doctor for emergencies. The crowd
pressed back a respectful distance.
"Auf mensurr I" Ito the fight y
exclaims one of the seconds.
"Bindel die Klingen !" (Swords to-
"Gebendun sindw (swords are
ready
"Loss |" eight y
And quickly following the response
comes a flash of steel, the singing of
the weapons as they whiz through the
air above the heads of the fighters, and
the thud of blows falling on arm or
breast. All at once a red streak is
visible on the forehead of one of the
parties.
Halt !" exclaims his adversary and
the seconds at the same moment. The
combatants drop their fatigued arms
to the supporting help of their assist
ants, who hold them up as Aaron and
uur held I'm. those of Moses.
The doctor examines the wound and
sponges it, and both have their faces
wiped by the seconds, and the same
formula recalls them to the combat.
This lasts fifteen minutes, each getting
cuts from which the blood runs liber-
ally down on their shirts, until they
look like butchered hogs. But the
time allotted is up. They have cut
and slashed at each other and set their
teeth and lost their blood, and thereby
shown their courage. But not yet
quite so, for there has been an army
officer there closely watching the fight.
lie has noticed that the challenging
party, who wished by this fight to
prove his courage, had lodged back on
two occasions! So, I am told, the pool
youth will not get to be an officer, for
it is an intlexible rule that no such
dodging can be tolerated. 1 had not
noticed this act of, perhaps, involun-
tary shrinking, but more experienced
eyes had, and his fate was sealed.
The combatants were now Invested
of their bloody garments, and it
seemed to me were relieved to be quit
of Il heavy task. 1 took the opportu-
nitv to glance around the roo at the
students. They nearly all had slasshed
faces. One had a replaced nose. My
captain had a perfect map of crossing
lines. Some of the wounds were an
cicnt, some were but lately healed and
Il few were cuts evidently made that
day. These sears are deemed honor
able distinctions here, and, therefore,
decorations. 1 was forcibly reminded
of a remark l have heard, also, that
the Germans are becoming a near
sighted people, by observing that
nearly Il third of those present-and
all were young but me-wore glasses.
We adjourned one more to the open
air and resumed our seats at the table.