The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-03-15
STUDENT DUELS.
The Brutal COmbats Carried On in the Uni
versities of Germany.

versities of Germany.
DR., W. Stillman in the Saratogian.
There are three kinds of duels known to
Geman students. One is called the American
duel, another is the sable mensur" and the
third is the ordinary menSur, in which ali
the person is protected except the face and
head, which are pecked away at with small,
flexible blade. The eyes safe behind iron
spectacles, and there is really almost no danger.
In the first kind one must die. Lots are thrown.
and one must destroy himself In the second
the danger is midway between the two others.
Three of the principal arteries on each side of
the body are protected, likewise the eyes, but
the chest, arms, head and face are left to the
mercy of the heavy, villainous looking saber.
One blow through the unprotected heart and
mans dueling days would terminate. The differ
ent kinds of dueling represent as many grades
of insults. To call fellowstudent an zig
noramus" is all that is required to demand
the second kind The first is largely reserved to
settle precedence in love affairs though ofcourse,
the maiden never marries the survivor. | was
invited to attend sable mensur' recently in
Berlin as a guest of one of the corps Taking
the elevated road to the Outkirts of the city, we
found the clans assembled in a quiet bier local"
on a great square. Representatives of all the
student corps in the university were there-red
caps blue caps, green caps and black caps. Our
arrival was none too early. for no sooner had our
coats been laid aside than the assembled students
and guests sOlemnly arose, took their beer mugs
in their hand, and filed in stately procession past
the bar and into the long adjacent room, called
by courtesy "a hall " which is hired by the corps
together for dueling purposes. 1t was patriotical
Is decorated with German flags on the walls, and
pugistcally with sawdust the floor which
had been cleared. AT either end of the room was
a stalwart young gladiator, with Teutonic feat
ures preparing for the contest On the chairs,
close at hand. were lint, surgical instruments
and sponges Around were medical students
seconds, officials, sympathizers, and on-lookers
Everyone was expectant and the garcons passed
around the bier.
Presidently the combatants were brought up
facing one another, their sword arms held aloft
by attendants The seconds took their places
and the blue cap was removed from the head Of
the tall student, who looked mad, and the red
cap from the head of the pale student who looked
calm. They were dressed only in shirts, trous-
ers and shoes, and stood in position with one
hand held behind. The points of the duelists
were discussed, and the garcons passed round the
bier.
Everything was ready. The sabers were
crossed. The word was given, and the seconds
cried loose" The blades flashed There was a
succession of clashes and vigorous whirling of
sharp steel through the air. Suddenly q loud cry
of halt" is given. There is a pause, and the
student, who looked mad, has lost piece of his
skin and shirt-sleeve together A surgeon
shameless the flow of blood, and the garcons pass
round the bier.
With the same formalties the contest begins
The atmosphere is cut into many giblets. The
pale student puts the most science-his antago-
mist the most force-into his blows. The former
is cool and cever-the blood of the latter is
mounting. The fencing is done with increased
energy Again shout. They stop. The pale
man has scratch on his rghtc heek-the tall man
is losing some of his angry blood from a deep cut
in the left side of his face. Again more spong-
ing-this time louger-and again more beer
This sort of thing must be kept up fifteen min
utes, actual fighting time, till is killed or
disabled. On the whole, l had rather see an
amateur dogfght Again they are at it, still
more earnestly Again the blue cap gets cash.
and his shirt front is covered with blood
This is not serious enough to stop the brutal
nonsense, and the final bout is begun. The saber
of the pale student revolves with the speed and
precision of fly-wheel. They come so close that
the hits of the swords hit. The tall man is
angry and in pain-the other steady and watch
ful. Suddenly there is horrible moment when
the sabers miss the contact and sweep kissing
through the air, and you expect to see head
decapitated. A step forward. A shout. The
seconds knock the blades up. The head of the
tall man drops upon his chest, and shows a
CHASTITY gasp through scalp and forehead, and the
blood trickles down upon the sawdust Some
one cries ''funf minuten," and the sable men
sur is at an end. You heave a sigh Of relief,
and are thankful that no one was killed outright,
and the garcon passes around the bier