Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-11-29
DUELlNG ON THE CONTINENT.
The Deadly Mode OF Fighting which
Prevails I'm Russia.
From the Pail Mail Gazette.

From the Pail Mall Gazette
Over 5000 duels occur annually In France
alone. The enormous majority Of these en-
counters take place between private soldiers
In every French regiment are to be found two
or three first rate swordsmen. commonly called
des tatesvs whose especial business it is to test
the nerve Of any recruit suspected OF a de-
nciency Of physical courage On the most frvo-
lous pretext the tate,r fastens a quarrel on the
unfortunate nauredu. and the unanimous voice
OF the regiment declares that honor demands
bloodshed. The encounter takes place in
the presence OF four non-commissioned officers
and OF the regimental fencing master.
who STANDS by, sword in hand. ready no parry
any too dangerous thrust. The weapon used
in the cavalry is the sabre. and in the infantry
the ordinary sword bayOnet. and the issue is
generally harmless enough. although cases
have been known of the tdteur himself coming
to grief through the recruit going for his ad-
versary.
In society, and especially among gentlemen
connected with what the French term Ia petite
presse, very similar rule prevails. out with one
important modification. The tdteep- is here con-
spicuous by his absence. and the Young aspir-
ant TO social or Journalistic honors is expected
to fare ses preures by deliberately picking
quarrel with some eligible opponent. The
weapon used in these affairs OF honor is almost
invariably the small sword the pistol being con-
sldered tar too dangerous an arm-the issue of
these encounters is as rule scratched finger
or forearm. Occasionally. when political or
other considerations render even scratch IN
desirable. pistols are resorted TO. but with pecu-
liar precautions. Thus NM. Gambetta and De
Fourtou-the former being one-eyed aud the
latter nearly blind-were put up in dense fog
at forty pacestO exchange shots with very short
barreled smooth-bore pistols. In short. nine
out OF ten French duels may be looked upon as
mere farces played for the amusement of the
gallery. The excellent health enjoyed by NM.
Rochefort, De Cassagnac and Carrie DIES Peril
eres. who among them have been out over fifty
times, adds strong confirmation to this view of
the matter
In Doth Italy and Spain duels are frequent:
but IN both countries the sabre is used to the
almost complete exclusion of the small sword.
Indeed, the prejudice against the latter arm is
so strong In Italy that it is all but impossible to
nnd seconds who will consent to act in duel
Fepee. The natural result is that while
fatal issue is rare. the ugly gashes in the face
are very common. In both these countries the
penalty for dueling, as in France, is merely
nominal.
Throughout Germany. including Prussia. Aus
tria and the minor states, very different rule
prevails. with the exception OF the Oft
described "Schiager" duels among university
students. which are still winked at encounters
between civilians are punished with considera-
bic severity. the ordeal of single combat being
In the event OF two officers falling cut. court
of honor (Eflrengericht). generally composed Of
FIVE superior officers. and presided over by the
colonel of their regiment or the general COM
handing the district. carefully investigates the
whole affair and decides whether an apology
shall be rendered and accepted. or whether an
encounter is necessary. The decision of the
court is final, and any officer refusing to comply
with it would be compelled to retire from the
service. while any duel unauthorized bv the
IaaH h., mir r,,f
the offenders. Pistols are almost invariably
used at distance of twelve PAGES; and. Ger
man officers being as rule very good shots.
fatal consequences are not infreQuent. BY a
strange anomaly, the verdict of the Ei3enGerjcE
does not entirely cover the responsibility of the
cOmbatants. In the event Of a fatal issue. the
survivor is liable to suffer term Of open arrest
in fortress. varying from two to six months.
A German officer thus finds himself placed in
the dilemma of refusing to fight and being COM
PEELED to retire, or Of fighting and running the
risk of being placed under arrest for doing So
In no country are duels more frequent or
more murderous than in Russia; the Russians
being. especially when in their cups. as quarrel
some among themselves as they are proveTbal
IL courteous to foreigners The mode or combat
universally adopted is that termed the duel Ia
ba,riere; the opponents icing put up at fifteen
PAGES, with liberty to advance five PAGES each at
given signal. and to fire at will. Should one
OF them fire and miss his adversary is entitled
10 complete MS hVe PAGES before returning the
shot MANY cases have been known in VIII oh
duelist. although mortally wounded, has yet re-
tanned sufficient strength to take steady aim and
fire with fatal effect. The great Russian poet
Pushkin was killed in duel q la bdrrie7'e after
severely wouading his antagonist.
In the Baltic provinces a system prevails
which at fist sight appears even more murder
GUS. The adversaries are placed only three
PAGES apart; the pistols are held with the InIlz-
ze pointing upward, and are brought down and
discharged at a given signal. 1t may appear
almost impossible tor two men to miss eacn
other at SO short distance; but this is not the
case. Each of the opponents is so desperately
anxious to gain the least traction of second
on his adversary tfat, on the signal being given.
the weapons are often brought down with so
hurried and violent a jerk that the bullets bury
themselves in the ground At 4 duel fought
last year at Riga between an officer and a stu
dent in this fashion, three shots were exchanged
without any result, while at the fourth discharge
the student had the great toe of his right foot
cut clean off by his opponents bullet.