Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1884-05-23

] OCutCl VI lHlS SOlGIHu udTSndlllnR o.
soldiers under the dark blue sky of Nuevt
Castillo, large empty space has been re
served. For this space choice has beer
made of slight elevation of the ground
forming a sort of natural platform which
dominates the scene-so that when, in
little while, the selected combatants shall
take their places naked to the waist will
drawn swords, there viii not be a single
spectator of the tragedy among all these
impulsive soldiers drawn up in line
all the Madrid populace that pant with
excitement as at the outset of bull-fght
who will lose single detail of tho
combat which is going to take place
1t is in the presence of ten thousand wit
nesses that the honor of the army is to be
washed in the blood of those thirty brave
men.
There is roll of drums. Sonorous
and brief words of command are given.
simultaneously the butts of all those
muskets descend upon the firm soil, making
it quiver as with vibration of thunder
The men suddenly appear upon the
empty space of the little mound; they
take their places with quick and conf
| dent step. One of these two men, tail
and strong, with black eyes and scornful
mouth, gazed around him at the fever
ishly curious crowd with an air of
naughty confidence-it is Giacomo Fer
rari. The second, also tall, very swarthy
with muscles that seem like bands of
dark steel, remained perfectly motion
less, waiting-it is Jean-Louis.
| The seconds of both combatants take
their respective places.
! A silence as of death has suddenly sue
ceeded to the murmur of curiosity which
had circulated like the moaning of the
wind before storm. And in the midst
of that silence, suddenly bursts forth
these two words, heard by ten thousand
spectators CEN garde"
The two fencing masters cross swords
From the first instant Giacomo Ferrari
seeks to make deadly thrust at jean
Louis, but in vain-his sword per-
petually encounters the immovable blade
of his adversary. He retires a step and
resigns himself to more patient man9u-
vres. He caresses, he leases the sword.
Calm and watchful Jean-Louis lends
himself to all his advcrsary's flourishes.
Suddenly the Italian utters one of those
roars peculiar to swordsmen of his
race, and makes sudden leap to one
side, followed by a lightning upward
thrust. 1t is an old Florentine trick that
has often done him good service But
almost at the same instant cry of anger.
rather than of pain, escapes the lips of
Giacomo Farrari; with unparalleled
rapidity Jean-Louis has parried the
thrust, and his own blade, after tapping
about his adversary's to present another
lunge, suddenly abandons its apparent
purpose, and delivers a swift riposte,
burylng itself in the Italians shoulder.
cit is nothing" says Giacomo, recov-
ering himself with difficulty.
Again the swords cross; but almost
Immediately the Italian feels himself
struck in the breast. This time it is the
sword of Jean-Louis which attacks; and
it has entered deeply. A livid pallor
suddenly overspreads the face of Cha
como; his sword slips from his grasp,
and he falls heavily to the ground.
They rush to his side. He is dead.
Jean-Louis has already resumed his
first position. He wipes his sword, and
holding the point downward, waits.
The first fencing master of the first
regiment has been carried off dead but
nothing has been decided. Fourteen
more adversaries, fencing masters and
provosts, are standing at the foot of the
mound, impatient to measure themselves
with the victor, and eager also to avenge
the death of that chief whom they had
believed invincible.
Jean-Louis has scarcely taken two min
utes rest. lie is again ready; new ad-
versary leaps to meet him; their swords
cross. a. sinister clash II cry, gasp;
Jcan-Louis has delivered his thrust, and
rccovcrs himself holding his sword point
downward. A second corpse is J., ing
before him. The third adversary pre-
sents himself. The judges of the COM
bat are actually compelled to interfere in
order to prevent him from rushing reck-
lessly at Jean-Louis, who with an eye
aAame-now surcr of himself than before
and without thinking of rest, is equally
ready to meet him.
Il am not at all tired" he simply re-
marked.
The signal is given. The italian is a
very tall man, like the fl. st fencing mas
ter whose corpse lies beyond, with mill
tary cloak thrown over it. He has at
tentively watched the sword-play of the
mulatto; he thinks that he has surprised
his secret. He multiplies leaps, feints,
surprises Finally, crouching almost to
the very ground, like tiger preparing
to spring, he delivers terrible upward
thrust at the mulatto. But the blade OF
Jean Louis, after Lightning parry, buries
itself in the Italians breast.
The latter is borne away insensible.
Shall follow the details of all these
epical ducls? No. Let it suffice for me to
remind the reader that what | am now
writing is authentic history-that | am
inventing nothing--that this encounter
is recorded in the official bulletin of the
army-and that have a.so obtained the
evidence of witnesses who heard the mar
rative from the lips of Jean-Louis in
person. So much said, l will conclude
the narrative in as few words as possible.
Ten new adversaries succeeded the first
three-all experienced prevots d'armes OF
established reputation. All these ten fell
before Jean-Louis. The thirteenth was
carried away senseless, in the midst of a
clamor that sounded like vast clamor of
terror.
After this succession of victories with
out precedent in the history of the duel,
one might readily suppose the French
master was wearied out. In that un-
heard-of contest, which, timed by the
watch, had lasted scarcely forty minutes,
Jean Louis had delivered twenty-seven
sword thrusts, of which three were in
| stanenusly fatal There Mere only two