The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-08-22
10Y DUELISTS IN GERMANY.

No Lives Lost, but Very Ugly Fighting
Among the Gottinsen Students.
New York Ev ening Post.
An American student at Gottingan, G. II.
Harper, Princeton, "a, writes the following &C
count of recent student duel:
"A fight was lust about to begin. The com
batants, surrounded by seconds, umpires and
friends. had already taken their places on the
floor. Their breasts and thighs We're protected
by thick pads, which the black blood or
former encounters had gathered for years past.
The veins Of the neck were guarded by winding
around it heavy scarf. Iron goggles with
plate Ass windows concealed the eyes and the
arms were also covered with waddlng Tue
swords We're long and narrow, without points
One of the pair Of warriors, member OF tie
blue cap corps, was pale, slender, good-looking
youth. He never spoke word or took his eyes
off his adversary. The latter, of the red
caps, blg, burly fellow, whom the pads
seemed greatly to Cypress; perhaps he was
frightened. / don't blame him.
1.-The surgeon stepped back, looking like
butcher, in his long white apron, spotted with
blood. There had been another duel before we
came. The time keeper took his place at little
table The seconds jumped into position each
at the left side of his man, after polite bows to
each other ii true German fashion. The fifty or
sixty corps of students who we're sitting at little
at little tables around the room, eating breakfast
and drinking. rose to SEQ the fight. Al! was
soiemnity, and the silence was only broken by
some dignlfied fellows calling to an acquaintance
clear across the floor and drinking his health,
at the same time bowling profoundly and hitting
his cap. There were few sharp words OF COM
mand repeated by one second after the other.
something like, Make ready! Go" and in
instant all one could sec was the flashing of
swords and the flying OF sparks, and all one
could hear was the regular 'whack, whack' of
the blows. There seemed to be only one
kind Of stroke and each met the
other half way. Haiti cries cries the fat fellow.
and the seconds run up to SEQ where he is cut;
but it was false alarm. They rub him little
and let him sweat a moment. then at 1t again.
DOdging with the head or moving the feet
body is not allowed, and the left arm must be
kept behind the back. 'Whack. whack whack!
as before, but also a clear swish! and the next
moment the blood is running from clean per
pendicular slash in the big fellows left cheek.
About this time | wondered how the hotel
woman could stand it, for she had been carrying
meat and drink from table to table all the time
] also had occasion to who had for
two seasons been punished behind the bat on the
Princeton base bali nine, and who had risked
his life in one or two Thanksgiving Day foot ball
games, walk with uncertain step TO the window
for breath of fresh air. 1t isn't pleasant to see
a mans cheek laid open deliberately. The
next round proved even more disastrous
for the plump red cap, for he
ceived ugly cash above the eye, which will
go with him as long the eye itself Next
time his chin suffered, and then his nose He
was out Of BREATH and looked miserable |
sky and the golden fields, and wondered why
human society must torture itself with
useless ana cruel conyentionalities. But
the fascination OF the raining blows called me
back to see the next round hum OF interest
along the gallery front when the cool little
fellow seen to get by far the heaviest blow
Of the fight across hiss brow, which was soon
covered with blood.
They took off the goggles and the blood ran
into his eyes. Then they mopped it up and he
ready again. and in the next round gave
his opponent another cash on the left temple.
Il seemed to about time to call halt for
good. and presently they did. Under the rules
pauSes not counted With pauses reckoned in,
this must have lastel about forty minutes. The
gladiatorS carried their bloody heads into
another room to receive the doctors attention,
and preparations began for another duel l
asked student if either Of our bloody friends
had fought before and he said. laconically: The
little fellow has fonght nine THIS term.,n