Savannah morning news., 1885-06-19
4 FRANCo-IrhLIaN DUEL.
Two Masters of the sword Fight for the
Eteputstion Of the schools They Re

Two Masters of the sword Fight for the
Eteputstion Of the schools They Re
present.
F~oa TIE P1,I1delph5l Ns'rs.
The feature of the Camp Fire Of the
First Regiment last nisn, was an i'm
promptu duel with rapiers and broad
swords, between Citizen Bori!ace and
Chevaliar scannapieco. Boniface is OF
French extraction and pupil Of Raw
agnac. Scanuapieco is a Neapolitan. anL
had for his preceptor Pecoraro, who,
singularly enough. once defeated Raw
agnac, the first sword oi France. This
incident alone lent to last nights very
clever contest AN additional zest Mes
sieur Boniface had been anxious for
weeks 90 meet s iEuor Scannapieco, not
only because they were esch masters of
the foil. but because they fenced accord
ing % the theories Of the different schools
the italian according to the Nespoitan
and the Frenchmen according 70 the
tenets OF the Partisan. Although each
man knew the other mans tactics, there
was one object IN view, aud that was 10
prove superiority of methed and self
The recontre could well be called an
masks worn. il is true. and the tip of eacu
foil was guarded with button, but when
the two teucers got down TO real hard
work IL Was very evident that they
were more in earnest than they cared
the spectators To know. L was not only
school against school, it was man against
man.
RATHER a CONTRAST.
Boniface is a wiry, active fellow, fun Of
energy, and as quick as flash. be
weighs probably $40 pounds, and while
we'll knit and muscular is in the matter
Of strength evidently no match for scan
napieco. The italian tips tbe beam some
where in the uelxhhor0ood 4i 200 pounds.
His arms are thick and hard. and bis
stomach Is trna too big for physical
exercise. Nevertheless he exhibited
surprising agility last night, and proved
himself AN expert swordsman.
The fenciuee exhibition was second on the
programme. but it was nearly I'D O'clock
before the contestants appeared. Citizen
Bonifuee came first. and with him one "a
his pupils who assisted in adjusting the
pia strau. padded shirt which is worn
over the chest ard stomach to protect
those parts from Injury by "a too fierce
thrust. Cneyaiier Scaunapieco came next,
followed by Dr.. Mark /. Nardyz, the
hero OF seven duels himself IN the
Sandman army. Tne Italian disdained
the protection Of the plastron. He APP
pearpd I'm his -hlrt sleeves. with his
pantaloons buckled tightly a the waist.
Then there came very pretty ceremony.
the fencers picked up their masks and
foiIs and faced. They saluted each other
with ceremonious politeness. Then they
gracefully saluted the spectators. Again
tney faced each other and adjusted their
masks. Following the custom that was
observed since the early days Of Gueling
in France. they each stamped their right
foot on the floor three times. This meant
Prepare" Another salute and the
raDiers were point 10 point Then it was
that the difference Of the method Of
attack was seen. ~caunapiecO held his
Ief; hand above his head. His sword arm
wa- extended atfuii length with the palm
cf the hand down. His legs were spread
Well apart. so bent at the knee as 10
form nearly diamond shape. His head
was thrown well back, and his chest we'll
forward.
Boniface presented a different posture.
His lett hand was held against. the small
Of MS back. His legs were bant like the
Italians, but his body leaned forward
and he presented halI-side to his adver-
sary.
THE DUEL BEGINS.
Three more stamps OF the feet, a clash
Of steel and they were at it.. The French
mans foil seemed whizzing in dozen
directions at once; FIRST at the throat,
then at the head, then az the chest Of the
Italian, but At every point in was met.
To count the movements was impossible.
Only when point was made and
one Of the contestants called Out,
'Therep' did the loOkers-on know that
vital spot had been touched. With
pointed tOils IL would have meant death.
On Boniace's chest, scWed on the pias-
tron. We're two hearts, one over each
breast. Once the rapier of the Italian
touched one OF these points with such
force as to break the weapon in hali near
the middle. Almost simultaneously Boni-
face cried "Onel" as his Coil bent nearly
double from wicked thrust made at the
other mans ribs. Then 1T WAS clash ard
thrust, clash end thrust, with such
marvellous rapidity that the spectators
could see nothing but the CLEAN Of
the steel as the fOils flashed in the gas
light.
Suddenly Scannapieco's fapler was
sent flying over his head. He had been
cIpverly disarmed. He regained his
weapon, bowed, and then with very
perceptible CLEAN in his dark eyes, began
terrific onslaught. Once more the point
OF his fril was pressed against the heart
OF the Frenchman with such power as
10 snap the blade in twain. new foil
was procured and the battle went on 10 a
finish.
Then came a contest with brosd-swords
in which each feBcer showed marvellous
skill, ScannapiecO avoiding the savage
cuts Of his antagonist with wonderful
agility. He became very angry when
Boniface slashed him across the face
while bis guard was down, and, in follow
ing mp 20 retaliate, the nmble French
man turned his back, whereupon Scan
napiecO threw or his mask. declaring
il was not the courtesy Of the field 10
either turn the back or attack, except
when tbe adversary was ca GdrCte. Thus
came 10 an end one Of the most scientific
fencing contests ever seen in Philadelphia
The judges decided that the points Of ex-
celleuce were even.