Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-08-18
WHOLE NO. 1910
TEUTON vs.. GAUL.
Desperate Encounter between II German
and n FreuchmaD.

lSan Francisco Call, August i7thl
A duel was fought with French raplers
near the Ocean House, kept by Barney
Farley, on Saturday morning. The par
ucipantS were q frenchman and German.
The former is named Gascon, and il is said
that he owns ranch of 2,oo0 acres IN
Marin county. The latter, whose name
could not be learned, is said to be lawyer
in this city. The German and the French
man met short time ago and discussed
the relative merits of the cavalry OF the two
armies in the Franco PrusSian war. Cas-
con was q captain OF horse in the French
army, and stoutly maintained that the
cavalry of Napoleon III. was much superior
10 that that crossed the Rhine and invaded
France. The German who went to school
at Heidelberg University, replied warmly
to this claim. Their words led to threats,
and finally to a challenge to test their own
merits with swords, and thus settle the
question in regard to the superb
ority of one army or the other.
The arrangements were conducted with
the greatest secrecy. At O'CLOCK Saturday
morning hack drove up TO the Iodgsng-
house of a well-known athlete, and the oc-
cupants, who proved to be the Frenchman
and his party, asked the athlete TO act as
referee of sword contest, which was about
TO take place. The athlete states that he
supposed the contest was to be scientific
one for points, and harmless in its chsrac-
ter. lie readily consented, and getting into
the hack, the party was driven to the Ocean
House, where the German, with his friends,
was already in attendance. Leaving their
carriages, the two parties, which in all aid
not number more than ten persons. started
for ravine, about 400 yards back OF Bar
ney Farley's house. The duel was to be
fought on horseback, and the weapons TO
btA IapH kranob ~ ely
inches long, sharp on the edges and at the
point. The two men stripped for the en-
counter. Gascon wore light trowsers and
blue flannel shirt, and a Steel helmet over
his face. He hal black beard and mus
tache. In his party was q physician and
several of his friends. The German was
large heavy man, Weighing fully 100
pounds. He wore a dark flannel shirt and
dark trowsers. The Frenchman mounted
big gray horse that had been hrnnght Tor,
him, and the German rode bay horse.
The referee states that when he saw the
character of the weapons he protested, bur
the two men said they knew what they
were doing. The referee, at II O'clock,
ordered the first charge. The TWO riders
spurred their horses and advanced with up
lifted swords. As they came together they
each parried the others blow and retired
y second charge was ordered by the referee
slDn ttt lNO men GdulE ibHGtutE again.
Again the vicious blows were wdrded off
and both returned safely a third charge
was ordered. Gascon rode rapidly toward
his adversary, ard with great skill cut an
ugly cash in the Germans right arm. 1t
is said that upon the sight of this Gascon's
friends could hardly restrain their excite
ment. When the blood began 10 flow,
number of the Germans friends, seeing the
| serious and dangerous character of the
atlray, fed. The referee states that the
Germans doctor was among those who
beat a hasty retreat. The referee states
| that he tried to prevail upon the men to
give up the encounter, but they both re-
| fused to do so. The Frenchman's friends
grew more excited with the passage every
moment, and demanded Z continuation of
| the contest
| The referee then ordered the fourth adj
vance and both men rode toward each
! other. The Germans sword arm was
| wounded, but he held his sword up and
! spurred his horse on. But he had lost
! much OF his strength, and rs the two men
came together Gascon whipped his ra-
| pier over the Germans arm ~ the elbow,
| intiicting another wound. it is supposed
/ that the weapon also struck the crazy
/ bone" for the Germans arm fell helpless
by his side. Then the Frenchmau made e
| desperate rush on his disarmed opponent
and struck him first on the breast, cutting
| him from the left nipple to the third rib,
! laying open the flesh and exposing the
! ribs. Again he raised his r2pier, and again
| it whizzed through the air in It's descent,
and cut cash on the Germans arm. The
weapon was again poised for another thrust
when the referee rushed upon Gascon and
dragged him from his horse. The French
man, enraged at this act of the referee,
turned upon him. But the referee fed be-
hind a buggy that was near the ground and
saved himself. The duel was over. The
( Gascon party entered their carriage and
drove to the Cliff House. The Germans g
| friends returned with q carriage. His
| physician sewed up the wounds tempora-
| rily and removed him to farmhouse in.
| the neighborhood, where the wounded man
was treated more carefully. Before sepa-
rating every member of the party agreed to
| say nothing of the affair, as it was a Grim
inal oftense. But it was an event that
could not be smothered in silence, and the
affair having been heard of, the above ac-
count was obtained from the referee.