Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1886-04-03
SCARED FOR LIFE.

some classes Of men, like rival can
'Iidates, seem to be born enemies, lust
rs 1t IS with some animals-cats and
dogs, for instance. When troops are
stationed in German university city
the officers and students are certain to
quarrel. The same cordial relations ex-
81 between them that might be expect
'd to prevail if a few Texas centipedes
ana tarantulaS were placed in a bottle
and shaken up well. In the wear 1861
the students at the Polytechnic School
of CarlSruhe. Baden, Germany, and
the army officers stationed at that city
were In perpetual session, so to speak
ihey were lighting almost every day
here We're several students societies
at the Polytechnic School; the Saxonia,
the Franconia and Bavaria, and when
the members were not fighting duels
among themselves or drinking beer,
they were having personal difficulties
as David Crockett used to call such
ioint discussions, with the officers of
the army of the Grand Duke Of Baden.
During one Of these street eXhib-
tions a corps bursch Of the Saxonia
came very near being made corpse by
an officer, who made use of his sword
ON the street and on the person Of his
antagonist. As it was, the students
coat, borrowed one, was cut and
slashed in several places. Whenever
the students and officers met IL the
beer saloons, if they were sober
enough to converse at all. they used
Language towards each other that
would not be tolerated in this country
outside of the halls Of congress-
The bad feeling finally eliminated
in a duel between Lieut. Won Iolz and
Il student named BAUM, a member of
the Bavarian society, which un1leas-
ant affair is the subject of this sketch.
the writer being IN eye witness. The
quarrel started at Il masquerade ball.
fhey called each other bad names, and
sang diatribes and beer bottles. max
ing good line shots across the table at
each other. Next morning Baum sent
challenge to the lieutenant, who re-
piled that it would afford him pleasure
tomurder Baum. but it was below the
dignity Of an army officer. who was
also baron. to light with a rleheian;
he, therefore, was compelled promptly
and detiantly to refuse the challenge.
Several more street fights occurred
all of which failed to calm the excite
= ment. When the dueling societies
heard that Lieut.. Won lIolz would not
fight there was will yearning on the
part OF the students to challenge him
and all his frienis. \ secret caucus
was held, and the students Sent a com
munication to the colonel of the regi-
ment, begging him rs a special favor
to pick out seven of his uilicerS who
needed exercise and excitement. and
the students would pick seven of theil
number who were suffering from tn.
same cause, the idea being 10 have
seven duels with sabres.
The dueling sabre is not safe thing
10 fool with. rs it never misses fire
and in the hands Of men who are MOI
careful. accidents are certain 10 occur
The officers appreciated this fact ano
refused TO 60 into joint session at all
with sabrea, but they offered com
promise. There was in tariSTuhe a
that time an army officer who beside
enjoying the high reputation OF belns
a blackleg and a blaCkguard, generally
was also remarkable for being ntarl.
seven feet tall Now, IN a sabre due
the man with the long arm has al tn
advantage over the man with IN
short arm. The former can carve IA
the latter at his ease. while the othe
candidate cannot reach far enough
with his sabre to make the connection
The army officers were SO kind an
considerate, and SO utterly opposed I
anything savoring of unfairness, tina
they relaxed their dignity to the exten
Of proposing that their b!ackleg, Coun
Leiningen that was his name
should with his long arm, fight tn
whole seven scholastic gladiators. Thi
offer was about equivalent to ma