Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1886-10-08
STUDENT DUELS.
FIGHTING FIERCELY WITH
SWORDS IN GERMANY.
An American Correspondent Wit
1esses Sixteen Duels in one
Day---Blood Drawnin
Every Case. -

A Leipsic letter to the Charleston rs.
O. Nesos and Courier describes series
Of student duels witnessed by the writer,
who says:
We reached the student hall, on the
outskirts of the city, where the fighting
was to take place, Just as they were about
to begin. At s o'clock the room was
filed with students from the two uni
vtrsities Halle and Leipsic) wearing the
caps and coors of their respective corps,
smoking, drinking beer and eating their
reIkfast In few moments the first
pair of victims were brought on, their
right arms being bandaged with silk
wrappings, pads protecting the neck and
chest about the heart, and strong steel
goggles over the eyes, The company
lett their beer and breakfast and gath
cred cheerfully around the combatan's.
In the centre of the ring the floor was
covered with large piece Of canvas, on
which the position of the fighters were
marked in white chalk, and equally dis
tinctly with numerous red stains, which
! showed that the canvas was not used for
the first time.
The seconds took their stand on either
side with drawn rapiers and certain in
sigma Ct their respective corps. The
umpire took out his watch and notebook,
in VIII oh to record how many "bloody
ones should be received on either side,
and then the fun began. "Join
weapons!" "keadym "Fire away"
The four sohlager met in the air, the sec.
onds drew back, and the principals
slashed away at each other as. if for life
or d ath. The weapons clashed in the
air, the sparks few, and then "Halt p
cried the seconds, knocking up the
| Swords-one of the combatants had re-
ceved blow. The umpire stepped up
to examine the cut, a thin red streak
was seen on the left cheek of one man,
and the umpire called OUT Gone bloody
one on the side OF the Leipziger lands.
manschaft; the mensur proceeds ~ Join
weapons" "Readym "Losi" They
were at it again, the blood by this time
oozing out plentifully from the cash, and
staining the white shi of the wounded
man. "Halt!" was called again, and
another thin stream of blood was seen
start ng from the roots of his hair. An.
| OIIlcT DlCOuy Ou0 mdo ISCOIuGu.
The fight went on for a few mo-
ments, und then a pause was declared,
as the young fellow, who had now re-
ceived three cuts, was bleeding so pro.
fusely that he had to be looked aftel
and freshened up bit. The two took
their seats on chairs that were placed
for them, the doctors and the seconds
busted themselves about them, Will,
the others went back to their beer arc
their breakfast. In a few minutes tn,
fight was called again, several more cut
were recorded, until one of them severed
small artery, which had to be immedi
ately attended to, so the mcnsur wa
declared Eek" The number of cuts OF
each side was announced, and the blood
victims were led off into another room
and turned over to the doctors. Il
about half an hour they came back will
their heads bound up and looking trif
pale from loss of blood, but otherwis
very unconcerned and we'll satisfied,
think, to have gotten off with losing
piece of nose or ear, or having lip Gu
through.
Sixteen of these duels, such as the on
I have described, only more or or les
bloody or serious In their consequences
were fought that day. Two of then
lasted the full twenty-five minutes, ant
one of the men could scarcely stand
One poor fellow had piece of solid flesh
about the size of small orange plug, 8
it looked to me, completely severet
from his forehead by curious twist o
the rapier, which is three feet long an,
sharpened like razor for about foo
from the point. OF course, that put al
end to that duel, and the wounded youn,
man was hurried off 10 the hospital
where, l suppose, he will spend severa
we ks, and can scarcely expect TO escap
without serious Disagreement. TIL
piece which was cut out of his forehead
was Immediately seized by one of tn
doctors and replaced, but the studen
seemed to think that it was very doubt
full if it could be made to grow back
This little incident seemed to sober tn
party for moment. But it was onl
for moment. Another mensur cam
on, and in few minutes the steel wa
clashing again, the beer glasses rafting
and nothing more was thoughr of tn
unlucky young fellow who had had hi
forehead cut open.