Daily Republican., 1886-08-17

Lefpsfc Letter In the Charleston News.
We reached the stu6ent.hall on the
outskirts Of the city, where the fighting
was to take place, just as they were
about to begin. At o'clock the room
was filled with students from the two
universities Halle and Leipsic) wear
ing the caps and colors OF their respec-
tive corps, smoking, drinking beer and
eating their breakfast. In Q few mo-
ments 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 left their beer and
breakfast and gathered cheerfuily
around the oombatauts. In the centre
Of the ring the floor was covered with
large piece of canvas, on which the
positions Of the fighters were mar ked
In white chalk, and equally distinctly
with numerous red stains, which
showed that the canvas was not used
for the first time.
| The seconds took their stands on
either side with drawn rapters and Ger
tain insignia of their respective corps.
The umpire took out his watch and
notebook, In which to record how many
'bloody ones" should be received on
each side, and then the fuH began
"Join weapone" "Ready!" "Fire
awsy!" The four schlagsr met in the
air, the seconds drew back, and the
principals slashed away at each
other as II for life or death. The
weapons clashed in the air, the spar kt
flew, and then "Haltl" cried the sec
onds, knocking up the swords-one OF
the combstants had received q bio ".
The umpire stepped up to examine the
lcut, thin red streak was seen on the
left CHEEK OF one of the men, and the
umpire called out: "One bloody one
on the side Of the Lsipziger Landsman-
schsft; the mensur pro:eeds!' Join
weapons' "Rsady!" "Los!" They
were at 1t again, the blood by this time
oozing out plentifully from the cash,
and staining the white shirt of thu
wounded man. HALT" was called
Iagain, and another thin stream of blood
was seen starting from the roots of hil
hair. Another "bloody one" was re
J corded.
The fight went on for few moments
and then o pause was declared, as the
lyoung fellow, who had now received
three cuts, was bleeding 80 profusely
that he had to be looked after and
freshened up bit. The two took theil
seats on chairs that were placed TO
them, the doctors and the second
busted themselves about them, Will
> the others went back to their beer anc
their breakfast. In few minutes tn
I6ght was called again, several NOR
cuts were recorded, until one OF then
, Isevered small artery. which had to b
, Immediately attended to, so the mensu
: was declared "ex." The number o
( cuts on each eide Was announced, anC
the bloody victims were led of int
\ another room and turned over to tn
= doctors. In about half an hour the
( came back with their heads bouud ul
? and looking little pale from loss O
7 blood, but otherwise very unconcerped
0 and we'll satisfied, think, TO hav
3 gotten off with losing piece Of nose o
Q ear, or having lip cut through.
r Sixteen OF these duels, such as tn
one have described, only more or les
bloody or serious in their consequence
q were fought that day. Two Of thel
II lasted the full twenty Eve minutes, an
lone Of the men could scarcely stan(
One poor fellow had q piece Of soil
fl ,sh, about the sizs of a small orane
D. plug, so it looked to me, completed
/, Isevered from his forehead by curior
ia tWlbb Oh tne rapterj WnlCu ls tntoo 10
l. long and sharpened like razor f,
It about foot from the point. or court
u that put an end to that duel, and tt
wounded young man was hurried off
E the hospital, where, suppose, he wi
r spend several weeks, aud can scarce
9 expect TO escape without serious dis
. dgurement. The piece which was CT
u u out of his forehead was immediatel
d. seized by one of the doctors and replat
h ed, but the student seemed to thin
& that it was very doubtful If 1t could
s. made to grow back. This little iucideI
r seemed to sober the party for momen
al but only for a moment. Anothe
mensur came on, and in few minute
the steel was clashing again, the be-
glasses rsttling, and nothing more ws
,r thought OF the unlucky young fello
r who had had his forehead cut open.