The Sunday herald., 1886-08-22
SIXTEEN DUELs IN ONE DAY.
An Incident Of German Student Life a,
Leipslc.

LeIpblCs
tLeipslc correspondence Charleston News and
Courier.1
mentioned in my last that had an invi-
tation 10 attend the next mensu of one of the
fighting corps here. friend met me at th.
depot, and at o'clock we took the train for
Halle, neighboring city in Prussia, 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. The room
was filled with students from the two univer-
stiles, (Halle and Leipsic,) wearing the caps
and colors of their respective corps, smoking,
drinking beer and eating their breakfast. In
few moments the first victims we're brought
on, their right arms being bandaged with
silk wrappings, pads protecting the neck and
chest about the heart, and strong steel Cog
giles over the eyes. In the centre of the ring
the floor was covered with large piece Of
canvas, on which the positions of the fight.
ers were marked 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 stand on either
side with drawn rapiers. The umpire took
out his watch and note book, in which to
record how many "bloody ones" should be
received on each side, and then the fun be-
gan. "Join weapons - "Readyi" "Fire
away" The four schidger met in the air,
the seconds drew back and the principals
slashed away at each other as II for life or
death. The weapons olsshed in the air, the
sparks few, and then "Haltr' cried the
seconds, knocking up the swords-oEe of the
combatants had received blow. The um-
pire stepped up TO examine the cut, thin
red streak was seen on the left cheek of one
Of the men, and the umpire called out: Zone
bloody one on the side Of the Leipzger
Laudsmsnnschaft the mensar proceeds l'
"Join wssponsl 7" "Rsady!" "Los -
They were at II again, the blood by this
time oozing out plentifully from the cash,
and staining the white shirt of the wounded
man. "Halt" was called again, and
another thin stream of blood was seen start
ing from the roots of his hair. Another
"bloody one" was recorded. The fight
went ON for few moments, and then a
pause was declared, as the young fellow, who
had now received three cuts, was bleeding SO
prOfusely that he had to bs looked after and
freshened up a bit. The two took their seats
on chairs that were placed for them, the
doctors and the seconds busted themselves
about them, while the others went back to
their breakfast. In few minutes the fight
was called again, several more cuts were re-
corded, until one of them severed a small ar
terry, which had to be immediately attended
to, 30 the mensw was declared "ex." The
number OF cuts on each side was announced,
aud the bloody victims were led of into an.
other room aud turned over 10 the doctors.
In about half an hour they came back with
their heads bound up and looking little
pale from loss Of blood, but otherwise very
unconcerned, and we'll satisfied, think, to
have got of without losing piece of nose or
nar, or having lip cut through. One man
was In the room who had actually had a
piece OF his nose cut on, aud OF course made
for life disagreeabls object to look upon.
Sixteen Of these duels such as the one
have described, only more or less bloody or
serious in their consequences, were fought
that day. Two of them lasted the full
twenty-five minutes, aud one of the men
could scarcely stand. One poor fellow had
a piece of solid flesh about the size of a
small orange plug, 80 II looked to me, com.
pletely severed from his forehead by curious
twist of the rapier, which is three feet long
and sharpened like razor for about foot
from the point. or course, that put an end
to that duel, aud the wounded young man
was hurried OH to the hospital, where,
suppose, he will spend several weeks, aud
can scarcely expect to escape without a
serious Disagreement. The piece which was
out out OF his forehead was immediately
seized by one Of the doctors aud replaced,
but the students seemed TO think that ii
Was very doubtful II IT could be made to
grow back. This little incident seemed to
sober the party for moment, but only for a
moment. Another msnsur came on, and in a
few minutes the steel was clashing again,
the beer glasses iattling, aud nothing more
was thought Of the unlucky young fellow
who had had his forehead out open,