Wichita eagle., 1888-08-09
DUELS AND DUELISTS.
AN OLD MASTER At ARMS COMMENT
ON eOULANGER.

! AN OLD MASTER At ARMS COMMENT
ON eOULANGER.
| The French Generals Fatal Impetuesisy.
Various Countries-Eescucd from an Ex-
tremely Embarrassing Predicament-
There is no man living who has fought
more real, hard, TO the death duels than
Col Monastery, the veteran disciple of the
art OF running ones fellow man through
the ribs Col Monastery has fought duels
in Europe, In Mexico. South and Central
America and other countries where the
sword is the arhiter of the quarrel.
To reporter who enjoyed chat with
him the other day. tia colonel explained
why Gen Boulanger's course in his recent
encounter had damaged his lBoulanger's)
reputation as great soldier.
Gen Boulanger," said he, 70 his brisk
way, from what learn by the papers,
brought about his defeat By his Lack Of
GOODNESS and consequent fury Of attack
He rushed hlindly On his foe. losing all
sight of prudence and skill in the desire
to inaict injury. For an expert swords
man to overcome snch an attack is an
easy matter. He has only 70 wait coolly
for his antagonist TO leave an opening and
then sail in. BoUIange-'s fatal impetuosity
In this instance is the best possible proof.
TO the view of any soldier, Of his lack OF
ability to command Such man makes
a good fighter in ordinary warfare. but no
commander. He is fitted TO obey orders;
TO give then-neyer! have admired
Boulanger until now, and looked for
great things from him as a general. But
in my Judgment he has no discretion His
conduct IN this duel justites the SUPPOSE
ton that in great conflict. Ii which two
great armies were engaged. he would act
in precisely the same way as ne did in his
fight with Floquet; he would hazard all
on enc desperate move, and as g result
lose. This. mind you. is the view of an
old soldier, and l tell you il can't bs
wrong A hot head rlakes agood fighter.
but no general
Passing on to a general commentary on
dueling, past and present, Col. Monastery
expressed the keenest contempt for the
average French duel of the day It is the
explicit understanding, he said, that when
two Partisan gentlemen OF today decide to
settle a quarrel with the rapier, the first
flow OF blood, no matter by which re-
ceived. shall end the combat He thought
the existence of this understanding was
the French governments pretext for its
recognition OF dueling as 2 national in
stitution.
There are. of course. occasional excep-
tons to this rule, be added, .'aud there
Is nearly always an exception when one of
the com batants is q foreigner A French
will oil IL
If he can, particularly if it is an English
man. This was the case in the famous
duel between Mr.. Dillon, an English Jour.
Chartreuset, which took place in Paris
eighteen or twenty years ago. The duke
was thorough master of the rapier, and
the Englishman knew nothing of the
weapon. At the very first assault the
sary's sword flying from his hand He
then sprang Ike lightning on his I'M
armed adversary and ran hin through
As fought today. however. the French
duel with swords is mere child's play and
is always ended at the first scratch It is
different, of course, when the duel is
fought with pistols Firearms cannot be
fooled with safely, and are much more
an instance of this in Paris a few weeks
ago. when an artist shot dead at the first
fire journalist who had too harshly criti-
cised some of his pictures.
When Frenchman who is challenged
to fight duel chooses pistols as the
weapons. one may know be means bust
ness. His choice Of swords only means a
little theatrical display and u reconcilia-
ton. 1t is evident, though, that the
quet-Boulanger affair was serious
enough Boulanger plainly meant to kill
his adversary, and when Floquet saw
what he was at have no doubt but that
he fought to kill also. No man can see
another striving to take his life and not
return the compliment. Between you and
me, | think Bolilanger was IN great LUCY
A man who employs the tactics he did 10
the presence of ski1ful swordsman will
be killed in nine cases out of ten"
With regard 10 the code in other coun-
tries, Col monsterey remarked that the
men of Mexico and the Central American
republics were the fercest and most in
veterate duelists. Ee recalled the famous
duel Of twenty years ago in the City of
Mexico, between Col Garcia. an Aueri- !
can, and Col Mejea, Mexican. Rites |
were the weapons used, and Col Garcia, |
who was lame, chose 70 fight sitting in q
chair. He never rose from the chair, |
though, for the range was short. and the |
MEXICAN shot him dead OF the first fire.
Col Monastery has in his studio the rec
ords Of an instance whore he was able, on |
the shortest kind Of notice, to e1trcate a |
truculent young Ea1 from an extremely 1
embarrassing pre1icanent. He was SIT 1
ting IN his etice Ia New York one gloomy 4
evening in 1871, when there was nerv- /
Gus knock on the door Gene In" cried 4
he. and on the invitation there entered
young man, who proved on inquiry 70 be /
one Col Caazi, soldier Of tie DAYS Of |
GaHbaldi. who Immediately began to IN
fold the tale Of his plight he was
under contract, it seemed, to fight az
dawn with Gen F1rdella. also tried and /
courageous veteran Tho weapons to be
used were sabers, and Cxnzi knew about /
Rs much of handling q ssber as he did Of /
cooking Welsh rarebit. He needed |
sleep badly and two hours was al be had
In which to learn enough TO cave his life
Those blessed two hours the colonel
In teaching him two vicious
cuts. either one of which. IL we'll dsiiv-
cred, was calculated 70 CT. Of his adver.
sary In his prime Ee WIS told 70 tids
his tine. wear the general OF. By defsn-
sive tactics, and then send his ca. hcns
st the proper n0nect. CAnzi departed
f11f cf fr-sa cr.G foyJo-xed o--t i{s fpIs~s |