The morning call., 1891-05-25
AN OLD-TIME DUELIST.
Fighting in a Tree TOp-Other of
His Singular Encounters.

plre man whose masterwOrk on the field Of
honor mad all the originality and picturesque
ness that characterized the Guels of early
American history. Marquis Marie de Sainte-
Maria was his name. which, like his deeds,
lives only in the traditions Of the region Sc
lected by him for the scene Of his prowess.
The Marquis was a ROyalist and "a civilian.
In those days the btterest hatred prevailed
between ROyalists and Bonapartis!s, be-
tween soldiers and civilians, says the New
York Sun. A word, smile or nothing at
all was sufficient TO cause one Frenchman 10
stake his life against anOther's when ques-
ton of politics or military policy was at
issue. One day M. Pierrot d'Isaac, an I'M
compromising and eager dueliSt, called OH
the Marquis and said: Marquis, you are
a ROyaliSt and | am a BonapartSt. My
name is Pierrot and yours is Marie. Don't
you consider that a misunderstanding
without doubt. sir" answered the Mar
quiS, rising threateningly 10 his full height.
challenge me and l choose pistols. More
over, / regard it as proper that two wander
ing birds like US should fight 1t out from
the tree tops.
The next morning the principals went
with their friends to the woods Of Varest
and each climbed tree. The witnesses
stretched their necks and noses skyward as
the bullets whistled overhead from tree top
10 tree top. A minute passed and then NJ
Pierrnt, with a shot in his left leg, came
tumbling down through the foliage. He
caught ON lower limb and was picked off
by friends. The MaiquiS, meantime. mani
tested his disregard of established proceed
ings by whlstlng loudly from his tree top in
celebration of his triumph.
Everything was not 50 easy, however, for
the Marquis. General Fourier, hot Bona
partist, lived also in the vicinity of Peri
gueux. He was a dead shot and ruffian
One night while the Marquis was presiding
over ROyaliSt banquet III PeTgueuX hotel
the General in full uniform entered the room,
drew his sword. speared pear or the noble
Presidents plate, and sitting down in the
seat If honor. began to eat Ii. The Marquis
smashed charlotte russo in his face Some
roared with laughter. Others were silent and
white with fear. The General did not move
a muscle of his face. He wiped the charlotte
russo from his cheeks, saluted the President
and left. One hour later the room was
cleared, and the Marquis and the General
crossed swords. Each was badly wounded
and was confined TO his bed for more than
q month.
General Fournier was also an apostle OF
the unique IL the code. The Mayor of Peri
gueuX was his bitter enemy, but as they
moved in widely different social circles the
General found some difficult in picking a
quarrel. His opportunity came one day as
he was showing off before some ladies his
experiences with the pistol. The Mayor
pdoSeu Win IOSc III MS uiOuIH IL WAS q
considerable distance from the Generals
balcony to the Mayor on the other side of
the street, but the OLD fighter knew his skill
Just notice. ladies'" he said, "hOw | will
pick the Mayors rose" He raised his pis-
toll. The women shrieked that he should
deslst, but too late. The hammer fell, and
the rose and the Mayor drOpped-the latter,
however, only from fright. The Generals
eXpertness defeated his purpose. The sure
ness OF his aim terrified the Mayor out of
sending the desired challenge.
Shortly alter this affair with General
Fournier the Marquis Marie de Sainte-
Maria fought his first famous duel. A regi-
ment marched into PergueuX TO take up
quarters there, and the whole town WIS out
10 see The soldiers enter. The citizens
crowded out into the line OF march. Drive
them back y commanded the Colonel. Most
of the spectators shrauk away. Only one
man remained inimOyabe-a great, white
haired man with crossed arms, defiant men
and cOntempiuOus smile on his lips. He
was the Marquis Marie de Sainte- Maria. A
Captain, named Roland, tapped him on the
breast with the handle OF his sword.
Marie de Sainte- Maria snatched the sword,
snapped it it over his knee, and threw the
bits in Rolands face. A band-tO-hand
fight followed. The Marquis was arrested
and confined in his hotel under guard of
three soldiers. He remained there five
days, and then learned that at o'clock
on the following morning the regiment,
with Captain Roland, would march away.
To get salts faction he must hunt Roland
down like fox, and he resolved to do it.
Early in the morning he climbed up the
chimney of the room in which he was i'm
prisoned over five roots and down the scuttle
of the house Of a friend. He swallowed
glass of wine, put a chicken-bOn in his
pocket, got a sword and and a horse, and
galOped off toward the crossroads which
the regiment must pass on its way to Paris.
He arrived there at 3 o. clock. He dismounted,
threw off his great-coat, rolled up his sleeves,
unsheathed his sword aud stood still in the
middle of the Paris road. The regiment
marched into sight presently, but the Mar
quis did not move. 1t came within speaking
distance, and he still stood motionless,
sword in hand.
The first line Of the regiment was a few
rods away but the Marquis did not even turn
an eyelaSh so far and no further" every
line In his face said. The soldiers hesitated
and halted. The Marquis shouted one word.
Roland" Forward, Captain Roandp
commanded the Colonel, and the Captain
stood before the Marquis, sword in hand.
Ten passes and the Marquis had his sword
through Ro.and's heart. He withdrew it,
wiped it carefully. rolled down his sleeves,
threw on his coat and rode away to Peri
gueuX.