The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-03-16
CLASHING SWORDS.
Tournament of the California
Feneers' Club.
!. ". Levy Wins the Local Championship The
Remarkable Degree Of Skill Displayed
by the Contestants.

At the rooms Of the California Feneers'
Club yesterday novel as well as most in
teresting exhibition was given before few
friends and the members of the club.
The occasion was the clubs first tourna-
ment, in which five of the more advanced
swordsmen competed for the local cham
pionship. Henri Ansot is instructor and
manager of the club, and by him the guests
were conducted to the fencing-room, an
apartm ent uniquely decorated with swords,
Indian clubs, dumb bells, antique pistols
and carbines, and indeed. everything sug-
gestive of sport and warfare, to which fenc-
ing is considered to bear a near relation
ship. On the floor narrow space was
chaiked off obliquely from corner to corner,
this being the field of action, as it were, OF
the contestants.
Professor Ansot then announced that five
minutes was the allotted time for each
bout, and calling the names of Kelly and
Knight, those gentlemen stepped forward
and faced each other. They were attired
from head to foot in canvas clothing, and
over the chest and right arm heavy piece
of leather protected the body from injury
by sword thrusts. Over the hand holding
the sword, or foil as it is technically called,
a padded glove was drawn, and the face
was protected by steel mask.
QUICK WORK.
Instantly the contest was begun, Knight
boldly taking the offensive and Kelly re-
treating with agility from his Restraining
tbrusis and gracefully springing forward to
advantage himself of a miss-step and over
sight on bis opponents part As the swords
swished and clashed cutting the air with
such rapidity as to present the appearance
of an intricate network OF steel, frem which
sparks Of fire flew the novice could see no
method or purpose in the sport, but as one
or the othor stepped back and the referee
shouted ''touche," it was apparent that the
combatan.s well knew what they were
about.
The fencers seemed very evenly matched,
neither being able to acquire any decided
advantage, and when time was called each
had scored two points. With a courtesy the
tired duelliStS stepped aside, and Cert and
Duly took their places.
1t was soon seen that the former was no
match for tie latter, his thrusting being
violent and his parrying impotent against
the cool. skillful onslaughts of Duly. Cerfs
sword Was constantly in motion, but Duly,
when waiting an Opportuue moment TO
thrust, held his Toll perfectly steady, and
thus OH one occasion succeeded in diSarming
his opponent. at the end of FIVE minutes
Inc score Sl0OU u 10 q IN Oully favor.
ANOTHER BOUT.
Knight then crossed swords with Levy,
who at first seemed little wild in his
thrusts, but soon his superior swor1sman-
ship became manifest although Knight
managed to better him one point, the score
being 2 to s.
Then followed most animated passage
alarms between Kelly and Cert, the former
taking the offensive and making his rival
look sharp to avoid his rapid thrusts. The
swords bent almost double as they came in
contact and at very lnOpp0rtune time for
him, kelly's sword snapped, the ringing
blade falling in distant part Of the room.
With new foil, however, he succeeded in
scoring TWO more points than Cert, whose
touches numbered four
In a cautiously fought bout between
Knight and Duly, the former came out one
ahead, and Kelly and Levy then faced each
other, the former starting out with I'M
well parted by the latter. Alternate points
were made and the score stood 10 4.
when Kelly was disarmed and time
called before he could recover his blade.
FLASHING BLADES.
In the next bout DULY bettered Levy by
l. the score being 6 to 3, and knight follow
ing with contest with Cert made to the
the Others 2 points. The next encounter,
Duly and Kelly being the participants,
caused much merrment, as with loss oil
breath and fatigue the fencers' arms had
become somewhat unsteady and their
thrustS wild. Duly retired amid applause
when be succeeded in lettering Kelly with
points, the latter securing 2.
Cerf.and Levy followed, but the former
was utterly winded and tired out, Levy
easily scoring II points to his l. This
closed the contest, Professor Ansot an
nounclng the following scores: Levy, 10 :;
Cert, minus Is; Duly, 8; Knight, 4, Kelly, 1.
Levy was declared champion, but grace
fully declined the honor, saying that he had
an advantage over the Others in so easily
Yanquishing Cert.
FINISHED swoRDsdASsHIP.
The days entertainment was then closed
by bout between Professor Ansot and Al
fonso Trillanes. Chancellor of the Mexican
Consulate. The swordsmanship of each is
most finished, and after five minutes of par
rylng and thrusting, advancing and retreat
ing, the contestants were declared evenly
matched.
The other members of the club are DIR.
B. Campos Venezuelan CONSUL, G. Dolet,
NJ. L. Frank, f. Godchaux, +. B. Kellom,
w. c. Karlin, Joseph Lonjon French Act
ing Vice-ConsuD, C. LemOusin, a. Rosen-
thai. ii. c. R0senthal. Joseph Roeckel. b.
L. Schif, DR.. George L. TAFT, S. WE'LL, An
DIRE Desouslarie, Miss Jones and Miss Miller.