The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-06-17
COUNT LAMEEaTs DUEL.
"A gcaued by the Recent Marriage of
His Heir in France.
From the Chicago Infer Ocean.


nlayed a leading part. In 1870 Warsaw was
under dual government, SO to speak, be-
ing under the joint rule of a military and
dyil governor. The military governor was
a nobleman who had won for himself great
renown as a disciplinarian, and was, more
over. of an unyielding and stubborn nature.
While these characteristics made Governor
Gasinski rather despotic, he was at the same
time conceded to be gentleman of the
finest sense of honor. The civil governor at
that time was the then we'll known Count
Lambert, a nobleman of French extraction.
but of thorough Russian sympathy, trusted
by the car and respected by the people.
For Russian official, one thoroughly I'M
bued with the prerogatives of the imperial
throne, Count Lambert was liberal in the
extreme. He at times carried his liberal
IDEAS to extremes dangerous to himself, but
so thorough was the cars confidence In him
that episodes that might have led to Siberia,
in the case of some officials, were over
looked in him.
AT the time the story opens, 1870, two
ambitious young men were conducting a
paper in Warsaw. They were young enough
10 retain full stock Of enthusiasm, aud,
unfortunately for themselves, and others.
their enthusiasm was untenpered with that
discretion which .s very good article TO
carry about with one in Russia Conse-
ouently, as was bound sooner or later to
happen, these two adolescent journalists
trod on the toes of the government, and one
night slept in prison, with the prospect of
spending the next ten years or so in Siberia
In this predicament they appealed to the
civil governor. who listened to their case,
and concluded that the young men were
guilty of little more then inexperience
Youth, and lack of discretion. Friends rep
resented that the young men were heartily
sorry for the course that had pursued, as
sured the governor that they now saw the
error of their ways, and guaranteed that,
if liberated, they would refrain from taking
further liberties with cold type within the
Rood-heartsd and full of tender impulses,
as has been stated, and he saw no reason
why he should not mediate for the prisoners
Accordingly he petitioned the car for elem
ency, setting forth the facts in the case, and
the emperor, being impressed with the gov
ernor's way of looking at the affair, dele
gated his authority to the count Within
very short time the young men were free
and looking about for some honorable en-
ployment that offered less chance to exile.
The day after the liberation of the pris-
oners the military governor called upon
Count Lambert and demanded an explana-
ton of his action. Gen. Gasinski was in
towering rage and almost insulting in his
demeanor. Count Lambert was at loss to
guess the cause of his colleagues perturba~
ton, and attempted to enter into an expla-
nation of the case, detailing the facts as
presented to him, and arguing the absence
of intent to commit wrong on the part of
the young men.
But the general would listen to no expla-
nations. The thing that he insisted upon
was that he had caused the prisoners to be
arrested and that the guilt or innocence
had nothing whatever to do with the Ques-
ton of their liberation. He added that the
young men were his bitter enemies, and
that he had reason for OBTAINING them in
dungeons-reasons weighty enough to pre-
vent the civil governor from interference.
The general became abusive, and wound up
with the remark that the counts action was
cowardly and ungentlemanly.
There was now no alternative but duel,
and challenge was passed, and the seconds
appointed. The seconds met to arrange the
preliminaries aud talk over the situation,
when it was discovered that the combatants,
being the military and civil governors of
Warsaw, the laws prohibited their meeting
on the field of honor within the territory of
Poland, aud that even if they should retire
beyond the borders and fight, the survivor
would be tried for his life and hanged like
malefactor
In this predicament ingenuity was resorted
TO- and 1t was determined that the princi-
pals should draw lots for death. In other
words, it was agreed that the two men
should meet III room; that each should
write his name upon o slip of paper aud
drop it with several blanks into hat; that
the principals should draw alternately until
one should draw a name, and that the owner
OF the name should blow out his brains in
the presence of the other, thus relieving the
survivor of responsibility to the law.
The governors met as arranged upon.
Four pistols were loaded and placed upon q
table in the center of the room, and the
drawing began. After each had alternately
drawn blanks the military governor drew q
slip of paper wherein he had written his
own name, signing his own death warrant
Without word Gen. Gasinski bowed to
his more fortunate antagonist, and lifted
one OF the weapons from the table. But
Count Lambert sprang forward, declaring
that his honor had been satisfied, that he
had demonstrated that he was not a coward,
and was perfectly satisfied to let the matter
rest there. But Gen. Gaslnski refused to
accept clemency at the hands of his antag-
onlst. He insisted that Russian general
always kept his word Count Lambert,
who was very much affected, begged the
general to listen to reason, but the latter cut
argument short by firing his weapon and
sending bullet into his brain. The desper-
ate man staggered, but did not fall, seized
another pistol, fired a second ball into his
head, and, as he was falling to the floor,
discharged third bullet into his brain, and
dropped at the feet of the count. In spite
OF the terrible nature of his wounds the
general fingered three wecEs before death
came to his relief.
The shock to the count .eat that
he resigned his post and fi5 I'm Russia,
striving in travel to obliterate the terrible
scene from his memory. He finally took up
MS residence on the island of Madeira, on
the African coast, and bought large tract
OF land. There he built a magnificent house
and planted beautiful garden.
But health had fed, and the count found
that while yet a comparatively young man
ne was doomed to invalidism and an early
death, for consumption had set its mark
upon him. He was troubled because he was
Tie last of his race, and had no heir to leave
ms vast fortune TO. Seeking to provide for
the future he returned to France and entered
into marriage contract with a cousin, a
lady whose fortune was worthy to join with
the princely estate of the count. Return
Ing to his island home, the count died. and
shortly afterward a male SON was born.
The child was the heir to both his fathers
and mothers estates, and many millions
hung on the slender life of the babe.
Naturally the young widow mourned in
ner exile and pined for her native land.
She determined to return to France, and
induced the English physician who had at
tended her to accompany her on the voyage.