The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1892-10-14
DUeLs OF FRENCH POLITICIANS.
Generally There Is More Powder Burned
Than Blood Spilled.


Political duels, resulting from quarrels
in the chamber have always been frequent
in France, says correspondent of tue
Chicago Herald but they have rarely been
fatal That fought by Cazales and Bar
nave both members of the national assem-
bly,, holds conspicuous place in the
chronicles of 1870. Cazales an orator of
the Right, one day called the representa-
tives Of the Left "a band of brigands."
Barnave Immediately took up the glove,
and meeting between the two was fixed
for the next day in the Bots de Boulogne
Barnave fired first and missed his oppo-
nent. Cazales then fired, but his pistol re-
fused to 20 of.
While the seconds were reloading the
weapons Cazales said to Barnave, "Ishould
be sorry to kill such gallant man as you,
but you are in our way in the assembly
and | should like to prevent you getting
into the Tribune for long time" To
which Barnave responded, Il am more
generous than you | wish to scratch you
only because you are the only orator your
party possesses, whereas my party would
not suffer by my absence" Shots were
then exchanged again, and Cazales was
wounded i'm the head; he would have been
killed outright but for the leathern peak
of the cap he wore.
About the same epoch another duel
caused great sensation-that of Count
Charles de Lameth, who had rallied from
the royalists to the republic, and the Duke
de Castries. On entering the assembly,
Lamoth heard Castries shout out that he
was ready to cut the threats of all the
Republican party. Lameth Immediately
challenged him, and accompanied by their
seconds the couple proceeded to Long
champs. Night had already set in, and the
duel was fought in comparative darkness.
After some preliminary fencing they set to
work and fought so well that both were
wounded at the same time-Lameth in the
chest and Castries in the arm. The people
no sooner learned that Lameth was wound
ed than they rushed to the mansion of the
Duke de Castries and smashed all the win
dows and furniture.
few years later two generals, OrnanO
and Bouet, who both became senators Of
the empire, went out to settle a political
quarrel. They chose pistols and fought at
twenty PAGES. Both showed themselves to
be good shots General Bouet, who was
shot near the heart, owed his escape from
death to a medallion containing his wife's
portrait, which he always kept in his
waistcoat pocket and which turned the
bullet aside; but General Ornano, less for
tunate, was wounded in the groin, and for
two years after had to walk on crutches.
Political duels were more frequent I'M
der the Restoration than under the Empire.
A noteworthy encounter took place be-
tween General Foy, the celebrated Liberal
orator, and NJ de Corday, one of the most
fervent loyalists. The general, in the
course of his speech, attacked the royal
lists for accepting the aid of the foreigner,
and accused them of want of patriotism.
Thereupon a tumult arose, in the midst of
which NJ. de Corday shouted to the orator,
you are an impertinent fellOw!' The
general demanded satisfaction, and duel
was arranged, but on arriving on the field
his anger had disappeared and he fired
into the air. Not to be Outdone in gener
osity NJ. de Corday followed his example,
and the couple shook hands and were for
ever afterward firm friends.
A still more curious meeting was that
of Benjamin Constant and NJ. Forbin des
Issarts. 1t took place at twenty PAGES.
Benjamin Constant being indisposed and
hardly able to stand on his legs it was de-
cided that both adversaries should be
seated in armchairs In that position they
fired at the same time, but neither was
touched.