Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-06-18
FOUR DUELs IN FORTY MINUTES.
True Story of the Remarkable Feat NJ. Roulez
Performed at Longchamps.

True Story Of the Remarkable Feat NJ. Roulez
Performed at Longchamps.
Paris Letter to London Telegraph.
1t is greatly to be feared that the warm
weather now prevailing has had the effect of
developing the quarrelsome tendencies of GER
tain temperaments. To this. perhaps, more
than to any decline Of French courtesy, must
be attributed the four extraordinary dueis
which took place at Longchamps yesterday,
and the details of which we're briefly
transmitted to you by telegraph last night
The series of engagements, generally described
as quadruple duel, are today the talk of Paris,
and NJ. Roulez, the victor, who literally laid low
four antagonists, one after the other, is the lion
of all circles and the delight of his own. He is
regarded as the counterpart Of d Artagnan, the
hero of 1.-The Three Musketeers." who pulled
out his sword at the least offense, and was ever
ready for his enemies. The comparison, how
ever. does not hold good all around, for NJ
Roulez. although one of the best fenoers in
city prolific III proficient wielders of foil and
the rapier, ls by no means a seeker after strife.
In any case the four duels from which he has
issued covered with glory were thrust upon
him in a manner which, to say the least
was not in accordance with the tradi-
tions of the famous French school of chivalry.
This testimony to his conduct has been given
by men capable of judging it and who are loud
in praise of his prowess. 1t may be interesting
D recapitulate the history of the affair." owing
20 the attention which it attracts as an event in
the annals of Partisan dueling.
NJ. Rouiez Is an electrical engineer and an
able inventor. He is about fifty-seven years
old, tall and thin, and he fought in the
Franco-German war, gaining the military
medal for distinguished conduct in the field.
He is an excellent shot as well as an expert
swordsman, and, according to a leading au-
thority, his fencing is the more redoubtable
owing to his singular GOODNESS, his skill in FIX
Ing his eye on every movement OF an antag-
Onist, and, above all, the strictly mathemati-
cal precision OF his style. 1t was this man
whom the three young Parisians--MM. Blon-
del. Dumoulin and Leclercq-insulted at the
opera the other night during an entr' acte of
''Salmmbo." 1t appears that NJ. Roulez was
talking TO ballerina when the trio passed by
sneering. They made some jokes about the
age of II. Roulez. who was rs unknown TO them
as they were to him. The engineer, being in
suited, called upon the young men to retract
their words but the appeal only made them
more vituperative, and NJ. Roulez, lifting his
cane, struck his insulters several times. There
then occurred general scufie and the disput-
ants were separated by the employees of the
opera. Cards were now exchanged, and as NJ.
Roulez, having resorted 10 physical violence in
the course of the verbal quarrel. was the Offend
ing party he awaited the challenges. On Tues-
day he received the visits OF six seconds and the
duels were arranged. Each Of the three young
men was badly wounded, and one of their
seconds having, contrary to all the canons of
the dueling challenged the victor on the
ground, threatening TO strike him in the face if
he refused to fight there and then, also ''came to
grief" This gentleman-a NJ. Aviraguet-re-
ceived deep thrust in the neck similar to that
inflicted by N. Floquet on Gen. Boulanger, and
his carotid artery was narrowly missed. The
fourfold victor wass loudly applauded
by the group of persons who had
gathered round the spot and the accla-
nations became more boisterous when
NJ. Roulez still stood his ground waiting calmly
to give taste of his steel to anybody else
who might be inclined to try conclusions
with him. His seconds, however, had BY this
time arrived at a sense of their duty, and pre-
lenges. Such is the authentic history Of the
famous four duels fought in forty minutes
which all Paris is discussing.