The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-12-24

fight. The combatants, f1lteen on side'
with breasts bare, armed wIvn swords
which they carried unsheathed - tnelr
hands, marched upon the scene. The Srst
two selected--they selected themselves
were naturally the two masters, Giacomo
Ferarri, the Florentine, and Jean Louis.
They advanced to the center Of the little
natural stage and saluted, their comrades
looking seriously on. It would soon be
their turn, but they were all soldiers and
grimly disposed to uphold the honor of
their regiments.
when the two combatants faced each
other there was a great disparity in size.
The Italian was tall, powerful man, 1.-the
and as quick as a panther. The mulatto,
Jean Louis, was tall, but exceptionally
slight The word was given and the
swords crossed. From the first the
Italian took the initiative He had the
smile and dash Of victor, but the mulatto
was cold and impressive, and as why as a
cat. He could not be touched. Time and
again the Florentine tried this thrust and
that, and ever the steel of Jean Louis rose
like wall against it.
AT last Ferarri giving the hoarse cry
common to fencers of his school, sprang
to one side, and then began a rapid at
tack from below. II was a ruse and had
won many fight in italy. But it was
lost on Jean Louis. AS the Italians thrust
was made it was as accurately met and
parried as the rest; and then the mulatto,
changing his defense into a sudden and
wicked attack, sent the point of the
rapier four inches into the swarthy shout
der Of the Florentine.
" It's nothing gritted Ferarri be-
tween his teeth; fight on In another
moment the mulatto's blade entered his
heart, and he sank 10 the grass dead. AS
of fal 90 cd frsnn
the lists Jean Louis, who whatever may
have been his emotion expressed nothing
in his impressive countenance, turned the
point OF his dripping sword to the ground
and awaited the next.
''The next is not long In coming. Jean
Louis has only a rest of two minutes,
when he is called to his guard by an eager
Italian, who burns to revenge the dead
master he deemed invincible. But the
last ten seconds. The blades are barely
crossed when the mulatto is seen to lean
forward, there is a cry, sigh and
another corpse is lying at his feet. The
dark features of Jean Louis show neither
regret nor exultation. IL is not his per-
sonal quarrel He is entirely serious,
without anger, and COMFORTS himself as
if it were a bout in fencing school.
Again he turns the twice Redeemed
point of his rapier to the ground and
waits
1.-THE third italian is sent to the attack
He is tall and supple. He multiplies the
feints, the attacks, the jumps, the cries,
the fourishes of the others 1t does not
assist him; the mulatto Is not to be
moved, overcome, or batlled. His won
derful skill is impenetrable In half a
minute his sword is sheathed in the Ital-
ian's breast. The victim is borne away
insensible, but not to die. He RECEIVERS.
Jean Louis still holds his fort untouched
Since the combat begun he has uttered
neither word nor sound but fought in
silence. He has slain two men and dis
abled one, but by the rules of the duel he
is to stay until he himself shall fall So
he awaits he the fourth man, as he did
the others
at is unnecessary to multiply details.
One after another ten more Italian fencers
crossed blades with the mulatto. They
were each and all skilled and experienced
masters of fence. Yet one after another
the silent mulatto dealt them death or
such grievous wounds as put them beyond
present power of contest. Thirteen in
all and they the equal of any swordsmau
in Europe, thin. sickly Louis overcome.
The whole had been accomplished in
forty minutes. The almost surperhuman
skill of the mulatto had been evidenced
by the fact that to conquer the entire
thirteen he had made but twenty-seven
thrusts. One would think he might now,
with honor, retire and leave the remain
ing two Italians to his fourteen comrades.
1T was proposed to him, and then,
when, for the first time since the duel be-
gan, he spoke, 1t was apparent how inten-
sely almost to the swapping point his emo
tions were strung When he was urged
give way to one of his comrades he said :
Never. will stand here while l can
lift my sword. l am here for the honor
of my sword. / am here for the honor of
my regiment and here / will remain to
the last AS he said this his nervous
strain was so great that he made a con-
vulsive and almost Involuntary movement
of his sword and inadvertently wounded
one of his comrades. The wound was but
slight and in the leg, but at the sight Of
his friends blood the overweight mu-
latto, who had delt death TO thirteen men
without a sign Of emotion, burst into a
food Of tears.
'"But one man of the Thirty-second
has been wounded to-day he exclaimen,
and he is hurt by my hand.
''Still Jean Louis was as determined to
fight as ever. The two remaining Italians
were pale, but resolutely looked on fate
Even were they so fortunate as TO kill the
invincible Louis, there were still fourteen
of the best swordsmen in Napoleon's army
for them to meet. II was promising Of
anything but death. But these two could
die, and so they would fight on until the
last. But those who had control inter
fered at this point and declared honor and
discipline both satisfied, and the duel was
at an end. So terminated the contest,
without parallel in the history Of the
sword. One man conquers thirteen and
comes on without q scratch. Such skill
is beyond description.
jean Louis was afterward offered the
epaulets of an officer, but declined. He
would accept nothing but the cross of the
legion. He continued with the army and
taught fencing, while his fame ran riot
over Europe. Jean Louis taught fencing
until 1868. He was then over so years old
and blind, but he could tell by the feeling
of an adversary's blade on his own when
he was proceeding rightly. Nov 30, 1865,
the great mulatto died at the town of
Montpelier, where he lived and had his
fencing school. He continued in the army
until within fifteen years Of his death
His funeral was worthy Of an emperor"
Weird Costumes in London Society.
From the London Telegraph
Tho private view at the Grafton gal
lery was distinguished by exceptionally
smart toilettes. Quiet-hued gowns were
the rule frightened with bold touches Of
vivid color. One lady wore a black dress
laced up the front with rose-pink cord
and having revers of rose-pink velvet
with lace over them.
A very tasteful attire was crowned bv