The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1893-04-15
A HISTORICAL DUEL.
TWELVE sWoRosMEN SLAIN BY ONE
MAN BEFORE AN ARMY.

TWELVE sWoRosMEN SLAIN sY ONE
MAN BEFORE AN ARMY.
A Scene More Exciting Than Any Battle
In the Annals of Modern History -rwo
Great Armies as Witnesses Of Tho Torri-
BILE work Of One sword.
To give an idea of whit brave man
ran do If he knows fencing thoroughly
And but keeps cool and collected in dan
ger, we win relate q historical duel. So
extraordinary is this combat that it
would be held a romance had it not been
witnessed by whole army The hero
is Jean Louis, one OF the great masters
Of the beginning Of this century, and
the duel happened in Madrid in 1918
He was the master-at-arms of the Thir-
ty-second regiment Of French infantry
The First regiment, composed entirely
of Italians, formed part Of the same bri
gade.
Regimental esprit de corps and rival
ries Of nationality caused constant quar-
rels. when swords were often whipped
out or bullets exchanged After a small
battle had occurred i'm the streets Of
Madrid. in which over 200 French and
Italian eeldiers had taken part, the Off
GERS Of the two regiments, in a council
Of war assembled decided 10 give such
breaches of order a great blow and tore
establish discipline They decreed that
the master-at-arms Of the two regiments
should take up the quarrel aud fight it
ont.
Imagine a whole army in battle array
on one Of the large plains that surround
Madrid In the center a large ring is
left open for the contestants. This spot
ia raised above the plain so that not one
Of the spectators Of this tragic scene
gayly dressed officers. soldiers in line.
Spaniards, excited as never bull fgh.
excited them-will miss one phase Of the
contest It "a before 10000 men that the
honor Of an army is about to be avenged
ina the blood of 30 brave men.
The drum is heard. Two men, naked
to the whist, step in the ring. The FIRST
is tall and strong His black eyes roll
disdainfully upon the gaping crowd; ne
is Giacomo Ferrari, the celebrated ltal
iau. The second tall, also handsome,
and with muscles like steel, stands mod.
estly awaiting the word Of command;
his name is Jean Louis. The seconds
take their places on either side of their
principles A deathlike silence ensues
"On guardw
The two masters cross swords. Gia
como Ferrari lunges repeatedly at Jean
Louis, but in vain. His every thrust il
met by a parry He makes up his mind
to bide his chance and caresses and
leases his opponents blade. Jean Loui,
calm and watchful, lends himself TO the
play, when, quicker than lightning, the
italian jumps aside with loud yell and
makes a terrible lunge at Jean Louisa
Florentine trick, often successful Bat
with extraordinary rapidity Jean Lolia
has parried and risposts quickly in the
shoulder.
lit is nothing cries Giacomo, IA
mere scratch and they again fail on
guard, Almost directly he is hit in the
breast This time the sword Of Jean
Louis, who is now attacking, penetraies
deeply Giacomo's face becomes livid,
his sword drops from his hand, and he
falls heavily on the turf lie is dead.
Jean Louis is already in position. He
wipes his reel5ing blade; then, with the
point Of his sword on the ground, lac
calmly awaitsthe next man.
The best fencer Of the First regiment
has Just been carried away corpse, but
the day is not yet over. Fourteen adyer-
saries are there, impatient TO measure
swords with tho conqueror, burning to
avenge the master they had deemed in.
vincible
Jean Louis hardly had two minutes
rest. He is ready. A new adversary
stands before him. A sinister click Of
swords is heard, lunge, a parry, a ris.
post and then a cry, a sigh, and all is over
A second body Is before Jean Louis.
A third adversary advances. They
want Jean Louis to reR Il am moi
tired" he answers, with a smile.
The signal is given. The IaIlian is a
tall as the one who lies there Il corpss
covered by a military cloak He has
closely watched Jean Louis play and
thinks he has guessed the secret Of hi
victories. He multiplies his feints an,
, tricks then, all at once, bounding like
I tiger on his prey, he gives his opponen
2 a terrible thrust in the lower line. Blu
Jean Louis sword has parIied and isnov
deep within his opponents breast
What need we to relate any more
Ten new adversaries followed him, an,
the 10 fell before Jean Louis amid tn
excited yells and roars Of an army,
5 At the request Of the Thirty-secon
regiments colonel, who thought th
i lesson sufficient, Jean Louis after niue
pressing consented TO stop the combat
and he shook hands with the two SUI
g vivors, applauded by 10000 men.
= From that day fights ceased betwee
d French and Italian soldiers.
5 This wonderful and gigantic comba
might be held fable were not all th
q facts above stated still found in tn
archives of the ministry of war.-LiI
pincott's.