Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1893-06-20
A HISTORICAL DUEL.
TWELVE sWoRDsMEN CLAIM BY ONE
MAN BEFORE AN ARMY.

| A Scene Moro Exciting Than Any Battle
In tho Annals of Modern History--Tws
| Great Arn.ics MS witnesses OF tho Terri
bio Work OF Ono Sword.
| To give an idea Of what brave man
can do If he knows fencing thoroughly
and but keeps cool and collected in dan
ger, we will relate o historical duel. Sc
extraordinary is this combat that it
would DO held q romance had it not been
| witnessed by whole army. Tho hero
| Is Jean Louis, one Of tho great masters
of the beginning Of this century, and
the duel happened in Madrid in 1913.
He was tho 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 do corps and rival
ries of nationality caused constant quar-
rels. when swords were often whipped
out or bullets exchanged After small
baltic had occurred in tho streets of
Madrid, in which over 200 French and
Italian soldiers had taken part, the Off
GERS of the two regiments, in council
Of war assembled, decided to give such
breaches Of order great blow and tore
establish discipline. They decreed that
the master-at-arms Of the two regiments
should take up the quarrel and fight it
out.
Imagine whole army in battle array
on one Of the large plains that surround
Madrid. In the center large ring is
left open for the contestants. This spot
is 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 q bull fgh.
excited them-will miss ono phase of tho
contest. 1t is before 10000 men that tie
honor of an army is about to be avenged
in the blood Of 90 bravo men.
The drum is heard. Two men, naked
to the waist, step in tho ring. Tho first
is tall and strong. His black eyes roll
disdainfully upon the gaping crowd; ne
is Giacomo Ferrari, the celebrated Ital
ian. Tho second, tall, also handsome,
and with muscles like steel, stands mod
estly awaiting the word of commands
his namo is Jean Louis. The seconds
take their places on either side of their
principles. A deathlike silence ensues.
ION guard!"
The two masters cross swords. Gia-
como Ferrari lunges repeatedly at Jean
Louis. but in vain. His every thrust is
met by parry. He makes up his mind
to bide his chance and caresses and
leases his opponents blade. Jean Louis.
calm and watchful, lends himself to the
play, when, quicker than lightning, the
Italian jumps aside with loud yell and
makes u terrible lungo at Jean Louisa
Florentine trick, often successful. But
with extraordinary rapidity Jean Louis
has parried and risposts quickly in the
shoulder.
1T is nothing" cries Giacomo, "a
mere scratch" and they again fall on
guard. Almost directly he is hit in the
breast. This time the sword of Jean
Louis, who is now attacking. penetrates
deeply. Giacomos face becomes livid,
his sword drops from his hand, and he
falls heavily on the turf. He is dead.
Jean Louis is already in position. He
wipes his reelzing blade; then, with the
point Of his sword ON the ground, LIE
calmly awaits the next man.
The best fencer of the First regiment
has just been carried away corpse, but
the day is not yet over. Fourteen adver-
saries are there, impatient to measure
swords with the conqueror, burning to
svenge the master they had deemed in
Jean Louis hardly had two minutes
rest. He is ready. A new adversary
stands before him. A sinister click of
swords is heard, a lunge, a parry, q ris-
postand then a cry, sigh, and all is over
A second body is before Jean Louis.
A third adversary advances. They
want Jean Louis to rest. II am not
'ired." he answers, with smile.
The signal is given. The Italian is as
all as the one who lies there a corpse
covered by military cloak. He has
closely watched Jean Louis play and
links he has guessed the secret of his
Victories. He multiplies his feints and
rlcks; then, all at once, bounding like a
1ger on his prey, he gives his opponent
terrible thrust in tho lower line. But
lean Louis sword has parted and is now
leep within his opponents breast.
what need we to relate any more?
len new adversaries followed him. and
he 10 fell before Jean Louis amid the
xcited yells and roars of an army.
AT the request of the Thirty-second
eglment's colonel, who thought the
essen sufficient, Jean Louis after much
messing consented to stop the combat.
nd he shook hands with the two sur
'lyors, applauded by 10000 men.
From that day fights ceased between
french and Italian soldiers.
This wonderful and gigantic combat
night be held fable were not all the
acts above stated still found in the
rchives of the ministry of war.-Lip-
incott's.
Navigation o.. the Nile,
from the beginning of winter to the
MI OF spring-that is, while the Milo is