Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1893-06-09
FEATS OF sWORDsMANsHIP
Terrific Blows Which Have Been
Struck

Feats OF craftsmanship, such as cut
carcaSSeS of sheep, are performed with
special weapons; and on this subject,
and that of sword-blowS generally, Mr..
Henderson, the well-known professor of
sWordsmanship, and for many years
connected with Angeles School of
Arms, has some interesting facts to re-
ate, says the London Globe. Though
no longer quite so young as he was.
he is still active and hearty, and must
have been in his prime a very power
full man, weighing 100 pounds. He has
IN his time, at one stroke, cut through
two sheep, one carcass inside the other.
and in a similar manner through two
and three-quarter inches of solid lead
A specially made cuiraSs. much
thought Of ut the time by the duke of
Cambridge, when tested by the redoubt-
able Henderson, was cut clean through.
Steel plateS-SiN to the inch-and ordi-
nary pokerS have been severed at one
blow by the same strong arm. These
exploits were all accomplished with a
sword made for him by the old firm
of Wilkinson. 1t is called "Excalihur,"
and weighs but four pounds 1t is per-
fectly plain, slightly curved, has Il hilt
something like Il navy cutlaSS, and is
teEnCIcl to perfection. Mr.. Hender-
son was present at he battle of Chillan-
wall:.h i'll 1910, and can testify to some
remarkable instances of the power of Il
kAcr; sword. Toward the termination
p,ift 81,
slowly retiring, Il Sikh challenged hv
his gestures and defiant attitude an
Irish soldier to leave the ranks and en-
gage i'll Il single combat. One thrust
from his bayonet went right through
the Sikh, who, though mortally wound
ed, instantaneouSly with his razor-cdycd
tulWar cleft his opponents head in two
rs tar down as the base of the neck,
both falling dead at the same instant
After the engagement Il Sikh was
found sitting on the ground apparently
unhurt, yet holding his hands up TO his
head, and when the surgeon babe him
lower his arms he fell dead OH the spot
with half his skull gone, the entire up
per part having been cut clean through.
Elephants are completely disabled by
one blow from the Arabs two-handcd
sword, which almost sewers the huge
hind leg, biting deep into the bone
This feat is varied by slaShing off the
trunk, leaving it dangling only by Il
piece of skin. A GhoOrla has been seen
by the late Laurence Oliphant to behcad
buffalo with Il single blow Of his
Cookrie. And Sir Samuel Baker. man
powerful enough to WELD during his
African exploration the Baby" an ele-
phant-rifle weighing twenty-five pounds,
once Glove Il wild bear with his big
hunting-knife almost in halves rs ii
was making Il final rush, catching it
just behind the shoulder where the hide
and briStlcS are at least span thick.
Sir Walter Scott relates how the earl
of Angus, with his huge sweeping brand
challenged an opponent to fight. ana
at 4 blow chopped aSunder the thigh
bone, killing him on the spot. There is
Il story current in Australia that Lieu
tenant Anderson, in 1855 during an eli
counter with bushrangers, GU, clean
through the gunbarrel of his adversary
with his sword. And ut KassaSsin it Is
related that one of Arab Pasha'S sol
diers was severed in two during the
midnight charge. But in the opinion of
experts this is very improbable, even
had the new regulation saber been
then in use.