The Yellowstone journal. [volume] (Miles City, Mont.) 1893-1901, 1893-04-13

bic Work ~: One sword.
To give an idea of what n brave man
can do II he knows fencing Thoroughly
and but keeps cool and collected in dan
ger. we win relate a historical duel. so
extraordinary is this combat that 1t
would be held a romance had it not been
witnessed by a whole army. The hero
is Jean Loris. one of the Great masters
of the beginning of TIL, century. and
the duel happened in NaGrid in 1913.
He was the master-:t arms Of the Ihir-
ty-seconl regiment of FrencE. infantry.
The First regiment, composed entirely
of Italians. formed part Of the same brl-
gale.
Regimenf.il esprit de corps ana rival
ries of nationality caused constant quar-
rels. when swords woIe often whipped
out or bullets exchanged. After a small
battle had occurred in the streets OF
Madrid. in which over goo French and
Italian soldiers had taken part, the Off
GERS of the two regiments, il n council
Of war assembled. decided 20 give such
breaches of order a great blow and ore
establish discipline. They decreed that
tho rn~as,er-at-ar,ns of tho two regiments
shcuid take up the quarrel and fight 1t
out.
Imagine a whole army i'll battle array
On one of the large plains that surround
| Madrid. In the center II large ring il
left ope,. for the contestants. This spot
is raised above the plain so that not n
Of the spectators Of this tragic
gs,viy dressed officers, soldiers in line.
| SlaniarGs. excited as never a bull tigh.
ex..ited them-will miss II phase of the
contest. 1t is before 1900 men that the
honor Of An army is about to be avenged
in the blood Of 80 brave men.
Tie drum is heard. Two men. naked
70 the waist. step in the ring. The first
is tall and strong. His black eyes roll
dislainfully upon the gaping crowd; ne
is Giacomo Ferrari. the celebrated ltal.
ian. 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.
ION guard"
The two masters cross swords. Gia-
como Ferrari lunges repeatedly at Jean
Louis. but in vain. His every thrust is
met by a parry. He makes up his mind
to hide 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 a loud yell and
makes a terrible lunge at Jean Louis-a
Florentine trick, often successful. Bu;
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. Giacono's face becomes livid,
his sword drops from his hand, and he
falls heavily N the turf. He is dead.
Jean Louis is already in position. He
wipes his reeking blade; then. with the
point OF his sword on the ground, lie
calmly awaits the lex man.
The best fencer of the First regiment
has Just been carried away a corpse, but
the day is not yet over. Fourteen adver-
saries are there, impatient to measure
swords with the 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 befor re him. A sinister click OF
swords is heard, a lunge. a parry, a ris-
post and tn, n u cry, d sigh. aid all is over.
A second lo!y is before lean louis.
A third adversary advances. They
want Jean Louis to rest. Il am not
tired" he answers, with a smile.
The signal is given. The Italian is a.
tall as the one who lies there q corpse
covered by q military cloak. He has
closely watched Jean Louis play and
thinks he has guessed the secret Of his
victories. He m~ultiplies his feints and
tricks; then. all at once, bounding like =
tiger on his prey, he gives his opponent
q terrible thrust in the lower line. But
Jean Louis sword has parted and is now
deep within his opponents breast.
What need we to relate any more:
Ten new adversaries followed him, and
the 10 fell before Jean Louis amid the
excited yells and roars of an army.
At the request of the Thirty-second
regiments colonel. who thought the
lesson sufficient, Jean Louis after much
pressing consented to stop the combat.
and he shook hands with the two sur.
~vivors, applauded by 10000 men.
From that day fights ceased between
French and Italian soldiers.
This wonderful and gigantic combat
might be held a fable were not all the
facts above stated still found in the
archives of the ministry of war.-Lip
pincott's.
Cost VI Living I'm Australia.