Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1893-03-02
A HISTORICAL DUEL.
TWELVE SWORDSMEN SLAIN BY ONE
MAN BEFORE AN ARMY.

In the Annals of Modern Eistory-Two
Great Armies as witnesses of the Terri
bio Work of One 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 a historical duel. So
extraordinary is this combat that it
would be held q 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 small
battle had occurred in the 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-arns 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 a large ring is
left open for the contestants This spot
is raised above the plain so that not one
Of the spectators CT this tragic scene
gayly dressed officers, soldiers in line.
Spaniards, excited IS never bull fghs
excited them-will miss olse phase of the
contest. 1t is before 10000 men that the
honor OF an army is about to be avenged
in the blood Of 80 brave men.
The drum is heard. Two men, naked
to the waist, step in the ring. The first
is tall and strong. His black eyes roll
disdainfUliy upon the gaping crowd; ne
is Giacomo Fc!'raTi, the celebrated Ital-
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. \ deathliSe silence ensues.
ION guard
The two masters cross swords. Gia-
como Ferrari hinges repeatedly at Jean
Louis, but III vain. His every thrust is
met by parry. He MAKES M 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 terrible lunge at Jean Louis--a
Florentine trick, often successful. Ba;
with extraordinary rapidity Jean Loui,
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. penetr.stes
deeply. Giaco;no's face becomes Evil.
his sword drops from his hand. and he
falls he@vily on t.-e tc~f. lie IS dead.
Jean Louis Is already II position. lie
wipes lis ree.iing blade; ie'l, WIKI the
pot Of his sword "a tie ground, lac
calmly awaits tire next ns..s..
The bcss iC1cir &C the --st regiment
has Just been carried away = corpse, but
the day Is not yet over Fourteen aIye~-
! saries are there, impatient to measure
| swords with the corCUerar. bIrning 10
avense the master they had deemed IN
vincible.
Jean Louis hardly had two minutes
| rest. He is ready. 4 new adversary
stands before him. i sinister click os
swords is heard. lylnge, d parry. Il ris-
postand then cry. d sigh. and al Is over
A second body Is before Jean Louis.
A third adversary advances. They
want Jean Louis 70 rest. II am not
tired" Re answers. with : smile.
The signal Is given. The Italian Is as
tail as the ole who lies there a corpse
| covered by a military cloak. He has
closely waite led Jean Louis play and
thinks he has guessed the secret of his
victories. Il multiplies his feints and
tricks; then, all at once, bounding Ike a
tiger on his prey, he gives his opponent
| 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 fable were not all the
facts above stated still found in the
archives of the ministry of war.-Lip-
|