Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1893-02-23
A HISTORICAL DUEL.
TWELVE SWoROSMEN SLAIN BY ONE
MAN BEFORE AN ARMY.

A scpne More Exciting Than Any Battle
! In the Annals of Modern History-Tw o
Great Armies a. Witnesses of the Terri
BILE 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 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 1913.
He was the master alarms 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 to re-
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 a 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 bull figh.
excited them-will miss one 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
disdainfully upon the gaping crowd; ne
is Giacomo Ferrari, 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. A deathlike silence ensues.
'On guardr'
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 a terrible lunge at Jean Louisa
Florentine trick, often successful. Bat
with extraordinary rapidity Jean Lolis
has parried and risposts quickly in the
shoulder.
at 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, penetraaes
deeply. Giacomo's 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 reeking 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
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 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
tired" he answers, with smile.
The signal is given. The Italian is as
tall as the one who lies there a corpse
covered by military cloak. He has
closely watched Jean Louis play and
thinks he has guessed the secret of his
victories. He multiplies his feints and
tricks; then, all at once, bounding like
tiger on his prey, he gives his opponent
terrible thrust in the lower line. But
Jean Louis sword has parried 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-
,,ipontt'c