New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-28
A STRANGE DUEL RECALLED.
HOW CIGAR SETTLED THE LOVE AFFAIR OF
KAMPF AND PETROVSKI

A
KAMPF AND PETRovsKI
The chess duel for the hand OF an unknown
woman which is said to havo taken place at the
Cafe Manhattan during the evening OF February
24-the loser being bound TO commit suc!de-recas
a more serious affair in the year 1882 Otto kampf.
a German from Leipsic. to this city In 1850
and took lodgings In Beecker-st, near South Fifth
ave where he soon fell violently In love with Minna
Wurz his landady's daughter. Minna was
handsome, well-but gill, who had numerous adj
mrers In the neighborhood. among them a young
ciqarmaker by rame OF Petrovskl. whom she mad
rather favored in preference to the others until
Kampf appeared.
The feeling between the two men increased as
time passed until the neighbors and the family
feared serious trouble. But Kampf was ordinarily
a peaceable ma1, and. being much the larger OF the
two kent his temper pretty we'll under the insults
which Petrovski took every occasion to Ming az MIN
Matters finally came 10 a Climax, however "heh
the two met evening In a neghboring Deer gar
den The cigarmakcr called his rival a coward.
dared him 10 fight, and finally became 50 abusive
that the big German bent down and whispered that
he would fight with him in any way he pleased, but
that It must be between themselves aIohe' as ne
objected TO getting any one else into trouble
Pe,rovek spent the night In thinking the matter
over. and In the morning suggested one OF the
strangest duels known He proposed to make
two large cigars OF the best tobacco in his SHOP. IN
one Of which should be wrapped a long, 22-cahpre
cartridge. pointing toward the smokers throat
These were to be placed IN cigar case IN hainpi
presence after which they were TO walk 10 the
beer garden sit down at Of the tables as II 10
spend the evening and then each draw one OF the
cigars. light it, and smoke 1t clear down 10 'ne
butt.
This programme was carried out in detail much
to the surprise OF all who knew OF the bad feelnR
betw the men They came into the beer garden
about o'clock and sat down to smoke. as II their
differences had been patched up to their mutual
eafisfaction Whether Petrovski felt sure OF draw
ing the armess cigar. or whether he dreaded 10
,est the experiment he had himself proposed. no
one ever knew but ne smoked az slowly as possible
In about twenty minutes. however. there was "A
mufied report and he fell back In his chair dying
before surgeon could reach the place.
The Coroners verdict one or the strangest
features Of the whole affair for In spite of the fact
that half dozen witnesses testified TO having heard
something like a muffied report neither the ambU-
lance surgeon nor the police thought OF examining
the cigar butt. The tiny bullet had penetrated the
back OF the throat and lodged In the ccrvica verte
brae causing almost instantaneous death. but the
small wound was discovered at the autopsy. and
PetroysN declared to have died OF either heart
disease or nervous shock resulting from the expo-
sion Of a sulphur match.
Kampf was married 10 Miss Wurz few months
later and afterward moved 10 chicago where he
committed suicide in July, 1894.