The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-02-17
COMPELLED TO FIGHT.
DueIIing in Obligatory Upon Officers
in the Russian Army.
From the Pittsburg Dispatch.


From the Pittsburg Dispatch.
The law of Russia, according to which
duelling is obligatory upon officers of the
army, not only whenever they themselves
fancy they have been insulted, but like
wise whenever anybody else thinks they
have, Is fraught with sad results.
Detailed accounts reach St Petersburg
every day of duels between young Off
GERS who are Intimate friends, and never
dreamed when Joking among themselves
one of the party said or did something
which, in the opinion of somebody else,
ought to prove insulting.
Thus, we read of one young man, being
shot by another, whose best friend he is
and with whom he had no quarrel of any
kind, having been compelled to call him
out by the officers Court of Honor "
which has been Instituted in accordance
with the recent Imperial law and Of an
other promising young fellow in the south
who Is now disabled for his life because
forced to fight with his dearest comrade.
In all these cases, the alternative is to
fight or leave the army, and no one dares
to choose the latter course. At least no
one had the courage to before a very in
teresting case which unfOlded itself re-
Gently in the City Of Kertch At a ball
given by the social club there, the leader
of the dance was a young Lieutenant P,
who took possession of two vacant chairs
one for himself, and one for the lady with
whom he was dancing-in the vicinity of
a moment, and on his return found the
chairs occupied by young civilian and
his partner.
He requested the latter to vacate the
chairs, and have others brought in their
stead. But the civilian politely, yet firm
ly refused
II took possession these chairs long
ago." he explained, before you came to
them, and / cannot give them up. / am
quite willing, however, to go and order a
pair of chairs for you, which will be
brought tol you in half a minute"
Thereupon the officers, who constituted
more than half of the guests, threatened
to leave the club In a body unless the
young civilian was expelled Immediately
The club committee refused to expel him.
having no ground for such an extreme
measure and the officer forthwith left
the club-room and retired
Next day the commander of the regi-
ment informed of what had taken place
convened the court of honor and laid the
matter before them. Among the witnesses
were the young civilian and the lieuten-
ant. Both deposed that no insulting or
even impolite language had passed be-
tween them, and the former further de-
clared that nothing was farther from his
intention than to wound the feelings or re-
fleet upon the honor of the lieutenant
The court of honor, however decided
that Lieutenant P must undoubtedly
challenge the civilian to duel within five
days, or else leave the army. The young
officer, who was favorite in the service,
at once informed his superiors that he
would send in his resignation, but would
under no circumstances challenge q man
who had done him no wrong.
He had no abstract objection to dueling
itself which, since the imperial ukase
has been taken under the wing of the or
thodox church; but he had decided OBJ
lection to kill or main, in time of peace
man who had done him no Ill whatever.