The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-10-26
DUELING ALA FRANCHISE.
Expert Hints on How to Be Brave
without Danger.

Without Danger.
From the London Telegraph.
No little sensation has been created even
here by the duel in which Count Badeni.
the Austrian prime minister, has been
wounded. and this affair has once more
brought into prominence a question which
has been from time 70 time the subject Of
considerable discussion. Encounters at
tended with tragic or dangerous results
are becoming more rare in this country,
and there Is far less disposition to take
offense than was formerly he case. Sec
cnds, as a rule. DO their very utmost 30
effect a reconciliation, and it really looks
as Y fair proportion Of the combats
which do come OF were arranged for the
benefit Of the gallery. Duelng in point
Of fact is steadily on the wane as a recog-
nized institution, though Of course there
are now and then some very remarkable
exceptions, when the insult has been of
deadly character. and it has been admit
ted on all sides, even by cons cientious
peacemakers that the principals have had
practically no alternative but to "go out"
EYen when every means Of arriving al a
satisfactory understanding has been ex-
hausted the friends Of the contending
parties do not relax their vigilance. When
the pistol has been selected as the wea-
pom 70 be employed, it is usually ANNOUNCE
cd al the conclusion of the encounter that
shots have been exchanged" without in
jury 70 the combatsnts. Gunsmiths of ex-
perience IN these matters, when consulted
on the subject, attribute many Of these
happy examinations of duels, which had
been looked forward to by the relatives
and acquaintance Of the principal with
some apprehension to the watchfuI care
Of the seconds, who often do everything
IN their power 10 prevent any real mis-
chief chiefly, Of course, for the sake Of
their men. but partly also. on their own
account for it is not particularly agreea-
bic to be mixed up in an affair which has
had fatal ending
There are various lodges" known TO
the initiated which considerably diminish
the risks of an engagement One is the
choice Of small bullets, which do not fly
with the same precision as those more
adapted to the barrel Of the pistol, and do
not penetrate the clothing if the body of
the adversary is hit. One drawback of this
system, however, is that the bullets may
fan TO the ground while the weapons are
being held with the muzzles pointed down
ward, ere the word TO fire Is given such
an accident naturally creating an awk-
ward situation. Another idea is, while en-
ploying properly fitting bullets, to insert
only third of the usual charge, so that.
the velocity being very weak, little dam
age IS done when the clothing is touched.
On the other hand, some seconds have re-
course to a double charge. on the strength
OF the theory that the pistol may thus be
made 20 deviate, but this proceeding is
condemned by experts, as calculated to
defeat the object in view. Thus the case
is instanced of duelist who Durposely
aimed very low, but to his horror shot his
adversary through the heart the double
charge having raised the weapon. One
tning by the way, which is specially re-
commended, is that the pistols should be
handed ready cooked to the combatants,
as man Of experience can obtain a val
liable hint as to the lightness or the hard
ness Of the trigger when doing this for
himself, and can act accordingly, aiming
straight, or allowing for a slight deviation,
according to circumstances.
Shots are now almost invariably ex-
changed at the word of command and thus
again are the chances of disaster mini
mized, for it need scarcely be explained
that II is far more difficult to fire with
accuracy under such conditions than after
taking careful and deliberate aim. But
here, again, kind seconds are on the alert
and not seldom efforts are made to hurry
and furry the combatants, which are all
the more easy, inasmuch as each is anx-
ious not to shoot too late, but scrupulous-
ly to adhere to the rules and regulations.
Some indeed, suddenly shout the word
'feu" in stentorian tones, as II they were
proclaiming the outbreak of a confiagra-
| ton, and when it is added that before
| coming TO the scratch they have hesltated
and delayed during the preliminary sig
nails it will readily be understood that
their principals are often taken, as 1t
We're by surprise, and are not prepared to
| fire with quite as much precision as if they
| had been able TO shoot under more favora-
| BILE conditions, at least from the point of
! view of accuracy. Then, when all is said
and done. there are few men who with
| pistol and substantial flesh and blood con-
| fronting them can aim with as much cool
ness as if they were quietly practicing In a
! shooting gallery. At any rate, we are
! far from the days when duels were fought
/ under tragic and bloodcurdling condi-
| tions, for while every reasonable effort
| is made to bring about a reconciliation af-
ter a quarrel, many a second is still vigil
liant after an encounter has become ine-
/ vitable.