Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-06-10
INTENDED TO KILL
But It Turned Out a Regulation
Duel a La France.
ONE LITTLE WOUND In THE WRIST

Stops Fight Which Was to Have Pro.
vided High Toned Funeral Either of .
Poet of the "Decadent" School or His
Biue-Blooded Antagonist-Charity Ba-
saar Fire the Cause Of the Resort to
Rapiers.
duel with swords fought yesterday
afternoon between two members Of the
old nobility-Count Robert de Montss-
Quoin and Henri de Regnier-at Neu-
lily lie Vallois. growing out OF a remark
made by Mile. Heredia, the sister-in-law
OF Regnier. few days ago in the salon
Of the Baroness Alphonse de Rothschlld.
Mile. Heredia, who was with her sister
Nine. Regnier, turned the conversation
on handsome cane carried by the
Count de MontesQuion, who stood near
her, and remarked that ii was the sort
OF cane that might have been used at
the charity bazaar fire to beat the ladies'
The count who overheard the remark,
interpreted it as an insinuat;on of
cowardly conduct on his part toward
women at the fire. 1t is openly charged
holocaust lost all sense of manhood and
in their frenzy to get out allowed moth
ing to stand in their way. but beat
down women and girls and trod them
under foot in their frantic efforts to save
themselves
Peace Proposals Make Things Hotter.
Immediately withdrawing from the
salon he sent challenge to Nj. de
ReSnier. who was escorting his wife
and sister-in-law. and before midnight
seconds were appointed and the pre-
iminaries of the duel arranged. On
consideration, however, the seconds of
dc Eegnier submitted to the counts
seconds that the remark was oae of
mere banter, upon which the count
ought not to place so serious a con-
struction. ard urged that the matter be
arbitrated. The Count de Montescuicn
thereupon twitted De Rgnier with be-
ing afraid to meet him, and branded
him in the newspapers as a coward
This resulted in a challenge from De
Regnier after three days spent in the
discussion of conflicting statements as
to the precise words used by Mile.
Heredia and Nine. de RegniS-. who had
echoed her sisters remarks. The Count
de Montesquion Immediately accepted
the tUdllenSe.
COmbatants Were Out for Blood.
His seconds were the Count Dion de
Montesquion and Maurice Barres. and
NJ. de Regnier's were Henri Houssaye
and Jean Beraud. The duel was Tough.
in the presence of Gerges Hugo and the
artists. NJ. Forain and Caran d'Ache.
The combantants attacked each other
with the greatest vigor, and for ten
minutes fought to kill. In the third en-
counter the Count de MontesGuion was
severely wounded in the back of the
right hand. The surgeons then inter-
fered and refused to allow the combat to
proceed. The combatants on withdraw
ing declined even to bow to each other,
The affair has made a tremendous sem
sation, as it may prove the first Incl
dent in a general boycott socially of
number OF men who are persistently
accused in certain quarters Of having
displayed the rankest cowardice at the
charity bazaar fire.
de Regnier a "Dccadent" Poet.
NJ. de Regnier did not take his first
lesson in fencing until after he had
received the challenge of the Count
de Montesquion. He is a poet and a
leader in the decadent school of poetry
He spent the whole morning in sorting
his manuscripts. which, after he had
carefully locked in boxes he sent to his
secretary for safe custody. Last even.
ing he called at the counts residence.
but 1t is not believed that a reconcilia-
ton has been effected.
Receiver for a Wheel Comnanv