The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-11-27
IN TWENTY-ONE DUELS
RECORD OF THE NEW GERMAN AM
BAssADOR, BARON voN HoLLEBEN.
Has Frequently Killed HIS Opponent,
Vicious Sword sIashes.


New York Journal.
The new German ambassador at Washing
ton, Baron Won Holleben, brings with him
into diplomatic circles one of the most
scarified and carved up countenances ever
seen. He is criss-crossed from breast to
forehead with the marks of old wounds.
These are the insignia of twenty-one
triumphant duels in which the eminent doc
tor has upheld not only his personal honor.
but his fame as one of the best swordsmen
in Europe. There is a saying in Germany
that while DR.. Won Holeben is sometimes
marked with scar, his opponents are very
often marked with a gravestcne. And those
who survive are marked far more terribly
than the doctor. Besides this unequaled
record as j duellist Won Hellenben has
participated in thirty-five more affairs Of
honor as a second. He has seen all phases
of the duello. He has seen farce and
tragedy. He has seen all manner of wounds.
from a slight pinking on the end of the
nose to the running of a sword through an
adversary's heart. He has bent over dying
friends and dying enemies, and the death
rattle and death agony are familiar things
to him.
In fact, 1t is said that the reason DR.. Won
Holeben was honored with the Washington
portfolio is because he took up his sword
a few weeks ago in defense of his Majesty,
Emperor William. Or course everybody in
German court circles knew that Emperor
William in some manner acquired a black
eye while on board the imperial yacht. Ho-
henzollern. Gossip connected this black eye
with the fist of Lieutenant Hahnke. who
afterward killed himself. These events
caused the Berlin cafes to ring with gos-
sip. The story goes that an unwise citizen
espoused the cause of the dead lieutenant
and said some rather bitter things about
the Emperor. This came to the ears OF
Won Holleben. He had already fought
twenty duels, but he was equal to another
After a conference with some friends ne
sent a challenge to the Emperor's traducer.
1t was vain challenge, however. The chal-
lenged party had heard too much of Won
Eolleben's prowess to feel comfortable:
Visions of dead men confronted him and
he apologized publicly,
PLEASED THE EMPEROR.
This came to the ears of the Emperor.
Himself a fire eater, he had the greatest
admiration for that quality in others. He
took Won Holleben up. and in one way or
another honored him. He became the idol
of the German court. AS a fitting crown
to his popularity. Won Holleben was made
ambassador to washington. He has the
and peaceabIe enough when his toes are not
trodden upon. At the same time, he will
doubtless feel somewhat out of place in this
country where everybody knows how to
shoot and but few know how to fence.
DR.. Won Holleben got his skill as
Leipsic and Heidelberg. In the old German
halls where the students congregate mere
are st stories Of his proves ana tb Ul b ,
ligerent chips from the shoulders OF ms TEL
lows Won Holleben emerged from Heidel-
berg with his face already carved IKE
his prediction, however, ne TOOK ms az
gree of Phi. d. with the highest ho9ors, o
elusive clubs in that home or caste anu
etiquette Owing to the excellent care ne
received after each duel ms scars IN nla NY
instances are faint cicatrices His nose; eS-
pecially shows where the razor-bladed duel
ing schlager has sliced it's way into ms
honor 'among the Heidelberg students to see
who could succeed in cutting Won hole-
bens nose off. But the nose Is stii taeIre,
albeit somewhat damaged, ana many Vi eno
students are dead. . -, .a.or,s
One of the longest scars in the doctor
galaxy ornaments his right chee Ii II We" aS
received from an army officer HIS cnin on
the left side shows wound that must nave
laid it bare to the bone His forehead Is
cut and lined in all directions, IKE tne pain
. of ones hand There is a hook-shaped scar
near his right temple, and his leIt tennpie
is marked like the seams OF a cantaloupe.
Ask the new German dHDdoSoVoi y" -
count the story of each separate scar, anu
he will tell you that, save in one or nwo
instances he cannot remempeI any aiNro o of
stance connected with tnem NoIS NJ "
than1 over gave me much trouble, salo III.
Won Holleben to a Washington lrlehu ie"
days ago. n
sT.ASHED BY AN ENGLISHMAN.
Tn snite of the light way in which Won
HoIlaben treats the subject, 1t is known
that he has had a pretty serious time OF II
Of d1IplS. Probably the
closest call he ever mad was in a duel WITH
Co,onal Beverly. an English army ofncer.
II occurred during visit of the Duke ana
D,cbess of Connaught to Germany AT one
- tho cIubs in Berlin, DIR. Won Hollepen
became engaged in a dispute with Colonei
beverly the head of the Duke of Con-
naugbt's household. Colonel Beverly, being
a brave man and possibly ignorant OF Won
IIolieben's prowess, accepted the challenge
,rhe Enylishman was not an over me
svordsnan, but he was strong ana acuVs,
and made up in agility what ne lackeo ia
skill. eo.ost o,ada n
short distance from Berlin AS IS oIteh INC
case, the awkwardness OF the DOCTOR 81 ou
nonent made him dangerous man. sew
eral times the doctors SWORD came UNI. uii~
pleasantly near shutting out the acu w.,
Englishman's life. An ineffectual iurs $40; ~
Won Holleben was followed by swift
back-handed blow by the Engisnn man ~ ~
was awkward, but effective. Inc point VI
Colonel Reyerlys sword caught Won none
ben on the forehead and laid 1t open 70 the
hone This put an end to the duel, al
though Won Holleben wanted to continue IL
in spite of the blood in his eyes. rms was
one of the most noted duels that ever look LOOK
place in Germany and 1t is SUN d horsei
of gossip in court circules.
The latest duel in which Won Holiepen
was connected occasioned much gossip at
the time, although it was somewhat Inys-
terious There was a rumor tnat Baron 1,
Won Wangenheim who was von holepen
secretary was morganatically married 70
a princess of the blood Although no suS Sn
union is recorded in the Aimanach ue
Gotha. the assertion Is believed by many
~ the haute noblesse While Won HolleDen
was =; his former diplomatic post as min
ister plenipotentary at Stuttgart, Baron
Won Wangenheim heard a rumor that m
VOWED the fair fame of near relative. he
traced the rumor to its source and found
that its author was young Count Uxkul
Gyllenband. There was an immediate
challenge and a prompt acceptance.
pr Won Holleben acted as second 10 MS
secretary The duel was one of the blood
iost and most tragic that ever took place in
Europe The combatsnts fought desperate
lv until both fell exhausted from loss OF
blood They died from their wounds short
time afterward.
DR. Won Holleben Immediately left MS
post and went to Berlin, where he made a
special report to the Emperor. That the
Kaiser found no fault with the duei1sts
seems evident. as Immediately after they,
report Won Holleben was decorated with
the star of the Order of the Red Eagle:
Although the new ambassador has passed