The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-10-27
MOCK DUEL ON WHEELS
The Cyclists of France Delighted With a
New md Exciting Pastima.
REQUIRES THE MOST SKlLlFUL FENCING
A Touch With shc Foil Over tho Hear;
Scores Point in tho Contcst-Tho
Dnefists wenr n MaaH, which Illus
Ovor Each Eye q Projection OF wiro
--ExcitinE In the Extreme.

Wheelmen of England and France
now fight mock duels on bicycles. 1t Is
not a mere imitation. but genuine con-
rest with foils. which calls for as much
skill as the combats which take place
on foot, says the New York Herald.
Inc first qualification for IL duelist OF
this sort is to be an expert cyclist. Who
ever attempts one of these combats
on wheels must be able to perfectly
manage his machine without the assist
ance OF his hands. One Of the first
principles OF exercise with the foils Is
10 Keep constant watch Of ones oppo-
nent. ahe slightest neglect OF this sort
may give the fcncer tremendous adyan-
tage. If Ills wheel tlStracts his mind
from the object he Is trying to attain
he gives his opponent just some such adj
vantage (which he otherwise would not
have. So what 1t really amounts to is
that the man who wishes TO fight his
duel on Il bicycle must leave the man
agemcnt Of his wheel TO his feet and
knees.
The combatants In q mock duel OF this
nature are dressed in the ordinary out
Ing costume of the cyclist. Their hands
are clothed in gauntlets. The stockings
worn are usually faced with very fine
are OF the regulation bicycle fashion,
with rubber soles.
On the inner side of the trousers lust
above the point where the leggings and
the bottoms OF the trousers meet is n
round piece OF rubber about IN eighth
of an inch thick and seven and one-half
inches In circumference The object of
this rubber Is to give the knee of the
rider firm pressure upon the machine,
n q f,n ,s,,I NIN 49,, 4
as safeguard against his feet slip
ping on the pedals.
Each duclSt wears n mask, which
has over each eye q projection of wire,
similar in form to small inverted tea
cup. This gives absolute freedom OF
vision.
y short time ago I was fortunate
enough TO witness q contest with foils
between two of the most expert riders
In the united kingdom. Both were
mounted on American wheels twenty
eight pounds each. The wheels were of
what Is called the new folding pat
tern. That is, the frame is so con-
structed that 1t Is possible to fold the
wheels so they can come side by side,
the center of the frame working on n
hinge. 1t Is claimed that n wheel of
this sort enables the rider 30 turn
more quickly, and thus form the best
possible wheel for the mock due!sts.
Each man took up n position abo,t
fifteen feet from his antagonist At n
given signal both mounted their steeds
and slowly circlcd about one another
Just MS we have seen men fight with
knives seek m opening in which to
make an attack
The left hand rests lightly on the
handle. Tho right hand grasps firmly
the FOIL held ut an angle of forty-five
degrees. Slowly the two circle about
until suddenly one rider dashes forward
ms IT from catapuit: there h n sharp
clash OF steel. and the first passes are
over. The circling movement Is contln-
ued by both men, who grow more and
more wary as the circle narrows
Look out" calls the director Gen
tlemen no foul II you p:ease"
This makes the duelist more wary.
for foul by either means the loss Of the
honor Of the conflict.
Ware cries one of tfc combatants
and thrust Is make at his opponents
helmet with force that would seem
sufficient to throw him from the sad
die He sustains the shock CALAMITY.
and the sparks fly az the foEs beat
upon one another. Neither cyclist has
lost his equilibrium for n moment The
bicycles seem almost endowed with life
The riders evidently have forgotten tina I
thcE are not on stceds of flesh and
blood.
Parry and thrust. clever defense.
BLOWS that seem powerful enough to
cleave the mask in twain-all these oc-
cur with liG'htnnglike rapidity.
Then light n flash Of light one cyclist
whiriS and circles about the other. and
before the latter can fairly place him
self in a position Of defense the more
active whcelnnan has touched his antag
onist over the heart with the button
that protects the point Of his weapon.
The cyclist who Is thus touched is fore
ed to dismount his wheel. and his on
Donent has scored n point. This Is the
method that is generally followed and,
as may be seen from the description Civ
en-. Is exciting in the extreme.
One interesting result in France ~
that 1t Is likely TO Income something
more serious than mere pastime Duel
ing Is the vogue there. At tho same
time duel about which there is n nov
city Is something to be cultivated.
Therefore the mock duel on wheels,
which the fencing exercise Is called has
suggested to the volatile Frenchman n
chance to furnish the whcclmcn with
n method OF his own Of resentine in
suit.
a SINGULAR COMPACT.
a dispatch from Raa6ipp po s,,..