The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-08-04

ing seems TO have originated in Spain
but Italy soon took the lead. with France
as a close rival.
Still. the sater. with It's slashlng edge
was by no means wholly superseded; II
held its own for many purposes. and es-
pecially for use In cavalry charges. il
was with a blade OF this kind that sturdy
old Miles Standish Is said TO have struck
OF the head OF an Indian. who treach-
erously attacked him during a confer
ence.
The swords used by Marions dashing
troop Of raiders during the war OF the
rebellion were unique but extremely ef-
fective. Being unable TO arm his men
with the regulation cavalry saber the
resourceful Swamp Fox" as the Brit
fish called him. procured a large guam
tity OF old saw-blades from the lumber
mills and had them forged into broad
swords. These weapons were clumsy in
appearance, but keen and heavy enough
10 sweep an enemy's head from MS
shoulders at a single stroke in the heat
OF action. Thus armed. FIVE OF these pre-
decessors OF our gallant Trough Riders. -
having one day INDUCED little too free
y In appleiack. made a mad. whooping
charge upon Georgetown-at that time
swarming with solders-drove the garri-
son TO cover, cut down several redcoats
I'm the street and finally made off with
out scratch.
Some Of the most wonderful swordsmen
in the world are found in the Orient and
notable among these are the wiry little
Gurkhas Of India. The sword they use
Is quite unlike anything 10 be seen else
where. The ''kukrir-for that is the
name they give it's short, heavy and
much bent. with the cutting edge on the
inner side OF the curve. like a sickle.
It's blow is usually delivered from below
upward with the drawing cut" Armed
with no weapon but this the Gurkha
hunter scarcely bigger than a boy. does
not hesitate 10 meet the tiger of tho
jungle and rarely fails 10 secure the mon
ster's hide This is his method-a great
contrast 70 the tactics OF those who
hunt big game from the backs Of trained
elephants. The Gurkha crouches directly
in front Of the tiger and watches his
every motion. AS the fierce beast springs.
the hunter leaps 70 the left and strikes
the tigers outstretched paw sometimes
fairly looping Il of Then. always keep
inr on the same side as the disabled
paw he closes in on the furious creature
and dispatches II either by a. rip across
the throat or hy blow that severe the
spine
These brave and clever dwarfs are now
EANlIM dlllfr OF ltlt EUNArUs UlI lDIWl-
erly gave them much trouble They
would charge in irregular squads hard
10 repel by musketry. dive under the
bayonets. rip upward with the kukri
and then dart away. leaving their VIC
TINS almost split in halves They would
also stoop under the horses Of the cav
airy rip them open and slash the legs
Of the riders as they fell Even the
mediseval legends can hardly Guido their
actual performance r is said that they
have been known 70 decapitate a buffalo
with one blow Of the kukri
THE JAPANESE SWORD
H. however We can believe half 81
what the enthusiasts tell us. the sword
nese. Even the renowned blades Of
Toledo and Damascus they declare. do
not equal the adam antine hardness.
faultless tempering and almost magical
sharpness OF the best product OF Japan.
The same weapon. IL IS claimed. will cut
a hair drifting on the air. or sever four
blades OF ordinary steel az a blow. with
out showing the least trace OF dullness.
And the most weird and delightful
stories are told about them. For ex-
ample. II IS related that they sometimes
take mp their masters quarrel and slay
his enemy by their own spontaneous ac-
ton. but in a least one such case. the
hiFh-spir1ted blade yexed al its owners
awlSwa rdness finished the bout by strik-
ing him dead also. These willful and
murderous weapons are reputed 70 be
quite harmless so long as they are kept
in the sheath but once drawn they are
liable % run amuck and then they must
kin somebody. But whole volume
would be needed 10 do justice 10 these
curious and creepy legends Chicago
Daily News.