Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-11-25

BLINDFOLDED sICILIANs FIGHT WITH KNIVES.
the photographers caused considerable de-
lay, because of difficulties met in adjust
ini, their cameras ut advantageous angles.
At one time it looked as though those diff
hcultieS would Eeoessitate u return to the
carriages and further search, but finally
all was satisfactorily arranged and the
duel began. They fought six furious
rounds, apparently with grim earnestncss,
and one man was wounded seriously.
Then the curtain fell. Every one was sat
isfed, even the wounded man, but rs to
NJ. TUrats opinion of NJ. PaulnUcr that
probably was not affected by their double
star cast.
Tho Sicilian duel is a moro serious affair
Luca Mana OF New York was recently
provoked into fighting with revolvers in
stead Of Knives as ho desired, with the re-
suit that the police interfered and Mana
was fined $40 bya magistrate who did net
sympathize with the code of alleged honor.
'Pistols-bahl" said Mana, as he left
the court. "Give me the stiletto. 1t
makes no noise, but it goes as deep rs the
bullet. No one hears the stiletto slip in
between the ribs, but when Il bullet is fired
the whole town jumps ut the report.
but why do you Sicilians blindfoll
each other when you fight" somebody
asked.
would the weak fighter have over the
stronger ono if both could see? But with
only darkness around and no one to see it
is all chance. Fate decides. a fight that
way is glorious! You jump around
with only your ears to guide you, while
your stiletto plays lovingly in the air 1t
wants to kiss flesh All, you feel some
thing softl 1t is your little blade Sitting
down his cheek. y flash of fire runs up
your arm. 1t is the other stiletto's tooth
biting you. You cut and jump, you spring,
leap ard run. The knives meet and shrek
at each other.
Your arm is all cut nowl You can
feel the blood trickling down your sleeve
and hear drip, drip on the floor above the
grunts OF the other one. You can feel
yourself growing weaker and weaker. You
are cut on the temple now. One last
chance or all is over-for yOul You draw
your knife back over your head. Your
man cannot see. You spring back. - He
follows. He lunges. You leap aside
Now is your chance.
You spring forward with all your
strength. At the same time you shoot cut
your arm and plunge il down. down, !
down. All, something soft stops it, You !
plunge again. 1t is his heart You hear |
the death gurgle now. You faint, per- |
haps. Then in half an hour your friends !
and his-co1ne and break open the door |
They bring both bodies out into the light. |
All, it is you that is alive and he that is 1
dcad"
The strictly up to date duel is fought in |
New Jersey. 1t was rather stupid in the !
Carterot club the fashionable club OF /
Camden, which occupies the fine house |
which Jay Gould built for his sister, Mrs. /
Northrup. Billy White and Al Lennon
became combatlve over election bets and
other products Of the mosquito state.
Il can thrash you in any way you
name, " declared White holly, with fists,
sw ords or pistols"
Make IL eggs"
Eggs were agreed on rs the weapon and
the club members awose with a shout
Here was some excitement. a committee
was dispatched 10 secure the Yeapons /
There was some difficulty, because there
was not a grocer in town who had ANY, !
thing below the grade of fresh Iaid'' eggs
in stock. But eggs OF satisfactory as2e
were finally secured.
The principals Were conducted to Dia
Inond Cottage grove and placed 20 uaces
apart with an equal supply of aInnIuni-
ton.
For three minutes the air was filed witt,
flying eggs and unpleasant odors When
the eggs Were all hurled, the referee an
1t would not be fair to describe RI. ~,
pcarance Of the duelists.
1t Is sufficient to say that their ain, ,,,.-
excellent Then everybody went baclr -,
the club They did not stay long. because
Lennon ana White insisted Uron cornin,,
in Ana nobody was there the NEXT a. I
except the lanltor, and he was b..sv xvi+6
Ill manner Of dIsinfectants.