The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-04-08
SABER DUELS.
Discussion AprOpOse of the Recent
Fatal Encounter i'm Italy.
rTro,, tba Dali Mall Gazette


From the Pail Mall Gazette.
The saber duel has never been very IA
miliar on the record, and of late years its
absence therefrom has been even more
conspicuous than 1t was. The reason for
this is, no doubt, that the saber is not
every dueiists weapon, and that, when IL
happens to suit both combatants, the re-
suits. as the Italian Chamber has duly
recognized by permitting the trial of Dep
uty Macola for poor Cavallottis death, are
apt to be of a decidedly serious character
The weapon has been oftenest on the field
of honor, perhaps, during the disturbed
period in France which followed the res
toration, when there were any number of
Napoleons unconverted old officers prowl-
ing about in militarily buttoned frocks
eating their hearts out on half pay, and
always spelling for fight BalZac's Phil
ippe Bridau was such one. That eX-
colonels duel with a local "bretteur"
Maxence Gilet, will readily suggest itself
as typical encounter of the kind. 1t
was fought with sabers, both men meaning
business. The description of this combat
is in the masters best manner, and COM
plete, besides, in every technical detail
You can follow it with the keenest appre-
citation from the moment the pair engage
at the formidable changing guard to its
conclusion, not many minutes later, when
the colonel, wounded in the face by Gilet's
charge, replies by that mastery "mouli>
net" or wrist stroke, which splits his
adversary's forehead and shears half his
face away. In this duel, il will be no.
ticed, the thrust does not seem to have
been barred, as 1t sometimes is. 1t was
the thrust-the point anyhow-which kill
ed Cavallott, and in a way, too, which
constitutes a record. A thrust in the mouth
which Sits the tongue and sewers the
windpipe, and ends all in five minutes, is
not 10 be found in the books very readily
In the Srey-Durepaire saber duel, fought
in the November of 1885, the point again
proved fatal, Durepaire being run through
the liver Several years later his slayer had
the life thrust out of him by Caumartin
in Brussels. In these cases, evidently, the
point had net been ruled out.
In the Castenschiold-R duel at Co
penhagen in July. 1890, thrusting was for
hidden. The saber seems to have been
chosen because both parties were cavalry
men. Castenschiold was a lieutenant in
the Danish Dragons The Baron de Rah-
den had been in the Russian service. The
difference arose at Busch's circus, where
the Baron's wife was engaged as an eques-
TRAN performer, There was a keen con-
test of but brief duration The Baron
was cut across the forehead. The flow of
blood half blinded him, and the seconds
interviewed.
The Millot-Baruti duel. fought in Bel
fort between two French subalterns
might have had more serious conse-
quences. Lieut.. Milot got a slash across
the arm, which severed all the great blood
vessels He was very nearly dead before
the bleeding could be stopped, and IL took
two mortal hours to stitch him up.
In Hungary the saber duel has been by
no means unpopular in it's time The last
was fought only a few years back be-
tween two officers of the Honyed army
also OF the cavalry arm. The point stroke
was barred, but Lieut.. Lazer. it is stated
had his sword arm neatly Topped off.
1t is not difficult to understand whv the
saber duel has not been popular. II is
less easy to understand why it should
nave been the weapon chosen for the set
tlement of the Cavallotti-MacoIa differ
ence. The meeting was mostly to please
the gallery, Cavallotti had been .'outr
thirty-three times before, and Macola six
teen. They had made their proofs and
theIe seems to have been little If any in
1eeling. Once on the ground, however
they would naturally warm up. And then
the saber Is apt not to pardon.