Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1899-07-31
IT WAS A REAL DUEL,
TWO DANISH OFFICERS FOUGHT 1T
OUT WITH BROADSWORDS.


| fore IN Audience In II Gymnasium
In WASHINGTON In n building Which
| AdtOincd the Police Station.
81 have figured in quite Number of
| varied events during over Il quarter Of
century Of active newspaper roper
| torinl life" explained an old newspaper
| writer to Star reporter, but l never
| got In but one duel when it was to a
| finish, and in the instance | refer to it
was to q finish, assure you. l was
only an onlooker. 1t Is true but | saw
more than | wanted to see, and more
than l would willingly again see. 1t
was nearly 20 years ago, but have
not forgotten it.
"At the time there was gymnasium
| on Louisiana avenue, between Ninth
and Tenth streets. The building ad-
Joining was the old central guardhouse,
the police station.
"One evening was invited by
friend, who was a former newspaper
man, but afterward patent attorney,
and who also acted us the resident
Danish consul, to attend the gym
nasium to witness sword combat, In
which two Of his friends were to take
part. l was told that three or four
others would be present, and the COM
bat would be rather lively. l realized
that part of it fully, to my complete
satisfaction.
"With the others, three newspaper
writer's, couple Of actors and a couple
of sporting men, we got to the gym
nasium about 8 o'clock, but were told
that the combat would not take place
until the gymnasium classes had been
dismissed, as it was desired that the
onlookers should be as few as possible.
"None Of us had any idea as to who
the participants would be or the par
ticular reason for 1t, but we were told
that it was desired that we should be
present to see that everything was con-
Quoted properly. From this we inferred
that there was stake or something at
issue, and we were to be the judges as
we'll as referees. as 1t were.
eat 10 o'clock two carriages arrived,
in each Of which was a single occupant,
each having a sword what Is common
ly known as q broadsword, like that
which men-of- wars men have. They
had but little to say. and in a few min
utes they We're properly attired in the
gymnasium suits and announced that
they were ready for the battle.
81 had seen some professional broad
sword comhats and rather looked for
some heavy work, but IN less than a
minute we all realized that there seem
ed to be more earnestness about the
combat than was customary in meet
ings Of professionals, 1t mattered not
how large the stakes We're.
"The men wore the customary wire
head covering, and 1t YVES we'll they did
so, otherwise there would have been
one or two heads scattered about on
the floor, for the fight was fast and
furious. At the expiration OF ten min
utes these was q halt called so that u
terrible cash on The sword arm Of one
Of the CONTESTANTS could be uandagcd
by physician who conveniently drop
ped In.
"Then the fighters started in hammer
Hilti toISS az taCI Ollicl, anu III IL Hin
utes one Of the men was lying on the
floor with a terrible cash In his shout
der ana a rap on his head which sound
ed so loud that 1t was heard in the po
lice station adjoining. The clothing Of
the men was as fully covered with
blood as If they had been painted with
it.
"That ended it. Both men had re-
ceived at Least dozen wounds. and
the victor fell in faint in less than
minute after he was declared the con
Queror. My friend. on behalf Of the
participants, thanked us for oar at
tendance, ard we lett after seeing the
men lifted into carriages and taken
away.
ut was several weeks before we
knew to certainty what 1t all meant
and were not told then until both men
had fully recovered. 1t TRANSFERRED that
the participants We're both Danish Off
GERS; that they had quarreled In New
York In regard to an official matter,
and that a challenge passed and was
accepted, and that all the details of the
settlement had been left to the Danish
consul. and that the whole party of us
had innocctttllyy presided over Il real
duel. ~~---
1.-THE strange part Of it was that it
took place within sound Of the police
station" -Nashington Star.