The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-03-24

'HirSchagasSe.' This has been uSeC
many years for the duels and is quite
celebrated on that account. We walked
through the inn and up some narrow
stairs to a fair-sized room with a low
ceiling, supported with beams. On one
side We're several long tables, covered
with swords, jackets, pads and the va
rious paraphernalia peculiar to duelS
The other side of the room was reserved
for the surgeons. There were three win
dows, and before each window was a
chair placed in the middle of a large
tray, filled rather suggestively with
sawdust, and on each chair lay a rub
Der apron. These chairs had tables on
three sides. We We're almost the first to
arrive, and the doctor, without delay,
donned large white apron and I then
assisted him to prepare his dsinfect-
ants, arrange instruments, thread nee
dies and place plaster, ligatures, cotton
bandages and gauze in convenient
places. Shortly two other surgeons ar
rived and made their preparations, so
that soon the room was strongly sug-
gestive of surgical clinic. Great for
mality was observed by all the students
and when one came into the room he
would gravely bow to those present and
then so to his particular friends and
bow and shake hands with each one, but
would entirely ignore men of the other
corps. At first I was rather confused
when a student came up to me, gravely
bowed and muttered his name, but I
soon discovered it was not a challenge
to duel, but a mark Of politeness, and
in turn was expected to give my name
and return the bow.
after our surgical prelminaries were
completed l wandered into the large adj
joining room. 1t was about the size Of a
small hall and was well lighted by many
windows. 1t was decorated with strings
of evergreen, which must have been
there for years, and corps banners, caps
and colors, which decorated the walls
and gave the room rather an attractive
appearance. A row of tables extended
down both sides and across one end.
where there was also cafe bar arrange
ment with sandwiches, beer and wine
for sale. Near this stood one of the Ger
man monument-like stoves, and along
side was a large leather lounge At the
other end of the room was large space
thickly covered with sawdust. This was
the arena Returning to the anteroom
l found that many students had arrived,
and that In different parts of the room
two students were stripping for the
fray, surrounded by enthusiastic
friends.
THE process of armament is about as
They first strip to the waist and
40 A &C.
then strapped owed the abdomen and
another over the heart. Then pads
which reach down from the neck to
about four inches down the arm and
cover also a portion of the chest are
over both shoulders. The right
fighting arm is the one exposed and is
very well protected. A thick and very
heavy muff-like pad is slipped on which
reaches from the shoulder to the wrist.
With this on it is impossible to bend the
arm, and from this time on it Is sup
ported in a horizontal position by some
friend. A thick padded bandage is
around the wrist several times
and a light glove put on the hand which
8 protected by the large hilt of the
sword A thick canvas apron Is fast
body and extends down each leg to the
lnee, where 1t is strapped. All these
aprons were thickly coated with the
gore of former conflicts and gave the
5oung hero ferocious appearance A
arge gauntlet glove is put on the left
land. which covers the arm almost to
he shoulder, and the hand is fastened
behind the back. Then thick bandage
8 wound several times around the neck,
which must restrict all head motion and |
,e very hot and uncomfortable A pair |
# large metal goggles completes the |
Iutfit. These are kept in place by |
means of strap which binds down the |
ars toght.
1.-THE finishing touch was to fill the |
pace between the goggles and fore |
lead with grease to prevent any blood |
rickling down into the eyes. The sec |
nds are also protected but not to SO |
reat an extent. They wear goggles, |
and the neck bandage. They |
lso wear a cap with long leather vi
or attachment which covers the ex-
osed side of the face.
when all was ready the combatants
'alKeu out lIltO the OI1ef room Will
heir right arms extended and support
d. With great solemnty and with an
ntire absence of any cheering or de-
by the friends, the duellists
,ok their positions. A referee stands
bout fifteen feet away and each con-
sstant is attended by couple of his
lends, his doctor and his second. BY
his time all the students were grouped
round, smoking and supping wine, and
1me stood on chairs and even on tables.
is now ready and there is
n awful stiffness. With the greatest
each second introduces his
rincipal to the referee, who returns a
iff bow. Then the seconds in turn re-
owe their hats, step forward and recite
little piece, to which the referee re-
ponds. The seconds then measure a
words distance between the chests of
lie men, who now have their swords
nd whose arms are uplifted. When
lis is done the referee gives the word
I'd the fight begins and one hears the
larp clash of the swords. The swords
e about three feet long and seemed to .
e to be rather heavy. One edge is
ARP the entire distance, and the other /
lily six or eight inches from the end.
1e point is not sharpened, but Is quite
Dad. During the duel the contestants S
not move from their first positions ,
ne arms are in vertical position and