The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-08-24

considerable resemblance to the mod
ern bowie knife. They were accus-
| TONED to strike with the point, which
was broad and keen, rather than to
siash with the edge. This, in general,
| Is the most effective way for men on
| loot. Experts have remarked that a
| thrust kills, while a slash merely
wounds; but there are notable excep-
lions, as we shall see. These Roman
weapons had well tempered blades,
which gave them decided advantage
over some of their enemies-as, for in
stance. the Gauls, who often used iron
so soft that the blade bent in striking
and had to be Strengthened with the
foot This, 1 suppose. means that the
soldier had to draw back, lay his sword
on the ground and step on it. After
this operation had been many times
repeated the weapon must have pre-
scented as wavy an outline as a Malay
creeSe.
1t is in the medaeval period that we
find the most wonderful stories about
the sword, which was in great favor
with the knights and plays all sorts of
incredible pranks in the tales of chiv-
airy. These famous weapons had names
and pedigrees, and frequently were
scarcely less renowned than the war;
riors who welded them.
The swords Of these crusaders We're
for the most part two-edged, straight
and massive, while the scimiter of the
Saracens was light, much curved and of
more than raZor's keenness and tenn
per. The European sword was chiefly
used for a straight chop downward,
but for the scimiter what is called a
''slicng cut was preferred. The char
acteristic difference in the style and
handling of the two weapons is well
shown in the familiar story of the
friendly contest between Saladin and
King Richard. The latter laid heavy
mace on a block and severed the thick
steel shaft with one sweep of his huge
blade. The deft Saracen then drew the
upturned edge of his scimiter through
a gossamer veil floating through the
air, and with quick turn of the wrist
divided one of the pillows lying on the
divan. Neither tool could possibly
have done the work of the other.
In naval warfare to-day, as the thick
ness of the steel plates which guard
the vitals of our battleshps is in
creased, it becomes necessary to use
stronger cannon and heavier prOjectiles
Just so, as the weight of the armor
worn by men gradually increased, 1t
was necessary to increase the weight of
the weapon used to cleave it. Hence
along with the battle axe and mace,
huge two-handed swords came into
vogue-and these penderous imple-
ments, some of which have been pre-
served, make us almost ready to credit
the fantastic tales cited above. Only
a trained athlete could possibly brand
ish them and the blows they dealt must
have fallen like the stroke of trip
hammer
At last, however, the introduction of
gunpowder made an end of tie wear
ing of armor and the bearing of shields.
TheIf2a new style of weapon became
fashionable--the dueling sword, used
on1yofor thrusting-and with it came
what was called 1.-The new poking fight
of the rapier and dagger" The dagger
held in the left hand, was at first used
for parrying, but was soon discarded,
the needle-pointed blade of the rapier
becoming both sword and shield in the
grasp of an expert. This art of fencing
seems to have originated in Spain, but
Italy soon took the lead, with France
as a close rival.
Still, the saber, with it's slashing edge,
was by no means wholly superseded; it
held its own for many purposes and
especially for use in cavalry charges.
1t was,with a blade of this kind that
sturdy Miles Standish is said to have
struck off the head of an Indian, who
treacherously attacked him during
conference.