The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-02-10
I[IS@ GERMAN STUDENTS
~~Arrc WAY IN WHICH THESE
-unusTERs ARE ARRANGED.
FOR Instruction - Dueifng
n.~upa Near the University OF
~.,le-The Fighting Costume
vseres Combats for Insults.

-. ashtIng master Of my old club is
- a. today" said the assistant pro-
- n the laboratory to me one morn
= and you may meet him II you wish. ;"
80 Aim II would give me great pleas
y" sWeIl." he continued, las you re-
us..d 4 few days ago that you would
= - the duels, have arranged with
s~hsIng master TO take you with him
1siis next Friday. Ten duels are to
ss,,~ht and three Of them are to be
- nnes. You must not fall 20 see
Axn' 49,.
:. - 4 student OF political economy,
" a he was nursing n deep cut across
- rheek and was trying 10 grow some
- Nesh on the sido Of his nose. he was
"a attending lectures that week. HIS
q. nat morning. reminded me Of paint
- had seen OF wounded soldiers re-
ne,rv from tho field OF battle. The pro-
100 sxpiained that the hghting master
n von treat victory a few days be-
- ara. though he had received one
,ss.aful cut. his opponent had received
s..su and had been Obliged TO with
- n had been n great battle. AZ
,soted At the fighting master II seemed
:. ~ that he was capable Of fighting a
-, hattie with any one. He rose above
J. ! tower OF bone and muscle.
,ttsr a little general talk. the fghting
.-sst.y proceeded to explain the dueling
..stem "a mo. "Our fraternity" he said.
80 ryirs,arily founded 10 maintain physi-
u bravery. patriotism. noble character
"A true sense Of honor among the high
: "a zsee OF German students. The fight
I. Al personal combats IN. believe. ono
II ne best means TO promote these vir-
~. We do not accept men into our fra
,srnlty who are not willing or not brave
cough 10 defend their honor or their
eounsry. Every man wishing to Join MS
must he Of good family, he must be strong
IA healthy. have plenty OF money and
y Wiling 10 fight. When we md q young
,sllow Of suitable character we take him
n probation. Just AZ they do In the
u,thodist church. We keep n strict over
slehi Of him. train him TO nght and reg
slsie his beer drinking"
aHow do you arrange the fghtingr
,sksd; ''you surely do not fsht against your
nethers In the fraternity" Certainly not.
n replied; "ai our fights are either with
sshsr fraternity men or with outsiders We
ave, IN fact, three classes Of duels. The
Art n fought for sport and discipline, the
shlasger, a straight light sword, Is used.
sd The night lasts for nfteen minutes.
NJ Ashting masters OF different frater-
uliss meet and arrange these duels. We
pAfs strong and experienced fighters
splnst strong and experienced fighters
lra veak ones against weak ones.
The second class is fought for light In
saiis. and II much like the first, but II con-
s'sis Of one hundred rounds. and lasts
twenty-five minutes. The third class Ia
'sxht 10 ~ttle deadly insults. and IN quite
different fight The saebei. heavy curv-
4 sword. II used. and the men really try
n kiil each other
But Do not the duels seem worse than
nv actually are7'' I asked.
"Tu may Judge that FOR yourself next
fiday aver at Halle" he answered, as he
~ "a ~. Remember. the train starts
- mlnotes past IN the morning."
Hefors daylight the next Friday morning
! wffvsl At the station and found about
Ahsy staiwart mon awaiting the departure
Il the train. Tho greater number bore
rsvs on their faces. showing that the bust
sss In which they were about to engage
~ not nav TO them. My host the ngiit-
n master, came In shortly. and Immediate
sought me. After few words OF greet
" ] Asked why they started before day.
ut
Tor two reasons he replied. THE Hrst
because the police are apt to nah us II
~ md out that we're going; the second
eecanse tho fighting takes 80 much time
Aaf W must 20 early In order to set hack
~ Ame day"
% the way over he explained that the
Rl'en Of Aaxony we're much strietwr than
s*s Of Prussia. ana az Halle was In
ssasis, and only seventeen miles from
lNpss, Tho Lelpsig students deemed It
~ 70 do their fighting over there. He
'ssf mat no had fought twice In f.eipsx,
y u was dangerous 20 do so
Meagside mo IN the car sat q rosy
asfsed hoy Of eighteen. who was gong out
hsht his FIRST duel The old fighters In
spsFlment joked with him about Il, ask.
h'm " his peopla weren't anxious about
~ and " he was not afraid he wosid spoll
= fAeeks etc.
Nef half hours ride we arrived at
Mpe, and another half hours ride on a
~ ens-hcfse car through the quaint old
s'st's sf Halle brought us TO the fighting
Nsurs This was a large two story rcstau-
W situated on the banks OF the River
49,, lnss opposite the old ruins Of Castle
ea'ehcnsseln
fhs landlord was expecting us ana as the
Msnlns was cold a bright Are was burning
ne apen stove Each fraternity went at
- - lts private room. aud a few mo-
t~s later the members appeared with
4" maternity caps on. one large table
~ reserved for zach society. The whole
e@Fsas took their places and ordered
~ oaaillor and rolls The arSt duel or
e'. a. the Germans call g. was Go he
ssSas Tor sport between matched men
- alscreni fraiNnities The lighting
~s''ns consisted ~ a pair % hload stained
an cd shirt, chest protector. an
- sha SHOULDER pad, neck pad. pair of
49, ana Thick glove The padding az
~ ahd shoulders was wound With silk
-. - sHoFds greater protection agsinS,
x shsn Any other light cloth Old
- " tho heads ~ the contestants were
1911 ea VIII narrow straps with tise ex-
$50 81 these and Woswlss the face aud
80 ~srs satirely unprotected The
sssssr u a thin. narrow sword about
~ irss leng From the point half way
:. = ne hilt Il Is ground very sharp, a
ssA.ped plate ever the hili prctecs = the
- Y the AEhter
,,sa everything b. ready the umpire
- his PLACE az the side 81 the CON
=. 49, The seconds bow "a him sns 80
- 'ncirsis and - eseh other. then the
-. .Ais bow % the umpire To the see
sAs 70 each other Then ore q tho
/. ~'s eries COT o. the umpire 4 wish
; mepsnr 81 Hfjoeu minutes be-
49, sfhlmmcl ana nochre." and the
~ replies. let 70 prOcreA The
n 's raise their swords ana the un-
n NtttS HUt "HinArf hie kilnen,tNt mind