The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-03-07
A WIZARD OF THE SWORD.
Major Ge.rheart. of Pennsylvania,
an ENnert Eencer.

Major Ge.rheart. of Pennsylvania.
az Expert Fencer.
When quite a small boy. Major Gear
heart, of Pennsylvania. who was here to
attend the Inauguration, became aC-
quainted with French maitre d armes
named Paul Descullins, who had formerly
been a sword master in French regi-
ment, but vino had left the French ser
vice for reasons which he kept TO him
self Mr. Gearheart took kindly to the
exercise, and practiced for years with the
rapier and broadsword. He never thought
he would have use for such accomplish
ments, but his interest III the weapons
led him into the National Guard Of Penn
sylvania, and when the Spanish war broke
out, he was commissioned captain. with
Representative Polk as first lieutenant, in
the Twelfth Pennsylvania Volunteer In
fantry.
The regiment never went beyond the
boundary OF the United States. but the
experience in camp at Chickamauga was
almost IS had as battlefield The mem
bers of the Twelfth Pennsylvania, espe-
ciaIly Representative Polk. tell many
stories of Major Gearheart's prowess with
the sword and rapier in camp. Major
Gearheart had a set of rapiers of which
he was very fond, as they were of The
finest and most eXquisitely tempered
steel One night when the boys had been
talking about his skill with that weapon
he was requested TO give an exhibition
He al first declined TO do so, but when
some doubt was intimated as to his
familiarity with the rapier he deliberately
broke Off the point Of one of the set He
then took silver dime and fastened il
against a board.
Standing at guard he drove the jagged
point of the rapier through the dime,
trans1xing it. Again he took q coin and
again ne transfixed 1t at the first stroke
This was repeated time and again until
all the small coins in the pockets Of the
members Of the party had been utilized
stroke and Mr. Polk says he was 50
chagrined that he broke the raDier IN
pieces
Another time, according to Representa-
tive Green, the major was involved in q
difficulty with hOt-biooded SOutherueT
stationed at the Chickamauga camp The
SOutherner thought Of challenging Ma jOr
Gearheart and his friends pointed ont to
him the folly Of undertaking a duel with
= man who could drive the point OF "a
pier through Il silver coin time after time.
But the SoUtherner had been educated at
military school and was very proficient
II the Use Of the bTOadSWOrd himself, so
be thought ne would choose that weapon.
Ills friends. however, said Mr. Green,
thought they would show him the folly OF
undertaking duel with Ma jOr Gearheart
and they arranged with HIM quietly that
he should give Z few examples Of his
ability to manipulate the regulation
: brOadSWOrd- This Major Ciearfeart prom
( ised TO do and one evening a crowd as
Sembled TO Sc the exhibition.
Among the spectators was the hot
blcoded Scutherner- First Major Gear
| heart placed a piece of pine board up
| right in the ground. Then with his sword
as a n axe he sliced IL into sections scarce
" quarter OF an inch in width he thea
tossed an apple into the air and severed
it in halves as il descended. Placing an
orange on a pointed stick with two
sweeps Of his sword, it fell in three parts.
There are other tricks which he per
fOSrned." said AIr- Green but l cannot
enumerate them now. Il is sufficient 70
say that he heard no more Of the proposed
duel"