Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-01-25
MODERN DUELS.
The Attempts Of Emperor VIII
liam to Crush the Practice.
Some Famous Military DueIs If
Europe and America.
Once Duels Were as Common in Our Army As
Now in Germany. -


as a custom of the service is surprising
in view of the strenuous attempts made
at various times 10 suppress IT. Inc
present Emperor of Germany. estao-
lished the Court Of Honor TO restrict
duclling within as narrow limits as
possible but this court appears To have
singular notions OF what constitutes
honor, TO judge from its decision in the
case OF Lieutenant BlaskowitZ, which
has led to TIE suspension Of Colonel
ReisswitZ and his compulsory with
drawal from the command of his reSI-
ment II seems incredible that man
should refuse to accept an apology ten
dered by a friend who had insulted him
while under the influence of liquor IIn-
bibed too freely upon the joyous occa-
sion of his approaching nuptials. Yet
this is wat Lieutenant Hildebrandt
did and his superior officers encouraged
him TO murder his friend. The one SEN
sible man in the affair appears TO have
been Earon Bradwardine, who held
that undoubtedly if a man be ebriuS.
or intoNicated-an incident which on
solemn or festive occasions may ana
will take place in the life of a man OF
hOnor-and il the same gentleman, be-
ing fresh and sober, recants the con-
tumeiics which he hath spoken in his
liquor. it must be held vinum locutum
est--the words cease to be his own
Frederick the Great of Prussia, was
"A bitter opponent of duelling. and he
found means of suppressing it which
We commend to his descendant. Find
| ing that the practise was increasing In
his army Frederick ISSUED an order di-
recting the summary punishment OF
any officer engaging in a duel without
! his consent.
Soon after consent was asked by an
| officer of rank and graciOusly granted
| On condition that his majesty should
be notified of the time and place. of the
meeting. When the belligerents arrived
On the ground they found the Emperor
there before them and seated near a
newly erected sibbet. When the chal-
| lenger asked the meaning of this he
| was answered:
1T means sir, that I intend to wit
ness your battle until one of you has
killed the other. and then / will hang
the survivor"
This duel was off. and few others
were fought thereafter.
A similar story is told of Gustavus
| Adolphns. who is. said to have sur
rounded two officers to whom he had
given permission to fight a duel with
a squadron of cavalry, and taken with
Elm TO the ground the public execu-
TONER Just as the principals we're
about tc fire. the King said:
4 II. Srr
| according 10 the laws Of your country
your lives are already forfeited. Yorl
may now proceed. but mark you. the
moment either OF you falls the execu-
toner strikes OF the head of the sur
vivor by order of your king
Forgiveness was then asked, and
granted. the King saying that such
| mercy would never again be shown,
adding:
1T il, my wish to have soldiers under
my command and not gladiators.'
The code Of Prussia still forbids duel
ling. except where il is required by the
finding of the Court of Honor.
In III Joseph H.. OF Austria. ordered
the arrest OF an army officer. who had
accented challenge from a young
count. saying. Il will not suffer this
practise OF duelling in my army. and /
despise the arguments Of those who
! seek TIC Justify it, The challenger
| was also arrested and it was ordered
| that the two culprits be tried and the
most guilty made an example OF.
The laws against duelling are very
rigid in Pussia. and they go back to
| the time of Fedor I'LL. Peter the Great.
and Paul all Of whom prohibited en-
| counters between army officers. Paul
did. however. on one occasion in 1895
invite the sovereigns Of Europe 10
| settle their differences by single
combat with Talleyrand Pitt and
gernstofr AS seconds. Such methods
Of settling international disputes.
would. if adopted, be more enective
than schemes of arbitration. In spite
Of the severity OF the Russian law.
Paul Jones' old enemy, Field Marshal
potemkin. lost an eye in 2. sword duel
with Alexis OrIiff. Bat then Potemkir.
as the favorite Of the Empress Gather.
me IT,. was entitled to the privilege OF
losing an eve in a duel IL he wished to
do so.
The Spanish laws have always for
hidden duelling and law has been 10
existence in Spain for three hundred
\ years subiecting duellists to the penal
/ ties Of trea son. The Italian law is also
very severe against dueuists.
Even in France there is an ancient
edict against duelling. and we presume
the skin-tickling combats not uncom-
| mon in France at the present day can
hardly be classed as duels in a strict
sense. A humorous. author tells us that
among the amusements of Paris
| must be counted duels between jour
nalists." There is now no law against
duelling in France, but the dueiiist
iwho Kills can be prosecuted for murder.
| What Is known as the skewer duel u
common among the enlisted men of the
II French army. The combatants among
the enlisted men Of the French army.
The combatauts. stripped to the waist.
go at each other until one Of them is
| wounded.
The old customs of Japan required
that where question Of honor was
concerned the party involved should
rip up his bowels. according to the code
OF the happy despatch The graceful
way in which the japanese dispose Of a
little matter or this kind is shown by