The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-01-26
FENCERS In TRIM
lie Roux and Mallet in Good Form
for To-night's Contest for the
Championship.
Prof. Heintz of Chicago, Who Will
Referee, a Fencer of National
Reputation.

After weeks Of careful training, Pro-
lessor F. R. LeROuX of this city and A.
B. Mallet of st. Paul are both in fine
physical condition, for their contest to-
night at Century hall for the fencing
championship of the northwest: Keen
rivalry has existed between both men for
some years, and they are believed to be
very evenly matched.
Professor George Heintz of Chicago one
of the best known swordsmen in the
United States, who will referee to-nights
bout, arrived in Minneapolis this morn
ing and is at the West hotel. Professor
Heintz began his instruction as fencer
twenty-eight years ago. His father was
sWOrdmaster in the United States naval
academy. and began to teach his son the
art at the age of T. Before he was 20
years old Professor Heintz appeared in
a number of tournaments. He won sec
ond place in his first match at New York
and then won tournamen at Rochester,
Cincinnati and in New Jersey, finally win
ming the A. A. U. championship event in
New York in 1889 from field Of thirty
six entries including DR.. Hammond, the
famous swordsman of the New York Attn
letic club. During his career he has en-
matches. and has defeated all the crack
men in the. country, both with foil and
sabre. For eight years he has had charge
of fencing classes in Chicago.
Fencing Grows In Popularity.
1.-The sport of fencing has attained great
popularity in Chicago. said Professor
Heintz this morning. can the good in
structors in that city have their hands
full with classes and private pupils: In
the east there is even more enthusiast SIN.
Every eastern university Of any size has
| a sword master. and at Harvard the class
numbers 1875. One Of my pupils A. X.
foil tbo cha,, nio Of
ward this year. and probably will be Sc
lected as member of the team which
represents Harvard in the intercollegiate
tournament.
Considerable interest was, aroused in
Chicago by the recent matches in Italy
between the italian and French masters.
Personally I believe the French school to
be superior to the Italian. The italians
use longer foil than the French, and
they strap the sword to the right hand.
| This enables them to use more force, and
they use more binding movements The
Italian jumps in toward his opponent for
the thrust, leaping back again before
a counter can be made, and he usually
prefaces each attack with a yell. The
French style Is not so violent, but is
| more effective.
Mingie the TWO Styles.
.'In general however, the masters Of the
| Italian school in France, as we'll as the
| best French instructors, mingle the two
F! STYLES to a certain extent. Conte an
Italian, is one of the best swordsmen in
Paris to-day, but he does not use a pure
| Italian style. Kirchaffer and Merignac,
who defeated the Italians, Pessini and
Greco, in the recent $dl1els, are also among
| the best Of the. French masters Of the
| foil. and Ayat isNAlotller erackerjack.
have fenced with both Pessfni and Greco
| meeting them in the international tourna-
| ment at the worlds fair, but although
| PM. the other great Italian master, was
i in the tournement. L was not matched
i against him.
/ PM is another Italian who has adopted
7 some French points. For instance, hi
] does not strap his sword to his wrist