Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1904-01-19
A HISTORICAL DUEL.
Thirteen Swordsmen Slain by Ono Man
Before an Army.

Thirteen Swordsmen Slain by ono man
Before an Army.
To give an idea Of what brave man
can do If he knows fencing thoroughly
and but keeps cool and collected In
danger we will relate historical duel.
So extraordinary is this combat that Il
would be held a romance had 1t not
been witnessed by q whole army. The
hero is Jean Louis, one of the great
masters of the beginning of last CEN
tury, and the duel happened in Mairid
lin 1913. He was the master alarms
of the Thirty-second regiment Of
French infantry. The First regiment,
composed entirely of Italians, formed
part Of the same brigade.
Regimental esprit de corps and rival
ries Of nationality caused constant
uuarrels, when swords were often
whipped out or bullets exchanged.
After a small battle had occurred in
the streets Of Madrid, In which over
200 French and italian soldiers had
taken part, the officers Of the two regi-
ments, in a council of war assembled,
decided to give such breaches OF order
great blow and to re-establish disci-
pline. They decreed that the masters
at arms Of the two regiments should
take up the quarrel and fight 1t out.
Imagine whole army in battle ar
ray on one Of the large plains that sur
round Madrid. In the center a large
ring is left open for the contestants.
This spot Is raised above the plain so
that not one of the spectators Of this
tragic scene-gayly dressed officers.
soldiers In line, Spaniards, excited as
never a bull fight excited them-will
miss one phase Of the contest. 1t Is
before 10000 men that the honor Of an
army is about to be avenged in. the
blood Of thirty brave men.
The drum Is heard. Two men, naked
to the waist. step in the ring. The first
Is a tall and strong. His black eyes roll
Idisdainfully upon the gaping crowd.
He Is a Giacomo Ferrari, the celebrated
Italian. The second, TALL also hand
some and with muscles like steel, stands
modestly awaiting the word Of COM
mand. His name Is Jean Louis. The
seconds take their places on either side
of their principals. A deathlike ST.
lence ensues.
"On guard"
The two masters cross swords. Gal
como Ferrari lunges repeatedly at Jean
Louis, but in vain. His every thrust Is
met by a parry. He makes up his
mind to bide his chance and caresses
and leases his opponents blade. Jean
Louis, calm and watchful, ler is him.
self to the play, when, quicker than
lightning, the Italian jumps aside with
loud yell and makes terrible lunge
at Jean Louis, Florentine trick, Of
ten successful. But with extraordinary
rapidity Jean Louis has parried and
risposts quickly in the shoulder.
1T is nothing" cries Giacomo, "a
mere scratch" And they again fall on
guard. Almost directly he is hit In the
breast. This time the sword Of Jean
Louis, who is now attacking, pene-
, trates deeply. Giacomo's face becomes
livid, his sword drops from his hand,
and he falls heavily on the turf. He
Is dead.
Jean Louis is already in position.
He wipes his reeking blade; then, with
the point Of his sword on the ground,
he calmly awaits the next man.
!. The best fencer Of the First regiment
. has haan carrfad awav a cnrnSp.
but the day Is not yet over. Fourteen
, adversaries are there. impatient to
measure swords with the conqueror
, burning to avenge the master they had
deemed invincible.
. Jean Louis hardly had two minutes
rest He Is ready. A new adversary
stands before him. A sinister click of
swords is heard, a lunge, a parry, a
, rispost and then a cry, a sigh, and all
Is over. A second body Is before Jean
, Louis.
| A third adversary advances. They
want Jean Louis to rest. II am not
, tired" he answers, with a smile.
. The signal is given. The Italian is
as tall as the one who lies there a
corpse covered by a military cloak.
He has closely watched Jean Louis
, play and thinks he has guessed the
, secret of his victories. He multiplies
his feints and tricks; then, all at once,
bounding like a tiger on his prey. he
!. gives his opponent a terrible thrust In
the lower line. But Jean Louis sword
has parried and is now deep within
his opponents breast.
What need we to relate any more
!, Ten new adversaries followed him,
and the ten fell before Jean Louis
. amid the excited yells and roars of an
army. ::
At the request of the Thirty-second
regiments colonel, who thought the
lesson sufficient, Jean Louis after
much pressing consented to stop the
combat, and he shook hands with the
two survivors, applauded by 10000
|; men.
:. From that day fights ceased between
French and Italian soldiers.
This wonderful and gigantic combat
might be held fable were not all the
facts above stated still found in the
archives Of the ministry of war-Lip-
pincott's.
fa' You cannot whitewash yourself
lby blackening others.