The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1904-01-05
/ HISTHD ?NtT N{FT,
SNCRC MN SLAM 81
ONE MAN 8ErOnG AN ARMv.

ONE MAN 8ErOnG AN ARMv.
A Scene 1:ore Exciting Than Any
Battle n tI:e Annals Of Modern
HiStory-Ten Thousand Witnesses
to tho Terrible Work OF One Sword.
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 it
would be held a romance had it not
been witnessed by whole army. The
hero is Jean Louis, one of the great
masters Of the beginning of last cen
tury, and the duel happened in Madrid
in 1913. He was the master-at-arms of
the Thirty-second regiment Of French
infantry. The First regiment, COM
posed entirely of Italians, formed part.
Of the same brigade.
Regimental esprit de corps and rival
ries of nationality caused constant
quarrels, when swords We're often
whipped out or bullets exchanged.
After small battle had occurred in
the streets o. Madrid, in which over
200 French and Italian soldiers had
: taken part, the officers Of the two reSs-
ments, in d council Of war assembled.
decided to give such breaches OF order
a great blow and to re-establlSh disci-
pline. They 6ecreed that the masters
alarms of the two regiments should
take up the quarrel and fight it out.
Imagine a whole army in battle array
on one of the large plains that sur
round Madrid. II the center 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 bull fight excited them-Wlii
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 hrst
is tall and strong. His black eyes roll
disdainfuliy upon the gaping crowd.
Z He is Giacomo Ferrari. the celebrated
Italian. The second, tail, also hand
some and with r,uscies like steel. stands
modes:!!T awaiting the word OF CON-
r.and. His name is Jean Louis. 1He
seconds take their places on either SIDE
of their principals. \ deathiike silence
i ensues.
80 ION guard
The two masters cross swords. Gia-
como Ferrari iGnges repeatedly at Jean
Louis, but in vain His every thrust is
met by parry. He makes up his mind
to bide his chance ana caresses and
teases his opponents blade. Jean Louis,
calm and watchful lends himself to
the, play, when. quicker than lightning.
the Italian jumps aside with loud
yell and makes terrible ,,unse at Jean
Louis, a Florentine trick. often sue
cessful. But with extraordinary rapid
sity Jean Louis has parried and riSposts
quickly in the shoulder. ..
TT 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, penetrates
deeply. Giacomo's face becomes llvld,
his sword drops from his hand. and he
/ falls heavi!y on the turf. He is dead.
Jean Louis is already in positio.:. He
: wipes his "eeking blade: then. with the
s point of his sword on the ground, he
calmly awaits the next man.
The best fencer of the First regiment
]. has just been carried away a corpse.
: 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. 4 new adversary
i stands before him. A sinister click Of
swords is heard. lunge, parry, ris-
post and then cry, sigh. and all IS
over. A second body is before Jean
I. 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 corpse
covered by military cloak. He has
+ closely watched Jean Louis play and