The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1904-06-24
Pluck, ROMANCE
and ADVENTURE.
FOTGHT l3. KILLING u.


eighties OF the eighteenth century, be
entered the French army al the age Of
eight as enfant de trope, and did not
leave IL till he was well over fifty. In
1914 the most astonishing combat Of
modern days took place. JeGn-Louis
was then about twenty nine years Of
age' He had taken part in more than
thirty engagements in Egypt, Italy.
Prussia and Russia and at the time Of
which / write found himself in Spain.
II was tn year which proved so dis
astrOus to NapOlean. Jean-LOuis' reg
iment had just arrived in Madrid and
was made up, like many others. Of
men Of various nationalities. The first
thing Napoleon did after ictory was
20 Oblige his late enemy 10 serve un-
der his dag II thus happened that
for five or six years there were Ital-
ians, Dutch, SaXons. B~varians and
Poles, who all fought for the French
Empire
As long as the conqueror was sue
cessful the foreign legiOns accepted
the servitude Napoleon imposed upon
them; but the day his luci. turned they
were all possessed with one idea,
which was 10 throw of the yoke and
rid themselves Of this terrible tyrant.
In 1913, after his Russian campaign,
Napoleon's glorious prestige had be-
gun 10 be impaired and discomfort was
very apparent in the ranks When the
news Of the disaster Of 1S12-I3 reached
Spain the foreign lesions no longer
concealed their hatred OF their French
victOrs.
What had long been threatening hap
roned. one night a quarrel sprang
dp between some Italian and French
soldiers. which ended in each calling
friends 10 their aid. With the result
that in a short time there was n rpgu-
lar engagement OF a hundred a side
Many men were wounded and the
combatants were separated by means
Of a bayonet charge. The leaders OF
each sidD were arrested, md il was de-
cided, in order to make an example
of them to the army, that each side
should produce fifteen men, who
should fight until they were put hors
de combat
n-Louis, as the principal fencing
master OF his regiment. was chosen TO
fight Giacomo Ferrari. a fencing mas
ter of great renown in his own coun-
try. Ferrari was a most rodoubtab'e
adversary for any man to encounter
Six feet in height. possessed OF great
strength. he was q man of tnConteSta-
Bile courage.
The thirty men were to fight in the
presence of 10000 witnesses To the
sound Of the roll Of drums two men
march on 10 the fighting ground. which
has been specially chosen on account
of its slgh- natural elevation. One of
these men is GiGcomO Ferrcri, the
other Is Jean-Louis. They are accom-
panied by two seconds. 4 deathlike
silence has succeeded 10 the murmur
of curiosity which greeted their ar.
rival. Then a voice is heard 20 break
the silence. the command EN- garde"'
is given.
The two masters join swords. In the
first instant Ferrari attempts TO rush
Jean-Louis. but in vain. Every attack
is met with a parry. He retires a lit
tie and tries what patience will do. He
feints. makes pretense to attack, re-
tires again while Jean-LOuiS, very
calm, remains on the defensive. Sud
denly the Italian, with one OF those
savage yells common to fencers Of his
country. makes little bound TO one
side. followed by an attack in the low.
or line delivered with ligutning.iike
rapidity.
This is FIorentine ruse which has
often proved successful to him before
but at the same time a cry of rage
rather than OF pain is heard. jean
Louis. with indescribable swiftness
has parried and ripoSted. His sword
peuetrates Ferrari's shoulder. ut is
nothing" cries Farrari. Il am not
hurt" They continue the fight and
Jean-Louis in his turn attacks and al.
most instantly pierces his opponent in
the breast. Ferraris sword drops
from his hand. He drops heavily TO
the ground and is picked up dead
Jean.Louis wipes his blade and with
the point on the ground waits.
His task has only just begun. Four
teen adversaries are there waiting Gag
erly for their opportunity TO avenGe
their champion. whom they had until
/ then thought invincible. After two
/ minutes rest Jean.Louis IS ready. The
/ second adversary stands before him.
| Their swords join. There is a sinister
| clash Ot ee.. Jean-Louis lunges. a
/ cry is heard. then a sigh. Jean.Louis
has set back TO standing position and
has another dead body before him.
The thi-d adversary comes forward,
and has to be held back liz order To pre-.
vent him from springing at the French
man before he has flashed his short
rest. The order 10 commence is given.
The Italian has followed the mdlatto's
play attentiveiy, and be thinks he has
| grasped his feints, surprises and modes
of attack bat the result 81 his obser-
vation does not avail him much. as
a-cer few passes Jean.Louis' blade
disappears into his body and he is car.
ried away dying.
Ten more adversaries come forward
one after the other. and the ten share
the sane fate IS the first three. The
thirteen adversary is carried away in
sensible. and cheers In which sounds
OF something like terror can be heard
reno the air. A..