Amador ledger., 1904-02-05
< HISTORICAL DUEL,
THIRTEEN SWoRDSMEN SLAIN BY
ONE MAN BEFORE AN ARMY.

Scene More Exciting Than Any
Battle In the Annals of Modern
HistOry-Ten Thousand Witnesses
to the Terrible Work of One Sword.
To give an idea of what a 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 1918. 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 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 q council of war assembled,
decided to give such breaches of order
a great blow and to re-establish disci-
pline. They decreed that the masters
alarms Of the two regiments should
take up the quarrel and fight it out
Imagine whole army in battle array
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 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 tall and strong. His black eyes roll
disdainfully upon the gaping crowd.
He is 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 silence
ensues.
"On guardp'
The two masters cross swords. Gia-
como Ferrari lunges repeatedly at Jean
Louis, but in vain. His every thrust Is
met by parry. He makes up his mind
to bide his chance and cafesses and
leases 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 lunge at Jean
Louis, a Florentine trick, often sue
cessful. But with extraordinary rapid
ity Jean Louis has parried and risposts
quickly in the shoulder.
"It 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 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 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. A new adversary
stands before him. A sinister click of
swords is heard, a lunge, parry ris-
post and then cry, sigh, and all is
over. A second body is before Jean
Louis
A third adversary advances. They
want Jean Louis to rest. 81 am not
tired" he answers, with 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
tiger on his prey, he gives his opponent
q 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 les
son sufficient Jean Louis after much
pressing consented to stop the combat
and he shook hands with the two sur
vlvors, applauded by 10000 men.
From that day fights ceased between
French and Italian soldiers.
This wonderful and gigantic combat
might be held a fable were not all the
facts above stated still found in the
archives of the ministry of war.-Lip-
pincott's.