Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-01-21
A 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 81 One sword.
To give an idea of what brave man
can do IL he knows fencing thoroughly
and but keeps cool and collected in
danger we will relate historical duel.
So extraordinary is this combat that 1t
would be held a romance had 1t not
been witnessed by whole army. The
hero Is Jean Louis, one Of the great
masters Of the beginning OF last CEN
fury, and the duel happened in Madrid
in 1919. He was the mnster-nt-arins 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 small battle had occurred in
the streets Of Madrid. in which over
200 French and Italian soldiers had
taken part, the officers Of Tire two frgi-
ments, in council of war assembled.
decided to Civ" such breaches Of order
a great .fs,v and to re-establish disci-
pline. Trey decreed that the masters
alarms Of the two regiments should
take up the quarrel and fight it out.
Imagine whole army in baytle array
on one of the large plains that sur
round Madrid. In the can-er large
ring is left open fo- the contestants
This spot is raised above The plain so
that not one of the spectators Of chis
tragic scene gayly dressed officers,
soldiers in line, Spania'ds, excited as
never bull fsht excited them-will
miss one phase Of the contest. IL is
before 1900 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. Wis black eyes roll
disdainfuly upon the gaping crowd
He is Giacomo Ferrari, the celebrated
Italian. The second, tall, nlso hand
some and with muscles like steel, stands
nodestly awaiting the word of COM
mand. His name is Jean Louis. II,
seconds take their places on either side
Of their principals. A 1eathlike silence
ensues.
ION guard"
The two masters cross swords. Gia-
como Fcrrari 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. lends himself to
the play, when. quicker than lightning.
the Italian jumps aside with loud
yell and makes Il terrible lunge at Jean
Louis. Florentine trick. often sue
cessful. But with extraordinary rapid
ity Jean Louis mas parted and risposts
quickly in the shoulder.
at is nothing" cries tiiacomo: "a
mere scratch" And hey again fall on
guard. :. lmost directly lie is hit in the
breast. his time the sword of Jean
Louis, who is now attacking. pcrotrates
deeply. 'iiacomo'S face becomes liv!G.
ais sword drops from his hand and he
falls heavily on .he turf. lie is dead.
Joan Louis is already in position. lie
wipes his rocking blade; then, with the
point of his sword on the ground, lie
calmly awaits the next man.
The best fencer of the First regiment
has just been carried away corpse,
but the day is not Yet over Fourteen
acversaries are there, impatient to
measure swords with the conqueror,
burning To avenge the master they lad
deemed invincible.
Jean Louis hardly had two minutes
rest, He is ready. A new adversary
stands before him. 4 sinister click Of
fwords Is heard, lLnge. a parry. a ris-
post and then n cry, sigh, and all Ia
over. A second body is before Jean
Louis.
A third adversary advances. They
want Jean Louis TO rest. Il am not
tired he answers. with Il smile
The eignal ia given. The italian is as
tall as the one who lies there corpse
covered by " jitary cloak. He has
closely watched lean Louis play and
thinks he has guessed the secret Of his
victories. lie multipllcs his feints and
tricks; then, all at once. bounding like Il
tiger on his prey, he gives his opponent
a terrible thrust in the lower line. But
Jean Louis sword has parted and Is
now deep within his ;. .pon."''s breast.
What need we to relHA my more1
Ten now DIV. rSar!s~ follow. aim. and
tie ten fell before Jean Louis mid the
excited yclls and roars of ~ i.rmy.
At the request If the '.'tN.y-sccond
regiments colonel, who thought he les
son sufficient, Jean Louis after much
pressing consented to stop the combat
and he shook hands with the Two sur
viyors, applaudcd by 10000 men,
From that day lights ceased h:'71ecn
French and Italian soldiers
This wonderful and gigantic combat
might be he'd n fable were rot Il the
facts above stated gtili found IL the
archives OF the ministry of war-Lip.
pincott's.