The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1904-01-15

rHiRTeEN oRpsMEH sLAla hY
ONE MAN BEFORE AN Army. s:

oNE MAN sEFoR AN ARMY.
A Scene More grcisins Tkaa Aax
7snttIe Id the AnEaIs OF ssodesA
History 'ren TIrousand wltnesses
to tho Tho 'rerribss Work Of 0ns ssyosa.
TO give an idea OF what q bvaye man
cnii do if he knows fencing Thoroughly
and but keeps cool and collected In
danger we Will reiatc II historical duel.
So extraordinary Is tiiis combat that II
would be hold q romance had Il NOT
been witnessed by q whole army. The;
hero is Jean Louis, one OF the great
mustera Of the beginning OF last CEN
tury, and the duel happened In Madrid
In 1913. He WAS the mnster-nt-arms OF:
the Thirty-second regiment Of Fsench
infantry. The First regiment, com.
posed entirely Of Italians. formed part
Of the same brigade.
Iteglmental esprit dc 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 Mndrid, In which over
200 French and Italian soldiers had
taken pait. the officers OF the two regi-
mcnts. In a council Of wnr assembled, J,
decided to give such breaches Of order;
O great blow and to rc-cstablish disci-,
pline. They decreed that the masters
alarms OF the two regiments should
take up the quarrel md fight It out.
! Imagine whole army In battie array
on one Of the large plains that sur.
round Madrid. In the center large
ring is left open for the contestants.
This spot is raised above the plain 80
that not one of the spectators of this
tragic scene gnyly dressed officers,
soldiers in line. Spaninrds, excited IA
miss one plnsc OF the contest. 1t Ia
before 10000 men thnt 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
10 tall and strong. His black eyes roll
disdainfuiiy upon the gaping crowd.
He is Giacomo Ferrari, the celebrated
italian. The second. tall. also hand
some and with muscles like steel. stnnds
modestiy awaiting the word of COM
mind. His name Is Jean Louis. The
seconds take their. places on either side
Sf their principals. 4 sesst.a!;c silence silence
ensues.
ION guard!'
The two masters cross swords CID
como Fcrrari lunges repeatedly at jean
louis. but In vain. HIS every thrust Is
met by parry. He makes up bis mind
to bide his chnnce md caresscs and
teases his opponents blade Jenn Louis,
calm and watchful. lends himself to
tile play, when, quicker than lightning.
the Italian jumps aside with loud
yell and makes Il terrible lunge at Jean
Louis, n Florentlne trick, often sue
cessful. But with extraordinary rapid
ity Jean Louis has parried and risposts
quickly In the shoulder.
ut 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 attncking, penetratea
deeply. Gincomo's face becomes liyid.
his sword drops from, his hand. and he
falls heavily on the turf. He Is dead.
Jean Louis Is uireody In poslt'on Ne
wipes hia reeEing bladc; then. with the
point OF lis sword on the ground. ne
calmly wn.ta the next man,
The bS.st fenect Of the RiraS regiment
ms just besn carried away cocose,
hut the day Is not yet over. Fourteen
adycrsarIes az there, impatient to
measure swords with the conqueror,
burning to avcnge 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 lungc, 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. II am not
| tired" he answers. with emile.
The signal Is given. The Italian ie as
tail as the one who lies there q corpse
covered by military cloak. He has
| closely watched Jean Louis play and
tanks he has guessed the secret Of his
victories. He multiplies his feints and
tricks; then, all Mt once, bounding like
tiger on his prey. he gives his opponent
L
terrible thrust in the lower line. But
Jenn Louis sword has parried and is
now deep within his opponents breaEt
What need we to relate any more?
Ten new adversarics followed him. and
the ten fell before Jenn 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
vivors, 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 oil the
facts above stated still found in. the
archives Of the ministry of war.-Lip.
pincott's.
Knew Three OF Thea.
Il