Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-02-11
A HISTORICAL DUEL.
THIRTEEN swoRpsMeN SLAIN 8,
ONE MAN BEFORE AN ARMY.

Scene More Exciting Than Any
Battle In the Annals OF Modern
History-Ten Thousand Witncsses
to tho Terrible Work of One sword.
10 give nh idea of what brave man
IAN do II he knows fencing thoroughly
and but keeps cool and collected iN
danger we will relate historical duel
So extraordinary is this combat that /;
would be held romance had it 10:
been witnessed by whole army. Tht
hero Is Jean Louis. one of the gree:
masters of the beginning OF last cen
tury, and the duel happened in Madric
in 1913. He was the master-at-arms t.
the Thirty-second regiment OF Frenc.
infantry. The First regiment. con
posed entirely of Italians. formed pa.
of the same brigade.
Regimental esprit de corps and rival
ries of nationality caused constan
quarrels, when swords were oftei
whipped out or bullets exchanged
After u small battle had occurred II
the streets of Madrid, in which oyel
200 French and Italian soldiers had
taken part, the officers of the two regi'
ments, in IL council of War assembled.
decided to give such breaches of order
a great blow and to re-establish disci
pllne. 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 larse plains that sur
round Madrid. In the center larss
ring is left open for the contestants
This spot Is raised above the plain s.
that not one Of the spectators of tn
tragic scene = gayly dressed office!
soldiers in line, Spaniards excited g
never u bull fight excited them-wai
miss one phase of the contest. Ii v
before 10000 men that the honor of ~
army is about to be avenged In tte
blood Of thirty brave men.
The drum is heard. Two men. naks
o the waist. step in the ring. The iifs
IS tall and strong. His BLACK eyes 10
tlsdainfully upon the gaping Grow
lie is Giacomo Ferrari. the celebrate
italian. The second. tall, also ham
,ome and with muscles like steel, stand
nodcstly awaiting the word OF cor
nand. His name Is Jean Louis. IIt
seconds Take their places on either sid
If their principals. A deathlike silenes
ensues.
ION guardv'
The two masters cross swords. Ola
como Ferrarl lunges repeatedly at Jean
Louis, but in vain. His every thrust i's
met by parry. He makes up his mind
to bide his chance and caresses and
leases his opponents blade. Jean Louis
calm and watchful. lends himself t'
the play, when, quicker than lightning
the Italian jumps aside with a lout
yell and makes terrible lunge ut Jeai
Louis, q Florentine trick, often sue
cessful. But with extraordinary rapid
ity Jean Louis has parted 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 attacking. penetrates
deeply. Gacomo's face becomes livid.
his sword drops from his hand, and he
falls heavily OH the turf. He is dead.
Jean Louis is already in position. dc
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 lust been carried away a corpse,
hut the day is not yet over. Fourteen
adversarles are there. impatient to
measure swords with the conqneror,
burning to avenge the master they bad
deemed invincib.e.
Jean Louis hardly had two minutes
rest He is reauT y nrw adversary