Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1905-08-03
REMARKABLE DUELS,
Fantastic Contests That Tried Mems
Nerve and Courage,

"Hu SourhBcs
Two heavy weights suspended from
a beam by slender cords were the
weapons chosen by two Parisians nam
ed Durier and Voisin to terminate
their rivalry for the hand of q pretty
actress. Beneath a weight each took
his stand, there to remain until the
breaking of IL or the other of the
cords should decide his fate. For more
tina four hours they remained motion
less, when the cord attached to Du-
r1er's weight snapped, and the ponder
Gus mass of metal, falling upon the
man beneath, struck him to the ground.
Fortunately, however, it Just missed
his head, and he escaped with no worse
damage than q severe shock and a bro
ken collar bone.
Somewhat prolonged was the duel
Waged q few years. back at a we'll
known Yorkshire seaside resort, to de
eide which Of two young men should
surrender his claim to the hand of a
local publican's daughter. The rivals
both pr1ded themselves upon their ma
tatory prowess, so it was agreed that
be who should first miss his mornings
swim in the open should withdraw his
pretension to the lady's hand. For nine
months and more each took his matu-
final swim, but at length there came q
day of such furious storm that one
turned faint hearted and refused to
dare the tempestuous pillows. The 9TH
er, however, at considerable risk, dash
ed into the foaming sea, and, although
he was badly cut and bruised, emerged
a triumphant wooer.
Another aqueous duel occurred some
years since, the location being the lake
Of Geneva and the contestants q Swiss
named Zellner and one Lenoir, a
Frenchman, who agreed that he who
could remain the longest beneath the
surface of the water should without in
%terruption or hindrance from the other
be permitted to pay his addresses to
the daughter of a wealthy trades1nan
The rivals dived simultaneously, and
more than two minutes elapsed ere
Zellner's head appeared above the sur
face. There was no sign, however, OF
his rival, after whom when yet an
other two minutes had sped a couple
Of onlookers dived and succeeded il
recovering his senseless body. Restora
tlves were successfully applied, and OF
Lenoir's recovering consciousness he
was acclaimed the victor.
At the time Of Sussi's forty day fas
at the Westminster aquarium, som
years ago, a couple of young Mancuni
ans agreed by emulating his example
to decide which of them should frs
propose for the hand Of a girl who hat
hitherto regarded them with a seem
ingly impartial affection. -Four day;
was sufficient ordeal for one, who, re
fusing any longer to abstain from
food, left the field clear to his rival
whose proposal, however, met Will
scant consideration from the lady, VIII,
declared that she would not intrust he
future to the keeping Of such a foo
as he had proved himself. Needless t
say his rivals reception was equal,
glacial.
During a very severe winter in th
last century a couple Of Germans, ma
tives of Dresden, resolved for love 0
a woman to fight q duel to the deatl
Very fantastic was the method EN-
ployed. Without provision Of any kim
and clad only in the lightest of clothes
they went out into the country, Their
to remain without shelter until n o
other Of them should succumb to til
cold Three DAVIS after their 6pnartrr
a wretched object crawled back int
the town. Ten miles distant his riva
frozen to death, lay beneath the fallin
snow.-London Tit-Bits.