Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-06-23
REMARKABLE EUROPEAN puELs
Fantastic Contests That Have Tried
Mems Nerve and Courage.

mems NERVE ano courage.
Two heavy weights suspended from
a beam by slender cords were the
weapons chosen by two Parisians
named Durier and Voisin to terminate
their rivalry for the hand Of a pretty
actress, says Tit-Bits. Beneath a
weight each took his stand, there to
remain until the breaking Of one or
the other Of the cords should decide
his fate. For more than four hours
they remained motionless, when the
cord attached to Durier's weight snap
ped, and the ponderous mass Of metal
falling upon the man beneath, struck
him to the ground. Fortunately, how
ever. 1t just missed his head, and he
escaped with no worse damage than a
severe shock and a broken collar bone.
Somewhat prolonged was the duel
waged a few years back at a well
known Yorkshire resort, to decide
which Of two young men should sur
render his claim to the hand Of a To-
cal publican's daughter. The rivals
both prided themselves upon their ma
tatory prowess. so 1t was agreed that
he 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
matutinal swim. but at length there
came a day Of such furious storm that
one turned fainthearted and refused to
dare the tempestuous billows. The
other, however, at considerable risk
dashed into the foaming sea, and, al
though he was badly cut and bruised
emerged a triumphant wooer.
Another aqueous duel occurred two
years since. the location being the
Lake Of Geneva and the contestants q
Swiss named Zellner and one Lenoir, q
Frenchman, who agreed that he who
could remain longest beneath the sur
face Of the water should without in
terruption or hindrance from the other
be permitted to pay his addresses te
the daughter Of wealthy tradesman
The rivals dived simultaneously and
more than two minutes elapsed ere
Zellners head appeared above the sur
face. There was no sign, however, OF
his rival. after whom. when yet an.
other two minutes had sped, couple
Of onlookers dived and succeeded ir
recovering his senseless body. Re.
storatives were successfully applied
tvs O.
ness he was acclaimed the victor.
At the time Of SuccPs forty day fast
at the Westminster Aquarium, some
years ago, a couple Of young Mancun-
ians agreed by emulating his example
to decide which of them should first
propose for the hand of a girl who
had hitherto regarded them with 6
seemingly impartial affection. -Four
days was sufficient ordeal for one
who, refusing any longer to abb
stain from food, left the field clear tc
his rival. whose proposal, however, met
with scant consideration from the lady
who declared that she would not en-
trust her future to the keeping Of such
a fool as he had proved himself. II
is needless to say that his rivals re-
ception was equally glacial.
During a very severe winter In the
'40s a couple Of German, natives OF
Dresden. resolved for love Of a woman
to fight a duel to the death. Very fan.
tastic was the method employed
Without nroyision of any kind anC
clad only in the lightest Of clothing
they went out into the country, there
to remain without shelter until one oi
another of them should succumb to the
cold. Three days after their depart
ure a wretched object crawled back
into the town; ten miles distant. his
rival frozen to death. lay beneath the
falling snow.