The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1906-07-18
FRENCH DEPUTIES FIGHT.
BLOODY DUEL FOLLOWS DREY-
FUS ACQUITTAL.
Chamber of Deputies Scene of Disor-
der-Despite the Conflict Laws
Were Enacted Restoring Dreyfus
and Piquart to Their Rightful
Places in the Army.

Paris July 13.-The scene Of tur-
nultuos disorder which marked the
enactment today Of the law restoring
Alfred Dreyfus to the army was fol-
lowed by a bloody duel tonight in
which Under Secretary Of State Sar-
raut5 was dangerously wounded by the
swoEd Of M. Pugliesi-Conti. The duel
assumed an aspect Of a veritable COM
bat between the government and the
opposition, as M. Sarraut's seconds
were Ministers Clemenceau and Thom-
son, while M. Pugliesi-Conti's were M.
Millevoye and Gen. Jecquet, who were
drawn from the elements which bit
terly resist the governments rehabil-
itation Of Dreyfus.
The meeting followed a, fight on the
floor Of the chamber Of deputies in
which NJ. Surrat sprang from beside
Minister of the Interior Clemenceau,
sitting on the ministerial benches, on
M. Pugliesi-CoIlti, who had been heap
ing denuciation on the members of
the government as scoundrels. Sar-
raut struck Pugliesi-Conti a stunning
blow in the face. A scene of the wild
est uproar ensued, compelling the sus-
pension Of the session. 1t was after
the close of the session that the duel
occurred. Late reports show that NJ.
sarraut is suffering from deep
wound in the right breast, penetrating
the lung. While the wound is consid-
cred to be serious it is not necessarily
fatal.
Dreyfus Reinstated.
Despite this sanguinary conflict
laws were finally enacted today by the
chamber of deputies reinstating Drey-
fus, who obtains the rank of chief Of
squadron of artillery and Picquart who
is made a brigadier general. Both
houses were overwhelmingly favorable
to Dreyfus and Picquart. Throughout
the day feeling was stirred intensely
between the Dreyfus and anti-Dreyfus
elements. This was heightened by
fierce attacks by Dreyfusists against
Gen. Mercier and other prominent
officers who were responsible for
Dreyfus' condemnation. Early in the
day Minister of War Stienne pre-
sented the government bills restoring
Dreyfus. and Picquart to the army
The army committee quickly and
| unanimously reported the bills and the
debate in the chamber Of deputies was
decisive, Dreyfus securing 473 votes
against AZ and Picquart 4S7 votes
against 27.
The feeling had then become very
strong. The storm broke when M.
| Pressense, Socialist. urged suple-
| mentary proposition for the punish
| ment Of the officers who had accused
Dreyfus and Picquart and whom he
designated as gang Of naalefactors
| and forgers who deserved branding
| with red hot irons.
It was at this moment that the Sar-
| t-Pugliesi-Conti encounter occur
red. NJ. Pugliesi-Conti aroused by M.
Pressense's deunciation, shouted at
the ministerial benches, you are
scoundrels for permitting these in
suits to officers
General "Rough House,
Immediately from the ministerial
benches there sprang the 1.-the, Wlry
figure of Under Secretary Sarraut. He
| made straight for Pugliesi-Contl'
seized him by the throat and planted
his right fist squarely in his face, Pu-
gliesi-Conti reeled, dazed by the blow,
and was caught by his friends, While
Ministers Clemenceau and Thomson
grasped Sarraut's coattai!s and drag
ged him back to his seat.
Pandemonium Immediately broke
lose. Deputies gathered ir groups in
| the centre &C lne house, fighting, their
blows rainin.s i11iscrimina;ely
President y,:ssor ineffac.ually en-
dcavored to quel! the tumult, but find
ing his efforts in vain, he left the chalr
and suspended the sitting for quar-
fer of an hour. The public galleries
| were cleared.
Order Restored.
During the interim the excitement
continued but at the resumption e;
the sitting the members were some
what more calm. Eventually, after
Premier Sarrien had promised that
the government would take the
necessary measures to deal with the Of
dcers who had been witnesses against
Drevfus. a motion was passed express
ing confidence in the government. The
chamber also voted to transfer the
body of Emile Zola to the Pantheon.