The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1906-07-19
DEPUTIES engage
IN BLOODY CONTEST
FIGHT DUEL OVER REINsTATE-
MENT OF DREYFUs.
M. sARRAUT BADLYWoUNDED
Sword Thrust by M. Pugliesi-Conti
Penetrates the Right Lung Of
Member of the French
Ministry.

Paris, July 1.-THE scene of tu-
multuous disorder which marked the
enactment Friday of the law restoring
Alfred Dreyfus to the army was fol-
lowed by a bloody duel at night in
which Under Secretary Of State Sar-
raut was dangerously wounded by the
sword of M. Publiesi-Conti. The duel
assumed the aspect of veritable COM
bat between the government and the
opposition, as M. Sarraut's seconds were
Ministers Clemenceau and Thomson,
while NJ. Pugliesi-Conti's attendants
were M. Millevoye and Gen. Jacquet,
who were drawn from the elements
which bitterly resist the governments
rehabilitation Of Dreyfus.
Follows Fight in Chamber.
The meeting followed fight on the
floor of the chamber of deputies, in
which M. Sarraut sprang from beside
Minister of the Interior Clemenceau,
sitting on the ministerial benches, on
M. ,Pugliesi-C Cont, who had been heap
ing denunciation 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 M.
Sarraut is suffering from deep wound
in the right breast, penetrating the
lung. While the wound is considered
to be serious, it is not necessarily dan
gerous.
Reinstate Dreyfus and Picquart.
Despite this sanquinary conflict laws
were finally enacted by the chamber of
deputies reinstating Dreyfus, who OBJ
tains 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 elemnts.
This was heightened by fierce attacks
by Dreyfusists against Gen. MERCER
and other prominent officers who were
for Dreyfus' condemnation.
Early in the day Minister of War Ell
enne presented the government bills
restoring Dreyfus and Picquart to the
army.
The army committee quickly and
reported the bills and the
debate in the chamber of deputies was
decisive, Dreyfus securing 473 votes
against AZ and Piquart ACT votes
against 27.
Attack by Socialist.
The feeling had then become very
strong, The storm broke when NJ.
Pressense, Socialist, urged supple
mentary proposition for the punish
ment of the officers who had accused
Dreyfus and Picquart, and whom he
designated as gang Of malefactors
and forgers, who deserved branding
with red hot irons. 1t was at this mo-
ment that the Sarraut-Pugliesi-Co Cont
encounter occurred. M. Pugliesi-Conti
aroused by NJ Pressense's denuncia-
ton, shouted at the ministerial
benches: you are scoundrels for
permitting these insults to officers"
Immediately from the ministerial
benches there sprang the 1.-THE, wiry
figure OF Under Secretary Sarraut. He
made straight for PugIiesi-Conti, seized
him by the throat and planted his
right fist squarely in his face. Pug
liesi-Conti reeled, dazed by the blow,
and was caught by his friends, while
sr4a
grasped Sarraut's coat tails and
dragged him back.
Pandemonium Immediately broke
loose. Deputies gathered in groups in
the center of the house, fighting, their
blows raining indiscriminately.