The sun., 1907-08-12
THAT REAL DUEL In HAVANA
ONE MAN GOT HURT, WHICH was
AGAINST THE RULE.
Neither Contestant Was Adept with swords.
and They Say Inst Is How the UneS.
pected Mlshsp Occurred They We're
Real Angry at Each Other Also.


neal Angry at Each other Also.
HAVANA, Aug. Q. Not since the Big Wind
Of October, 1900, when the trees on tho
Prado were all blown to the level OF tho
ground. or the time when SQUAD OF Gem
erals Of the Constitutional Army were ar
rested at a cockflght, has Havana been no
deeply stirred as by the duel which was
fought a few days ago between Napoleon
Galvez, a newspaper writer, and Benito
Celorio, son OF a well known lawyer OF
Havana Dtels are not uncommon In these
parts, but this one came mighty near being
fatal for Galvez presenting a condition as
strange as a politician out OF job. They
have duel every once in while in Ha-
vans, but generally no one is hurt. IL is
part Of the unwritten code that no one
shall be- in jured seriously, and the result OF
the most recent passage at arms caused
such fuss that Gov. Magoon has issued
orders to the secret police to prevent all
duels He said that II the laws against
the habit are not severe enough he will
make some new ones that will be.
The awful allegation has been made that
the reason one Of the participants in this
most recent affair got hurt was that neither
of the men knew much about the swords
with which they fought and that the very
lack Of knowledge Of the game was the sole
reason that damage was done to one OF the
fighters. Had they been swordsmen and
veterans OF previous duels. with knowl-
edge of what they wero doing. it would
have all passed over with the honor of every
one adjusted in the usual manner and with
out casualty.
The quarrel between Galvez and Celorio
began when Galvez insulted the others
father. Celorio, Sr., is a lawyer OF note and
resides in Havana. while his son lives in
Sancti Spiritus. Celorio, the elder. wrote
a letter TO one Of the newspapers which
Galvez resented. He replied to IL in Cube.
a daily on which he had a staff place. Galvez
in his reply was very insulting. 1t was up
to the elder Celorio to either fight or re-
tract, and. he retracted in a measure in
second letter. This action Of his father.
however, did not meet with the approval
of the younger Celorio, who beat 1T from
Sanoti Spiritus to Havana. and forthwith.
after due discussion with the General Stan
Of the Mosquito Brigade, which has head
quarters at Fort Ingleterra, Galvez was
challenged.
There was Joy along the Prado. The
Sons Of the roth Revolution held meeting
at the Telegrafo. and Doia Pillar. the genial
proprietress. who is in on everything. sent
out to the kitchen and set 'em up TO lemon
ade. The situation was discussed thoroughly
Momentarily the Big Blow OF October was
forgot, political issues we're cast aside,
and Gen. Pine Guerro almost spoke to Gen.
Loynaz del Castillo, with whom he has been
runring dead heats on seven column course
to gee who was the real hero Of the fuss OF
last year which led to the intervention.
When the seconds had been chosen and
all plans completed those who knew of the
impending event. which was kept very
secret, as each Of the principals rode about
in a hired automobile, bidding effectionate
farewells to their friends and getting out
the invitations. paused in the discussions
as to the market value OF mosquito eggs
and waited with baited breath for the news
Of the result.
Much the same as when they had bull
fights in Havana. on this occasion there
was something Of a parade before the affair.
Only a chosen few knew when and where
and what was going to happen ss the string
of motors swung down the Prado. and
these looked solemn and owlish as they
do when there ia some great affair of state
on hand. such as supplying the poor of
the city with condensed milk because the
horrid condensed milk trust had boosted
the price Of the commodity.
The duel was fought in the open air in a
field near Marianao. a little town a few
miles from Havana. The second and
principals and the doctors we're on the
little plot of ground. while a little way of.
a score OF so Of friends assembled to witness
the affair. This is something the code
doesn't allow, but this duel was very diff
ferent from the rest.
From the first clash OF the swords IL
seemed clear that the principals were real
peevish. for the light of battle We'd with the
plated steel in flashing from the eyes Of
the pair. They went at one another 80
tits related, in a mspner that showed they
honestly meant it,
Galvez, who was wounded, had mis-
cradle luck. He was struck by Celorio
Just as his own weapon hit Celorio in the
abdomen. But the point struck Celorio's
belt buckle and failed to penetrate. In
making this almost effective lunge Galvez
left himself unprotected and Celorio stuck
him in the chest. The blade went into the
right lung. according tc common report.
and the duel was over.
-Por Dios,' but this was certainly an
affair, and serious. too! Galvez must be
rushed to town. The chauffeur of the ma
chine which brought Galvez to the field OF
honor refused TO take him back. He said
that IL he did he might be arrested. and his
job didn't call for that. The driver of a
carriage was approached. and he too re-
fused. whipping up his horse as soon as
the PROPOSE ton was presented. Finally
the chauffeur relented and Galvez was
piled into the machine and taken to his
home.
That night the police began their inves-
tigation. Galvez was found in his rooms
In bed, and was asked how he came by
that wound. Galvez. true gent. mafraid
to fight duel. but entirely disinclined to
go to jail, said that he had fallen on a nail
while playing with his little niece. The
police. wise DID owls, wouldn't believe that
story, which shows they are real sleuths.
all right.
1t is against the Cuban code to publish
things about duels in newspapers and your
correspondent may be challenged IL any one