Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1908-03-27
RUSSIAN GENERALS
IN FATAL DUEL
SmyrnoH Receives Fatal Wound
From the Pistol
Of Fock.

ST. Petersburg, March 70. -Lieutenant
General Smyrnoff probably was fatally
wounded IN a duel fought here this
morning with Lieutenant General Fock
The men met i'm the riding school of
the chevalier guard regiment and
fought with pistols, a distance of 70
PAGES separating them when he shots
were exchanged.
The duel was caused by a memoran
dun written by General Smyrnoff or
the siege of Port Arthur in which he
questioned the courage of General Fock.
The latter considered his honor and
reputation involved and challenged the
suthor of the memorandum to fight.
The affair was an echo OF the recent
court martial of the Russian generals
in command OF the troops at Port Ar
thur, by which General Stoessel was
given a death sentence. later COM
muted to 10 years imprisonment in a
fortress. General Fock, who command
ed the Fourth East Siberian division
ut Port Arthur, was ordered repri-
manded for a disciplinary offense not
connected with the surrender. General
Smyrnoff, acting commander OF the
fortress, n Major General Reiss, chief
of staff TO General Stoessel, was ac-
quilted of the charges against them be-
cause OF lack OF proof.
General Smyrnoff's secret report OF
the defense of Port Arthur was the
basis of the indictments on which
Generals Stoessel, Fock and Reiss were
tried.
Several Women Present.
The riding school was placed at the
disposition of the combatants by the
commander OF the regiment and the
duel occurred with the full knowledge
and appreciation OF the military author
tiles.
Ii was witnessed by several officers
of high rank. 1t is even reported hat
several women were present.
Shortly before 10 o'clock Generals
Fock and Smyrnoff appeared at the rid
ing school. Without saluting they took
their places assigned by their seconds.
For General Smyrnoff the seconds We're
his brotherinlaw, Vladimir NJ. Purish-
kevich, a member Of the duma. and
Captain Schultz, OF the navy, while for
General Fock, Captain Sido, adjutant
to General Stoessel, M Lieutenant
Podgursky, one OF the Port Arthur he
roes, officiated.
The distance between the c~ombatants
was 20 PAGES. The duelists were In
struCted to open fire at word Of COM
mand and continue until one or the
other was killed.
Fourth Shot Tells.
AT FockS fourth shot, Smyrnoft
groaned and sank forward. He was
wounded in the abdomen above the
right hip. He was carried in a litter
TO a military hospital, where doctors
this afternoon employed Roentgen rays
to locate the bullets.
The word Fire" was given each
time by General Kireieff, q Russian au-
thority on duellirg. At the second ex
change Fock's oat was perforated. Al
the third exchange Smyrnoff accident.
ally fired p~rematurely, but Fool mag
unanimously declined TO shoot his de-
fenseless opponent, and the fourth ano
final shots We're exchanged.
Another Duel.
The duel will be followed BY another
between General Fock and General
Co~rbatoffsky. commander Of the west
ern front at Port Arthur, who severely
criticised Fock during the court mar
tai proceedings. Corbatoffsky sent sec
onds come time ago to Fock, but failed
to secure permission to fight the duet