New-York tribune., 1912-01-28
Mrs. Dewar Defeats Nine. de
Meyer Under American Rules.
ARE PECULIAR. SHE SAYS
Touches on Plastron Counted,
but Not Numerous "Pinks"
Landed Elsewhere.

Even II the Baroness de Never is con-
sidered one OF the greatest and most skilful
of women with the foil I'm all Europe, II
does not follow that she is still a champion
in democratic America. At least that
seemed 10 he the view taken at the chal
lenge bout at the aristocratic Colony Club.
3Oth street and Madison avenue. yesterday.
with the result that Mrs. William II.
Dewar, plump and robust Philadelphia,
won the challenge cup, which was offered
several weeks ago.
This is the third time that the baroness
has met defeat since her arrival in this
country. She seemed 10 take II philosophi-
cally enough and not TO be at all disturbed
by the outcome. Her only words approach
ing comment were to the effect that the
American rules appeared to he queerly
worded. so as TO place premium upon
pugilistic ability rather than the ancient
art OF workmanship
Anyway, Dr. NJ. J. EcheVerria. Or.
Graeme NJ. Hammond and Charles latham.
all fencers Of wide experience and the ut
termost probity. declared that Mrs. Dewar
pinked the baroness three times fairly with
the point Of her weapon and that the
auentIy. Mrs. Dewar received the beautiful
silver cup. while the several hundred guests
assembled in tho Colony Club beamed and
ndulged in mild handclapping.
OF course. there was p lot Of curiosity
about the fencing bout after the fiasco OF
three weeks ago. when Miss Sybil Marston.
Boston girl, failed to appear and he de-
clared professional. The fact that Mrs
Stuyvesant Fish. ir.. and Miss Adelaide
Bayliss had previously been declared as
defeating the baroness had only served TO
add n the international complications.
After those two bouts the lip of the baron
ess Curied-ever 40 slightly. as II did yes
terday-and she pointedly stated that the
American rules N say the least. were pc
culiar.
II was explained hy an expert that the
American rules have only recently under
gone a thorough overhsuling, and are now
without hlemish There is a bout Of four
minutes. and the greatest number Of touch
es wins, or II one OF the fcncers scores
four touches II is victory. But the
touches must be upon the plastron-the
nifty name for the left breast
That is where the baroness tripped up
iron IN the cutcst sort or way. and. Of
course. the baroness couldn't tag her while
she was hiding behind hunk What the
baroness did do was IN pink her rival AZ
tho shoulders and upper chest until Mrs
Dewar would have resemhled sieve had IL
been a real duel But. according In the
American rules. that sort Of pink'ng did
not count. and there YOU are.
There was not a doubt but that Mrs.
Dewar was thoroughly in earnest. Her chih'
which was prominent. was set. ana she
fairly Ieaped at tho baroness as the mas
ter OF ceremonies. Justice James W. tor
ard. q, the Supreme Court let go IN"
crossed points OF the foils. Tho narohoSs
stood arm. but the Philadelrhian. WIN IN"
dauntless spirit that rang from the LinerN
he'll more than a century ago, simply oo''"
in. and nothing could stop her
A. the Americans lunge and tho renouole
,,ent d'attsouc Il was impossible for the
baroness to stop her. The baroness par
ried cleyerlv. and her riposte, which shon'h
have been considered according 30 several
Of the experts. was splendidly manPuVreh
u was keen Bit Of fencing and some of
tho Tits were peppery enough 10 FURNISH
plenty of thrllls. Inc P"'"' VI wv
ess's foil kept finding her opponent ana inc
change Of sides on the strip found the TWO
evenly matched. according TO the rules. at
one touch for each.
Then. when the last two minutes had Al
most expired. the Philadelphia swordsWom-
an mnged for fair touch urn the baron
css's plastron. Despite all this, several OF
the experts present said right out that they
regarded the baroness as immeasuranlE
the better fenCer. And so the international
status is still a matter Of discussion
OF course there was lot OF other fenc-
ing Or. j. Ernest GgnouX, Of the Now
York Athletic club. first gave an exhibition
with the dueling swords against James
Murray, instructor at Columbia tniver-
sity Then DR.. Graeme NJ. HAMMOND as
alert and skilful as In the days OF utie WIN
foils against w. Scott O'Connor, OF the
Fencers' Club. DR.. Gignoux and Mr.. Mur-
ray ended the preliminarics with sabre