The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1912-09-12
A FAMOUS FENcER
Master at Arms lean Louis Was
a Wizard With the Sword.
GREATEST DUEL ON RECORD.

IN Front Of an Army This Na?o'sonic
Wonder Faced Thirteen italian ~ora
Experts ar.! Spittea Thers In Sue
cession Without Pest.
To Sive an idea Of what IL brave man
can do if he knows fencing thoroughly
and but keeps cool and collected in
danger we will relate historical duel
SO extraordinary is this combat that it
would be held romance had it not
been witnessed by a whole army. The
hero Is Jean Louis. one of the great
masters of the sword Of the Heginnin.
OF last century. and the duel happened
IN Madrid in 1873 He was the maste,
ut arms of the Thirty second regimen:
of French infantry, The First regi
ment. composed entirely of Italians
formed part of the same brigade
RegimentaI esprit de corps and rival
ries of nationality caused constant
guarrels. when swords We're often
whipped out or bullets exchanged
factions of the brigade had occurred in
the streets Of Madrid. in which over
200 French and Italian soldiers had
taken part. the officers of the two regi
mentS. in a council of war assembled.
decided to give such breaches Of order
great blow and to re-cstablish disri
pine They declared that the masters
at arms of the two regiments involved
should take up the quarrel and fight II
out.
Imagine whole army in battle array
| on one of the large plains that sur
round Madrid. In the center large
| ring is left open for the contestants
This spot is raised above the plain so
that not one of the spectators Of this
tragic scene-gayly dressed officers.
soldiers in line. SpaniardS. excited as
never Il bullfight excited them will
miss one phase of the conteS, 1t Is
before 10000 men that the honor Of an
army is about to be avenged in the
blood of thirty brave men
The drum is heard Two men. naked
to the waist. step in the ring rhe first
is tall and strong His black eyes roll
disdainfully upon the gaping crowd.
He is Giacomo Ferrari. the celebrated
Italian. The second, tall. also hand
some and with muscles like steel.
stands modestly awaiting the word OF
command. His name is lean Louis.
The seconds take their places on either
side of their principals deathike
silence eDsues.
ION guardr'
The two masters cross swords. Gla
como Ferrari lunges repeatedly at Jean
Louis. but in vain. His every thrust
is met by a parry. He makes up his
mind to bide his chance and caresses
and leases his opponents blade Jean
Louis. calm and watchful. lends him
self to the play. when. quicker than
lightning. the Italian jumps aside with
a loud yell and makes terrible lunge
at Jean Louis, a Florentine trick often
successful But with extraordinary ra
pidity Jean Louis has parried and rls
posts quickly in the shoulder.
1T is nothing" cries Giacomo. "a
mere scratch And they again fal
on guard. Almost directly he is hit il
the breast. This time the sword Of
Jean Louis. who is now attacking. pen
etrates deeply. Giacomo's face be
comes iivid his sword drops from hi:
hand. and he falls heavily Oh the turf
He is dead.
Jean Louis is already in position. HI
wipes his reeking blade: then. with tn
point of his sword on the ground. h'
calmly awaits the next man.
The hest fencer Of the First regimen
has just been carried away corpse
but the day is not yet over. Fourtce,
adversaries are there. Impatient Il
measure swords with the conqueror
burning to avenge the master they ha'
!, deemed invincibe
Jean Louis hardly has two minrtes
rest He is ready. a new adversar.
stands before him. sinister click o
swords is heard. lunge. a parry. Il ris
) post and then cry, a sigh. and all /
over A second body is before Jeal
Louis
A third adversary advances. The.
want Jean Louis to rest. Il am no
tired" he answers. with a smile.
The signal is given The Italian /
as tall as the one who lies there
corpse covered by u military cloak. II
has closely watched Jean Louis rla
and thinks he has guessed the secre
of his victories He multiplies hi
feints and tricks; then. all at once
bounding like tiger on his prey. h
gives his opponent terrible thrust i
the lower line. But Jean Louis swor
has parried and is now deep within hi
opponents breast.
What need we to relate any more
Ten new adversaries followed hin
and the ten fell before Jean Lou1
amid the excited ye!ls and roars Of :,
army.
3 At the request of the Thirty -secon
! regiments colonel. who thought tn
lesson sufficient. Jean Louis afte
much pressing consented to stop I'll
r combat. and be shook hands with Il
two survivors. appiauded by l0.W
Z men
From that Gay fights ceased betw
French and Italian soldiers
d This wonderful and gigantic comb:
y might be held fable were NOT all Il
r facts above stated still found in Il
> archives of the ministry of war, Ii
pincott's
n A keen. warm SEmnathE that max