Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-28
American Woman Fencer De-
feats European Opponent.
BOUT LASTS FOUR MINUTES
Baroness de Meyer, an Expert With
Foils, Outpointed.
SOCIETY PEOPLE WITNESSES
-Four Hundred Of the Elite Of New
York Cheer the Smiling
Champion.

special Otpotch TO Tho Star.
NEW york, January IA brief four
minutes Of flashing foils. dexterous
thrustinS and brilliant parrying at tho
Colony Club this afternoon. and tho Bar
oness Dc Meyer, one Of Europe's best
fencers. who lately lamented the fact
that America had no one worthy Of Ter
steel had met her Waterloo. In these
four minutes Of lightning action sturdy
Mrs. william H Dewar Of Philadelphia
had twice sent the point OF her foil home
TO the baroness heart, and when the time
ended was resting on the defensive. smil-
ing happily and confidently. with only
ono score against her.
-Four hundred persons. al prominent in
New York society. had gathered at the
Colony Club to witness the match. for
which Mrs Harry Payne Whitney had
offered q silver CUP. and when the result
was announced many . glove cracked in
applause.
Among the spectators were Mrs. Stuy-
vesant Fish, Miss Anne Morgan, Robert
Graves, Elisha Dyer, Miss Lolita Robin
son. Baron de Meyer and Mrs. Benjamin
Guinness. Justice Gerard Of the supreme
court was master OF ceremonies. and the
Judges were DR.. Graeme Hammond. DR..
NJ. ]. Echeverria, Charles Dalham ana
Prof. Dianmella.
Duration Of the Bout.
II was announced that the bout would
last four minutes, the contestant having
the most points at the end of that time,
or scoring four points first. winning. The
word was given and the two ladies stood
at attention-the baroness. a tall. hths
figure, dressed In white, and Mrs. Dewar.
shorter in stature, but sturdy and well
built CARRIED in black velvet. Society
held it's breath, for here was a contest Of
International import and of deep concern
to the American woman a -lete.
Mrs Dewar opened the attack. making
a long, low thrust that surprised her
antagonist. For fully half a minute she
kept up bewildering attack, at once
fast furious and skillful, with the baron
ess parrying viciously the while on the
defensive Finally there was fash OF
steel and the baroness received the point
OF the foil near her heart. A cheer from
the crowd and the little woman contin-
ued on.
For a minute more she pressed this
swift attack. The baroness. now con.
WINGED that here was a fencer worthy OF
her best steel. tried time and again to
hurl the sword of her opponent, but
without avail. The last clash or the
foils was followed by thrust straight
at the heart Of the baroness. and the
crowd wildly cheered second point for
Mrs. Dewar.
Clever on the Defensive.
The match ended with this second score.
Mrs. Dewar. smiling sweetly and not in
the least exhausted. dropped back to the
defensive and allowed the baroness TO go
after her. She was as clever on the
defensive as on the offensive. The
baroness got home one thrust, but her
attack had been solved, and the match
ended with the score 2 to I.
Mrs. Dewar took from the bosom OF
her blouse a tiny American flag, which
she had placed there and waved it while
the crowd cheered. Her husband picked
her up and kissed her and New York
society felt highly satisfied and vindi-
Gated.