Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1913-07-25
King Georges Duel.


had long list Of grievances between them At
the time OF crisis. the chief quarrels between
them We're over marriages and Mecklenburg
Finally they agreed to settle their disputes by
personal combat according to the code
King George choss, as his second Brigadier
General Sutton, while Colonel Dersheim was to
serve Frederick. George was in residence at
Hanover. The Prussian monarch was at Saltz
dahl, which is Brunswick Arrangements
for the duel were formally completed and Hide
shem, on account of its convenient location was
selected for the place of meeting. Naturally
those in the confidence Of the two sovereigns
were in state of frightened suspense, and every
EFFORT was made to prevent the fight These fail.
ed, however, until the Prussian minister to the
court of ST. James by ruse cured a slight de-
lay. The interval suiced to remove the causes
of bitterest contention, and the monarchs grew
calm enough to hear reason.
Under all the circumstances, that would have
been the most curious OF duels had it been
brought to pass. The outcome might have been
either farcical or tragical
For the matter of that, there have been actual
meetings aplenty of either kind the ludicrous or
the CHASTITY.
Combat In the TreeTops
Perhaps the absurdest 6uel was fought In the
eighteenth century. The Marquis Merle de
Sainte-Marie an indefatigable duelist An
other gentleman almost equally busy on the field
ndS hOuSlSu T-ieTTOl u IsdAc.@ NOW, plerrOL IN
French Is sparrow, and merle is blackbird. Out
of these seemingly innocent facts came combat
for dIsaac, on visit to the nobeman, delivered
himself In this wise: O.
i am Bonapartist monsieur lie marquis: you
are Royalist am the sparrow: you the
blackbird Isn't there one bird too many?9
The marquis gracefully accepted this suave
statement of the situation.
Precisely" ne agreed my choice is pistols"
And he added, "As is. appropriate for birds of
our species, let US fight in the trees"
This whimsical suggestion was carried out
The seconds had their places on the ground but
the principals aloft In the branches of trees
that stood the requisite distance apart The IN
stigator of the duel the victim for ait the
hrst fire dIsaac received a bullet in the leg
which sent him crashing through the branches
He managed to seize one OF the lower limbs and
from there was helped down by his seconds,
But the marquis failed to be discreet TN the
time OF victory. Seeing his adversary laid low
he began twittering joyousIy, initiating the song
OF blackbird. DIsaac only waited for his leg
80 heal before Issuing challenge on account OF
the offensive chipping, and in this second en-.
counter. which lacked any bizarre feature. excent
It's cause, the Marquis de SaInteMarie was Sc.
verely wounded
duel more amusing in wholesome way was
fought In our own country some seventy-fve
years ago. An itinerant preacher named Brown
used to travel through Kentucky. He was man
possessed of mighty sinews and too of a GER
tain skill that would have delighted league.
manager, as the event showed. In his exercise
oil the ministerial function, be scathingly rebuked
a man Of notorious profgacy, who retorted with
a challenge
The parson, as the challenged party. had
eholee OF weapons. He selected for each COM
oatant halfbushel of Irish potatoes-large ones
sohd and we'll rounded. The further stipulations
Oh the engagement were for distance of fifteen
PAGES and the taking of only one potato at a
time from the receptacle
The prohigate protested but in vain Evant.
ualy the two met In accordance with the clergy.
man requirements, When the word was given.
the parson instantly hurled a potato which
caught his enemy In the ribs before the man
could lay hold on missile
The first was followed by Ave others and
every one smote the wretched target. The vic.
tim never even secured potato much less threw
one Each time he reached for one another
from his foe smote him sore. After the s;,,,s
potato had struck. he fell unconscious. and n was
week before he recovered sufficiently to leavs
his bed W leaFe
the farcical result of this resort 10 tbo Ell.
OF hohor mad very considerable effect n h,na
ing dueiing into local disrepute
Another instance in which cur,ops r,o.r.
served the need OF combatants occurred . ', tol
years ago ID Paris. Tintard a journaIist beoa,,,a
Engaged in quarrel with rival hf ge0..lne