Cheraw chronicle. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1896-2005, 1914-03-05
A Preliminary Test
Of Skill
Bv MARK HAMMERTON

was very young, his beard just sprout-
ing, and since there had been no war
between Germany and any other pow
er since long before he was born he
had had no way of letting off his sur
MUS vim. We were in u beer garden.
and he had been sitting at table near
one at which | sat with a party or
American friends.
Getting up from his table, he walked
past US, and. my foot being in his way,
be took pains to stumble against It.
Then, glaring down at ME. be said In
English: e
II will pig stick you!'
What does the fellow meanT
you've been challenged to light a
duel" said Washburn. an attache at
the American legation. He had lived
in Berlin II number Of years and knew
the ways of the inha bitants.
He can send all the challenges he
pleases." ! said. I'LL pay no attention
to them"
"In that case" Washburn replied.
Won must give up the social stand you
have prepared to take In Berlin.
shouldn't like to put you forward as
have promised unless you either fight
young Donhoff. whom everybody
knows and who Is ON intimate terms
with the imperial family. or find some
way out Of the matter"
What way out Of the matter Is
there?"
I'll think 1t over. I've helped sew
eral Americans out Of such scrapes
BY the bye. think III try the plan oy
which | saved AlbertSon from getting
sword thrust between his ribs
"What plan?"
81 didn't explain 1t till the affair was
settled. nor will tell you. Put your
self in my hands. ask no questions. ana
think can bring you out Of this with
honor. probably with eclat."
assented. and lie took message
from ME to Ponhoff. | was Amer
!cap and Anlfricans did hght
dueh. However,sI was willing to fight
under certain conditions. or. rather.
would prove myself more skillfil than
be. We would fire at hens egg at
twenty paces If he hit the egg ofteIler
than |. | would stand up and permit
him to shoot at me az long az he liked
II hit the egg more times than he. he
yas to submit himself as a target FOR
me.
The hot headed youngster accepted
the conditions Indeed. he was rather
pleased at the novelty Of the plan.
Washburn arranged for u :eSt Of skill
in fencing academy and brought a
basket Of eggs to the place. which were
TO serve as targets The affair being
an unusual one. none of the safeguards
common In duel prelilninaries were
taken WaShburn fixed the target. AUS
pending the egg by a thread Donhoff
and ! tossed for order of trial. and ]
won. Each principal was to deliver
five shots. and the one who shattered
more eggs than the other won
The day before the test | cohid
scarcely hit a barn door. hut ] Prac-
ticed sufficiently to hit an egg at least
once in i've shots On the trial ! siat-
| tered thp contents twice Donhoff. who
| like all German army officers was a
| good markSlnan. looked upon my work
with evident contempt ! missed the
first and Second shots. and aS soon as
| | had dorp 80 he seemed to lose all in
tereSt in the contest lie had doubtless
made Il previous trial and discovered
he could hit the ~" every time.
had heen instructed by Washburn
| that when beat DonhOff and Wash
burn assured me that if his plan
worked | would-I was Immediately to
renounce my right to make Il target
Of him WaShburn hung an egg for
| him. He fired somewhat carelessly and
missed. He was surprised especially at
seeing the egg vibrating from the wind
OF the ball. He fired second shot. this
time aiming carefully. Again he miss
ed. and again the egg danced. II now
he hit the egg at every remaining shot
he could still beat me- Though he took
long time to aim before the third
shot. he missed it,
He could now only tie me. But he
had become so irritated with himself
that he was not capable Of doing as
good work as before. He missed the
fourth and fifth shots. the egg at each
successive shot vibrating less. indicat-
| ing TINT his aim hnd nrnWn less accu-