Show A HISTO lUCAL DUEL TWELVE SWORDSMEN SLAIN BY ONE MAN BEFORE AN ARMY scene bior exciting aban any blatti abe anaam of modern diat a vt tb terrible of one sword to give on adai of what a brave mail can do if ho knows fencing thoroughly end but keeps cool and collected in aca ger wo will relate a historical dael so extraordinary is this combat that it would held a had it not beba witnessed by a whole army abo hero is jean louis ono of abo great masters of the beginning of this contney cont nry and tho duel happened in madrid in 1818 was the master at arms of the thir ty second regiment of french infantry tho first regiment composed entirely of italians formed part of tho same brigade regimental esprit do corps and rivalries of nationality caused constant quarrels edwords were often whipped out or bullets exchanged after a e jal bastio had occurred in the streets of madrid in which over french and italian soldiers had taken part tho officers of tho two regiments in a council of war assembled decided to give such broaches of order a great blow and to reestablish discipline they decreed that tho mastor at arma of tho two regiments should take ap the quarrel and fight it out imagine whole army in battle array on one of tho largo plains that surround madrid in the center a large ring is left open for the contestants this spot 13 raised abobo abo plain eo that not one of the spectators of this tragic acene gayly dressed officers soldiers eol diers in lino spaniards excited never a bull figh excited them will miss ono phase of he contest it la before men that the honor of an army is about to bo avenged in the blood of CO brave men tho drum is heard two men caked to the waist step in tho ring the first is tall and strong ilia black roll disdainfully upon the raping crowd he 1 giacomo ferrari the celebrated ital ian abo second tall also handsome and with muscles like etehl stands modestly awaiting tho word of command ids bamo Is joan louis the second take their places on cither sido of their principles A deathlike ensues on guard the two masters cross sw orile giacomo ferrari lunges repeatedly at jean louia but in vain ilia overy threat ia met by a parry makes up his mind to bide chance and and teasha op ponente blade jean louii calm and watchful ianda himself to the play when quicker than lightning tha italian jumps with a loud yell and makes a terrible terri blo lungo at jean louis florentine trick often bajt with extraordinary rapidity joan lo 10 lia has parried and quickly in the shoulder it ia not liing cries giacomo a mere scratch and they again fall on guard almost directly ho is bit in tho breast this time tho sword of jean louis who is now attacking penetrates deeply faco becomes livid his sword drops from his hand and he falls heavily on tho turf ho is dead jean louia ie already in position he wipes his reeking blade then with tha point of his sword on tho ground le calmly awaits tho next man alio best fencer of the first regiment has just been carried away a corpse but the day is not yet over fourteen adversaries anro abero impatient to measure with tho conqueror burping to avenge the master they had deemed invincible jean louis hardly had two minutes rest ho Is ready A new adversary stands befaro him A Bi nister click of swords is heard a lungo a parry a ria post and then n cry a sigh and all is over A second body is before jean louis A third adversary advances they want jean louis to rest 1 I am not tired ho answers with a smile the bignal is given tho italian is tall aa tho ono who lies there a corpse covered by a military cloak he has closely watched jean louis play and thinks lie has guessed the secret of bis victories multiplies his feints and tricks then all at once bounding like a tiger on his prey he gives his opponent a terrible thrust in the lower line but jean louis deword lias parried and is now deep within his opponents breast what need wo to relate any more ten new adversaries followed him and the 10 fell before jean louis amid the excited yells and roars of an army at tho request of the thirty second regiments colonel pl who thou glit the lesson sufficient jean louis after much pressing consented to stop the combat and he shook bunds with the two survivors applauded by men from that day fights ceased between french and italian soldiers this wonderful and gigantic combat might bo held a fable were not all the facts above stated still found in tuo archives of tho ministry of war lip cincotta pin cotta |