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THE FLOQUET-BOULANGER DUEL.

General Boulanger earprieed his friends and enemies on July 12th by resigning his I Beat in the Chamber of Deputies, where his 1 short career has bean confessedly a failure. The soene was remarkable. Shortly after his entrance the General took the tribune and moved the adoption of a resolution for the dissolution of the House. M. Floquet, Chief of the Counoil, refused to entertain the motion, and burst into a furious diatribe against General Boulanger. He asked, by what right the man who had been spending hiß time in the ante chambers of Princes criticised a Parliament of Republicans. He charged the General with unpatriotic conduct in neodhesly disturbing tbo country, and enduDgeriag iS peeca for personal aims. Boulanger was thoroughly aroused, RBd daring che Premier's speech five timeß etigmatiued him as an '"impndent liar," eaob time raisiag a storm of imprecations amongst the members. He was repeatedly called to order by tht> deputies. Ab length they beonme highly indignant, and there

were cri<s of rage from all parts cf the Chamber, Inn most, insulting epithets being hurled nt Boulanger, A vote of (Mtieuro wns moved and seconded amid an nproar of approval. Before tho voba waa taken, the G-ncral, protesting fc'aab liberty of the tribune was threatened, tendered Ma resignation to the President, and left the Chamber amidst derisive cheers and laughter, the members following and hooting him to the steps of the palace. He seemed not to have a friend, and tho pent up fury of the Deputies broke forth without restraint. Never was it more merciless. Boulanger may be said to have been driven from the place in a t6rnpest of vage. It was expulsion rather thfiu resignation. The exoiteicent on the Boulevards over the afifoir wag intense. A duel between the General and Floquet took place at Neuilly. Four minutes ended the affair. Rapiers were the weapons. Boulanger, excited and nervous, made several passes at his antagonist, who did not seem expert— in fact, was extremely awkward. In the second encounter Boulanger was slightly wounded in the leg and Floquet received a cut on the right hand. The seconds wished to end the combat, # but the principals insisted on continuing on their third bout. Boulanger nade a desperate lunge at Floquet, who hrust hia sword out Btraight before him, and ield it in that position. As he made the unge the General received Floqust'g rapier in ;he right side of his neck, making a wound I Jin deep, nairowly missing the jugular. He 3taggered, clapped hiß hands to the wound, and fell unconscious into the arms of his 3econd, who carried him away. Af Jer his wound had been bandaged, General Boulanger fought desperately, and displayed much feeling. He tried very hard to kill his antagonist, and threw himself on him again and again, making desperate lunges at each onset. M. Floquet throughout the combat was cool and collected, but his face was white as a Bheet. The duel caused intense excitement in Paris, and it is* generally conceded that Boulanger by Ms conduct in the Chamber nnd iiis misfortune in the field has practically ended his career.

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Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NEM18880821.2.9

Bibliographic details

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXII, Issue 196, 21 August 1888, Page 2

Word Count
526

THE FLOQUET-BOULANGER DUEL. Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXII, Issue 196, 21 August 1888, Page 2

THE FLOQUET-BOULANGER DUEL. Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXII, Issue 196, 21 August 1888, Page 2