DUEL RETWEN M. GAMBETTA AND M. DE FOURTOU.

Bruce Herald, Volume XI, Issue 1081, 24 January 1879, Page 7

DUEL RETWEN M. GAMBETTA AND M. DE FOURTOU.

The 'Daily News' Paris correspondent writes as follows on Nov. 21:-— . , Contrary ••■to almost universal anticipaition, M;6ambetta has fouffhta duel with \ AT; dei^urtouvi'JVjr; reasons not explaind, M; de originally appointed seconds, M. de la Rochette and M. Langle, and sent a challenge by M.sßbbert ■Mitchell and M.. Blindetiourdon, both deputies. M.Cambettacbdse as his friends M. Allain Tar»< and M. Clemenceau, also :depu ties. A meeting was- resolved^ upon under circumstances graphically desisted in .the following proce» verbal, signM by the four seconds :— r "In the Btting o^JSov. 18^ M. de

Fourtoti having addressed M, Gambetta in the following terms:;-—" When one dedares war on all Frenchmen not animated by an old Republican faith.' M. Gambetta replied, 'That's a lie, monsiour.' On an observation of the President of the Chamber, M- Gambetta some minutes later, said, * On acconnt of the regulations I withdraw j file word. M. de fourtou considering that the offensive expression Was not withdrown so far as he "was concerned, charged M.Blin de Bourdon and M. Robert Mitchell to demand from M. Gambetta a i-etraction or satisfaction by arms. M;GambettaHppointedM.AllamTargeand M. Clemenceau to confer with the above. The four seconds met Mr Blinde Bourdon M, Robert Mitchell declared that : in their opinion the text of the Journal , Ojffieiel .save';^satisfaction to the President Of the Chamber, but rereated the insult as regarded M. de Fourtou. They therefore demanded that M. Gambetta should withdraw the words; - 'on account of the regulations.' : M. AUain ; Targ6 and M. Clemenceau then said, M. Gambetta had, in face, withdrawn the word out of deference "to the Chamber,, but that now that explanations were demanded of him he resumed the word, and was quite at s/L. de .FourfcbuV service. M.Blin de Bourdon and M. Robert Mitchell declared that the distinction drawn by M. Gambetta, instead of attenuating the instil t£ made it worse. Under these .circumstances the four seconds were of opinion that a meeting; could not be avoided. It was agreedjthat the choice of arms belonged to M. de Fourtou. The conditions of the meeting were settled as follows:— The duel to be fought with rifled pistols, at a distance of 35 paces, and. but one shot to be exchanged at the word of commaud. -In faith of which we , have signed these presents. For M.Gambetta, AUain Targe Clemenceau ; for M. de Fourton^— Blin de Bourdon, Robert Mitchell." . : Second Proces Verbal.— ih Paris, Nov. 21.— -The meeting took place to-day at Piessis Piquet conformably to the conditions stipulated. Neither party was touched." Private accounts say that when the laffair was happily over, the, four seconds shook hands, and the duellists raised their hats to eich othbr Piessis Piquet is a picturesque hamlet on high ground near Fontenay-aux-Rosesj about five miles from the Tuileries. The morning was foggy and so cold that the most practised hand might well have held a pistol unsteadily. Thirty-five paces is not a murderous di3^ tance, and it is ao wonder that the laudable desire of the seconds that no harm should be done wa3||ul filled. In England, probl 'ably M. Garaoetta will be blamed both for | the unparliamentary language he rery unnecessarily used, and for risking his life in such a barbarous, antiquated, haphazard I proceeding as a duel. But in France i things are regarded in a different light, j and I do not think M. Gambetta'a prestige ; will suflFer in the least. It is the first time |he haSvvfbught, and his pluck is much i admiredsfdr going out. Last night he dined Lwith M. Teisserencde Bort, was very gay, ! and nobody suspected; that the conditions I of a duel at 9 t his morning were settled in their minutest details! Two surgeons attended the duel-T-qie for M. Garabetta, Dr Itannelongue, the Republican candidate clio Wen to opppsolM. Paul de Cassagnac in the Gers ] the^.other Dr Theveneti M. Gambetta appeared in nisi place at Versailles this : afternoon, and was greatly j congratulated by his friends. -