A DUEL WITH SWORDS

Bruce Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 3102, 26 September 1899, Page 6

A DUEL WITH SWORDS

A FURIOUS PIGHT BETWEEN AN ITALIAN AND A FRENCHMAN.: Marvellous Skill and Sand Displayed in the Thomegeux-Plnl Duel in Paris— There Were Mine Bouts Between the Noted Fencer*. On the very same day that the Cor-bett-Fltz*immons match was fougtot at Carson City, Englisn fashion, the Pa Asians enjoyed a famous fight* French fashion k in the duel between the great Italian fencing master, the Chevalier Pini, and M. Thomegeux, a renowned Pa. .£-ian swordsman, saya The New York Sun. A brief mention of the affair was cabled to the newspapers here, in which it was treated rather lightly; but,; in reality, it was a desperate fight, in which marvellous phases of fencing were displayed. It was a nine- bout battle, and lasted more than forty minutes. Its semi-interna-tional character gave it considerable additional interest. It was witnessed by a host of sight-seers, all gathered near the stand of the Saint-Oven race course. In the crowd were many photographers taking snapshots, and one of them had a kinetoscope, which took in the combat from start to finish, just as in the case of Corbett and Fitzsimmons. The cause of the duel was trivial, and it is now admitted that it was a case of mistaken id»ntity. At about 2 p.m. tho principals, with their seconds amd surgeons, arrived. Pini was rirst upon the ground. He appeared to be delighted and warmly shook the hands of many friends, while the photographers opened fire upon him, taking him in front, in the rear, and on the flank. Immediately afterward Thomeg-eux appeared. He was smiling, and, like Pini, greeted his friends, while the snapshooters aimed at him. The srrave responsibility of directing the oombat, or, in other words, acting as referee, fell upon M. Georgea Breitmayer. When the swords were crossed and the usual "Go, gentlemen!" was pronounced, the fight began. M. Thomegeux, in a threatening style, held his weapon well in line, and, advancing, made several feints for an opening. M. Pini remained on tbe defen* sive, evidently wa.toh.ing for a chance for a deadly riposte, Wut fortune lid not favor him. Nevertheless, in this bout, he disarmed his adversary. He saluted, his salute was returned, and the battle was renewed with vigor. Evidently the men were evenly matched. The second bout was without incident, beyond giving- an exhibition of splendid swordsmajiship. Ln the third bout Thomegeux, fancying that he had wounded Pini in the arm, lowered his weapon. The surgeons rushed In and found that Pini was not touched. The fourth wut was furious. With lightning rapidity Pini drove his weapon at Thome-geux's cheat, but a vigorous parry sent it to the ground. The point landed on a stone. The sword was benit like a reed and rendered worthless. Another sword was handed to the Italian professor, and the fifth bout was without Incident. The combatants were winded. In the sixth bout the fight was stopped by the seconds, who believed that M. Pini was wounded in the arm. He was unhurt. The duellists now faced each other for the seventh bout They bounded at each other, lunging with wonderful force and parrying with equal skill, until the point of Pini's weapon reached the guard of Thomegeux's, and for the second time the former's weapon was bemt. After a little time it was repaired, and the eighth bout was begun with furious attacks on the part of Thomegeux. Pini gave ground, v^atching for a riposte. Apparently his chance presented itself, and he sent in a terrific thrust at Thomegeux's breast. Some of the spectators shuddered, and many thought that the man had been run " through, or at least badly wounded, but a parry that is described as "something marvellous" by the experts who saw it, saved him., and when the seconds and surgeons rushed in they found him unhurt and smiling. In the ninth bout M. Thomegeux-was wounded in the right cheek. He declared that it was merely a scratch, ajid insisted on going on, but the surgeons insisted that the internal hemorrhage interfered with his breathing to euch a degree that he was in a condition of inferiority. M. Breittmayer then stopped tl>e combat. The Chevalier Pini advanced toward M. Thomegeux and offered his rnnl. The latter grasped it, muttered some complimentary remarks and the two men left the duelling ground fast friends.