INTERNATIONAL DUEL.

Clutha Leader, Volume XL, Issue 72, 17 March 1914, Page 1

INTERNATIONAL DUEL.

BULGAIUAA" AND FHENGHJIAX. A spirited contest reminiscent of the days of chivalry took place one morning recently, when Lieutenant Torcom, of the Bulgarian Army, and M. Georges Ureittmayer, a famous French fencer, crossed swords in a nark at Montmorency, near Paris, 'in© duel arose indirectly out ol? a challenge sent by Lieutenant Torcom to Pierre Loti. The Bulgarian officer's challeugo had, it was known, been eagerly taken up by French, and Turkish' champions, and it was rumored that Lieutenant Torcom was coming to Paris to do battle with one of his adversaries. But the secret of the actual duel had been so strictly kept that no one knew anything about it till it was over. The conditions of the combat, which was with regulation swords, were exceedingly severe. The duellists wore ordinary gloves instead of gauntlets, and were not allowed to break ground beyond a certain mark. At 10 o'clock they faced each other on the ground which, had been marked out Jry M. Rouzier-Dorcieres, the famous journal-ist-duellist, and one of M. Breittmayer's seconds. The Bulgarian officer, a strong-ly-built man of rather under middle height, wore on his tight-fitting jersey the cross of the Bulgarian Order "For Bravery in Action," won in the last war, in which he was thrice wounded. . From the moment the swords crossed it was obvious that Lieutenant Torcom, though a strong and skilled swordsman, was far from being the equal of his opponent, who is one of the finest fencers in France. Time and again the. frenchman's sword pierced his adversary s jersey between elbow and wrist, but without drawing blood. At the third bout Lieutenant Torcom was wounded in the forearm, but iusisted on continuing the combat. A little later M. Rouzier-Dorcieres warned tbe lieutenant that he was within a yard cf the limiting line. l>oti t be afraid," said the Bulgarian; , 'I shall die rather than cross it." . The duel continued fiercely. Several times the swords were bent and others I had to be substituted. Then, at the I 10th bout, M. Georges Breittniayer* , sword pierced his adversary's chesc above tbe heart. The doctor's, in a&jrec- ! ment with Lieutenant Torcom's seconds, demanded that the duel should end. I M. Breittmayer then advanced and ! said to his opponent: "Wo have ex- : changed on the subject of the Bulgarian I campaign letters which have resulted in i this duel. I am much honored to kavo , crossed swords with you." 1 "All the honor is mine," replied Lieutenant Torcom, and added, "Vivo . la France!" The two adversaries then ihook hands. Lieutenant Torcom, whose «•minddoes,not seem to b« very tevere, left Pan* immediately afterwards for SffiUerlMd.