FAMOUS SWORDSMAN.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXI, Issue 41, 18 February 1911, Page 14

FAMOUS SWORDSMAN.

In Captain Alfred Hutton, whose death was announced by cable a few weeks back, England loses one of tho finest swordsmen it has ever had. Born in 1840 at Beverley, Yorkshire, Captain Hutton acquired his taste for swordsmanship at his school at Blackheath, where the great Angelo was fencing master. He devoted all his spare time to the art, and was soon one of the most proficient pupils at Angelo's salle d'armes in St. James's-street. He was intended for the Church, but the outbreak of the Indian Mutiny turned his thoughts to the Army, and he joined the 79th Highlanders. The youngest officer was probably the most skilful swordsman in the Army, though his comrades did not realise the fact. Ho brought with him a bundle of sw<'t'ds of different kinds, and one of the sergeants, anxious to teach the newcomer a lesson, challenged him to ,a bout. The sergeant, who had a reputation as a, man-at-arms, chose the bayonet against the young ensign's sword, but was easily worsted, and the result was the same when the weapons were changed. After this feat the young officer was invited to form a fencing class for the officers and non-commissioned officers, and the swordsmanship of the regiment was greatly improved. He continued this work in the other regiments in which he afterwards served — the 7th Hussars and the King's Dragoon Guards — and throughout his career lie was astrong advocate of better swordsmanship in the Army. He was one of the first, too, to raise bayonet fighting to the dignity of a science.