THE CAVALOTTI DUEL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCIX, Issue 11556, 18 April 1898, Page 5

THE CAVALOTTI DUEL.

PROSECUTION OE DEPUTIES. United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph— Copyright. ; ROME, April 16. The Chamber of Deputies has authorised the prosecution, of four deputies concerned in the Cavalotti duel. The .duel which resulted in the death of Signor Cavallotti, the great Radical leader in Italy, was fought on the afternoon ol Sunday, March 6, and its fatal termination caused great excitement in Rome. The duel arose from an insignificant political incident, which passed almost unnoticed outside the Chamber of Deputies. “ The Gazette di Venezia,” a Conservative paper, published some inaccurate statements about Signor Cavallotti, who, as has always been his custom, contradicted them in “ The Secolo,” the Radical paper of Milan, in forcible and rough language. Deputy Macola. editor of “The Gazetta di Venezia,” thereupon challenged Signor Cavallotti, but the seconds on both sides judged that there was no cause for a duel. Meanwhile the Venice paper, not knowing how the affair would be solved, continued, contrary to the chiv;ilresque rules on such subjects, to attack Signor Cavallotti, who this time challenged Signor Macola. Even then the seconds wished to avoid a fight, but, as the affair was becoming rather ridiculous in Parliamentary circles, Signor Cavallotti and Signor Macula, who, although belonging to extreme parties, the former being leader of the Radicals and the latter a rabid Conservative, were friends,using the familiar “thou,” decided that they must fight. It was arranged that the fight should be continued until the disablement of one of the combatants. At the second assault Signor Cavallotti was slightly wounded, and at the third his jugular vein was severed by the sword of his adversary, and he ciied within a few minutes. Felice Cavallotti was one of the most prominent figures in the Italian Parliament, and among literary and dramatic men. He was fifty-six, being born in Milan in November. 1842. He first came before the public by writing poetry against Austria, then in occupation of his country. In 1860 he fought with Garibaldi and the Thousand at Milazzo and Voltumo, showing great valour am disregard of his life. In 1866 he took up arms again against Austria in the Tyrol with Garibaldi. In 1870, again with Garibaldi, he went to France to fight the Prussians, where his brother was killed. The Italian volunteers took a Prussian flag, the only one captured during the whole war. In 1884 he organised and led the volunteers to succour the cholera patients at Naples when 1000 were dying daily. He was well known for his fiery temper, and the length to which he carried his polemics. He had had thirty-five duels, including that whch has ended so tragically. His adversary, Signor Macola, is also known as a duellist, this being his fifteenth encounter. Duelling, which, according to Italian law, however seldom it is applied, is a punishable offence, finds its chief adherents among the Deputies, those who, that is to say, because of their position, should give an example of respect for the law.