A DUEL ON BIKES.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XVII, Issue XXIII, 5 December 1896, Page 136

A DUEL ON BIKES.

Two young men made an attempt in Paris to fight a duel while mounted on bicycles. They were in a party of six, and were returning, rather lull of liqour. from a spin around the country outside the fortifications. When on the Boulevard Ney the two. whose names are Vai let and Abbadie, began, says the London Telegraph correspondent, to quarrel and strike at each other. One of their companions offered to supply them with swordbayonets, with which they could fight somewhat after the fashion of the knights of old at a tournament, and not. as the comrade observed, like corner ruffians. The proposal was agreed to, whereupon the friend rode home for the weapons and returned with them in about a quarter of an hour. The combatants having selected their seconds and received their arms, charged at one another while mounted on their machines. The result was a shock which sent the men and their seconds sprawling on the ground Varlet was the only one who was seriously hurt. The sword-bayonet which he intended for his adversary entered his own body as he fell, and he was carried insensible to a chemist's shop, where he was bandaged and sent home.