REMARKS ON DUELLING (_Continued_)
The person considering himself aggrieved sends two of his friends as his
seconds, to see his adversary. The latter if he accepts the challenge
appoints two of his friends to act as his seconds.
These four seconds meet and agree as to the conditions of the duel. If the
matter is serious, the duel is fought till one of the combatants is either
killed, or is so seriously injured that he cannot continue.
Otherwise the seconds take the first opportunity to declare that their man
is unable to continue, owing to his injury having placed him at a
disadvantage. This means, practically that first blood drawn ends the
combat.
If the provocation is a very grave one, the challenger tells his seconds
they must insist on the combat continuing to the end.
The seconds should be taken into the challenger’s confidence, and he
should tell them exactly what he really wants. He cannot interfere after
they and the adversary’s seconds have arranged the terms, and he may find
himself bound by his seconds to something quite different from what he
had intended.
[Illustration: PLATE 9. ORNAMENTAL DUELLING PISTOLS BY GASTINNE-RENETTE
The property of the Author]
He may be let into a fight to a finish over some trivial nonsense, and
have to kill a man he does not want to kill, in order to save his own
skin. Or, wishing to kill a man who has done him an unforgivable wrong,
the duel may end with a flick of cloth cut out of his sleeve and his enemy
unscathed.
Combatants are not allowed to use their own weapons. The pistols of the
regulation pattern (muzzle-loaders shooting a regulation load of smokeless
powder and round lead bullet, see Plate 9) are provided by a gunmaker, are
loaded by the gunmaker in the presence of the seconds, and sealed up in
their case. The seals are only broken and the pistols apportioned by lot
to the combatants when on the duelling ground, by the director of the duel
chosen by the seconds.
In Paris you are absolutely safe as to your pistols. M. Gastinne-Renette
generally supplies the pistols, but in an out of the way place where you
do not know the gunmaker, and do not trust your opponent or his seconds,
it is advisable to instruct your seconds to be very careful what gunmaker
is chosen, and if they are the least bit dubious to insist on M.
Gastinne-Renette being telegraphed to, asking him to send a representative
with pistols.
A doctor has to be present at the duel.
Lots are drawn by the seconds for position. It is very important to have
at least one good practical shooting man as second or your seconds may
give away advantages to your opponent’s seconds, and place you facing the
sun.
The distance is twenty-five metres (26 yards 1 foot 2 inches). The
opponents stand facing each other and holding the pistol with the butt
_touching their right thighs_.
The director of the duel, after giving the caution _attention_, says
“_feu, un, deux, trois_.” After the word “_feu_” the pistol may be raised
and fired, but not fired later than the word “_trois_.”
[Illustration: PLATE 10. PISTOLS BY GASTINNE-RENETTE
1. Shooting Smith & Wesson, .44 cartridge. 2. Modified Ira Paine to shoot
.44 or .22 ammunition. 3. Saloon pistol, .22 bore, weighing and balancing
like a duelling pistol]
To lift the pistol from touching the thigh _before_ the word “_feu_” or
to fire after the word “_trois_,” is a very grave offence, and if your
opponent is killed, it is murder.
The seconds draw up a “Proces Verbal” or report, of the proceedings, which
they and the doctor sign, and this is at once submitted to the police. If
there is any irregularity reported in it, such as lifting the arm too soon
or shooting too late, it is a very serious matter indeed to the guilty
one.
If a duellist is killed, his adversary must stand by the body till the
police arrive, and deliver himself up to them.
If all is in order, he will probably get off, or at the worst get two
years’ imprisonment.
If he has infringed the regulations----??