YANKEE DEXTERITY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 195, 17 August 1881, Page 4

YANKEE DEXTERITY.

(a yawkee tahn.)

It Was during the Crimean war that three officers, one an Englishman, one a Frenchman, aad the other a Yankee, who had joined tha allies, got ioto a 1 dispute as to which was the best j swordsman. The dispute finally grew j so hot as to eDd in a challenge to eoor- j ial combat, the survivor to wear the laurels. As duelling was contrary to army regulations, and the affair coming to tbe ear of the Commanding officer, be at once took measures to pot i a stop to it; but as all tbe officers were i anxious to witness a trial between these ! noted ezpertß, he bit upon a prW tii'M j would teit tbeir, skill and at the Same j tfme not' v traV*gress ansr of the rules, i Taerß'wereJtbiae pritoaer^ jiffdgr rsen- j tence, of , death,, and Jbe commandant ; decided to let'the bbllie > efeni;V : ict as j ex'ecatidnere, ami the -one 7 tb'jft w'oVld \ perform i.. the -duty with , the. T greateßt j skill ehibuld be declared ihe vic«ors v So I on the day appointed a iarje oamtrer'of j officers were present to witness the! trial of skill. The EngiishraHir-waß j the first one called upon, and singling dot his men, drew bis swoVd with aj flaeh and with a single stroke severed j tbe bead from the body. Great applause followed. Tee Frenchman*; j turn cam 3 next. He, drawing a narrow i ribbon from bis pocket, tied it around \ the neck of hia victim : then, turning his back upon tbe prisoner, bis sword flaw from its scabbard, and taming on his hael at the same time, with one stroke h Jcut the head from bis victim,; splitting the ribbon through the centre. Tremendous applausa followed, and the ■ universal opinion was thet he would certainly be the victor. Now came the ! Yankee's turn. He calmly walked up to hia man, draw his sword with the rapidity of lightning, and giving it a flourish around bis head sheathed ie as quickly, and turning sainted the cooc- j mander. Hisses and groans went up from the crow), and the commander: sternly aeked him what he meant by such contempt. The Yankee, turning to tbe man be was to have siaio, said, 11 Will you plessa to spit, sir ? " The! man attempted to comply with ttie'reqaest, when his head rolled off, it having baen so qiickly severed that he did not know it until he we nt to move' his head. The Yaokea wore the belt.