EXTRAORDINARY STORY OF A DUEL IN LONDON.

Waikato Argus, Volume IV, Issue 290, 19 May 1898, Page 4

EXTRAORDINARY STORY OF A DUEL IN LONDON.

. » A coRBESPONhBKT of Lloyd's News tells the following story :—ln the small hours of Sunday morning (March 27) a most determined fight took place in the city of London. The combatants were an officer of considerable reputation in military circles, a man who has seen service in more than one quarter of the globe, and a journalist, who also has some repute as a fire-eater. The quarrel out of which the duel arose took place in a discussion room near Fleet-street. The officer had expressed very strong views upon British policy in the Far East, to ■which the journalist took exception. Hot words followed, and, finally, after heated discussion, blows were exchanged, but the proprietor called in the City police, who, with their usual tact, succeeded in apparently smoothing things over, and both gentlemen left the house. Unfortunately a meeting again took place in Fleet - street, and, satisfaction being demanded, it was arranged that the matter should t» fought out in the journalist's chambers, over the Imperial Club, which is in Cursitor-street, Chancery Lane. Seconds were appointed in due form, and swordi were selected as the weapons with which wounded honour was to be satisfied. As to exactly what happened in the journalist's private chambers, into which only the two principals and the two seconds were admitted, there is some conflict of evidence. There is not, however, the slightest doubt that the two men fought a desperate duel there The battle was commenced with old Japanese swords, and it is n t surprising that very little miechief ensued. Fisticuffs followed, and the officer received a severe blow in the eye, which knocked him to the ground. The uproar by the infuriated antagonists at length attracted the attention of the people in the house, and on the door being buret open the officer was discovered writhing helplessly upon the floor, while his antagonist, though still able to stand, was in little better case. Both meu were dressed simply in shirts and trousers, and each showed the obvious Bigus of a severe fight. In this instance, as in many others, the pen was mightier than the sword, for on a doctor being sent for he found that the officer was suffering from a badly-broken le?. He was conveyed to St. Bartholomew's Hospital, and it will be some weeks before he can be removed. On the other hand, the writer, after two days' confinement to his bed, is apparently none the worse for his foolhardy adventure. According to another account, though the officer (now unattached) lies in St. Bartholomew's Hospital, his injuries are the result of au attack by his opponent's frietids, and the story of the duel with swords is unfile.