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Clever Swordsmen. An International Fencing Contest.
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October 10, 1892
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CLEVER SWORDSMEN.
An International Fencing Contest.
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Skill With Foils, Poniards and Sabers.
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An Interesting Tournament by the Italian Athletic Club.
Under the direction of the Italian Athletic Club a series of international fencing contests took place yesterday afternoon. The event drew to Bersaglieri Hall all of the local expert swordsmen, several of the clever fencing masters of the French man-of-war Dubourdieu and many of the most ambitious amateurs in the city. The result was an interesting entertainment for about 300 spectators who crowded the hall.
The club under whose direction the contests were given had made elaborate preparations for the event. The hall was gaily decorated with the American, French and Italian flags and the tri-color formed into pretty emblems and banners was placed at every possible point. To stimulate the participants a number of gold and silver medals were presented to the winners in the different matches among amateurs.
The sport began at 3 o’clock in the afternoon and did not end until almost 7 o’clock in the evening. The men fought with sabers and the fire flashed as the weapons clashed. They fought with foils, and one could not follow the rapid passes and thrusts of the agile contestants. They tried conclusions with canes and poniards, and, as though enough had not been done to show the marvelous dexterity and cleverness of the swordsmen, two of the sailors from the Dubourdieu gave an exhibition of the savate, that curious boxing contest in which the feet play quite as important and dangerous a part as the hands. In the savate one may expect his opponent to feint with his hand and belt him across the ear with his foot. When that happens he must look pleased, not surprised; say something polite and try to return the compliment when he gets a chance.
That is what the French sailors did yesterday, and they did it, as they did everything else, so good-naturedly that they won the good will of every one who saw them. They met in their contest with a rush, exchanged sharp blows with their gloved hands, parried and dodged, and then, before one of them could evade it, his opponent’s foot had struck him on the back of the head. Each was nervously active, giving and taking with equal unconcern, but their hands were covered with well padded gloves and their feet with soft slippers. The savate had never been seen before by many of the spectators, and the contestants, Jean Gueydon and M. Courtois, were rewarded with the heartiest applause of the afternoon.
The foil contests for amateurs began with a match between Leonard Waterman of the Olympic Club and C. Monti of the Italian Club. Waterman is a boy 15 years of age, but he proved himself easily able to defeat his opponent, who was almost a foot taller and very much heavier than he. Waterman figured in several of the bouts of the afternoon, but in none better than in the first. Agile, equally dexterous in defending himself and pushing his antagonist, he won the match of five points without once being struck. His foil flashed so quickly that the referees were kept constantly on the alert. Professors Louis L. Tronchet of the Olympic Club and Henry Ansot of the California Fencers’ Club and Dr. E. V. Lonigo, president of the Italian Athletic Club, acted in that capacity, and throughout the tournament not one of their decisions was questioned.
The second match, between P. Bernhard and Emile C. Jessurun of the Olympic Club was equally interesting. Bernhard was wary, but he could not evade his opponent’s foil. Jessurun won with five points to his credit and two for Bernhard.
J. Harrigan of the Olympic Club and V. Monti of the Italian Club then tried conclusions in an excellent contest, in which Harrigan won with five points against four. One of the most brilliant features of the match was when Monti dropped to the floor like a flash to avoid Harrigan’s foil. The weapon flashed in the air over Monti’s head, and before Harrigan could recover his antagonist’s foil had touched his breast.
The amateurs then retired in favor of the French sailors, who gave the first of a series of exhibitions contests. It was with the foils, and made the spectators enthusiastic. There was an air of confidence and mastery in all they did. Their salutes seemed more finished, their points were won with more difficulty, and, in guard and attack, their methods seemed to leave nothing undone. Wary and muscular, they attempted no wary tactics, and their fencing was brilliant at every turn. There were only three of them from the man-of-war—Jean Gueydon, M. Courtois and Guillaume Guilherme—but it was difficult even for the referees to say which of them was the best. During the afternoon they alternated in meeting one another in different contests and with various weapons, with all of which they seemed equally familiar.
One of the best of their exhibitions was with the cane royal. The thin wooden weapon was as dangerous one in the hands of both sailors, and each took ringing raps that came like a flash, too quick to follow, on the masks. With the sabers there was a different method, apparently more judgment, coolness and skill being required, but there was no stop to the rapidity of the contest and the fire flashed as the swords were in play. With long sticks, not unlike a heavy billiard cue, the sailors gave another interesting phase of their art of fencing. The match was one on which the greatest agility and wariness was shown and the sailors displayed extraordinary quickness of motion, springing backward and leaping forward to defend and attack with the cumbersome weapon.
The amateurs resumed their contests with Waterman and V. Monti handling the foils. The former was again an easy victor and all saw that he was a formidable competitor for the first prize. He made three points to his opponent’s one.
Jessurun and Bernhard were the next on the floor, Jessurun winning in a good match, in which he made three points and Bernhard, an extremely active and clever fencer, two points.
Emilio Lastretto then settled Harrigan’s chances for a medal by defeating him after a close contest. Harrigan was much more brilliant and aggressive and constantly pressed his opponent, who was careful, wary and cool. The rapid attack of Harrigan left him often unguarded, and it was then that the point of Lastretto’s foil reached his breast. Lastretto made three points and Harrigan two.
Waterman was again on the floor and again he was victor, defeating Jessurun by three to two. The contest had narrowed down to Waterman and Lastretto, and when they met the best of the foil amateur contests was given. Waterman, however, had worked too hard. Almost an instant after he faced Lastretto his foil was thrust from his hand. Lastretto won the contest and a gold medal with three to two points. Waterman won second prize and a silver medal.
One of the best matches of the tournament followed. It was between V. Monti, armed with a poniard, and A. Sartsabelli, armed with a foil. It seemed an uneven contest with a big balance in favor of Sartsabelli, but he was beaten by the more clever man, who parried and thrust with an aggressiveness that was overwhelming. Monti won the bout and a silver medal.
The concluding contests of the day were with sabers and were fully as interesting as those with the foils. They resulted as follows: P. Lanzilli and Leonard Waterman, Lanzilli won with 5 to 3; J. Trivellini and Emile C. Jessurun, Jessurun won with 5 to 3; V. Monti and B. Domenico, Domenico won with 5 to 2; Lanzilli and Jessurun, Lanzilli won with 3 to 2. The victor of the saber contest, P. Lanzilli, also won a gold medal and E. C. Jessurun, the second, received a silver medal. For his clever exhibition with the cane royal M. Courtois was awarded a silver medal.
The management of the affair and the arrangement of many of the details was largely under the direction of Professor E. Ruggiero of the Italian Club. He is one of the best swordsmen of the city, and although he won the first prize and a gold medal at the last exhibition he did not participate yesterday owing to sickness.
At night the hall was again crowded for the inauguration concert and ball of the Italian Athletic Club. The prizes won were distributed and then dancing began. The festivities closed a day of amusement and entertainment. At the invitation of the club J. A. Spinetti acted as president of the day for the afternoon exercises and A. D. Splivalo delivered an interesting address.
