• • • • n ~ ~ y •w • ~ •h •1. i- • •d ct II g • THE RIPOSTE VOL. V APRIL, 1940 NO.2 FIFTH ANNUAL MARDI GRAS THE SECOND INVASION OF CUBA INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENT An informal account of the Cuban-American fencing matches of 1939 This contest, flrst organized in 1936 for the encour­ By MIGUEL A. DE CAPRILES agement and promotion of Southern Fencing,. is Captain of the A. F. L, A. team rapidly attaining a foremost rank among fencmg events in this country. One feature of this contest (Continued from last issue) Is the series of fine trophies presented annually by THE FOIL MATCH the local consuls of foreign countries and by the large, In my Captain's Report, I have given the details local industrial firms. The Tournament draws a rep­ of the bouts and of the jUdging. But the figures can­ resentative registration of fencers from all parts of not tell the thrills of the foil match. Young and the United States, Latin America and Europe. scrappy Taboada leads Jose in the first bout 4-2, with There were 6 girls and 32 men entered in the two only thirty seconds to go, as his sharp-breaking at­ days of competition (February 2nd and 3rd). The tacks keep our lead-of! man on his heels. Jose's prizes and winners were as follows: two lightning lunges against the preparation tie the Men's Foil score a bare second before the end of the regulation 1st Prize-Bronze Medal of France, offered by M. 15 minutes. When Jose finally delivers the coup de ~ei1e Soulange-Tessier, Consul-General, won by grace, over 25 minutes of actual fenCing time have Pearce Schaudies of Baylor University, Waco, Texas. elapsed, The second bout is another overtime uphill 2nd Prize-Silver Foil of New Orleans Public Ser­ bat tie, as Barrena leads Carfagno 4-2 as "two min­ vice, Inc., won by Karl Hanisch of Vienna, Germany utes" is called. Ed's magnificent counter-sixte parries and Salle de Tuscan, Detroit. and disengage ripostes earn him the victory. Ramon Women's Foil Fonst tells me; "Carfagno does not look as good as 1st. Prize-Gold Foil of Estonia, offered by Mr. Nor­ he is on the strip-he is very much a fencer!" And man O. Pedrick, Hon. ConSUl, won by Miss Paula that is the highest praise one may get from Cuba's MUrchison of the Royal Assassins, Ft. Worth, Texas. renowned World and Olympic Champion. 2nd Prize-Silver Foil of Zetz Seven-Up Bottling Carlos Lamar, however, is the outstanding foilsman Co., offered by Mr. William Zetzman, won by Miss of t.he match, and our collective hats are of! to his Antoinette Skinner, Rollins College, Winter Park, Fla. performance, Better known in this country as an Epee epeeist, Lamar demonstrates what can be done with 1st Prize-Gold Epee of Brazil, offered by Senor any weapon by a truly fine strategist and heady P. N. de Abreu, Consul-General, won by William fencer, He keeps his team in the running and emerges Osis, Grosse Point Sword Club, Grosse Point, Mich. personally unbeaten. In his bout with Jose, he 2nd Prize-Silver Epee of D. H. Holmes Co., Ltd., makes two counter-time stops in opposition that are won by Alvin Adelman of Baylor University, Waco, gems of perfect execution. A gallant champion in Texas. a losing cause. Sabre Barrena gives us another scare in his bout with 1st Prize-Gold sabre of Italy, offered by Marquis Jose. leading 4-2, but Jose rallies and wins again, G. G. Chiavari, Royal ConSUl-General, won by Karl Taboada puts on another thriller in his bout with Hanisch of Vienna. Germany, and Salle de Tuscan, Heiss, Gus leads 4-2, when a pair of lightning one­ Detroit. two attacks, perfectly timed, tie the score. At the 2nd Prize-Silver Sabre of Maison Blanche Co., command of play. Taboada is off like a shot, with a won by William Osis, Grosse Point Sword Club, Grosse feint of coupe; but he has hardly moved before Gus' Point., Mich. blade bends double on the Cuban's chest. Ed Car­ Highlights of the Tournament fagno clinches the match, leading Taboada all the Director Meykar had the usual strip troubles this way. In the last bout, I relieve Heiss against Bar­ year although prevented from experimenting with rena-who incidentally is a professor at the University viscious liquids as he did last year. A ground crew of La Habana-and I take a well-administered beat­ with pockets bristling with tools was on hand with ing from my colleague. In retrospect, I feel we are mor{! direct methods and under the command of lucky to win. Suppose that Taboada had "stalled" Chairman Janssen, an engineer in his spare moments for 30 seconds in the first bout? ... Or that Barrena from fencing, it pounced immediately upon any strips were at full physical strength in his first two bouts? tyat showed tendencies of slipping, sliding or curling. We could easily have lost 6-3 or worse. The import­ The judging problem was again with us. Last year's ance of the first two bouts overshadows the remainder. famous "Halt-I abstain" formula was back with only It was there and then that the match was won, and minor improvements. These improvements were still our team was lucky-lucky to have a pair of stalwarts not enough to prevent the exp!csion of Karl Hanisch like Jose and Ed fighting coolly and intelligently until in the foil Finals with that gentleman dedicating his victory was theirs. mask to the floor and himself in the general direction of Colorado Springs. William Osis, whose foil tech­ Our one day of rest is the 27th. On the morning nique was probably the best in the Tournament. cf the 28th the fencers of the Congress of Cuba en­ showed diplomatic ability as well and prevailed upon lerl8.i:1 us at the beautiful Capitol, which houses a Hanisch to retrieve his mask and his usual good small but delightful fencing room. There is a bronze nature. plaque which reads "SALA DE ARMAS RAMON The Tournament hosts were most gratified to note FONST". Curiously enough, the SALLE is in charge (Continued on page 13) (Continued on page 7) Page two The Riposte THE RIPOSTE EDITORIAL America's Oldest Fencing Magazine by 114 Washington Place New York City With the recent announcement Jo'€ph Yince of a new and larger Salle d' Arme:-; to Founder JOSE R. DE CAPRILES ue located only a few blocks from us so 'oon DERNELL EVERY Editor WARREN A, Dow Business Manager after the establishment of the Salle d'Armes te MIGUEL A. DE CAPRILES Technical Advisor Santelli which is eyen one block closer, We a: CONTRIBUTING STAFF begin to feel like :Ylahomet, Here we will C GEOB.GE H. BREED Foreign Correspondent han what are probably the two largest pri­ C JOHN W. DIMOND Special Writer B Roy 8. TINNEY Special Writer \'ate fencing salles in the world within stone's GALE POTTER Hawaii throw, Then, too, the Intercollegiate Fenc­ c FLOYD TRAYNHAM. JR. Illinois ~ Long Island ing Championships are being held this month MILDRED I. STEW ART I Mardi Gras OREST MEYKAR O\'er neal' Washington Square, the same t> Michigan WILLIAM J. HAMMOND :-Itone's throw, Are not the mountains mo\'­ FERDINAND UEBEL Minnesota "o FERARD LEICESTER Northern California ing in on the prophet'? (Or is it the profit ') RICHARD F. WARREN Philadelphia We like to dream that that is so, but feel that r SOlttl! ern California MARJORIE DAVENPORT it is probably ad\'isable to await announce­ ALAN BECK St. Louis ment that the Fencers Club has taken quar­ SUBSCRIPTION RATES ters on Wa\'erly Place before we become too 6 Issues $1.00 puffed up about it, 12 Issues ~2.00 THIS IS ISSUE :::; 55 We ha\'e receiyed an interesting letter Mailed on or about March 25th from an anonymou~ "Titer in regard to an article published in our last issue. Due to CONTENTS the \\Titer's anonymity we arc at a 10'-<''-<' to de\'€lop further facts concerning his conten­ Page Fiflll. Annual Mardi Gras Tournament tions. \Ve are ,"err much interested. 'We Page The Second Invasion of Cuba beg that he re\'eal himself, He need not Editorial Page 2 Pacific Coast Championship Schedule Page 2 fear any breach of confidence on our part. Intercollegiate Fencing Association Cham- This being the only means at our dispo.sal pionships Page 3 of reaching him, we hereby solicit his hr­ Public School Athletic League Foil Tournament Page 3 ther correspondence, The Remise Page 4 Gossip and More Page 4 Nrdo Nadi Page 5 PACIFIC COAST CHA:\IPIO::\'SHIP SCHEDl.:LE Tile Eastern Intercollegiate Conference Page 5 Tile Pentagonal Fencing Meet Page 5 All events to be held at the Los Angeles Athletic Club. New Jersey News Page 5 Friday, April 12th Plaudits from a Dual Sportsman Page 6 2 :00 P. M.-Junior Epee Page 6 The Twin Sports 3 :00 P. M.-Intermediate Epee One Touch Epee Page 8 8:00 P. M.-Open Foil for Men 1" Illinois News Page 9 Saturday, April 13th Page 9 Long Island News 9 :00 A. M.-Junior Foil for Men and Women Adopt \"5. Adapt in Collegiate Fencing Page 10 11 :00 A. M.-Intermediate Foil Men and Women St. Louis Ne\\·s Page 10 1 :00 P. M.-Junior Sabre Northern California News Page 12 3:00 P. M.-Intermediate Sabre 8:00 P. M.-Open Sabre Southern California Ne\\·s Page 13 Page 13 f',unda~·.