It really does pay to go back to the original sources for your information. Everyone likes a good story but good stories often improve on retelling. We are often led to believe that a baroque orchestra would be "conducted" by thumping on the floor with a great big stick. Really? Think about the effect of that - think about trying to direct graceful music, or fast music, or quiet music with subtlety in that way. Most direction was from the keyboard - no big sticks.
The story seems to stem from one source and explains how Lully met his death as a result of wielding the big stick. Google it - there are lots of versions online, more or less affected by the Chinese Whispers effect. Then visit the blog https://boydellandbrewer.com/blog/music/before-the-baton/ . There you will read about Peter Holman's researches into the history of conducting in "Before the baton". Even better, read the book. (And don't bother saving up to buy your own "authentic" stick.)
(There is a Youtube video of a modern "Lullyesque" conductor, wielding the big stick. Despite his efforts the players still managed to play with a straight face. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LE83wSoRy2E - worth a look, although the playing is not up to the standard we now come to expect in Youtube videos. The conductor, Sardelli, is actually a very distinguished Vivaldi scholar. His book "Vivaldi's Music for Flute and Recorder", translated by Talbot, is an excellent wide-ranging account of modern research on this knotty topic, many of the discoveries being his. Worth a read.)
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