The Sun.
London, England, 1858-10-14 00:00:00

AN AMERICAN DUEL.

The-San Francisco correspondent of the New
York Herald, writing on the 6th ult., describes a
duel which took place on-the 21st August, on Angel
Island, in the' Bay of -San Francisco, between
George Penn Johnston, Clerk of the United States
Circuit-Court and editor of the National, and Wm.
I. Ferguson, State Senator from Sacramento county,
in the presence of a large crowd collected for the
occasion. It appears that Ferguson took ground,
months ago, against the Kansas policy of the ad-
ministration, and that Johnston is an ardent sup-
porter of Mr. Buchanan. The correspondent
writes :
" Ferguson was on a visit to this city, and met
Johnston accidentally about midnight at the Bank
Exchange. The difficulty which followed occurred
in this manner. During the conversation Ferguson
remarked that Johnston belonged, body and soul, to
Dr. Gwin. A Mr. Westmoreland, who was present,
then repeated a few lines which appeared in the
Butte Record in reference to a despateh over the
Atlantic Telegraph, announcing the safe arrival of
Mrs. Gwin and family in England, Johnston re-
quested the speaker to cease, remarking that no
gentleman would mention the name of a lady in a
bar-room. Westmoreland desisted, but Ferguson
repeated the lines, which were in truth harmless
in themselves. Johnston remonstrated, and
went on to assert that he (Ferguson) was
the last man in the State who should attempt to
fling ridicule or bring discredit to the door of any
one, for he had violated his pledged word made to
him (Johnston) at Sacramento, where he promised
that if the Administrative Convention did not no-
minate Congressmen, he (Ferguson) would use all
his exertions to prevent the anti-Lecomptonites
from so doing. Ferguson replied by pronouncing,
in unmistakeable terms, the statement untrue, and
made a demonstration towards Johnston. Johnston
drew his pistol, but parties present interfered, stat-
ing that Ferguson was unarmed. Upon being in-
formed of this fact Johnston put up his weapon.
Other words passed between the parties, when mu-
tual friends interfered, and both left. But before
leaving the place Ferguson called to all persons
present that the quarrel. between him and John-
ston did not arise about a lady, and asserted that
he had said nothing disrespectful of Mrs. Gwin.
The next morning (Aug. 21) Johnston sent Fergu-
son a peremptory challenge, which was promptly
accepted. The time and place were fixed after
some preliminaries were settled.
" The meeting took place on Angel Island, about
five miles from the city, but fully within view.
The principals, with their seconds, physicians; and
a number of friends, arrived on the ground at two
o'clock in the afternoon. Until five o'clock nothing
was done save talking, obtaining refreshments and
indulging in pistol practice, for it was well known
neither party had much experience in the use of the
weapon. At the last-mentioned hour about 80 per-
sons were present, including several federal officers.
The parties were brought to the spot selected, the
pistols (duelling ones) loaded, the agreement being
on the first fire 10 paces, or 30 feet ; the second and
subsequent fires 20 feet.
" Both appeared cool and collected, coming on
the ground with overcoats. ' They were presented
with pistols by their seconds, the latter exhibiting
more nervousness than the principals. A reporter
from the Morning Call, who witnessed the fight,
gives the following account of it, which is consi-
dered correct :—They stripped off their overcoats,
buttoned up their coats, and turned up the collars
thereof, Ferguson at the moment giving vent to one
of his characteristic jokes. The moment was an ex-
citing one to the spectators, many of whom were
never participants in a similar affair. Mr. Johnston
was placed standing to the west; Mr. Ferguson
standing to the east, facing south. The former wore
a sack coat, buttoned at the top ; the latter a frock.
The word was to be given by demanding, Are you
ready P—Fire !' At the latter word, both fired, Fer-
guson a little the first; but no damage was done—
Johnston's bullet striking the ground about a foot in
front of his adversary, and Ferguson's passing close
to Johnston to the north, lodging in the earth.. All
the spectators gave a relieving breath, and sup-
posed that some steps would be taken to effect a
reconciliation ; but such hopes were dispelled on
seeing the weapons reloaded. On the second fire, the
distance being reduced 10 feet, both discharged
their pistols simultaneously without effect, the shots
_being line ones, and the bullets lodging in the
ground near each contestant's feet. On the third
:attempt Ferguson fired first, Johnston reserving his
_fire. At this moment, when the life of his adversary
-was in his hands, the excitement was intense, and
every spectator expected a deadly issue. After
discharging his weapon, Ferguson gave one of his
characteristic shakes of the head, and braced him-
self to receive the fire, which was given deliberately,
but missed, passing to the south of the latter. The
result was a great relief to all present, who could
not but admire the coolness and courage of both
parties, and strong hopes were entertained that the
affair would then be 'terminated, as it looked like
butchery to see two men coolly shoot at each other
at such a short distance ; but Johnston's seconds
demanded another shot, which of course was
granted. On coming to the ground for the fourth
shot, the excitement among the spectators had
somewhat abated; the three piff paffs interchanged
having somewhat familiarised them with the code
of honour, and the sentiment was universal, Go
in, and get killed'—the outsiders considering it
rather forcing the matter in requiring another shot.
During the interval Johnston talked freely with
his friends, and Ferguson, after throwing his over-
coat around him, for the wind commenced to blow
sharply, walked to and fro with Dr. White.
44 The parties prepared for the fourth fire and the
word was given, but Mr. Dameron, one of John-
ston's seconds, stopped the fire on account of some
informality. After a short parley between the se-
conds the word was again repeated, and both fired
—Ferguson firing first, Johnston having reserved
his fire. On the report of the pistol being heard,
Ferguson was seen to fall. It was expected that he
was killed,- but on examination it was ascertained
that Johnson's shot had taken effect midway in his
right thigh, breaking the bone. Ferguson's shot
passed through Johnston's coat, ploughed up the
front of his pants and grazed his left wrist and
hand, and inflicting a trifling wound,
"On the result of the fourth fire being made
known, a feeling of relief was manifested amongst
all present. Mr. Ferguson's surgeons attended to
his wound promptly, and availed themselves of a
mattress and stretcher, which had been brought to
the ground. Whilst in the surgeon's hands the
ruling passion of Ferguson predominated, for he
joked in'the best spirit, and said if he was a poor
shot, he had sufficient, pluck to face the music. On
receiving his wound Mr. Ferguson asked if John-
ston had been injured, and sent a friend to inquire,
which civility was reciprocated by the Johnston
side ; and afterwards Mr. Johnston, accompanied
by his seconds, after having inquired if a visit was
permissible, visited Mr. Ferguson, and shook hands,
passing but the usual set phrases incident to such
occasions.

" Ferguson's wound is serious, and he has since
been confined to his bed. At first he thought that
his life was in jeopardy, and that the limb would
have to be amputated. These fears have been re-

moved, and the gentleman will escape, probably
with a halting step for the balance of his existence.

The regret for the injury is felt by his political
opponents almost as much as by his friends. Fer-
guson is a man of generous qualities, though not as
careful in his mode of living as those who know
him would desire. Johnston was but slightly
wounded—he was on the street the day after the
duel. Ferguson stays at the same hotel with Mr.
Broderick, where he was directly conveyed from
the field. Both gentlemen displayed unflinching
courage and extraordinary coolness during the time
occupied with the fight. There are few duels of
which we have any record where four shots were
exchanged and so much fearlessness and-noncha-
lance exhibited."

BELGIAN:RIFL PRACTICE.--=-At the late rifle
.
presenceng.— of the King, the following
"As far as concerns the
11 100 of which
Civic Guard the following are the facts :-2,220 men, with
guns n rayes, fired , balls, . 1,115 touched
wpTeretitcheearteßsulratssseolsal6 firing .
the- target. N°
Theys,,i otbhtaati nleod 1p
e2,sr3coepnot m. tosf ;
the ma made
balls 50
sblanks,tk
The average
the mark. 200 men - armed with muskets- fired 1,000
balls, of which 220 struck the target. ' They obtained
2,660 points ;thead 16 blanks. The average 22 per
cent. _As to army, 78 men armed with the carbine a
tige fired 290 balls, of which one-third, that is to say 130,
touched the target. They obtained 1,625 points and made
-10 blanks. On the average 33 per cent. of the balls hit the
mark. 384 shooters used the rifle gun. The result was
1,920 balls fired; 584 balls hit the mark ; 6,250 points were
obtained ; 33 blanks. The average of balls hitting the object
was 28 per cent ; 156 shooters with non-rifled guns. They
fired 780 balls; 122 hit the target. They obtained 1,385
points ; made 11 blanks. The average of balls that hit the
mark wasil6 per cent. The shooters served with armes de
precision were numerous; 254 took part in the match at
the fixed target. They fired 2,540 balls, of which 2,257
reached the target. They made 416 blanks, being the enor-
mous average of 88 out of every 100 touching the mark."
These results appeared to mterest his Majesty greatly.
They showed the enormous advantage of armes de precision
over the ordinary arms. The Ministers of the Interior and
of War added their congratulations to those which the King
addressed to the president of the committee.
A FLYING MACHINE.—Lord Carlingford, in a
ounces
letter dated ‘ Swift's Heath, September 17,
to the public that he has " clearly established thalin.
of i aerial navigation," that the aerhedon, or aerial
yineatrskie t‘onchltitivincgtiofin
perfection of its
• 'ealpchacripolte-,
oowfnwhiancdh his
principle, and of the -manner in rselvoerd_dsh_hipe haspe spent several
a company for the pur-
whicth it has been carried
out, it is now a question of forming
ht.k g-soug-for
pea() of bringing it gilt, and then fscovery, advancing
'discovery,
the whole world to
witness at last the lo
ciNillisation, am? administering to the happiness and pro-
sp4rity of nations." - :
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