American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1846-03-24
A SINGULAR DUEL.

to The next meeting of the Institute.
A SINGULAR DUEL.
Major Noah, in remarking upon the late duel
between Mr.. Peasants and Mr.. Richie, re-
calls the facts of duel which took place in
New York in 1904, and which he calls ''one
of the most romantic and extraordinary duels
probably ever fought-certainly ever fought in
this Countrywide duel between William Cole
man, editor of the Evening Post, and Captain
Thompson, harbor master"
"James Cheetham, editor of the American
Citizen, was the organ of the democratic par
ty. William Coleman, editor of the Evening
Post, represented the federal party and both,
we may say, controlled the destinies of their
respective parties. He was by birth
an Englishman, of indomtabe courage, great
and commanding talents, and ferocous and
ungovernable temper. He had more talent
than Coleman; bnt Coleman was a man Of bet
ter personal qualities, indolent and somewhat
dissip ated, but very severe paragraphst and
an expert politician. Coleman and Cheetham,
after some violent interchanges of editorial an
ger, finally got into duel. Cheetham was the
challenger. Considerable negotiation and man
agement took place between the friends of the
parties; and it appears that Judge Brockholst
Livingston, in order to prevent the meeting, or
dered out the posse c0mitattS, or had the par
ties arrested. This threw some doubt on Cole
mans courage; and Capt. Thompson, demo-
crat-a brave, fearless man, who always "ut-
tered his thoughts" freely-said that Coleman
would not fight; that if slapped on one side the
face he would turn the other. The party took
fire at this declaration, and the leaders, Wash
ington Morton, Beekman, and several others,
met at David Longw orth's bookstore, Park
Row, and after brief consultation informed
Mr.. Coleman that he must challenge Captain
Thompson-that there was no evasion of the
very offensive declarations he had made. Thus
circumstanced, Coleman sent him challenge
by Washington Morton, which Capt Thomp-
son accepted and named Cheetham as his Sec
ond, and the friends made the necessary ar
rangements for the meeting.
The apprehensons of the law were such that
it was resolved to keep the meeting secret
from all, except the parties already acquainted
with it, and to fight at night. Doctor Hugh
Mclean was notified to attend a meeting pro-
fessionally, though he may have heard of the
preliminary arrangements and names of parties.
They met on cold winter night-the snow
was on the ground-behind the house of Cap
WHICH, stoou dt ZIG VI
Broadway and Eighth street. The road passed
through ravine, and passed Potter's field,
now Washington square, turning round in the
rear of the captains mansion, now University
place. The ground was marked out, and the
principals took their stand. The doctor arriv-
ed rather late, and, on alighting from his gig
heard the report of pistols, and ball which
whizzed by his head acquainted him with the
fact that hostilities had commenced. He walk
ed towards the party.
"Who goes there?" asked the seconds.
'The DOCTOR" was the reply
"keep at distance, if you please, at pres
ent"
"Well, gentlemen" said Washington Nor
ton, 1--WE have exchanged couple Of shots al
ready. How much longer are we to remain
here?"
"Until we fire dozen more," said Cheet-
ham.
'Well, them" said Mr.. Morton, eff it is to
be so the parties must approach nearer each
other-say at six PAGES. 1t is so dark that they
cannot see each other"
"Agreed," said Cheetham; and the bellig-
erents approached nearer each other Another
shot was fired, but from one pistol
"No matter whose it was" said Captain
Thompson-''irea away"
Another shot was exchanged, when Thomp-
son cried out, "Pve got IT," and fell.