Washington sentinel., 1854-06-30
DuelIIng In California.
Extracted from a California paper,

Three duels have been fought during the last
two weeks, two of which have terminated fa-
tally. The first took place on the morning of
the 2lst, between Numa Hubert, late member
of the assembly from this city, and George L.
Hunt-weapons duelng pistols at twelve PAGES.
At the third fire Mr.. Hunt fell, mortally
wounded, and died in few hours.
On the morning of the oath, Thomas L. Ben
son and Mengis, two stevadores of our city,
fought with colts revolvers, and. at the second
fire Mr.. Benson was shot through the body.
He died the next day. Another duel is reported
to have occurred on yesterday morning, in
which one OF the parties was wounded In the
shoulder. Names not known.
G. Dowdigan and j. Hawkins fought duel
on the morning Of the 10Th May, near the city;
weapons, rifles, at forty PAGES. AT the second
FIRE Mr.. Dowdigan was slightly wounded in the
feshy part of the arm, and the difficulty was
adjusted.
The duel between Messrs. Benson and Men
gis seems to have been most disgraceful as
sassination. The San Francisco S,m contains
the following notice of it:
1t appears that the parties had been con-
nected in business, and having quarreled, a
challenge was sent by one of the parties to
fight duel with revolvers, which was ac-
cepted, and seconds appointed to make the
necessary arrangements, who agreed that the
fight should come off at seven o'clock in the
morning, at the above place. The challenged
party and his friends were on the ground at
the appointed time, and after waiting an hour
and a half without the appearance of the oppo-
site parties, concluded to retire. After having
gone some four miles, however, they met the
other principal and his second a-foot, making
for the ground as fast as they could, having
walked all the way from the city, distance OF
some eight or ten miles. The whole party
then retraced their steps, and after the prelmi-
naries had been adjusted and the ground Sc
lected by the seconds, the principals took their
positions at twelve PAGES. No arrangement, it
seems, had been made by the seconds about
the size of the weapons, one ofthe parties being
armed with large navy or dragoon pistol,
while the other had one OF the smallest calibre
Of pocket pistols, that would hardly carry II
PAGES against the strong wind that was blow
ing at the time, directly in the face ofhim who
held it, and who appeared to be totally ignor-
ant of the use of the weapon.
On the word being given to fire, the small
pistol snapped but did not 60 off. At the sec
ond fire the man with the small pistol was again
behind time, and before he could get his wea-
pom ready the ball of his adversary had taken
effect in the arm pit, when he staggered and
fell. person calling himself surgeon, was
present, but not having any instruments, it
was impossible to ascertain the depth of the
wound. In this condition thevictim was allowed
to remain on the ground, being without a con-
veyance, and would in all probability have been
left to die, as he was unable to move without
assistance-even his second having deserted
him--had it not been for two gentlemen who
rode forward, and induced the second of the
victor to give him place: in his carriage, in
affair was murderous farce; the parties con-
nected with it being evidently ignorant of the
use Of the weapons with which they fought, and
we're only the deuded mimics of those whom
they looked upon as their superiors.