New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-06-11
THE "sHAKESPEARE" CLUE DUEL.


THE SHAKESPEARE CLUE DUEL.
DR.. Chetwood. who returned on Saturday evening
from the scene of the late duel reports that Mr. f.
Leayenworth is in an encouraging condition. The
bullet still remains in his thigh and attempt has yet
been made either TO extract it or to set the broken
limb Still bis spirits good and IL hoped that in
due season the operation will be successfully performed.
The patient is visited by Dir. Hamilton Of Buffalo, and
both his father and mother are in attendance upon him.
Weare at last enabled TO lay before the public
perfectly authentic account OF the circumstances at
tending this duel and in so doing we can only
press our regret that attempt should have been
made to conceal facts which, from their nature, must
sooner or later come 10 the greatest publicity The d
fculty at the Shakespeare" Club occurred on Thurs
day the 3lst when the challenge was substantially
given and the seconds named as we have already
stated. As our readers are aware Mr.. Breckenridge,
the person who gave the insult is kentuckian and as
far as we can Judge from our knowledge OF the cir
circumstances though we have no direct testimony
upon The point Mr. LeavenwOrh was animated
throughout by a sense Of unwilngness TO suffer what
he supposed to be Kentucky system of bullying
Northern men. However this may be- both parties
were firm throughout in the determination to settle the
quarrel at the pistols muzze. In the course OF the
preliminary communications between the seconds
there may have been Oyertures looking toward an
amcabe settlement; on that point we have no
complete information, but in the course of our in
quiries VIC have not been able to learn positively
that oDy such overturcs were made or suggested.
Friday the lst instant was spent in correspondence
between the seconds, and was Saturday Before
noon on Sunday the arrangements were in every re-
spoc completed and the rendezvous OF the party fixed
at Niagara Falls the precise locality for the duel re-
naming to be settled according to circumstances after
their arrival there. Breckenridge, and Middleton,
bis second left on Monday morning. and Lcavenworth
and Pendeton on Monday afternoon. 1t was then
pected that the duel would take place on Tuesday
afternoons but the train in which Leavenworth and
Pendleon Travelled was thrown of the track somewhere
on the way by running over q COW, and detained so
long that they did not arrive in season to fight On that
day.
As we have previously stated the meeting actually
took place at l2I O'Clock on Wednesday. The place
selected for the purpose was Navy Island, which Is
within the Canadian territory about two miles above
the Falls and almost if not entirely without inhab
ants the greater part Of being covered by dense
forest This Island is famous the scene of the pro-
tracted but unsuccessful Patriot invasion of the
British Dominions by Mckenzie and Van Rensselaer,
in 1897 when the steamer Caroline was burned and
the entire frontier thrown into state of disturbance
For the purpose Ct duel a more favorable spot
could hardly be imagined, and thither the party re-
paired on Wednesday forenoon. II is rather singu.
lar circumstance that they were MI taken across in
tie same row-boa the principals then meeting for the
first time since the beginning of the quarrel. After
reaching the island and selecting the precise locality
for the combat the distance, ten PAGES, was marked
off by Mr.. Middleton, the second of the chGl-
lenged party. As he is OF small stature his PAGES
short, which gave rise to the original report that the
distance was eight PAGES only Lots were drawn for
the choice of positions which fell to Middleton but
the men were placed with the sun between them this
choice gave advantage. The word was given by
Pendleton in the usual manner: fire, one, two,
three" Both pistols were discharged at the word
two so simultaneously that ii seemed like single
shot. Leavenworh Immediately fell Brecken-
ridge remained standing two or three Sec
onds and then fell also The surgeon approached
Breckenridge first and asked If lie was badly hurt
The answer wss in the negative, and that Leaven-
worth needed his services more, for he feared he was
seriously injured. Both parties had to be carried
from the field Breckenridge with his second was
brought instantly TO the American side, where his
wound was dressed after which he took the fret train
of cars for New-York. We arc told that the wound
was from the beginning painful that he could not
bear his foot on the ground, This being the case,
the report that lie has been seen in this City walk
ing in the street since the duel must be erroneous
The weapons used were ordinary dueling pistols,
carving small bullets but from inexperence or mad
vetanoe on the part of the seconds they were loaded
with excessive charges Of powder. Otherwise would
have been impossible for one of the balls to
pass through one thigh Of man and break the bone
of the other.
The first positive intelligence Of the result was re-
ceived here about 4 o'clock on Wednesday afternoon
in Geographic dispatch from Breckenridge himself
A dispatch in cipher was also received from Middle
ton. Both these dispatches stated that Leavenworth
was severely wounded, but ii not until late hour
that night that his friends heard from Pcnd!eon the
exact nature of the injury he had received.
The advantage of going to Canada TO fight duel is
not apparent The laws there quite stringent as
our own, and should Leavenworth die the parties, If
found in the United States must be surrendered to
take their trial for murder
Meantime we again urge upon the authorities OF our
own State the duty of taking measures for the imme'
dia'e arrest Of these offenders. Leavenworth will
probably not be in state be moved for some time,
If indeed he is ever moved except to resting place
where he will be beyond human judicature; but Pen
deton Middleton and Breckenridge are within reach,
ard no time should be lost in laying upon them the
hand of the law Delay in the discharge Of that duty
will only favor their escape to Europe or elsewhere
Ii they 90 UNPUBLISHED the public authorities wall alone
be responsible.
SAD DRowx1xG ArTnn.-As the Hoboken Ferry