Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1858-10-15
DUEL BETwEENVGEN. PEN JoHN-
son AND J. w. FERGUSON.

gel Island. in the Bay of San Francisco.
on Saturday. 2Ist Of August. between
Gen. Pen Johnson and w. ]. Furguson,
State Senator from Sacramento. Late
on the Wednesday evening previous. the
principals, with several others were as
sembled in bar room at San Francisco,
drinking, talking politics. and joking with
each other. Ferguson got the laugh on
johnson so often that the latter became
vexed aud serious. Ferguson then re-
peated some rhyme from the Butter Rec
ord. announcing By the Atlantic telegraph
the arrival Of Mrs. Gwin in England
Johnston became indignant, aud Fergu.
son commended that the mention Of Mrs.
OWNS name could not be taken as a
personal allusion to her. The lie was
then exchanged, and the parties then
made a rush al each other. but were sep
Grated. Johnston then accused Ferguson
Of breaking faith with him al Sacrament
10. in having agreed TO induce the anti.
Lecompton convention not to make NOM
nations for Congress il the Lecomption
Convention did not. Ferguson replied
by denying the charge, and told John
ston where 10 find him next day; and nd
ded that this was Of little use, as John
ston had put up with an insult from him
at Sacramento. which no gentle man
would nave done. Before leaving. Fer
gus0n called those present to witness that
the quarrel had not grown out Of an in
suit to lady. On Friday morning. Fer
guson received a challenge from Johnston
through VIM. B. Cameron. and the bear
er was at once referred to ]. M. Estell.-
The preliminaries were at once arranged
and the parties met at Angel Island
about five O'Clock on Saturday. with their
seconds and surgeons. About one huns
dred persons were present. The weap-
ons chosen we're The common duelIing
pistols. with hair triggers. and the princi
pals took their positions at the stakes
teD PAGES apart.
First fre.-The word was given by
Cameron. and both pistols went of stimuli
taneously at the word fire" Neither
party was struck but the wind from Fer
guson's ball made the dust fly from the
back Of Johnston's coat. Second fire.
The distance was now decreased to little
over six PAGES. as per agreement. The
excitement became intense; the antaEon
lists both showed a disposition TO get the
first shot, as every one thought it would
finish the duel. Both gentlemen fred at
the same instant. but in their hurry did
not wait to raise the weapon half high
enough. and Johnston's ball entered the
ground few feet of, while FeTguson's
also plowed the dirt about mid way
Here a scene ensued of SO ludicrous a
nature as to spoil entirely the tragic effect
Of the fight. Alter The firing johnson
gazeu forward inteutly to see his adver-
sary fall. which Ferguson noticing poin
ted his pistol to the place where the ball
had struck, and said loosely, There
you are;" to which Johnston replied.
pointing TO Ferguson's poor shot and
and his own, "l'm here, and you are
there" Third fre.-Bolh pistols were
brought to horizontal position, and Fer
guson fred at the first word, but without
effect. Johnston took deliberate aim. and
only fred before the word "two" The
effect was electrical. and no one doubted
fatal result. Ferguson braced himself
to receive the shot, and. as he did so, was
heard to say. "Im gone community p
And then. as the explosion occurred. be
started as If shot. 80 that Estell ran al
once and took him in his arms. But he
was only winded. the ball grazing the
whiskers Of his chin. Johnston looked
vexed at the result; many think that
Johnston received Ferguson's fire and re.
served his own purposely. for the sake Of
a sure aim; but bis friends deny this
Here Estell. as second to the challenged
party and according to the code. walked
up to Cameron to learn his wishes
Johnston demanded an apology or anorh-
er shot-some say n written apology
Estell communicated the answer, when
Ferguson lost his temper. turned pale,
aud instructed his second TO inform his
sdversaries that they would oblige him
by continuing to reload and fire, without
further interruption. They fred the fourth
shot nearly simultaneously. when Fergu
son staggered on his left leg for moment.
aud his second had Just time to break his
fall to the ground. while Johnston was
seen to wheel slightly. but not fall. The
ball entered the outside Of Ferguson :
right thigh. and broke the bone. making
large wound. Ferguson's ball passed
in front OF Johnstun's abdomen, cut the
front button from The top of his pantloons.
and tore small piece Of flesh from his
left wrist. which had slightly protruded
in front Of the line of his body. but With
out injuring the bone. Ferguson was
Immediately brought to his room. at the
Union Hotel. S,n Francisco. He suffer-
ed much pain until the ball was exlrac-
ted. The bone was fractured, but the
femoral artery was not cut. The safety
Of his leg. and even life. depends on the
absence Of inflammation.