Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1859-10-14
PARTICULARS OF THE DUEL
BETWEEN SENATOR FREDERICK
AND JUDGE TERRY.

Iron the San Francisco Tunes, of the 14th ult.l
In accordance with our anticipations the
expected duel between Senator Broderick
and Judge Terry took place yesterday morn
ing, in II small valley ten miles from Mercer
Lake. The parties went out Of town the
night previous, passing the night IN separate
localities. At quarter past SIX Broderlck
and Terry arrived on the ground. attended
nv their seconds and physicians, Hon. j. c.
McKibben and Mr.. Coulter for BroderIck,
and Calhoun, Benham and Thomas Hays for
Terry. On d scending from their carriages
the parties appaared to be in the best spirits,
neither appeared anxious or nervous as to
the result. About half an hour was occu-
pied in the arrangements. Ten PAGES were
marked off, and the principals took their pO-
sitions. The seconds Invested them Of their
outside coats, white collars, and other arti
cles which might present prominent targets:
also Of their watches and the coin in their
pockets. One of the seconds then read aloud
the code dueIO, which occupied a short time.
Mr.. Coulter then addressed the two gentle
men, saying he wished it to be understood
that he should count ''One-two,' after
the word fire" after which he would say
''stop - no shot must be fired after that.
During this time the principals maintain
ed their positions, and listened with cOmpOs-
ure to these details. Judge Terry stood
with his head thrown slightly back, looking
towards his antagonist. Each held a pistol
in his hand, pointed To the ground. Each
was dressed in black clothes and wore a
slouched hat. Mr.. Broderick stood erect,
but with his head rather down. The posi-
lions of the two were somewhat different.
Judge Terry maintained that Of a practised
duellist, presenting only the edge of his per
son, keeping his left hand and shoulder well
hehind HIM. Mr.. Broderick, on the contra
~, though at first assuminga position some
what similar to that of Terry, seemed to
prefer a careless and less constrained one.
and gradually presented more of his body to
the fire of his opponent. He held his pistol
rather awkwardly, and seeming to feel this
himself, he once or twice turned the wrist Of
his pistol arm to the right with his lett hand,
as though cndeavoring to comply with some
prescribed directions previously given him,
From that time he did not raise his eyes I'm
til the word was given to fire. Once his
right foot got a fraction beyond the line,
when Mr.. McKibben replaced it. The bear
ing of Terry, though he assumed a more
p%ractised and motIonless attitude, was not
one lot more that of an irOn-nerved man than
VS. that of Broderick.
At a quarter before seven Mr.. Coulter pro
nounced the words. Are YOU readv?''
Ready, responded Terry, and ready
was uttered by Broderick. Immediately af-
ter, "Fire-one-two," was pronounced in
moderately quick time. Broderick raised
his pistol, and had scarcely brought it to an
angle of forty-fve degrees from its downward
position, when, owing to the delicdcy of the
hair trigger. it was discharged, the bail en-
terlng the ground four PAGES in advance Of
him. Terry fired a few i~nstants later, tax
ing deliberate aim. There was a perceptible
interval in the two reports. At that instant
Broderick was observed to clasp his left hand
to his right breast, when it was seen that he
was wounded. He reeled slowly to the tent,
and before the seconds could reach him, fell
to the ground, his right leg doubled under
him, still crashing his weapon.
Terry, upon discharging his pistol. folded
is arms, holding the pistol still smoking in
his hand, but did not move from his position.
BrOderick' g seconds ran to his aid, and DR..
Lochr commenced to staunch the wound.
The bullet entered Just forward ofthe nipple
and lodged, as was supposed, under the left
arm lie was soon afterwards borne into
town in his carriage.
Previous to this, Terry and his friends left
the field. driving rapidly into town, and
started at once from the north beach, where
a boat was waiting, and proceeded to Oak
land, where they took a private conveyance
to Benicia on their arrival at Benicia they
took an overland conveyance to Sacramento.
Mr.. Broderick was taken to the house of
Leonidas Haskell, at Black Point, where he
was visited during the day by hundreds of
his friends. He was able to speak during
the afternoon, but owing to his wounded
lungs his articulation was generally lndis-
tinct and uninteliigible.
The correspondent of the Cincinnati Tines
says, that at fifteen minutes past nine this
morning doth ult.) Mr.. Broderick breathed
his last. Gloom and sorrow pervade the
which community. Flags are at half mast,
union down. The stores are all closing, and
all the public buildings, and even private
houses, are hung and dressed in mourning.