The Placer herald., 1861-06-01
Duel between Messrs. Showalter and Pier
cy-Death of Piercy.

Cy-Ueath OF Flefcy.
Toward the close of the Legislative ses-
sion difficulty occurred in the Assembly,
between Hon. d. Showalter, member from
Mariposa, and Hon Chas w. Piercy, mem
ber from San Bernardino, on account of
words used during the passage of the
"JJnion resolutions" which resulted in the
sending of challenge from Piercy to
Showalter, which was accepted. The S; F..
Mirror says:
The terms first arranged we're, that the
parties were to meet on the 25th INST, AZ
IL 1.2 o'clock either in Marin or San Ma
teo counties; each to be attended by sur
geons, two seconds, and their friends; the
precise locality of the meeting was to be Sc
lected on the day set for it; weapons were to
be rifles, each to choose the kind he thought
best: distance to be forty measured yards;
the word to be FIRE. one-two-three-
stop!" the firing to take place between
the first and last words; rifles to be held At
horizontal or oblique position, according
TO the convenience Of either party, and
brought to "sght" as the words should
be given.
At eleven o'clock on Friday the parties
first met in retired spot eight miles from
San Rafael, but the Sheriff suddenly made
his appearance and Showater was arrested,
taken before the County Judge and discharg
ed for want of evidence. Meantime, the
seconds having arranged for another meet
H. ,>f Nhur ,,rf,v
the principals made their appearance, ac-
companed by about forty spectators when
the encounter commenced, which ended with
the life of Mr. Piercy. Both principals
were perfectly cool and collected, and
everything was conducted in strict accord
ance with the requirements of the "code"
Mr.. Piercy's seconds were Hon. II. p.
Watkins, Senator from Yuba, and Sam.
Smith Indian War Bond Commissioners; Dr.
Wake Bryerly attended as his surgeon. Mr..
Showater's seconds were Col. Thos. HAYES
of this city, and Hon. Thos Laspeyre, AS
sembIymen from San Joaquin. His princi
pal surgeon WAS Dr. Hammond, of this city,
assisted 10y DR.. w. II. Bruner. AS aLvsa
tory and consulting friends, Mr. Percy had
Frank Srhel and others, and Mr.. Showalter
had Hon. Messrs. GilIett and Chandler, and
Williamson, of Tuoumne, and Mr.. Gregory,
of Mariposa. Others on both sides offered
their advice and assistance in settling the
matter anicably; and Mr.. Fairfax and Mr..
Gregory were especially earnest IN this be-
half
The Call says: In tossing for choice of po-
stion and word, the seconds Of Mr. Showal-
ter won both. The weapons to be used
rifles, carrying forty balls to the pound
They were rubbed up and examined, to see
if they were perfect. The rifles were then
examined a second time, loaded, and the
principals brought to their positions. The
two seconds then advanced to meet each
other midway between the positions as.
signed to the principals, and as they met
Having selected the places they were to oc.
cupy few PAGES from the center of the
line Of fire. and looking eastward, Mir. Wat
kns read the articles which were TO govern
the fight, concluding with The renal that
if either principal violated the rlle not to
fire before the word fire" or after tile word
stop" he laid himself liable to tie code
which declares that the offender shall be
shot down summariIv by the second of his
opponent. These matters all being attend
ed to with all were pnnctiousness prepara
ton, made for the first shot.
The principals were brought to their 20
sitions and the weapons given them Both
held their rifles with the butts resting on
their hips, with the muzzles pointing up
wards, at an angle Of about sixty degrees
the right hand grasphg the lock, and the
left the barrel above midway. Col. Hayes
asked: "Gentlemen are YOU ready?' Both
responded "Readyw lie then gave the
word"Firc, one-two-three- -stop." The
reports cf both rifles were heard almost
simultaneous y Showalter a little first
Just at the commencement of the word
two" Neither party was hurt though the
ball from Mr.. Piercy's rifle passed so near
the face of Mr.. Showalter as to cause him
to feel its passage. AS soon as it became
evident that the fire had been harmless Mr..
Showalter exclaimed, LOAD the weapons
again!" He being the challenged party
no other course was left to pursue, and soon
the rifles were pre- ared for them.
The parties were placed, and the word
given as before. Neither party was quite
SO quick with the trigger as at the first
word, and the spectators thought that both
meant mischief. At the word "two" both
fired, nearly together. Mr.. Perry gave
start, threw his head back and fell heavily to
the ground. On examination it was found
that the ball from his adversarys rifle had
struck him in the mouth and passed into his
head. His physician Immediately rushed
to his assistance, but could afford none
lie raised his head slightly, looked around,
and n fhraa mimi w.c Io,,l H., IA no,