The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1875-11-18
THE FIELD OF n

THE FIELD OF HONOR.
DueIing at weehawken, N. j., in the Olden
Time.
The extraordinary series Of duels
which for so many yearsg gave Weehawken
an evil celebrity, began in 1893. In that
year a rumor had spread through this
State that the Holland Land Company
had cancelled a bond for $40, 600 against
Aaron Burr, in consideration of certain
Legislative services. Burr was a promi-
nent awyer, had been United States
Senator for six years, and was an aspirant
for the Presidency at the approaching
election. He had become the target of
a host of personal and political enemies.
Some free comments IN apparent sup
port of the rumor mentioned had been
made by John B. Church, the brother
in-law of Alexander Hamilton, which
we're reported to Col. Burr. He chal-
lenged Church, and the challenge was
accepted. Thepartiesm met at Weekawken
on Monday evening, Sept. 2, about sun
set. It was Burr's first duel, and the
first of the combats which afterward
made that narrow shelf among the cliffs
a dark and bloody ground.
Church's second was Mr.. Hammond,
of New York. Judge Burke, of South
Carolina, acted for Burr. Before reach
ing the ground, Burr explained to his
second that the balls had been cast too
email for his pistols, and that he had
provided channels leather and grease
with which to make them fit. The prin-
cipals had been placed in position ten
PAGES apart, when Burr observed his
second trying to finish the loading of his
pistol. He was making laborious efforts
to drive the ramrod In with stone. FL
naIly, having apparently finished, he
handed the pistol to his waiting prin-
cipal.
Burr, with great GOODNESS, then drew
the hammer and felt for the ball. sit is
not driven home" he said to his sec
ond.
"I know it" said the Judge, wiping
the perspiration from his brow /; 81 for
got to grease the leather. But see, your
man is ready. Don't keep him waiting.
Just take a crack as it is, and I'll grease
the next"
The word was then given and both the
combatants fired. Mr.. Church wa IN
harmed, but the ball from his pistol
passed through Burr's coat. The pis-
tolls were about to be reloaded for an
other slot, when Mr.. Church made an
apology acceptable to the seconds I; the
principals shook hands, and all returned
to the city.
In 1901, the continued political ami
mosities of the time seem to have been
the real occasion of two successive en-
counters, one Ct which had a fatal re-
suit. Mr.. George Eacker, a native of
Palatine, New York, q a promising
young lawyer, 81 years of age, practicing
in this city !; and on the Fourth of July
of that year he had delivered a public
attention. He was a political friend of
Col. Burr. On Friday evening, Nov.
20, he had visited the Park Theater in
company with Miss Livingston and his
friend Mr.. Lawrence. Cooper was on
the stage In the part of Frederick, in
"Lover's Vows" The afterpiece was a
pantomime. The account of what fol
lowed In the boxes is the narration of
Mr.. Lawrence, and was published in the
american Citizen and Advocate OF
Nov. 81 at the time.
In an adjoining box were Philip Ham
ilton, eldest son of the statesman, and
MIR. Price, son of Stephen Price, the
lessee of the theater. They made some
audible and offensive remarks about
Eacker's former Grafton, which he heard
but avoided noticing. Soon afterward
the young men entered his box and com
menced some sarcastic remarks, which
compelled Eacker to step into the lobby
for the purpose of demonstrating with
them. AS he passed out he said sit was
abominable to be thus publicly ~insulted
by a set of r~ascals." An alteration in
the lobby ensued, and an assault seemed
imminent, but it was prevented by
others. Eacker desired to avoid a brawl
in the theater, and proposed retiring to
some private place. which they did. The
interview IA without any amicable re-
suit, and Eacker returned to his party
at the theater, telling his opponents he
could be found at No. so Wall street.
Within the hour he received a message
from young Price, requesting him to ap-
point a time and place for a meeting.
In the meantime young Hamilton had
hurried off to consult Messrs. David S.
Jones and John r. Church about the at
fair. With them a message was prepared
requiring from Eacker an explanation OF
the offensive expressions he had used.
He received it that night, and merelyre-
piled that after he had finished the at.
fair with Price he would be ready tc
receive any communication from Ham.
ilton.
On Sunday, Nov. %, at noon, Eackel
and Price met at Weekawken. Mr..
Lawrence and James Lynch were the
seconds. Three shots were exchanged
without harm, and then the seconds IN.
terposed. The principals, however,
desired another shot, and agreed thai
after that the affair would be settled.
The fourth shot being without effect, @
reconciliation followed, and Price re,
marked that "Eacker was sucha damned
lath of a fellow that he might shoot all
day without hitting him."
& On being informed of the issue of this
meeting, that same afternoon Hamilton
sent a communication to Eacker. In
consequence of this the parties were al
Weehawken on the next afternoon about
3 O'Clock. Cooper, the actor was the