Connecticut western news., 1875-11-19
BURR AND HAMILTON.
Their Famous Duel, Resulting in the Death
 ofHnmilton.

Their Famous Duel. Resulting in the Death
 ofHamiltOn.
 The duel between Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton was fought early on the morning of July II, 1894. The pre- hminary correspondence had begun on the 2Oth of June, William P. Van Ness being the friend of Burr, and Judge Nathaniel Pendleton acting for Hamil- ton. The challenge was at length given by Burr and accepted, and the parties prepared for the meeting. Hamilton executed his will, stating several reasons why he should not fight duel, but still yielding to the prevailing sentiments and demands of the time. Burr, the night before, wrote some letters, and then lay down and slept till morning.
 The spot selected for the combat was at Weehawken, in Hudson county, New Jersey, about two miles and 8 half above Hobokrn, and opposite Sixty-fourth street of New York. It was quiet nook ill the rock above the North river shore.
 Ten full paces were measured, and then they cast lots for the choice of posi- tion and to decide who should give the word. General Hamilton's second won in both cases. The pistols were then loaded in the presence of all, and the principals placed. Hamilton's position faced the river and the city. It was un- fortunate, for the sun and the glancing waves might have interfered. But in the end it mattered not. Burr was faced toward the heights under which they stood.
 Judge Pendleton handed the pistol to Hamilton, and asked:
 "Will you have the hair-spring set 2"
 "Not this time," was the quiet an- swer.
 Pendleton then explained the rules under which they were to fire, as fol- lows " The parties being stationed, the second who gives the word shall ask them whether they are ready. Upon be- ing answered in the affirmative, he shall say Present r After this the parties shall present, and fire when they please. If one fires before the other, the oppo- site second shall say, One, two, three fire r and he shall then fire, or lose his fire."
 Pen ileton asked if they were ready. Upon being answered, he gave the word "Present p Both parties presented, and fred in succession. The seconds did not precisely agree as to the success sion of shots, but it is believed that Burr fired first, and that Hamilton's shot was involuntary. Colonel Burr's shot took effect, and Hamilton fell almost in stantly against tho powder, his pistol going off at the moment.
 Burr then advanced toward Hamilton with an air and gesture expressive of re- gret. But being urged from the field by his friend, he turned about and with drew, his friend shielding him with an umbrella to prevent recognition by the boatmen and surgeon, who were then approaching. Burr returned home to breakfast.
 Hamilton's second sprang forward and lifted the general to a sitting posture. The ball had struck the middle of rib and fractured it. and then lodged in his spine. Dr. Hosack says : His counte- nance of death I shall never forget. He had at that instant just strength enough to say: 'This is mortal wound, doc tor, when he sanE awaysand became to all appearances ifeless. His pulses were not to be felt and upon laying my hand upon his heart and perceiving no motion there, I considered him as ire vocably gone. l, however, observed to MT. Pendleton that the only chance for his reviving was immediately to get him upon the water. We therefore lifted him up and carried him out of the woods to the margin of the bank, where the bargemen aided us in conveying him into the boat, which immediately put out"
 Before they reached the opposite shore he revived, and from Q remark he made seemed apparently unconscious that his pistol had been discharged. He was taken to the house of friend, MT. Bayard, at Greenwich, and survived un- til the next day about two P. M., when he died in the forty-eighth year of his age. Hamilton's town residence was at No. 52 Cedar street, and his family were at the Grange, but he was buried in Trinity churchyard, from the residence of MT. Church, his brother in-law, in Robinson street, now Park place.
 An examination the next day, as to the direction of Hamilton's ball, showed that it had passed through the limb of the cedar tree, about twelve feet from the groun'l, and four feet wide of the direct line between him and Burr.