The New Orleans Democrat. (New Orleans, La.) 1875-1876, 1876-05-14

California Chief Justice and n senator
On the DucIlimg Ground
from the San Francisco Post

From the San Francisco Post
The. prominent and peculiar par
played by David c. Broderick in Cal
ifornia politics, the hold he obtained OF
the public heart. and the circumstances
preceding his unhappy end, unite to en-
nance the tragic character Of his fate
After struggling for years against odds
which would have overbOrDe q man oil
less energy and determination, he tri.
,lmphed over all the powerful foes ar
rayed against him, winning the object
Of his ambition, seat In the United
States Senate. After the adjournment
OF Congress he returned to this State
and entered upon the memorable cam
paign OF 80, leading the Douglas wing
OF the Democracy. David s. Terry.
Chief Justice Of the Supreme Court,
was candidate for denomination, and
in one OF his speeches he said 10 rela-
ton to the rival wing OF his party:
They have no distinction; they are
entitled to none. They are the follow
ers or one man, the personal chattels OF
n single individual. They belong body
and soul and breaches to David G. Brod-
erick. They are yet ashamed to ac-
knowledge their MASTER and are, for
sooth, Douglas Democrats"
To this passage, which is certainly
not more offensive than the average
oratory, of which it is class, Broderick
attached undue weight. Reading it at
the breakfast table of the International
Hotel In the morning, he became highly
incensed and spoke in great anger and
bitterness OF Terry, saying that he re-
GREETED having assisted him when i'm the
hands of the Vigilance Committee.
u. W. Perley, formerly the law partner
OF Terry. being at the table, resented
the slur upon his absent friend, and sent
Broderick challenge, which the latter
declined on the ground OF social and po-
litical inequality between them, and
that Perley, being foreigner, had not
the political rights to lose by fighting
that he tBroderfck) had. In the course
or the correspondence the Senator an
nounced his unalterable determination
not to respond to any challenge until
after the election Terry, who it was
understood was on the point OF coming
to San Francisco to demand instant
satisfaction, was deferred by this init
nation from Broderick. He cherished
the remembrance OF the insult, and re-
signing his Office, on election day took
the boat for San Francisco, stopping at
Stockton for his surgeon, DIR. Aylett,
and his dueling pistols. On the next
day he called Broderick to account.
tice met on Davis's ranch, about two
miles southeast Of Lake MERGED. The |
weapons were duellng pistols, distance
ten PAGES. The choice of positions and |
weapons were decided by the toss Of a
bali dollar, being won by the seconds of |
Terry. The latter's weapons were of
course chosen. The principals took off
their overcoats and stepped to the po-
stions assigned them. Broderick, who
wore light wool hat pulled down over
his forehead, had q presentment of his
fate, but was sustained by his iron will.
Terry stood firm with the air of prac-
Used duellist. At the word the weapons
were raised. In his nervous hurry
Broderick's was discharged premature
y. the bullet striking the ground in
'front.' of his antagonist. Terry aimed |
deliberately and fired. exclaiming, The
shot is not mortal. / have struck two
inches to the right" Broderick, on re-
'eiving the shot, turned suddenly to
one side, braced himself for moment,
md retaining his pistol in a convulsive
grasp, sank to the earth. After linger-
ng seventy-four hours, the Senator ex-
bred on the morning of Sept. IS.