The Lafayette advertiser. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], La.) 1865-19??, 1878-07-27
A Midnight Duel.
New York Times.l

1t is not generally known that William
Coleman, William Cullen Bryants's pre-
decessor on the Evening Post, was prin-
cipal in fatal and mysterious midnigh
duel, which caused great excitement in
journalistic and political circles, seventy
five wears ago. Coleman was man of
intellect and character, an extreme feder
aIist, and of such intense prtjudiced that,
having once formed An opinion, nothing
could change it At the beginning Of the
century. party spirit burned at white heat.
and newspaper controversies were con
Quoted with most incorporate zeal. Cole
mans chief political opponent was james
Cheetham, of the American Citizen, and
the two were constantly at war. Although
the Evening Post editor used violent Ian
guage, as was the custom Of the day, be
was conscientiously averse TO dueling, and
had often so expressed himself in his edi
torial columns.
Nevertheless Cheetham, after a bitter
contest Of words, challenged Coleman,
who accepted the challenge, as men of his
anti dueIing principles have often done be-
fore and since. The meeting did no. take
place, however, because Judge Brockbolst
Livingston. in his official capacity, caused
the arrest Of the principals. The arrest
was interpreted unfavorably to Coleman
by bis political enemies, one Of whom,
Captain Thompson, harbor master Of this
port. declared publicly that the Post edi-
tor could not be driven into fight; that
he was An infamous poltroon. Such Ian
guage could not at that time be brooked
submission to it involved loss Of influence
and social caste. Consequently Coleman
determined, with the advice of his friends,
to call Thompson out, and did so. Wash
ington Morton acting for the Journalist,
and Cheetlam for the harbor master.
No legal interference could be tolerated
at this time, and the affair was managed
with the greatest secrecy. One summer
morning Dr.. Mclean, well-known sur.
geon, received an anonymous letter to the
effect that at II o'clock of the same eve
ming he would tiud at the foot Of Broad
way on the south side Of Bowling Green,
a horse and gig. He was requested to
drive with these to spot designated, on
the road skirting Pottsr's Field-the
neighborhood Of Washington Square at
present-where he would meet some
friends anxious to see him. He followed
the directions faithfully. On arrival he
heard four pistol shots, and by the moon
light be observed, by looking over :he
fence, one man supporting another, and
two other men at little distance. The
man supporting another inquired "Are
you Or. McLean?" Receiving an affirm
ative reply, the man said: This gentle-
man is wounded. He needs your aid.
Take charge Of him, please, and carry
him to his friends. Then be gently laid
the wounded man down on the ground
and went of with the others. The doctor
recognized the man thus strangely con
signed to him as Capt. Thompson, with
whom he was intimately acquainted.
Thompson was severely hurt, having
bullet hole in his side, and was bleeding
profuseIy.
The Doctor stanched the wound as well
as be could, and drove the patient to his
residence, nearly two miles away. He
left Thompson at the door, rang the bell,
and hurried away The members Of the
family came; we're terribly shocked to
find the husband and father they had seen
cheerful and vigorous few hours before
bleeding and helpless. They took him to
his chamber, and in tears and distress. in
quired the cause Of his pit'sble plight.
He refused to say anything more than
that he had fought duel, and had been
honoratly treated and begged that no
effort should be made to discover or pun
ish his adversary, whose name he would
not disclose. Though he had the best at
ten,ion aud the abIest surgeons, he died,
after lingering two or three days, with his
secret unrevea!ed. His petition was reli
gioasly respected. Nobody tried to mo.
lest Coleman, whose share 10 the dpel
necessarily soon became known; no com
ment was made in the press; the editor Of
the Post returned to bis desk, and SO the
strange tragedy ended.