The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1878-07-17

AUTHORIZED AGENT IN RAPIDES
pPARISH. OFFICE: CORNER SEC
OND and DESOTO STREETS, ALEX
ANDRIA, LA.
Mysterious Duel.
THE EVENT WHICH EXCITED NEW YORK
THREE QUARTERS OF A GEN.
TURY AGO.
1t is not generally known that Will
liam Coleman, VIM. Cullen bryant's
predecessor on the Evening Post was a
principal in fatal and mysterious
midnight duel, which created great
excitement in journalistic and political
circles hers, rs years of age. Coleman
was man Of intellect and character,
an extreme Federalist, and of such in.
tense prejudices 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
we're concluded with Incorporate zeal.
Coleman's chief political opponent was
James Cheetham, of the American
citizen, and the two were constantly
at war.
Although the Evening Post editor
used violent language, as was the GUS
tom Of the day, be was conscientiously
averse to dueliug, and had often so
expressedhimself in his editorial col
umns. Nevertheless, Cheetham, after
bitter contest of words, challenged
Coleman, who accepted the challenge,
as men Of his anti-dueling principles
have often done before and since. Tie
meeting did not take place, however
because Judge Brockholtz Livingston,
in his official capacity, caused the ar:
rest Of the principles. The arrest was
interpreted untavorably to Coleman
by his political enemies, one of whom,
Capt. Thompson, harbor master of this
port, declared publicly that the Post
editor could not be driven into fight;
that he was an infamous poltroon.
Such language could not at that time
be brooked; submission to it involved
loss of influence and social caste. Con-
sequently Coleman determined, with
the advice Of his friends, to call
Thompson out and he did 80. Wash
ington Morton acting for the journa-
list and Cbeetham for the harbor mas.
ter. No legal Interference could he
tolerated this time, and the affair was
managed with the greatest secrecy.
One summer morning DR.. Mclean, a
we'll known surgeon, received an
anonymous letter to the effect that at
ii o'clock of the seine evening he
would find at the foot Of Broadway, on
the south side Of Bowling Green, q
horse and gig. He was requested to
drive with these to spot designated
on the road skirting Potter's Field
the neighborhood of Washington
Square at present, where he would
meet some friends anxious to see him.
He followed the direction faithfully.
On arrival he heard four pistol
shots, and by the moonlight he OBJ
served, by looking over the fence, one
man supporting another, and two
other men at a little distance. The
man supporting another inquired:
care you DR.. Mclean I" Receiving
an affirmative reply, the man said !:
"Th!s gentleman is wounded. He
needs your aid Take charge Of him,
please, and carry him to his friends"
Then he gently laid the wounded man
on the ground and went off with the
others. ..,.J ~
The doctor recognized the gentle
man thus strangely consigned to him
as Captain Thompson, with whom he
ives intimately acquainted. Thomp-
son was severely hurt, having a bull
let hole in his side, and was bleeding
profusely. The doctor stauched the
wound as we'll us he 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 be-
fore, bleeding and helpless.
They took him to his chamber, aad
in tears and distress inquired the
cause of his pitiable plight. He re-
fused to say anything more than that
he had fought duel, and had been
honorably treated, and begged that no
effort should be made to discover or
punish his adversary, whose name he
would not disclose. Though he had
the best attention and the ablost sur
geons, he died, after lingering two or
three days, with his secret unrevealed.
His petition was religiously respected.
Nobody tried to modest him, whose
share in the duel necessarily soon DO
came known; no comment was made
in the press; the editor of the Post
returned to his desk, and so the
strange tragedy ended'-[New York
Times.