The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-09-11
Midnight Duel.

1t is not generally known that William
Coleman, William Cullen Bryant's prCde-
cessor on the Evening Post, was priuci-
pal in fatal and mysterious midnight
duel, which created great excitement in
Journalistic aud political circles here seven
ty-fve years ago. Coleman was man of
intellect and character, an extreme Fed
eralist, and of such intense prejudlccs that,
having once formed an opinion, nothing
could change it. At the beginning of tho
century party spirits burned at white heat,
and newspaper controversies were conduc-
ted with most Incorporate zeal. Coleman's
chief political opponent was James Cheet-
ham, of the American Citizcn, and the
two were constantly at war. Although the
Evening Post editor used violent language,
as was the custom Of the day, and he whs
conscientiously averse to duelling. and had
often 30 expressed himself in his editorial
columns. Nevertheless, Chectham, after
bitter contest of words, challenged Cole
man, who accepted the challenge, as men
of his anti-duelling principles have often
done before and since. The meeting did
not take place, however, because Judge
Brockhoest Livingstone, IN his official capa
city, caused the arrest Of the principals.
The arrest was interpreted unfavorably 10
Coleman by his political enemies, one Of
whom Captain Thompson, Harbor-mastcr
of New York declared publicly that the Post
editor could not be driven into a 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 80, WASH
ington Morton acting for the Journalist, and
Cheetham for the Harbor- Master, No legal
interference could be tolerated this time
and the affair was managed with the great
est secrecy. One summer morning DR..
Nc Lean well known surgeon, received
~ anonymous letter to the effect that at
eleven o'clock of the same evening he
would find at the foot of Broadway, on
the south side Of Bowling Green. horse
and gig. He was requested to drive with
these to spot designated, on tic road
sklrting Potter's Ficld-the neighborhood
| of Washington square at prcscnt-where
he would meet some friends anxious to see
him. lie followed the directions faithful
ly. On arrival he heard four pistol shots,
and by the moonlight he observed, by
looking over the fence, one man support
ing another, and two other men at a little
distance. "Aro you DR., McLean2" Re
ceivng an affirmative reply, the man said,
This 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. The Doctor
recognized the gentleman thus strangely
consigned 10 him as Captain Thompson,
with whom he was intimately acquainted,
Thompson was severely hurt, having bull
let-hole in his side, and was bleeding pro-
tusely. The Doctor stanched the wound
rs we'll as he could. and drove the patient
to his residence, nearly two miles away.
tie left Thompson at the door. rang the
bell, and hurried away. The members of
the family came; were terrible 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
quircd the cause Of his pitiable plight. lie
refused to say any thing more than that he
had fought duel, and had been honora-
bly, treated, and begged that no effort
should be made to discover or punish his
adversary. whose name he would not dis
close. Though he had the ablcst surgeons,
he died, after lingering two or three days,
with his secret unrevcaled. His petition
was religiously respected. Nobody tried
to modest Coleman, whose share in the duel
necessarily soon became known; no com.
ment was ever made in the press; the
editor of the Post returned to his desk, and
80 the strange tragedy ended.