Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1881-01-27
A DueIIng "Reminiscences.

The recent unveiling Of the statue of
Alexander Hamilton, In New York, brings
up recollecticns OF the ground upon which
the duel between Hamilton and Burr was
fought. In a recent conversation with an
elderly gentleman, an old New Yorker,
this subject was brought up, and he gave
graphic account of duel between one
DR.. Barton and Mr.. Graham, not far from
the very spot where Hamilton had lost bis
life some years before. In the spring of
1920 or 1921 the narrator, being then a
young man and the owner Of fast White
hall boat, was approached one evening by
two gentlemen who wished to know if he
would take party from the foot of Cort-
landt street the next morning at 8 o'clock
This the narrator promised TO do, AMI at
the time appointed he was on hand with his
boat, manned by four oarsmen, and himself
at the tiller. Three gentlemen got on
board, and he was directed TO steer toward
Paulus Hook, (now Jersey City, From
there they proceeded up the river to a spot
on the beach above Hoboken, and about
100 yards from where the memorable duel
had been fought. They all landed, aud
about fifteen minutes afterwards another
boat, owned by ''Capt." Anthony B.
Fountain, put ashore, with Mr.. Graham
and another party. When this last boat
landed, and while stepping ashore, Graham
stumbled and fell over a rock, saying to
the gentleman with him, who turned out
to be his second, Eddy, il won't do to fall
yet" This was the first intimation the mar
rator and Capt" Fountain received that
a duel was about TO take place. While the
seconds were measuring the ground, an
old farmer and several men with hoes over
their shoulders. approached the spot, and
one of the men hurried as though he were
about to try and stop matters where they
were, but the old farmer said, ''Stop, John,
1t all, If they want 10 shoot, let
them shoot one another After some ten
PAGES were measured of on the beach, the
seconds tossed for choice of position, the
principals took their pistols, and Barton
took his stand facing the south, Graham
facing north. The narrator and Capt"
Fountain stood near the beach about mid
way between the combatants, the seconds
and the doctor who was with them stand
ing opposite.
When the signal was given they fired,
Graham's shot striking the ground about
midway between the combatants, and Bar
tons shot almost grazing Graham's right
side. After the first fire short converse
tion ensued between the principals and
seconds, which the narrator did not over
hear, after which they again took their
positions. At the second fire Graham fired
first without hitting Barton, and Barton,
after taking deliberate aim, fired, hitting
Graham in the groin. The injured man
jumped about two feet into the air, and
the narrator and ''Capt." Fountain ran tO
the spot and caught him US he fell. DR..
Mcleod then examined him, and observed,
''It Is all day with him." Graham said,
''Darton, my dear fellow, you have shot
me; / forgive you" Barton said, ~ am
sorry" The old farmer and his men then
tbe place the parties had taken 10 t6eaff t6eafffhHa fe
spective boats. On first leaving the shore
the boats were somewhat separated, but
they afterwards came together. and Barton
took from his pocket a flask containing
brandy and passed it to Graham The
two boats then took different directions,
the narrator taking Barton back TO Cort-
landt street, and on the way the narrator
asked Barton why he shot Graham after
the latter's pistol went of, and his reply
was, 'tMy God, never thought of it, " and
the narrator was convinced from his man
ner that it had never occurred to him that
he might have thrown away his fire. Bar
ton told the narrator (and at such time 1t
is to be supposed that he would have told
the TRUTH that the pistol with which he had
shot Graham was the identical pistol with
which Burr had shot Hamilton.
Barton went to the City Hotel and packed
his trunks, and was rowed to Staten Is
land. He was then driven across to AM
boy, thence to Cape May, where q pilot
boat conveyed him to a ship bound for
Havre. The narrator understands that he
remained in Paris for some time, and was
engaged in the Office of the United States
Consul Graham died before the boat
reached shore, and there YVES considerable
excitement at the time over the affair.
The narrator, ''Capt." Fountain, as also
the oarsmen in the two boats, kept shady
for few days, but upon being advised to
90 to the proper authorities and make
clean breast of it, they did 80 and were
discharged.