Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-05-31
TIE DUEL BETWEEN HAMILTON AND
RURR

Few of the present generation have stood
upon the spot, which was formerly one OIL
the places that strangers weIe sure 70 visit
on coming to the city, and which the
events of this day rendered forever memor'
able. Two miles and half above the CITY
of Hoboken, the Nights OF Weehawken
rise, in the picturesque form SO iamidaf 70
New Workers, to an elevation OF Ioo zee.
above the Hudson. These nights are
rocky. very steep, and covered with small
trees and tangled bushes. Under ths
nights. at q point half mile from where
they begin, there is, twenty feet above the
water, grassy ledge or shelf, about SIX
feet wide and eleven PAGES long. This was
the fatal spot Except that 1t IS slIghtiy
incumbered with underbrush, it is, at tins
hour, precisely what it was on the lth OF
july, 1904. There is an old cedar tree AZ
the side a little out of range which must
have looked then very much as 1t does
now. The large rocks which partly hem
in the place are of course, unchanged, ex'
cept that they are decorated with tne .-.I-
tials of former visitors. One large rock
breast-high, narrows the hollow in which
Hamilton stood to four feet or less.
Inaccessible to foot passengers along tine
river, except at low tide, with no pain
down 1t from the rocky heights above, no
residence within sight on that side OF ths
river unless at great distance, 1T IS even
now a singularly secluded scene. But hfty
years, ago. when no prophet had yet pre-
dicted Hobokeu, that romantic shore was
a nearly unbroken solitude. third oi
mile below the dueling.ground there stood
a little tavern, the occasional resort OF ex-
cursionists where, too, duellng parties
not unfrequently breakfasted before pro
ceeding to the ground, and where they
sometimes returned to invigorate their re-
stored friendship with the landlords WINE
A short distance above the ground liVed
fine. hearted old Captain, who, II he got
scent of duel, would rush to the place
throw himself between the combatants,
and never give over persuading and threat
ening till he had established peace or
truce between them. He was the owner
of the ground, and spoke with authority
He never ceased to think that If on TINS
fatal morning he had observed the ap'
proach of the boats he could have pre-
vented the subsequent catastrophe.
But, for the very purpose OF preventing
suspicion, it had been arranged that Coio-
mel Burr's boat should arrive some time
before the other. About half-pa s2'
Burr and Van Ness landed, and leaving
their boat few yards down the river,
assembled over the rocks to the sppointeu
place. 1t was a warm, bright July morn
ing. The sun looks down, directly after
rising, upon the Weehawken hlghts, ana
it was for that reason that the Two men re-
moved their coats before the arrival OF tne
other party. There they stood careiessiy
IL ,haon of nn06T-
wood, and looking out upon as TAR, AZ
various as animated, as beautiful scene,
as mortal eyes in this beautiful world ever
beheld. The haze. crowned city; the
bright. broad, flashing, tranquil river; the
long reach of waters, twelve miles or more,
down to the Narrows the vessels at an'
chor in the harbor; misty, blue Staten
Island, swelling up in superb contour from
the lower bay the verdant flowery nights
around the opposite shore OF the river,
then dark with forest, or bright with
sloping lawn; and, to complete the pct
ure, that remarkably picturesque promon-
tory called Castle Point, that bends out FAR
into the stream, mile below WeehawkeD,
and adds peculiar beauty to the fore
ground-all these combine to form view,
one glance at which ought to have sent
shame and horror to the duelist's heart,
that so much as the thought OF closing
human beings eyes forever ON 80 much
,oyeliness. had ever lived a moment IN his
bosom.
Hamilton's boat was seen to approach
A few minutes before it touched the
rocks, and Hamilton and his second as
cended. The principals and seconds eX'
changed the usual salutations, and the
seconds proceeded Immediately to make
the usual preparations. They measured
ten full PAGES then cast lots for the choice
of position, and to decide who should give
the word The lot, in both cases, fell to
General Hamilton's second, who chose the
upper end Of the ledge for his principal,
which, at that hour of the day, could not
have been the best, for the reason that the
morning sun and the flashing of the river
would both interfere with the sight. The
pistols were then loaded and the principals
placed, Hamilton looking over the river to-
ward the city, and Burr turned toward the
nights, under which they stood. As Pen
dleton gave Hamilton his pistol he asked,
"WilI you have the hair-spring set ;"
"Not this time" was the quiet reply.
Pendleton then explained to both princi-
pals the rules which had been agreed upon
with regard to the firing; after the word
present Iney were 10 Hre as 5oOn h5
they pleased. The seconds then withdrew
to the usual distance.
"Are you ready ?" said Pendleton.
Both answered in the affirmative.
moments pause ensued. The word was
given. Burr raised bis pistol, took aim
and fired. Hamilton sprang upon his toes
with convulaive movement, reeled little
toward the nights, at which moment he in.
voluntary discharged his pistol, and then
fell forward headlong upon his face, and
remained motionless on the ground His
ball rustIed among the branches, seven
feet above the head OF his antagonist and
four feet wide of him. Burr heard it.
looked up, and saw where it had severed
twig. Looking at Hamilton, he beheld
him falling and sprang toward him with
an expression Of pain on his face. But at
the report of the pistols DR.. Hossck, Mr..
Davis and the boatman hurried anxiously
up the rocks to the scene Of the duel; &; and
Van Ness, with presence Of mind, stized
Burr, shielded him from observation with
an umbrella, and urged him down the
steep to the boat. James Parton.