Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Anacortes, Wash. Ter.) 1882-1887, 1883-08-04
IS,
Early Duels and Duelists---Graham ana
General Walker---W oodlief and keweh
---Some Exciting Episodes.

| believe that the first duel on the
coast was between a chap from New
York, who had been midshipman in
the navy, and IA Southerner 1t took
place in the old preside or cemetery,
among the grass grown graves. No
me was killed, but blood was drawn.
The feeling was intense between men
from the two sections, the Southern
ers treating the Yankees with con
TEMPT, and the Yankees resenting it
with spirit. The Southerners imagined
that the Yankees would not fight. but
found they were mistaken. Although
they were opposed to the code, they
did not proposed to be bullied, SO it
came about that nearly every personal
difficulty was settled in that manner.
The first duel that | was concerned
in was between young man from
Philadelphia, named
GRAHAM, AND GEN. WALKER,
afterward of Nicaragua fame. 1t
grew out of violent attack on the
| County Court, of which Judge Nor
rison was the head, in the San Fran
cisco Herald by Walker, who was one
of the editors. Young Graham was
a protege of Judge Morrison, and
without consulting him he wrote a
very denunciatory letter to Walker
which ended in a challenge Ora
ham had the choice of weapons, and
he chose revolvers, at eight PAGES, at
the word to advance and fire until
either or both of these parties were
killed. At that time l was stationed
at Sacramento, and one evening l re-
ceived letter from Graham begging
me for Gods sake to come down on
the first boat, that he was in trouble
and wanted me at once. | got ready
as quickly as possible and caught the
evening boat, wondering what sort of
scrape Graham had got himself
into, never dreaming of duel
arrived at San Francisco late at
night and went at once to Graham's
room, where found him in consulta-
ton with his friends l was there in
formed of what had occurred, and
the pleasant news was impaired to me
that l had been chosen his fighting
second. Here was row between two
men, with, neither of whom j had
more than a slight acquaintance, and
in whom had no particular interest
The terms were unusually sanguin-
airy, and the affair would probably
end in the death of one or both,
Under the code, if one of the princi-
pals showed the white feather his
second was obliged to take his place
and fight it out. 1t was a situation
that did not relish in the lea't.
knew that Walker was
REGULAR FIRE EATER
and would fight to the death, but
Graham l was not exactly sure of
His terms were bloody enough, but
then he had never been tried, and il
the thing went on he might weaken
and l have to take it up l labored
with him to obtain some modification
of his terms. l told him that they
were so sanguinary that Walker
would be justified in declining them
! We sat up all night, and tried oul
best to bring about peaceabl,
,, adjustment, but it was of no use
The fight was to come off at o'clocl
in the morning, and, finding no es
, cape, was obliged to make the bes
of it. We had our breakfast ant
took carr. age for the dueling ground
On the way Graham told me that h
was dead shot, and that he intended
to kill Walker on the first fire. l halt
ed the carriage, and told him that
would not go step further if tina
, was his purpose. If he were the ex
pert marksman that he claimed to b.
: it would be little less than murder
! and l proposed to wash my hands o
q the affair unless he would promise t.
, wing his man instead of killing him
At last he agreed to it, and we wen
ahead. On the ground we fount
, Walker and his second, who wa
Capt Folsom of the army. / tried
a to effect an adjustment of the diff
: Guilty, but without success / hat
, taken the precaution to dress my maj
: in black from head to foot, without
! particle of white anywhere visible
i Walker was in blue swallow-tailet
r coat, with buff vest and black pants
His coat was buttoned, and below tn,
!, the breast the light line of his yes
, could be seen. The impending fgh
was known to the whole of SAL
Francisco, and, as it was Sunday, no
} less than 5000 people were on thu
/ ground to witness the sport. Amons
the most interested spectators wa
, Alexander Wells, then Chief Justic,
: of California. The ground wa
measured, pegs driven, and l VOL
the word. The men were placed il
position and the signal given. "Gen
: tlemen, are you ready? Fire! one
? two, three. halt" AT the word boil
3 wheeled and fired. Walker stoot
. still. bat Graham advanced one pac'
, and both fired again. After this
' called halt and tried to bring abou
a compromise, but was not successful
Walker had his blood up and pro
t posed to kill or be killed then ant
G there. went to Graham and tolt
. him that all parleying was at an end
} that Walker proposed to kill him
) he could, and that / absolved hin
from the promise made in the car
{ rage, as he must fight for his life.
remember how excited the Chic