The Dawson journal., 1883-07-19
DETERMINED DUELTSTS.
The Hostile Meeting Between
Graham and Walker.


collections of old time duels on the
western coast. Himself an adhe-
rent of the code Of honor that de-
manded PREPARATION for real or fan
cied insult, the details of the duel
as related by one of the partici-
pants, is unusually interesting.
He says:
The first duel that | was con-
cerned In, was between a young
man from Philadelphia named
Graham and General Walker, af-
forwards of Nicaragua fame. It
grew out of a violent attack on the
county court, of which Judge
Morrison was the head, in the
San Francisco Herald, by Walker,
who was one of the editors.
Young Graham was a protege of
Judge Morrison, and without con-
sultlng him he wrote very de-
mandatory letter to Walker, which
resulted in a challenge. Graham
had the choice Of weapons, and he
chose reviewers, at eight PAGES; at
the word to advance and fire until
either or both of the parties were
killed. At shat time | was sta
toned at Sacramento, and one
evening [ received 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 a
duel. [ arrived at San Francisco
late at night and went at once to
Graham's room, where | found
him in consultation with his friends.
| was there informed of what had
occurred, and the present news
was impaired to me that | had
been chosen his fighting second.
Here was a row between two men,
with either Of whom [ had but
slight acquaintance, and in whom
| had no particular interest. The
terms were unusually sanguinary
and the affair would probably ter
inmate in the death Of one or both.
Under the code if one of the prin-
cipals showed the white feather
his second was obliged to take his
place and fight it out. 1t was a
situation that I did not relish in
the least. l knew that Walker
was a 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 if the
thing went pn, he might weaken
and [ have to take it up. labor
ed with him to obtain some modi-
fcation of his terms. / told him
that they We're so sanguinary that
Walker would be justified in de-
clining them. We sat up all night
and tried our best to bring about a
peaceable adjustment, but it was
of no use. The fight was to come
off at 8 o'clock in the morning, and
finding no escape, | was obliged to
make the best of it, We had our
breakfast and took a carriage for
the dueling grounds. On the way
Graham told me that he was a
dead shot, and that he intended to
kill Walker on the first fire. I
halted the carriage, and told him
[ would not go a step further if
that was his purpose. Ii he were
the expert marksman that he
claimed to be a little less than
murder, and [ proposed to wash
my hands of the affair unless he
would promise to wing his man in
stead of killing him. At last he
agreed to it, and we went ahead.
On the ground we found Walker
and his Second, who was Captain
Folsom, of the army. | tried to
effect an adjustment of the Difficult
ty, but without success. | had
taken the precaution to dress my
man in black from head to foot,
without a particle of white any,
where visible. Walker was in a
blue swallow tailed coat, with buff
vest and black pants, His coat
was buttoned, and below his breast
the ligbt line of his vest could be
seen. The impending fight was
known to the whole of San Fran
cisco, and, as it was Sunday, not
less than five thousand people were
on the grounds. Among the most
interested spectators was. Alexan-
der Wells, the Chief Justice of
California. The ground was mea-
sured, pegs driven, and ! won the
word. The men were placed in
position and the signal given:
Gentlemen, are you ready? Fire!
one, two, three, halt" At the
word both wheeled and fired.
Walker stood still, but Graham
advanced one pace and both fred
again. After this / called a halt,
and going to Folsom, tried to bring
about a compromise, but no use.
Walker had his blood up and pro-
posed to kill or be killed then and
there. L went to Graham and
told him that all parleying was al
an end; that Walker proposed tc
kill him if he could, and that