Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1883-07-12
THE DAYS OF FORTY.NINE.
KecOllections of an Army Officer in Cal
fOrnia-Early Duels and DueIists.

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RecOlIections of an Army Officer In Cali.
fornia-Early Dueis and DueIists.
l believe that the first duel on the
coast was between a chap from New
York, who had been a midshipman in
the navy, and n Southerner. 1t took
place in the old preside, or cemetery,
among the grass-grown graves. No
one was killed. but blood was drawn.
The feeling was intense between men
from the two sections, the Southerners
treating the Yankees with contempt,
and the Yankees rcsenting it with spirit.
The Southerncrs imagined that the
Yankees would not light, but found
they were mistaken. Although they
were opposed to the code, they did not
propose 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 Phila-
delphia, named Graham, and General
Walker, aftcrward of Nicaragua fame
IL grew out of a violent attack on the
County Court, Of which Judge Morrison
was the head, in the San Francisco
HeralG. by Walker. who was one of the
editors. Young Graham was protege
OF Judge Morrison, and without con-
sultlng him he wrote very denuncia-
tory letter to Walker, which resulted in
a challenge. Graham had the choice of
weapons, and he chose revOlverS, at
eight PAGES, at the word TO advance and
fire until either or both of the parties
hot / -tc
toned at Sacramento, and one evening
l received a 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. l got ready as
quickly rs possible and caught the even
ing boat, wondering what sort OF n
scIape Graham had got himself into,
never dreaming of a duel / arrived at
San Francisco late al 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 pleasant news was impaired to
me that / had been chosen his fighting
second. Here was a row between two
men, with neither of whom ! had more
than slight acquaintance, and in
whom had no particular interest. The
terms were unusually sanguinary, and
the affair would probably terminate in
the death of one or both. Under the
code, if one of the principals showed
the white feather his second was
obliged to take his place and fight it
out. 1t was situation that l did not
relish in the least. | knew that Wal
ker 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 if the thing went on he
might weaken and have to take it up.
l labored with him to obtain some mod
itication of his terms. l told him that
they were so sauguinary that Walker
would be justified in declining them.
We sat up all night, and tried our best
TO bring about peaceable adjustment,
but ii was no use. The fight was to
come off at nine o'clock in the morn
ing. and, finding no escape, | was
obliged to make the best of it. We
had our breakfast and took a carriage
for the dueling ground. On the way
Graham told me that he was dead
shot, and that he intended to kill Wal
ker on the first fire. l halted the car
riage, and told him that | would not 90
a step further if that was his purpose
If he were the expert marksman that
he claimed to be it would be little less
than murder, and l proposed to wash
my hands of the affair unless he would
promise to wing his man instead 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
difficulty, but without success. / had
taken the precaution to dress my
man in black from head to foot,
without a particle of white anywhere
visible. Walker was in a blue swallow
tailed coat, with buff vest and black
pants. His coat was buttoned, and be-
low the breast the light 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 5000 people We're on the ground
to witness the sport. Among the most
interested spectators was Alexander
Wells. then Chief-Justice of California,
The ground was measured, pegs driven,
and l won the word. The men were
placed in position and the signal given.
Gentlemen, are you ready? Fire!
one, two, three, haltr' At the word
both wheeled and fired Walker stood
still, but Graham advanced one pace
and both fired again. After this l
called halt and tried to bring about
compromise, but was not successful.
Walker had his blood up and proposed
to kill or be killed then and there. I
went to Graham and told him that all
parleying was at an end; that Walker
proposed to kill him if he could. and
that absolved him from the promise
made in the carriage, as he must fight
for his life. remember distinctly how
excited the ChiefJustice became as he
rushed up and down the line. swinging
his arms and crying to the crowd:
Keep out of the line of fire, gentle
men; keep out of the line of fire. At
last the word was given, both pistols
cracked. and Walker spun around on
his heel and fell irA Folsom's arms.
They tore open his Ca ming and found
that the ball had entered the body Just
where the white line of vest showed be-