Savannah morning news., 1885-09-11
FAMOUS DUEL.
How Two United states Senators Shot
Each Others' Clothes on.

mentioned the death Of Senator Gwin,
which happened recently. Gen. McKin-
stry said ne had known senator Gwin, and
on further questioning gave several inter
esting "reminiscences OF the dead states
man.
He was born in Tennessee in 1905"
said Gen. Mckinstry: land after attend
ing TraDsy sylyania University in Kentucky,
he studied and practiced medicine. Re
soon drlited into the more stirring arena
OF politics, and was not long afterwards
appointed United states Marshal for
Mississippi. In 1S41 be was elected %
Congress from that -gate and served two
years. Shortly after the expira ion of his
term ne was made uperlntendent Of pub
lie buildings at New Orleans, and super
vlsed the erection Of the custom house at
that place.
Il left New York n March. 1s49," con-
tlnued Gen. Mehinstry; "and went to
California as mem Der Of the Boundary
Commission. l went by New Orleans
and took the government steamer 10 As
pinwaN. In those avs there vas great
demand for transportation 20 California,
and application for passage was made by
Col. Gwin. As / had charge % the eXpe-
dition, and ne was a United states officer,
determined TO give him transportation.
STOCK OF WINES AND LIQUORS.
and proved quite a generous and hospi-
table passenger on the trip. Almost every
day he gave dinner party. On the way
out be said that, although California was
a territory under the national govern
ment. he was going 10 devote himself 10
politics and have a state gov rnment
established. He would not, he said, give
his attention 70 mining, as every emf
grant to California al that period was
expected TO do.
"At one Of his dinner parties Col. Gwin
had US all pledge ourselves to support
him in his efforts 10 establish a State gov
ernment wnen we arrived in California,
and also in his political aspirations. We
readily and gOod-hum0redly made the
promises, for all OF US thought his plan
visionary. aud we didn't suppose for an
instant that his scheme would ever mate
rialiZe. On landing. Col. Gwin proved
the sincerity Of his purposes by going to
work at once upon his project, and TO the
surprise Of all his quOndam fellOw-voya-
gers he soon had started mOvemen-. Sc
cured the appointment Of a commission
and had him self elected a member. The
commission met at Monterey and drafted
a constitution, and in little while
THE STATE GOVERNMENT
was practically under way.
"Gwin took my youngest brother under
his wing and had him slated for election
TO the state Legislature from the Sacra-
mentO district. After the election OF the
Legislature the choice Of two Senators de-
yOlyed upon this assembly. Money was
spent with a reckless prodigality in the
canvass Of the Legislature. Gen. Hal
leck was prominent candidate and he
spent his money freely. John G.. Fre-
y, 4 \.
means dark horse. There were other
candidates whose names l can't recall.
An effort was made u buv up the Sacra-
mento delegation, but my brother went TO
them and notified eacn man he would hold
him personally responsible if he violated
his pledge TO support Gwin. The struggle
was ended by the election of Gwin aud
Fremont after a most vigorous campaign.
IAN event which excited national in
terest was Senator Gwin's duel with Con-
x essman Joe McCDrkle. McCOrkle rep
resented a California district and fell
deeply in love at Washington with Ten
nessee girl, but if she had any affection
for him 1t was alienated by Mrs. Gwin,
who was
BEAUTIFUL AND ACCOMPLISHED WOMAN
anda superb diplomat. McCorkle's ami
mostly was aroused against Gwin in con-
sequence. and the feeling between the
two California Representatives was so in
tense that the WASHINGTON papers at the
time published a great deal about the
affair. There was then only one ship a
month to the Pacific slope, and Gwin and
McCorkle, although so hostile, went out
home together. On board, their relations
were very stiff and stlted.
"When the ship touched at Santiago,
then my headquarters" continued the
General, 81 went aboard. and accOmpa-
MED them to san Francisco. ! was a
friend Of both men, and endeavored to
bring about a reconciliation between
them, but as soon as we landed at san
Francisco
MCoRKLE CHALLENGED GwIN TO A
DUEL AND GwIN ACCEPTED.
al called on Gwin the day after the chal-
lenge, and he, having heard that / had
agreed 10 second McCOrkle, exclaimed:
My God. Major, are you, my old friend.
going to turn against mep | assured
him that | would take no part in the af-
iair. The Sheriff. however, interfered
and prevented the duel at san Francisco.
Finding they could not meet for the pur-
pose there thev decided TO 90 TO Monterey
and have the duel at place about fifteen
miles out from the town.
"Ali the prelmiuarles being arranged
for "A week prior u the time for the en-
counter, each Of the principals praciiced
assiduously with the rife, and there were
II number Of spectators Of the prac ice
shooting. Each man, TOO, had his friends
among the witnesses OF tue others prac-
tice. and thus got Ideas OF his opponents
skill. Their shooting in these rehearsals
was magnificent, and everyone thought
that one or both Of them would surely fall
In the actual encounter.
"On the appointed day Gwin and Nc
COrkle. accompanied by their seconds and
friends, repaired TO the selected spot, and
the dreaded duel was fought. They were
90 or go yards apart, and
BLAZED AWAY WITH RIFLES.
They tore each others clothes, but after
firing seven shots had drawn no blood.
This did not satisfy them, and they called
for more EmunitiOn. Then a discovery
was made. The ammunition had been eX.
hausted and they were fifteen miles
from Monterey, and about 1000
miles from anywhere else. IL was plain
that the duel was over for that day. Iu
great disgust, but still rs ven0mOus rs
ever, the parties departed for San Fran
cisco. The Il lferences between McCorkle
and Gwin were afterwards adjusted. Tnis
bloodless duel became historical, and is
one OF the most famous in duelling an
nails.
"Gwiu soon left California, and never
saw him afterwards"
The Legality Of Betting.
To06o, y. r,.avno,,yeY Ns,r yopE. U.-,Jg