Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-02-20
THE BRODERICK.TERRY DUEL.
The Bloody Work by Lake Mercea.

CORRECT VERSION OF THE TRAeEDY-rEsrr-
MoNY OF COL. JOS. c. NC KIBBIN, BRoDERIcKs
| SEcoND-INrERvIEww WITH JUDGE NC 00wAN
| THE CHARGE OF FOUL PLAY UNroUNDED.
| Twenty-six years or more have passed away
since the tragedy of the Broderick- Terry duel
was enacted on the Pacific coast--an affair
which, in its social and political relations, con-
| vulsed entire California and was q theme Of dis
| cussion for many months away on the Atlantic
seaboard, and even now the circumstances are
| Of general interest, as show by the publication
every now and then Of some new version OF
| the sad affair. The sod of Lone Mountain
cemetery, hard by San Francisco, covers the
| body Of poor Frederick: the sad signing Of the
| pillows Of the mighty Pacific as they roll upon
| the sands Of the Golden Gate, being his eternal
| requiem, while but a few days since his more
fortunate adversary strobe gaily to his wedding
feast with perhaps not q thought of the danger
Gus past-only dreams Of a blissful future.
Though nigh three decades have elapsed
| since David ). Terry and David c. Broderick
stood facing each othe, pistol in hand, close by
| the waters Of Lake MERGED, too many of the
| participants in that affair are still alive to
| OF statements lately published in regard to the
| affair.
| JUDGE M'GowAN's STATEMENT.
Judge Edward MCGOWAN, a famous parsonage
| of California in those days, and Col. Joseph c.
|
are both now residing In this city, and upon the
| former gentleman STAR reporter called in
reference to the duel, and more particularly in
| reference to the narrative of the duel published
| some days since in a leading New York paper.
Mr.. McGowans hair is thinner and whittier; his
beard more stub6y; his limbs have not the ac'
| tivity they had in SO, but the massive brow,
the restless piercing e. e. the courteous rejonder
betoken the man Of pluck, OF hardwood, Of in.
friend OF the unfortunate Broderick, but he has
| the honorable disposition to do justice to Brod-
erick's antagonist.
WIN you please give me the facts connected
with the duel of Judge Terry and senator Bro
! derrick p Certainly, sir r he replied; AMI at
| and Senator Broderick knew well Both OF
| them, as well as myself, went to California at
an early period In her golden history. Judge
| to California from Texas; that of Senator Brod-
erick was right here in the District OF Columbia,
though he came, and hailed from New York
city, where he had spent the better part of his
| iife l, myself, am Pennsylvania, having
been born in Philadelphia, representing that
county in the state legislature for a couple OF
| terms. held several official positions in San
| Francisco, among them being Commissioners OF
emigration and judge of the court of sessions.
lndscreet and imprudent friends were finally
the cause of the duel between Broderick and
Terry, which might have been averted by calm
and sensible reasoning and with equal honor.
THE WORK OF HoTsPUR ADVISERS.
Both principals seemed to have been sur
| rounded by seconds and advisers-a set of Hot
| spurs, who were disposed to urge on the meet
Ing to fatal issue, rather than allow on either
side the minutest waving Of senseless pune.
tilfo. The affair could have been honorably
settled to the entire satisfaction of the two prn-
| cipals and their friends. Where there is a will
Inese Is AVA, way, ana Mr: Edm9 an randolph and
deavored to prevent a hostile meeting, but un-
wise friends counseled otherwise, and Col. A. J.
Butler, one of Senator Broderick 8 advisers, pro-
tested against settlement. and said, I'VE in
tend to fight the giant, and pay no attention to
the call TO the field by pigmies This latter re-
m ark ref tn trio nj Ind, Torpx-
| who also stood ready to send challenges.
Col. Jos; c. McKibbin ana AR. Couiton were
the seconds of Mr.. BrOderick and MeSsrs. Cal
houn, Benham and Samuel Brooks, seconds tor
Judge Terry. 1t was publicly proclaimed, and
for long time believed, not only east. but also
against Frederick had been taken in the selec-
ton OF the pistols, through which his pistol was
made to discharge ere it was raised TO a pareIleI
giving his antagonist the privilege of calm
cool and Deliberate fire; the latter il n skilful
markSman, making most surely fatal shot.
The writer in the New York paper see says:
One of the pistols was set with fine hair trigger.
and the other was set SO lightly that breath OF air
Terrys ps9o and gnnsm Who Was on te rronsd
loaded the pistol tor Frederick. The word Dire was
feet in Ironi of him. Terry deliberately r.ised his
Rim He coo is remarHed 10 Hr Btnsam Shot ct
aopt two INCHES too low" and turning on his heel
NO FOUL PLAY AT THE DUEL.
This was not SO. Besides the seconds Doctor
&C., there were several other persons on the
ground-Messrs. Leonidas Haskell, Henry Fritz,
and Bernard LagoOde being of the number and
who attended at the inquest. AT the inquest
ten PAGES; the weal Ons were dueing pistols; the
friends of D. S. Terry won the choice OF weapons
halfdOiar piece and calling head and tail; the
principals, after saying they were ready, were
iwo;' they were to fire betwee the words fire.
and two; saw the pistols loaded with leaden
bullets In the presence OF both seconds of both
satisfactory; the principals took the positions
assigned them at the distance of ten PAGES;
their eyes were al right angles to q straight
line between one principal and the other; after
taking their positions the pistols were taken
up by the seconds, cooked in each others pres
proceeded to his principal and delivered the
weapon; the second then returned some dis
lance out OF the line of fire. and the word was
given by a second of Mr. Broderick, fire, one
two As near as could judge, Mr.. Broderick
discharged his pistol between the words fire
and one about one second intervening between
the reports OF the two pistols; the report of Mr..
Terry pistol being subsequent, but with very
slight interval, Mr.. Broderick appeared to
taken. 1 was about twelve feet from him, mid
way between the parties. Mr.. Broderick
seemed to gradually wheel and droop; he low.
cred himself easily upon the ground. 1 ran to
him and assisted DR.. Loehr in opening his gar
ments, when l saw the wound. The services of
DIR. Hammond were rendered and accepted He
Mr.. Haskell. where he died on Friday, two
days later. His opponent was unhurt."
Col. Mckibbins testimony was cOrrObOrated
by all three OF the gentlemen above named
and verdict by the jury was rendered In
accordance with the facts. Col. Mckibbin also
stated al the inquest "that they were not aware
of any difference in the pistols while on the
ground, nor was he aware of any difference be.
tween them at the present. They had person
on the ground tor the express purpose OF load
ing the pistols"
Il myself" continued Judge MCGOWAN, twas
not upon the ground at the time, nor was I
actually in the state; l was in Arizona. But
these are the facts OF the case, and are indispu-
table. / was especial friend of Mr.. Brod-
who Officiated as second, was an observant Of
the whole affair, and and Is confident as
well as myself, that there was no foul play on
that OCCASION was not so permanently located
In California after the King Casey tragedy as I
was before but was made aware Of every thing
that was going on.
HOUNDED BY THE VIGILANCE COMMITTEE
l was bounded by the so-called vigilant COM
mittee for participation in the unfortunate af-
fair in which King was shot by Casey, and the
| latter afterward hung by that committee for
doing 1t, but was entirely guiltless. The COM
mittee would have hung me instanter if had
been caught, and / was q wanderer and Ish.
maelite for nine months In the lonely noun
| tains and iever-stricken valleys; swimming
| rivers and bayOuing in woods infested with
snakes and wild animals; forced into the COM
partnership OF criminals and cut-throats but
| thanks 10 a merciful God escaping all dangers
| at last, and finally tried at Napa Of the crimes
| charged and unanimously acquitted by the
jury. AS have stated, any OF those whom I
| have named, or any acquainted at all with the