The new North-west., 1888-09-21


declared that he would never leave his prison
alive except in tho place to which they had
elected him.
David c. Broderick surpassed Terry in
the knowledge Of political maneuvering,
and was his equal in courage. He was a
native Of Washington, and his father was an
Irish stonecutter. Young Broderick went to
New York with his father, and was bound
an apprentice to a stonecutter. He was ever
afterward known as the stonecutter. He
became foreman Of a fire engine company,
and acquired considerable political influence
He was nominated for congress by Tammany
Hall in 1916, but was defeated, and in 1840,
disgusted with his loss Of political power, he
went to California. He was then 30 years Of
age. He was cool, shrewd and full Of dash,
He Immediately rushed into the political
whirl, became president Of the state senate,
and was for a time acting governor. In 1856
he was elected, through alleged corrupt
means, a United States senator, and he had
gained absolute control Of the state senate.
Terry was at this time much embittered
against Broderick because he had failed to
secure denomination for the chief Justice
ship. He let loose his wrath very freely,
called Broderick an. arch-traitor, and strove
in every way to anger him. Broderick read
Terry's remarks in newspaper at breakfast
the next morning, and denounced Terry in
unmeasured terms. D. W. Perley, promi-
nent lawyer, was in the room at the time,
and, as he was an intimate friend of Terry,
he resented Broderick's remarks and chal-
lenged him. Broderick refused to fight,
Thereupon Terry took up tbs quarrel in
dead earnest, and he in turn challenged the
senator. Broderick was not anxious to fight,
but Terry was loaded for bear, and nothing
short of blood would satisfy him Finally,
however, Broderick's anger was aroused,
and he accepted the challenge. The weap-
ons chosen were dueling pistols, to be used
at ten PAGES. The time was set for o'clock
on the morning Of Sept. IL. Terry chose rs
his seconds Calhoun Benham, a lawyer, State
Comptroller s. Il. Brooks, and Thomas
Hayes. Congressman McKibben, Sheriff
David G. Cotton and Leonidas Haskell acted
for Broderick. In this Judge Terry had the
advantage, as his seconds had had expert
ence in such matters before, while those rep
resenting Broderick had little knowledge Of
the code. Moreover, Hayes had been a
warm friend Of Broderick in New York, and
1t panied the latter to see him acting for his
opponent.
The parties met according to agreement at
the ground first selected. They had endeav-
ored to keep the matter secret but it leaked
out, and some 200 excited friends Of both
contrived to be present. The police had also
been notified, and just as the seconds came
up the whole party was arrested. They were
taken before magistrate, but discharged on
the ground that no crime had been COM
mitted. Friends Of Broderick then tried todis-
saude him from fighting, but he felt that his
reputation depended upon it and refused to
stop. The arrest was a mere straw. That
very night the parties drove to the farm near
the Laguna dc la Merced, ten miles from the
city, accompanied by a few reporters and
others. It was chilly, and SO dark that the
drivers lost their way several times. The
breeze from the ocean blew strong and sharp.
The day broke beautifully, however, before
the encounter took place.
Judge Terry won the toss for choice Of
weapons. Ten PAGES were marked of, and
the eighty spectators were warned to move
back from the line Of fire. Broderick was
the coolest man Of his party, his seconds ap-
pearing nervous and i'll at ease. Mr. Haskell,
after partly untying the senator's cravat,
stepped back and wrung his hands, He then
removed the cravat. This incident un-
manned Broderick for moment.
The principals took their position. Terry |
stood erect and firm, apparently Indifferent |
to everything but his thoughts. The pistols |
were cooked and delivered to the principals.
Benham slowly read the conditions, and the |
instructions were given as to the firing. |
The men held the weapons muzzle downward. |
''Gentlemen,' y said Cotton, '.are you readyp |
Broderick replied after Terry, saying, II
am ready"
"Fire! Onen-
There was report from Broderick's pis-
tol, followed in q second by Terry's For
some reason Brodericks pistol exploded be-
fore it had been brought to level The
bullet buried itself in the ground third Of
the distance short. Had it gone all the way
1t would have hit its mark, for it went in q
perfectly direct line The report Of Terrys
pistol had hardly died away when Broderick
was seen to start. He turned half way round
and grasped at the air, as though trying to
recover his balance. His head dropped and
he fell fiat on his back, his pale face up
turned to the sky. The ball had entered the
light breast, and passed through the upper
obe of the left lung.
Davis, the owner Of the ranch, WHO had
oeen silent spectator Of the duel, started to
lis feet and exclaimed excitedly:
';That is murder, by Godl"
He would undoubtedly have killed Terry
lad he not been restrained.
Broderick died in great agony on Sept 16
Before he died he said: ''They killed me be-
;ause was opposed to slavery and a corrupt
administration"
The excitement throughout the country
vas tremendous, and especially in San Fran
,isco. Flags all over the city were at half
mast, while thousands Of persons listened to
;he funeral grafton delivered by Col E D.
Baker.
OF course, Judge Terry was acquitted, al-
;hough the coroner's jury placed the respon-
ibility Of Broderick's death upon his shoul-
lers The immense nerve Of the man was |