The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1889-08-23
TORY aaa Broderlek.


When gold was discovered in California,
among the first mad rush thut reached tho
golden land from Texas was tall, thin.
dark k-complexloned, wiry young man, who,
at tho first glance, seemed the beau ideal of
the typical border ruffisn. He was well
mounted and we'll armed; he wore his hair
long, after the style of the Indian border and
this. with long. untrimmed beard, gave MIN
the appearance OF o man accustomed to arms
and not afraid to use them on the slightest
provocation In common with his neIghbors
In those days, when he got up in the morning
he examined his silver mounted Derringers
before ho stuffed them In his pocket, to SEQ
that they were ready for instant use; then
he strapped on his six-shooter and bis silver
mounted Bowie knife. and. after getting
whisky cocktail felt that he was moderately
ready for the ordinary business of the day.
The average Texan of those days looked
down upon oil Northern men as poor white
trash. and David s. Terry mot yet judgc)
shared oil tho bitterest prejudices of his race
When the state was organized q desp. crate
and protracted fight took place between the
pro-slavery and gnti-slavcry or free-soll ele-
ments in the state, to SEQ which should gain
control of the organization. Prominent
among the leaders Of the ultra Southern wing
were William N. Gwlnn and David s Terry,
and when the organization was perfected
Gwinn reached tho United States senate and
Terry was elevated to q seat on the supreme
bench, his associates being the chief Justice,
disslpated but talented lawyer named
Hugh Murray. and u lawyer from the South
named Solomon liydenfeldt The supreme
court at this time was exclusively u Southern
institution, and when one Stoneull brought
his slave Archie to the city of Sacrane ITO
and Archie claimed his liberty on that nc
Terry and his associates, and was only
rescued through the efforts of Col. f. u.
Baker
THE DUEL.
The bitter war of rlce prejudice finally
ended in q duel, in which Terry was one Of
the princiIal The s;ate between tho Free
SOIL wing Of the Democratic party. under the
leadership Of David Q. Broderick. and tho
Pro Slavery party, led bv W. N. Gwinn and
Terry. hnd grown bitterer with the advance
ing years, and David c. Broderick had
started on the lowest round OF tho political
ladder. had risen to position OF command
ing influence, amd successfully resisted tho
Southern oligarchy which had hitherto DOM
mated in the state. In 1867 Mr.. Broderck
gained control Of the legislature. and was
elected to tho United States senate succeed
ing John Is. Weller. and shortly after came
another election for senator to succeed
William M. Gwinn. who was desir-
were two other candidates before the legis-
lature-Joseph McCarkle and Milton s Lat
ham. ut that time collector Of the port Of
San Francisco. But the only condition that
Frederick would listen to was that the can
ddate. whoever he should be, should re-
n0unce NIL claims to federal patronage. as
Gwinn and Weller had completely ostracised
the friends of Frederick. Latham at first re-
fused. but afterwards promised. but Broder-
lex. who knew his man, insisted on having
but was afterwards publicly accused of hav-
ing stolen it from the desk of Frank Tilford.
When the Lecompton constitutiOn was be.
tore congress. Broderick. who was fast
friend of stephen A. Douglas, delivered one
Of tho bittereht philippics against the prcsl-
United States senate. Gwinn, who had pub-
licly rcnounced all claims to federal patron.
aye, and thanked Br0ierick for his aid in
electing him, was now his colleague in the
senate-and soon forgetting the man by
whose aid he had been elected.
BECAME HIS BITTEREBT ENEMY.
On the adjournment Of the senate in 1859
Broderick, who had grown immensely in the
affections OF the people, returned to Califor-
mia to give IN account Of his stewardship,
Thousands turned out To hear him. Gwinn
also took tho stump, and the battle was
wagcd with a bitterness seldom seen in civ
ilized communiticR The partisans of each
faction went constantly armed. atfrays were
frequent and ut least one OF the principals
stood in danger OF instant assassination. The
feeling was 10 bitter that Terry and Broder-
ick became involved in personal quarrel
When the election was over Terry wrote out
his resignation az supreme Judge and
placed IL In the hands of friend to be
used IL he killed Broderick, and ini-
mediately sent him q note demanding
retraction of the words he had used to Per-
ley. Broderick refused, and the result was a
peremptory challenge borne by Terry's
friend Calhoun Denham. Broderick unfor-
tunately accepted the challenge and named az
his friend Col. Joe McKibben The meeting
was arranged for Sept 10, 1859. but the
sheriff interfered and it was postponed to
the 18th Calhoun Benham loaded Terrys
pistol. and gunsmith who was on the
ground loaded the pistol for Broderick. The
word fire was givon. and before Broderick
could raise his pistol it was discharged, the
ball striking the ground about ten feet In
front OF him. Terry deliberately raised his
pistol, and having him completely at his
mercy. shot him He coolly remarked to
Mr. Benham. Il shot about two inches too
low and turning on his heel walked away.
No nuoh AAnsafiOn Waa aver kuoNn In aha