Omaha daily bee., 1889-08-19
TERRY'SRED- HANDED CAREER
A Forty Tells of the Judges
Bloody Work.
HOW HE MURDERED BRoosRicK.
Full Description Of the Famous and
Fatal Duci-Baker's Remarkable
Funeral Grafton Over the
Senator's Bier.
A Life For n Life.

Telegram to THE BEE. There is moth
ing talked about on the coast to-day ex-
cept the killing OF Judge Terry. When
the news Of the shooting reached San
Francisco it caused the greatest excite
ment and all the papers issued huge
special editions con tanning every detail
of the bloody occurrence which could be
secured. Judge Terry was probably the
best-known man in the state, but his
tragic end called forth comparatively
little regret. He was unpopular both
with the masses and with the classes,
but the few friends he did have were
warm Ones For the past few years he
had been before the public only as one
of the principals in the Sharon-Hill
case, and the record he made in earlier
days had become almost a reminiscence.
Still there are few OF the old settlers
who remember the stormy career OF the
judge during the days of the vigilance
committee and the period of the slavery
agitation.
An old 49er, who was present at the
fatal meeting between Judge Terry and
Senator Broderick in 1853, to-day told
me the story of that bloody duel and the
incidents preceding 1T.
A bitter campaign had just been
waged in the state, with Senator Brod-
erick the leading figure on the one
side and Judge Terry as his principal
opponent. The great issue was the
slavery question. Broderick, although
a democrat, opposed the extension of
slavery. while Terry was the leader of
what was known as the chivalry branch
of the democratic party. During the
campaign personalities were INDUCED
in, but it was not until the close of the
struggle that Judge Terry issued the
fatal challenge.
David G. Broderick, the victim of
Terry, was born in Washington, ID. c.,
and was first known in New York as
good stonemason and leader among
the somewhat unruly fremen who made
the city turbulent place forty-five
years ago. Gifted with certain rude
force, he won the affections and esteem
Of the volunteer firemen and rOughs,
who were such powerful element in
New York in the old days. The men
whom he controlled were rougher than
believed, feared and implicitly
trusted. His personal courage
and magnetism were marvellous,
and there was no storm so
violent that he could not ride upon it,
no ehiBeuCy 30 JtylHS tnut ue Couiu HOG
cope with it. He rose to be chief engi-
neer in the days when that Office gave
its incumbent absolute sway over great
mass of willful and almost lawless men.
He had a natural turn for politics. and.
fascinated by his success while supported
by the suffrages of the firemen of New
York, he ran for congress in 1916 and
was defeated. Soon after this dlsap-
pointment the California gold fever
n p,,I 1Hl f,,, = In
Dorado of the Pacific, where, in the
wild struggle for place and power, he
made himself felt. In wild, uneasy Cal
ifornia was his congenial element.
Broderick, warm, generous, brave, bold
and indomitable, led manfully in that
unique battle of life. Broderick was
elected senator in the first Legislature,
and his hand was often heavy on the
lawless men who again and again at
tempted to bring chaos into the state.
In 1855 he was elected to the United
States senate. His instincts were all
against slavery, and he became the
open foe OF his colleague, William M.
Gwin, then the pro-slaverv senator from
California. During the mysterious and
plotting days of Buchanan's administra-
tion Broderick was the bold and fearless
champion of freedom in the terrific
ries. He was the trusted friend and sup
pOTbSF VI olSpueD a. DOuBluS, anu
when the so-called Lecomption issue
came up in congress not even Douglas
himself was more scornful and emphatic
in his denunciation of it than Broder-
ick. The enormous patronage of the
young state of California was given to
Gwin, who, during the late rebellion,
received the dukedom of Sonora
from Macmillan. was in favor of
Jefferson Davis, and was finally cap
4
Broderick was to be got rid of. It was
said that caucus of his political enc
mics was held in San Francisco to decide
who should challenge him to fight n
duel. David S. Terry, who was fixed
upon to send the challenge, was from
Kentucky, and was an accomplished
duelist, while Broderick vas only not a
49, duelisu, but not even Il good shot with
the pistol, and it is a matter of tradi-
tion that Terry was selected to give the
obnoxious anti-Lecomption senator his
quietus. 1.-The code" held sway in CAL
ifornia in those days. Broderick was
proud, sensitise and tenacious OF his
manly dignity. He went out to the
field in the gray of the morning with
the fixed consciousness that he was
going to his execution.
There we're eighty spectators present
when the seconds held their conference
uuu VIC were SNduulUeu ana
loaded. A half dollar was tossed up.
and Judge Terry won the choice of
weapons. Mr.. Hayes, the second OF
Judge Terry, marked off the ten PAGES
and warned the spectators to move back
out of the line of fire. Broderick was
the coolest man Of his party, his sec
onds appearing nervous and i'll at ease.
Mr.. Haskell, his second, after partly
untying the senator's cravat, stepped
back aud wrung his hands. He then
removed the cravat. This incident un-
manned Broderick for u moment.
Broderick wore a long surtout and had
n soft woolen hat drawn down over
his brow. Terry was similarly
attired. The requirements OF
the code were strictly followed.
Broderick was searched closely for con-
cealed mail, but Mr.. McKibben, who
was to search Terry, only touched his
waistcoat and bowed. Broderick had by
this time lost some of his composure.
He was nervous, and twitched at the
skirts OF his surtout. He aud Terry had
taken their positions. Terry stood
erect and firm, apparently Indifferent
TO everything put his thoughts. The