Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-08-15


police but at lasi, on the morning of the |
18th of September, the principals and |
their friends, to the number of about |
ffty on each side, met in little pocket |
near the coast, at the south end of Lake |
Merced.
The morning of the duel opened with |
an overcast sky and occasional clouds |
drifting away to the eastward. The pre-
liminaries occupied considerable time. |
Congressman Joe McKibben and the late
General D. D. Cotton acted as seconds
for Broderick. The late Calhoun Ben
ham and Colonel Tom Hayes, of Hayes
Valley, with Sam Brooks, State Con-
troller, as field counsel, acted for Terry.
There was no comparison between the
seconds for efficiency N handling Their
men. Terry's seconds were all exper-
enced duelsts, knew every point and in
sisted upon every point. On the other
hand, Joe McKibben was suave and
Welding, whilst General Cotton was a
mere piece of field formality. Two sets
of pistols had been brought out, one pair
by Broderick's armorer, regulation duel
ing pistols, and one pair by Terry's sec
onds, with unusual straight handles and
triggers set Oh very light hair. These
pistols are now in this city, and we ex-
amined them few days ago. We at
once recognized the pistol that Broderick
used by the popularity of the trigger. J
Broderick's armorer protested to Nc
Kihben against permitting the Senator to
fight with these pistols. He said the
trigger was set on 30 fine hair that Ii o
man unused to firing with them could
use them. He declared that the pistols
/, haI h~o,tnbt finn in
respect, and as fair for one man as for
the other. We have never learned no "
this serious question was decided.
O'Meara, in his book, says that the Sec
onds tossed up for choice but, although
We watched every move on the field
closely, we saw no tossing. But, even If
this was the case, McKibben should
never have permitted his principal to
90 to the hazard under any circum.
stances with pistols that had been
Here is where the fatal error was made ;
for when the men took their places, and
the word was given: Gentlemen are
Broderick's pistol went off when he had
only raised it at very slight angle and
the ball struck the ground about five feet
III IIOub Vi Hill. 1eIiy uiu hOt ieieo Lac
pistol, but brought it down from the
shoulder and fed within the time. The
ball entered BIoderick's breast just below
the right shoulder. There WAS mo-
ment's pause. All eyes we're fixed at the
Senator. He turned slowly round, then
gradually sank until he was caught just
as he reached the ground.
Terry's conduct on the field was that
of q man whose nerves were worked up
TO their highest tension, but not muscle
quivered. His face was pale, but his
teeth were firmly set. He wore slouch
hat, and just before the word was given
the front rim was turned up from his
eyes. About that time a cloud passed
by, and the sun peered out. Brooks
walked up to him and whispered word
in his ear. The hat rim came down, and
instantly the fatal signal was followed by
the fatal shot.
Broderick, on the other hand, seemed
ill at ease. He had been standing in
his position long time. Leonidas Has
kell had held quite an interview with
him while the seconds were arranging
the preliminaries. After Haskell left he
had some trouble with the frock skirt oi
his coat. He called for pin, and it was
fastened. Then Calhoun Benham came
up to him and tapped at his pockets to
see that he had no hard substance in
them-money or watch. The excuse for
sounding bim thus was that, in a previ-
ous duel with Caleb Smith, Broderick' e
life WAS saved by the bullet imbeddiDg
itself in the beavy-cased watch which he
wore. But, nevertheless, the manner OF
Mr.. Benham's search evidently annoyed
B oderick, and increased his manifest
nervousness. 1t was different with Nc
Kibben. He politely asked Terry if he
had anything in his pockets, and the
latter threw his coin on the ground and
turned his pockets inside out.
After Broderick fell, Benham ap-
preached McKib" en-, who was now in
great tribulation, and asked him if there
was anything more to be done. He was
told that Broderick was badly hurt, and
his offer to send DIR. Hammond to his
assistance being declined, as DR.. Loehr
VAS attending to Mr.. Broderick's case,
he r. turned to his principal, who was
taken 10 carriage near by and rode eff.
Broderitk remained on the field until q
spring wagon had been provided, and
WAS then taken to the house of Leonidas
Haskell, at Black Point, San Francisco,
where he fingered for a week in great
agony and then passed away.
The effect of this historical tragedy all
over the State WAS to create the most
intense excitement. 1t was portentous
of the great drama of the rebellion that
was soon to be enacted, and people be-
gan then to arrange themselves On Sec
tionaI lines. Many declared in the ex-
element of the hour that Frederick had
been assassinated by the devices of the
duello, and that his death was the result
# deeply concocted plot. Terry went
into retirement, and the exciting scenes
on the national stage that soon followed
swallowed up the minor interest of this
fatal duel. When the war broke out,
Terry went South and took up arms for
the Confederacy, making for himself a
good record as fighting Brigadier.
1t may be remarked in connection with
this duel that Justice Field was strong
and devoted partisan of Senator Broder-
ick. Is there the glimmering hint of the
irony of fate in this case that Judge Terry
should meet his death in the act OF as
sailing one of Broderick's stauuchest
friends thirty years after the scene closed
over the fatal field near Lake Merced?
Everybody conversant with an Incl.
dent which occurred at Sacramento dur
ing the session of the last Constitutional
Convention, will remember one of it's
most exciting episodes. Ex-Governor
Haight, who had been elected delegate,
Id h,F~ H.