Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-08-16


OAKLAND, September 8, 1859.
HON. DAVID O BRODRRICK-Sir: Some
two months ago at tie public table Of the
International Hotel in San Francisco, you
saw fl to indulge in certain remarks con-
corning me which were offensive in their
nature. Before l heard of the cir
cumstances your note of the Doth
OF Juue, addressed G. W. Perlsy, in which
You declared that you would not re-
spond 10 shy call Of personal character
during the political canvass Just couclud-
ed, had been published. / have, there
fore, not been permitted TO take any no
tics Of thOse remarks until the expiration
of the limit fixed by yourself. now take
the earliest opportunity 10 rtq1ire Of you
a Ieiractioa Of those remarks. This note
will be banded to you by my friend Cal
hOun Benhsm, who is acquainted with its
contents, and Will receive your reply.
D. s. TERRY.
Several letters passed after this, and it
looked as though the sffair might end in
mers quibbling over the meaning of the
wosds employed by Broderick ia his de.
Durclstion of Terry Broderick would I'M
doubtedly have been pleased at such a re-
suit, bat Terry was loaded for bear, sid
nothing short OF blood would safety him
A letter which, while formal, was also me-
nacing,
AROUSED BRoDERICK's ANGER,
and he sent very stiff and uncompro-
missing reply. The Judge sent challenge.
making Mr.. Benham his agent, and it wss
accepted by Broderick, who referred Mr.
Bsnham to his friend, Hon. ]. @. Nc
Kibbel. The arrangements were made and
written out. The time was set for l
O'Clock on the morning of September -
The spot at first selected for the encounter
gss az the boundary lines of San Meteo
and San Francisco counties, but 1t was
altered to the farm adjoining ihs Lake
Houte ranch, occupied by VIM. Higgins
The weapons chosen were dueling pistols,
10 be used at ten PAGES. Judge Terry
chose as his seconds Calhoun Bsnham, a
lawyer; Comptroller S. Il. Brooks and
Thomss Hays. Congressman McKibben,
Sheriff David G. Gotten and LeOnidas
Haskell acted for Bfoderick. Ia this
Judge Terry had the advantage, 40 his
seconds had all had experience in such
matters before, while those representing
BrOderiCk, though accustomed TO the use
Of pistol and knife, had little knowledge
of the code. 1t has been alleged that their
experience had much to do with the result
Hays bad been warm friend Of Bro1erick
IA New York, aud it panied the latter to
see him acting for his opponent.
THE FATAL MEETING.
The parties met according tn agreement
at the ground fret selected. They had en-
deavored to keep the matter secret, but it
leaked out, and some 200 excited friends
Of both sides cOntrived to get there. The
police were also Informed, and Just rs the
seconds arrived Chief of Police Martin S
Burke came up and arrested the whole
party. There was no resistance. They
Se5e arraigned before Police Justice H. p.
Coon, who discharged them on the ground
that no crime had actually bsen commit
ted. Andrew ]. Batter, brother o. Geo
eral Bef amin F. Butler; no. A. McGlynn,
Of S. Louis, and other friends now tried
TO dissuade Broderick from fighting.
but he felt that his reputation depended
upon it, and refused TO stop. At that
time he was very c,ol and calm. The sr-
rest was mere straw. That very night,
the 18th, the parties drove to the farm
near Lsguna de 10 MERGED, ten miles from
The city. A few reporters and come others
heard it in time, ard followed. Il was
a chilly night, and go dark that the drivers
lost their wsy several times The breezs
rom the ocean blew strong and shsrp
The day broke beautifully, however, before
y Il al. lnaN
the dueling ground they had to vault 8
high fence. Terry and Broderick went
over it as lightly as though they we out
for q Lark instead Of with murderous de-
signs.
THERE WERE EIGHTY SPECTATORS
present when the seconds held their con-
ference and the pistols we're examined and
| loaded. A halt dollar wss tossed up, and
Judge Terry WOE the choice of weapons.
| Mr.. Hay marked of the ten PAGES and
| warned the spectators to move bsck out OF
the line of fire. BtOderick was the coolest
nan of the party, the seconds appearing
uervous and i'll at ease Mr.. Haskell
after partly uniyiDg the Senator's cravst,
stepped back aad wrung his hands. lie
then removed the crevst. This inci5en:
unnamed Broderick for moment. Bro
derrick wore long surtout and had a
soft wooden hat, drawn down over bic
brow. Terry was similarly attired. The
requirements of the code were strictly fol-
| lowed. Benhsm searched Brodtrick close
ly for concealed mail, but McKibhen only
| touched Terry's waistcost and bowed.
| Broderick had lost some Of his oomposure
He was nervous and twitched at the akirts
of his surtcut. lie and Terry had taken
their positions.
TERRY STOOD ERECT AND FIRM,
Arparsntly Indifferent TO everything hut
his thoughts. The pistols were cooked,
and they were delivered 10 the principals
Bsnham slowly read the conditions, and
Mr.. Cotton gave tina instructions as to the
firing. The men held the weapons muzzle
downward.
Gentlemen, said Cotton, "are you
ready"
Broderick replied after Terry, saying:
~ am ready"
ERE, One"
There was a report from Btoderick =
pistol, followed in secoud by Terry 5.
For some rea on Rroderick's pistol *
ploded before it had been brought to a
level. The bulle: buriel itself in the
ground Q third of the defiance short. Had
it gone all the way il would haze struck
its mark, for il wens in psif-ctly direct
line. The report Of Terry's pistol had
hardly died away when BfOierick was
seen to slsrt
HE TURNED HALF AROUND
aud grasped at the sic as though trying to
recover his balance. His head dropped
and he fell on his back, his pale face up
turred to the sky. He lay on the ground
while Cotton ard Haskell supported his
head. Dr.. Won Loehn, his surgeon, was
too sgitated to be of services. The blood
spurted from the Senator's wound, aud
Won Loehu did not seem to..koow how to
stop it. Mr.. Brooks finslly stepped for
ward and in the name of Judge Terry, Of
fered the services of his surgeon, D.. Ham
mond. Bat it was Of little use. Tue ball
had entered the right breast, aud passed
through the upper lobe of the left lung
Davis, the owner Of the ranch, who had
been a silent spectator OF the duel, started
10 his feet as DR.. Hammond began cutting
away the clothing from the wound, and
shouted excitedly:
THAT is murder, by Godw
MORE BLOODSHED AVERTED.
He moved toward Terry, hut vas re-
strained, II was fortunate that his re-