The Opelousas courier., 1889-10-12
"A FAMOUS WESTERN DUEL
MEETING BETWEEN JUDGE TERRY
AND SENATOR FREDERICK.
Preliminaries for the Fatal Encoun-
t~er-Terry's Unfair Advantage
With the Hairspring Weapons.


The New York Sun prints an account
of the duel between David G. Broderick
and the late David 8. Terry, who was
shot dead recently by a United States
Deputy Marshal while assaulting Justice.
Field, Of the United States Supreme
Court. The duel occurred in California.
in 1857, and was the outcome of strong
political feeling between the two princi-,
pals. BrQderick at the time was a United
States Senator from California, and Terry
was Chief Justice of the State. The first
meeting was stopped by the police.
A second meeting was appointed, and
at midnight a number of carriages drove
out to the place of meeting, which was
Just back Of the lunatic asylum at Stock
ton, Cal, a number of reporters being
among the other spectators. It was a bit
ter cold morning, and the breeze from the
ocean cut like q knife.
The carriages all drew up at a fence
near the borders Of the lake, where g
milkman named Davis lived. Davis,
awakened by the arrivals, came out of
his house very much astonished By the
Eruption Of visitors. There was not very
much talking in the crowd. Every one
realized that it was a serious matter, but
n of Terry's friends said aloud that
Broderick was very likely to be carried
off the field dead. Broderick had slept
at the Lake House near by, and, with his
friends, was promptly on the ground.
Climbing over the fence, the party went
into a little valley in a field hard by,
where the ground was laid off.
The seconds held a conference, and the
pistols were examined and loaded. Judge
Terry won the choice of weapons on the
toss of a half dollar. Mr.. Hayes marked
off the ground, ten PAGES, and warned
the spectators to get out of the line of
fire, which they did very promptly.
Meantime the other seconds were busy
with their principals. The Terry party
were cool and collected, and not without
reason, particularly after the Judge won
the choice OF weapons. Broderick's
friends were nervous and frightened.
Nr. Haskell in preparing the Senator
partly united his necktie and then, over
come by his feelings, turned around and
walked away wringing his hands. When
he had recovered his composure he came
back and took off the necktie, but mean
time the incident had a depressing effect
on Senator Broderick.
J.. Broderick and Terry were attired very
much alike. Each wore a long black
surtout and a soft wool hat drawn down
over his brow.
Having placed their men at the marks,
Calhoun Benham, Terry's chief friend,
went over to the Senator and searched
him carefully for concealed mail. 1t
Nas irritating to the Senator, and, doubt
less, from it's elaborateness, intended to
be. It helped destroy his GOODNESS. Mr..
McKibben merely touched Judge Terry's
waist, and then bowed and walked away.
mfr. Broderick had previously handed
come silver coins from his vest pocket to
McKibben. When Judge Terry took his
coins from his vest and gave them to
nenham, Benham scattered them con-
4emptuously on the grass. F.:
The preliminaries being arranged, the
pistols were cooked and the hair triggers
net by the seconds, and the weapons were
landed to their principals. Broderick
was nervous and i'll at ease, continually
switching at the skirts of his s%urtout, as
Enough they were in his way. Terry was
asmarkably cool. Broderick finally got
out Of his position and was corrected by
DC. McKibhen. Then MI. Benham read
the conditions of the meeting, and Mr..
Cotton followed with instructions for
GEing.
The principals stood erect gazing
s~tsadfastly at each other, Broderiek
nsrvous and unsteady, Terry firm and
motionless. a moment of painful silence
passed.
"Gentlemen," said MI. Cotton in a
clear voice, ssare you ready?"
Both answered, but Broderick's reply
came after q slight delay, when he said:
81 am ready"
tsFirel One"
/ Both men began to raise their pistols,
but before the Senator's had been leveled
10 was discharged, the ball striking the
ground but ten feet away. Terry de-
kberately aimed and fred.
Frederick shivered, turned half way
Ssund, and grasped at the air as though
eTying to recover his balance. His head
dropped and he fell fiat on his back, his
pale face upturned to the sky. Cotton
and Haskell ran to him and raised his
head from the ground, while the blood
spurted from q hole in the right
breast.
Terry, as though he had shot at a
target, turned to Benham, and said:
a4Ah, I struck him two inches too
high"
Davis, the owner of the ranch, who
had been a silent spectator of the duel,
started to his feet as DR.. Hammond be-
gan cutting away the clothing
wound, and shouted /. $50
tsThat il murderlp
He moved toward Terry, but was re-
strained. It was fortunate that this re-
mark had been heard only by the Brod-
esick party, for there were plenty Of
friends Of Terry there, all armed to the
tseth.
| DR.. Won Loehr, Broderick's surgeon,
WA 50 much agitated that he was of no
service. The blood spurted from the
Ssnator's wound, and Won Loehr did not
seem to know how to stop it. MI.
Brooks finally stepped forward, and, in
the name OF Judge Terry, offered the SER
vices of his surgeon, DR.. Hammond.
saYes,n said McKibben, ttsend some
here, or Mr.. Frederick viii die where
he lies. DR.. Hammond then came to
Won Loehr's assistance, and cut away the
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