The morning call., 1891-08-16
OAKLAND And IT'S
SURROUNDINGS.
A Visit to The City Of Oaks in 1852,
and Again in July, 1891.
Then and NOW-The NugGnt-C0itGr Duel and
a SlIdaE-SCh0Ol Picnic Changes
in ThiTtT-IilG Years.


Written for THE SUNDAY CALL.
The writer of this first visited the City Of
Oaks, which may justly claim the title of
the Athens OF the Pacific Coast, early in the
month of Nav, 1852 lie had then been in
California but few weeks, and although
thirty-nine years have passed since that
time, the impressions of that day are as
fresh in his memory as if they had trans
pred yesterday. Going with friend down
TO the Pacific Mail Dock, which at that time
was at the foot of Commercial street. or
"Long Wharf as it was then termed, to see
a party off. Eastward bound, on one of the
b-monthly steamers, as we were about to
return the writer's companion remarked:
You have not yet been TO Oakland; the
ferry is Just about leaving, let us 60 over
On going Oh board and paying 81 for the
privilege. we found party of Sunday
school children in holiday attire bound for
the shores of Contra Costa-the opposite
coast, for Alameda County had not then
been created-uron a pleasure excursion, or
picnic, as such junketings are termed in
modern parlance. They were under the
charge of the venerable John Wilson, who
came to California 1.-The plains across" in
1919, with a commission of Indian Agent
signed by President Zachary Taylor in his
pocket From the fact that he cached"
portion of the baggage on the plains, and
after his arrival in California sent a party
of soldiers to urearth and bring it in, the
sobriquet of 'Carpet-bag Wilson" was ap-
piled TO him, and as is always the
case stuck to him to the day of
his deatn-the old patriarch living long
beyond fourscore years, respected and
honored by all who knew him, for he
filed to the letter the measure defn-
ing IAN honest man, the noblest work of
God" There was band of music culiveu-
ing the occasion with patriotic and senti-
mental airs on the passage across the bay.
There was also music In the air " on the
same boat. but 1t was music of far differ
ent notwithstanding blood upon the
MOON" as the sequel will show. Looking
ABOUT him the writer noticed a number of
prominent politicians and city officials, with
some Of whom lie had become acquainted.
on HOSTILITY BENT.
Accusing one of these, Judge Harvey s
Brown, lie was told that these parties were
going to Oakland with the Sunday-school
picnic. Before reaching the ferry landing
which at that time was at the mouth Of the
creek, it was ascertained that it was a
gathering Of far different character-that
the party Of politicians were on "h0stile
intention bent" and that the musical ac-
compartment would be what John Phoenix
Derby described as the popular music of
old San Diego, the soft note Of the pistol"
We learned that duel was to come off at
the haystack about mile back of
the rural hamlet already dignifed with
the name of Oakland)-the principals
being John Nugent, then editor of the San
Francisco Herald, and John Cotter, at that
time member OF the Board OF Aldermen,
growing out OF the structures made in his
paDpr bV the former uppn rha apfioDs Df tho
latter official. Hamilton Bowie. who after
waId served in the same capacity in the
duel between NGgent and Colonel Thomas
Hayes, the latter affair growing out of an
open letter of Hayes TO Nugent, published
~ the W hlE, newspaper conducted by
Lewis r. Lull and Frank NJ. PiXey, was the
second Of Nugent, Cotter being seconded by
David {. Frederick, aiterward United
States Senator from California. Nugeut
being the challenged party. having accord
ing to Tie rules OF the code the selection
OF veal onS, chose navy reyolverS-fXing
the distance at ten PAGES, the parties to fire
at the word ana continue until all the cham
beTS OF the weapons We're empted, or one
or both parties was disabled, Upon the toss
Of coin for the choice of positions Cot
ter won, and Nugent, mindful of
tie Irish proyerb, Never turn your
back on friend, or fight with your
face to the SUM-" had provided for such
contingency by wearing velvet cap, with
an unusually broad visor to shade his eyes
from the rays of the sun. As the parties
were about being placed in position, a
Contra Costa deputy Sheriff named Hardy,
rode up on mule and ordered a stay OF
proceedings ID the case. Before the order
could be executed or the ministerial officer
OF the law proceed further, the bride of the
SLeriff's mule was seized by two well
known characters of the period, William
Mulligan and Jim Hughes, with some other
muscular Christians of the same class who
had no regard for the majesty of the law,
and Its representative Was run off the
ground. be did not return, doubtless con-
WINGED that the climate of this locality was
decidedly unhealthy to officers of the law
This officer, however, Jared far worse very
few months after, being killed in an
endeavor 10 suppress sqdatter riot in the
Contra Costa hills.
THE WORD GIVEN.
The principals were now placed in posi-
ton aud the word given, both firing at
nearly the same time. After delivering his
first fire Cutter stood with his pistol by his
side, apparently daZed. or rather, amazed
that his opponent was uuhurt and did not
fall. In The meantime Nugent had made a
second Intellectual shot and had lowered
his pistol, preparing for third, itrequiring
both hands to cock the weapon. In doing
this he threw his left leg out of line. Brod-
erick. seeing his principals embarrassment,
or rather hesitation. called to him. loud
enough to be heard by all the bystanders in
the immediate vicinity, Cock your pistol"
This was not in accordance with the code,
which in such cases, 1t is said, juStifies the
second of the opposite party in taking a
shot at the interfering second who thus
prompts his principal. Obeying the order
Cotter fired again, and his chance or acct
dental shot struck Nugen: in the thigh,
producing compound comminuted frac-
tuTe OF the femur. AS he did not
fall at once, but gradually sank
down, the writer, who was nearer
to him than the opposite party, imagined
that his wound was fatal. An ambulance
was procured and the wounded man con-
veyed to the. ferry-boat when all parties,
the Sunday-school children picnickers under
command of General John Wilson included,
returned 10 San Francisco. Nugent was
conveyed to the Oriental Hotel where he
lay for three months before he was able to
leave his room. The late DR.. Charles NJ.
Hitchcock, at one time United States
Army surgeon, and who was in
the absence Of the head of this de-
partment Surgeon-in-C at the bat
tie OF Buena Vista, remarked to the writer
OF this and a mutual friend that in case of
compound fracture of this character, oc-
curing to common soldier, immediate am
putatlon would have been reSOrted to. but
when such misadventure occurred to a.
prominent newspaper editor, the case was
different, and every effort would be made to
save the limb. Nugent, who went lame to the
day OF his death, which occurred within the
past three years, seems to have been peculiarly
unfortunate in his duelS, for in that be-
tween himself and Colonel Hays year or
SO after, the latter. as is termed in the par
lance of such matters, winged him." shat
tering the ulna or principal bone Of the arm
In the same manner as the former wound in
the thigh.
MGowAN's OBSERVATION.
10 those days the ancient feud, dating
back to the days OF the Cavaliers" and the
"Ronndheads," was continued 10y the
'Cbiyalry" as the Southern bloods. mostly
IF. +. VS." called themselves, and the
men of the North figuring in the rolit-
ical pool under tile designation of
''Tammany." The writer remembers hear
ing Judge MCGOWAN, who is daily seen
upon our streets. hale and hearty at
the age of 76 years, and who of an even
Ing. surrounded by group of attentive
listeners in the comfortable reading-room of
the Commercial Hotel, narrates his numer-
Gus hair breadth esrapes and adventures
''by food and field" remark to some Of the
.NN