The morning call., 1891-07-19

we're attack upon John Cotter. as Alderman.
Both were from New York. Nugent was
81 and Cotter was %.
Il hear that Cotter is going to make Bit
ter personal attack upon me at the meeting
OF the Common Council tonight" said NJ
gent TO Hamilton Bowie one afternoon while
tue two were discussing twin punches at the
bar of Barry & Patten. ''If he does l shall
call upon you to act as my friend"
Il shall hold myself in readiness" replied
Bowie.
And sure enough, at the next meeting Of
the Common Council Alderman John Cot
ter made a bitter attack upon the character
OF Editor John Nugent In those days such
things meant fight Nugent was celebrated
rs a superior shot. while Cotter had never
fired a pistol. He was, moreover, near
sighted and generally understood to be a
non-combatant. if not actually cOwardlv
Both were Democrats, but each was con-
splcuOus on the opposite side of the local
politics of the day.
DEMANDED AN APOLOGY.
Upon the publication of Cotter's speech
Hamilton Bowie, on behalf of Nugent,
waited upon Cotter and demanded an apol-
ogy, which Cotter refused, alleging that NJ
gent was the aggresS0r, and offering to apol-
ogize after Nueent. This Nugent declined,
and in the course of subsequent negotias
tons Cotter offered that both should write
letters OF apology, and that each should be
published at the head of column, side by
side. in the Herald. This was rejected.
whereupon Bowie delivered an out-and-out
challenge from Nugent to Cotter, which
was promptly accepted.
1t was arranged that the fight should take
place at Contra Costa, not until four days
following the acceptance of the challenge,
the object being on behalf of Cotter's friends
TO allow Cotter to practice somewhat with
the pistol. 1t was the intention of both to
cross the Bay of San Francisco early tho
nf IN l11f I.ait. 4
that there would be an order of arrest to
prevent the fight, Cotier crossed in a row.
boat the night before with Winchester Brit
ton and John Crane, the former his friend
aud the latter his nephew, one a member of
and the other Clerk of the Board of Alder
men.
He remained over night at a small hos
telry. which was at tina: early period almost
the only building at the place. Cotter slept
we'll and sOuDdly and arose early, in time to
witness the arrival of Nugent and his sec
0nds, Hamilton Bowie and John K. Hack
EFT, the former experienced in the code
duello, and the latter (afterward promi-
nent Judge in New York; one of the most
remarkable shots of the day. Soon after
David e. Broderick, then State Senator, ar
rived, and, with Winchester Brltton, acting
as second TO COtter. 1t was originally in
tended that the fight should take place too
early for spectators, but delay occurred in
arranging the preiminaries. Cotter, know
ing the practiced skill of Nrgent, insisted
that the distance should be eight PAGES and
the weapons Colts navy revolvers. remark
ing that this would place the contestants
upon greater equality" After warm dis
cussOn, Nugents seconds protesting again st
the unusual short distance, it was agreed that
the distance should be ten PAGES. As the
parties started for the ground selected, about
mile away, two steamers were seen APP
preaching from San Francisco, each crowded
with the partisans of the respective COM
batants.
Upon the ground were arrayed upon each
side about 1000 persons, fully armed, each
party anxious to resent auv apparent nm
fairness on the other. A gold piece was
tossed for selection of position, which was
won by Nugent, who selected a line east
and west, so that one OF the combatants
would stand with his face and the other
with MS oack 10 the bright sunlight. and If
the former should be Cotters position his
sight would be greatly impaired. This was
not without renonstrance from Cotter's s
seconds, although unavailing. By the toss
however, Cetter obtained the choice of
position. Choice of weapons and the call
in like manner falling to Nugent all things
were in readiness and The parties took
position.
THEY HAD NEVER MET.
Nugent. slightly built, came upon the
ground with dress-coat tightly butt0ned
and jaunty cap with tasSel, while COtter,
in his usual attire, wore common silk hat
and frock coat. lie Displayed remarkable
GOODNESS and apparent Indifference before
taking his position, asking that Nugent be
pointed out to him, it being one of the
singular features Of the encounter that the
combatants had never met. II was agreed
that the second should cali "One, two
three-h95," and that after the word Sire
either party remaining In position could con-
tinue to FIRE until all the chambers were dis
charged,
The Sheriff Of the cSrnty arrived upon the
ground as the combatSnts took position, but