The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1891-05-30
THIRTY YEARS AGO.
The ShowaIter-Piercy Duel, Fought
in Marin Caunty.
The Roadside Skir1nish Out Near the
Cosumnes-The Oregon Aleck
and Dashaway Race.


County, and Percy was killed. He was
the challenging party. The prelimina-
RES We're arranged in Sacramento, before
the legislators had left the city. The
difficulty had it's origin at the time of the
election of United States Senator, when
Piercy rendered himself obnoxious to
the Nugent wing by boiling the caucus,
but was augmented by personal remarks
during the debate on the Union resolu-
tions. Nugent's friends were behind
Showalter at the duel.
The parties were on the ground early,
but Sheriff Dow and posse hove in sight
and there was a stampede. Showalter
was arrested, but Piercy and his friends
and the friends of Showalter escaped and
met at the residence of Charley Fairfax,
near by, where arrangements were made
10 meet in another spot. In the mean
time Showalter was taken to San Rafael,
but the Justice of the Peace released him.
ShoWalter then footed it back to FairfaX's
place, where the belligerentS partook of
lunch, both being cool but determined.
Piercy's seconds were Senator III. p.
Watkins of Yuba and Sam Smith, Indian
War Bond Commissioner. DR.. Wake
Briefly attended as his surgeon. Sho-
walters seconds were Tom Hayes of San
G1duClSCO anu kASStIllDl lIIon IOlll Ids
peyre of San Joaquin, and he was at
tended by surgeons Hammond and w.
III. Bruner of San Francisco. AS advisory
and consulting friends, Percy had Frank
Schell and others, and Showalter had
Gillette, Chandler, Williamson of Tuol-
Umne and Gregory of Mariposa. Fair
fax, Gregory and others did all in their
power to have the trouble amicably set
tied, but to no purpose.
The men fought at forty PAGES, with
rifles carrying forty balls to the pound.
At Fairfax's house Showalter made his
will and gave directions as to the dispo-
sition of his body, in the event of his
death.
At the first fire neither man was hit,
although Piercy's bullet passed so close
TO Showalter's face that the latter felt it's
passage. Showalter cried, Load the
weapons againr'
Neither party shot so quick the next
time, and their friends realized that they
meant business. Both rifles banged at
the same instant. Percy gave start,
ground. The bullet from Showalter's
rifle had entered his mouth and buried
itself in his throat. The surgeons could
do nothing for him, and he died in three
minutes.
Showalter delivered a brief eulogy on
the courage of his victim, and then left
the field of slaughter with his friends.
.........About the middle of May, 1861,
sort Of Union-Secession skirmish was
fought near the Costumes River. Eight
men, all mounted, happened to meet on
the road one day, and being acquainted
with one another they got into political
discussion.
Four were Union men, and four SYM
pathisers with the Confederates, and the
character. The four Union men were in
search of cattle, and were armed only
with lariats and whips. OF the other
four, one had pistol.
This fellow became bold and went so
far as to denounce all Union men as
thieves and towards, and declared he
could whip any tour of them that ever
lived.
He was soon told that he must take
back that declaration, and he replied that
he wouldn't, as long as his artillery
lasted. At this he made motion as if to
draw his pistol, when one of the Union
men, with quick and dexterous sweep
with his lasso, caught him by the neck
and jerked him off his horse.
The other three secessionists then at
tackled the Union man, and u free fight
ensued. Three of the four secessionists
were endorsed, and their animals ran off.
One of them received a wound in the
right eye, which it was thought would
result in the loss of his eyesight. Finally
they called for quarter, which was
granted on condition that they all should
give three cheers for the Union and three
more for Abe Lincoln, which they did.
The Union men then rode off and
caught the horses and returned them to
the defeated quartet of Southern sympa-
thisers.
.........Apparently there was as much
trickery practiced on racetracks thirty
years ago as there is to-day. The fourth
day of the spring meeting over the Cen
{,,,ll i
such TO be the case. The main advertised
event of the day was a mile-heat race,
three in five, between Oregon Aleck,
Dashaway and Fitzpatrick, all good
horses. The betting men were offering
two to one on Dashaway, but a great
many believed that Fitzpatrick could
win.
There was a long delay, and the crowd
first became impatient, then FESTIVE, and
then indignant. Finally it was announced
that Gilpatricl would not start, and that
his owner had been ruled off the track
for life because of his failure to bring his
horse TO the post.
After the uproar that followed had sub
sided Jim Merritts Dashaway and O. D.
Burtnett's Aleck were sent off. Alecll
won the first heat in I:55. In the second
Aleck was pulled heavily, and Dashaway
won in l:53.
In the third heat Alexis rider nearly
broke the horses neck in holding him
back, and finally Dashaway got past
him on the back stretch. Then
Alexis rider pulled his horse up, turned
about, rode through gateway and dis
appeared from the track Dashaway ran
on like the wind, +" and made the mile in
234!
Then there was howl among those
who had risked their money on Aleck,
and the Judges ruled BURNETT and his
horse off the track forever more. 1t was
great day, taken altogether, and there
are doubtless a few old Sacramentans
were there and can recall that wonderful
race.
.........In early days, when the heavy
coaches running between Carson and
Aurora travelled over the ridge between
Carson and Smiths Valleys, with piles
OF wealth on board, a single highway
man one day stopped the stage near
Double Springs and secured ii is said,
$1,000 in gold coin. The robber fled to
cabin near by and taking shovel buried
the money. Being pushed for time he
had only few moments to perform the
work, therefore it is conjectured that he
did not go far to secrete his booty. He
was captured and sent to the State Prison,
where he died a few years ago, and on
his deathbed he told the prison officials
where the money was buried.
Many, many are the men who have
yainly searched for the hidden treasure.
The ground in the vicinity looks like an
artichoke patch deserted by drove of
swine. The spot is about one and a half
miles from the Mountain House and
down across the flat from the Double
Springs Station.
A short time ago Henry Rice, of Genoa,
and for three years past the driver
of Gelatts Wellington stage through