, 1892-08-13
DENVER'S DUEL.
A Famous FraCaS in California
Recalled.
killing OF Editor Edward Gilbert.
Romantic Career That Has in
1t Much of the Golden states
Early History.

A Romantic Career That Has in
It Much of the Golden states
Early History.
WASHINGTON, D. @. Aug. 49, General
James w. Denver, who died in this city a
few days ago and for whom the city Of
Denver, Colorado, was named, was the son
of an Irishman who fed from his native
country to avoid the penalty for partici-
pating in the rebellion of 1898, and who
settled in Winchester, Va, where James
w. was born in 1918. Young Denver re-
ceiYed a good education. He was of
studious disposition, and in 1841, having
moved to Missouri, he began teaching
school. With the money saved in this
way he made his home in Cincinnati,
where he attended lectures at the law
school, and was graduated from that insti-
tuition. He began practice in Xenia, o.,
and occupied his abundant leisure in edit
ing the Democratic City Journal This
department of his dual labors becoming
too exacting, he removed from Xenia to
Platte City, Mo-, with the intention Of
giving his whole time to the law. He con
blAuGu HbtdQlly III Ills IbbQluBlOu uLBl Lne
year 1S47, when he raised a company of
volunteers for service in Mexico. After
having taken an honorable part in several
engagements of the war between the
United States and that country, he was
struck down by yellow fever at Vera Cruz.
At the conclusion of the war he returned
to Platte City and resumed business as a
lawyer. In 1856 he Joined the host of en-
terprising men settling in California and
was elected a senator of the new state in
March, 1852, during John Bigler's term as
governor.
On August 21, 1852, Denver fought fatal
duel with Edward Gilbert, senior editor of
the Alta California. The causes which led
up to it and the circumstances in cOnnec-
ton with it are substantially as follows:
The migrants coming over the mount
aims in those days were exposed to great
dangers, both from ignorance of the route
and lack of supplies, and we're also beset
by rowing bands of Indians who robbed
them at pleasure and killed them likewise
This fact was recognized by the California
legislature in time and to provide against
the reOcCurrence of the outrages bill was
passed upon the recommendation Of the
governor instructing him to organize a
company and equip a relief train which
should proceed to the mountains and per-
form any duties necessary for the protec-
ton of immigrant trains. The governor
obeyed the orders of the bill and there was
a great demonstration as the soldiers
marched oHt of Sacramento with the gov
ernor at their head. The utility Of the
expedition was seriously doubted by many
and among them the editor of the Alta
California, who said so in an editorial,
and Tidiculed the whole affair as a scheme
of Bigler's to gain political capital al a
very teaYy EXPENSE to the people. He Op-
posed the bill from the beginning, and
when Bigler personally lead the expedition
~. "a. .-.r
positiVery than ever charged that it was a
job.
This reused the indignation of Denver
who was personal friend of Bigler, and
he published bitter card in reply, attack
ing Gilbert. The editor replied, claiming
that he was disinterested in the matter and
that he was no personal enemy Of Bigler.
Denver retorted again and in bitter per-
sonal spirit, and Gilbert challenged him to
fight. Denver accepted. The weapons
we're rifles and the distance was forty PAGES
the battle grounds being ten miles from
Sacramento. The first fire was Intellectual
and it has often been said that Gilbert re-
fused to take his antagonists hand and
call the matter quits with no blood SPILLED.
At the next fire Gilbert fell and within less
than five minutes he was dead.
Denver was elected secretary of state in
1853, and before the expiration of his term
he was elected representative to the Thirty
lOuIbn CDukIcb1 VI blb Oulbbu ObdBbb III
1851 He was appointed commissioner Of
Indian affairs by Buchanan. He resigned
in 1857, and was made governor Of Kansas
after the resignation of r. j. Walker. He
resigned this post in November, 1853, and
was reappOinted commissioner of Indian
affairs, which post he held until March,
1859, He sailed for his home in California
after resigning, but things going wrong
with him there, he went to Wilmington,
Ohio, where he again practioed law. At
the outbreak of the war in 1861 he entered
the army, and continued in the service un-
til after Lincoln issued his emancipation
proclamation, when he resigned.
In 1866 General Denver was a delegate to
the soldiers convention held at Cleveland,
o. He was defeated as a candidate for
congress in 1870. With the exception of
this one appearance in public life General
Denver quietly pursued his work as a law
yer after his retirement from the army in
1868. The mostconspicuous honor received
by him was the choice of his name for that
Of the capital of Colorado. VIII Denver
was first settled, in the year 1G -, it was
named after the most popular governor of
the territory of Kansas, Of which Colorado
then formed part.
For the latter part of his life General
Denver made Wilmington, o., his home,
spending most of his time however in this
city in the practice Of law.