The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-03-20
AN EDITORS DUEL.
One Of the Thrilling incidents Of PioHes1
DAYS.
The Deadly Encounter Between General
James W. Denver and Edward
Gilbert
Written for THE MORNING CALL

Among the painful episodes Of pic neering
days in California was the duel in 1859
between Dir. Edward Gilbert, senior editor
OF the Alta California, and j. w. Denver,
at that time State Senator from Trinity
County. Gilbert lost his life, and the very
sad event caused a great sensation through
out the State, as it was evident that tha
quarrel might with little explanation have
been adjusted. The origin of the trouble
was Incorporate and harsh newspaper
criticism of Governor Bigler's administra-
ton. Several San Francisco newspapers
had INDUCED in hostile comment, and the
Alta California and Herald had been par
ticularly notable. At that period the De-
mocracy Of the State was divided into two
portions, one supporting Bigler and the
other opposing him, the latter being class-
fled as the Southern chvalry. On the one
side the controversy was led by d. C. Brod-
erick and his friends and the other by S.
Heydenfeldt, Randolph, the Smiths aud
others.
1t was partisan struggle between those
who upheld free-suil principles and those
who were Southern in feeling. The news
papers esp0uSed one or the other of these
causes. and, as generally happens in parti-
san polemlcs, there was much vehement
writing, tending to keep up violent antag-
onism. The Alta showed opposition to
Bigler, and also to Br0derick, who had
stirred up feeling of enmity against HIM
self and friends by the Jenny Lind Theater
purchase and by the Peter Smith titles. in
which he was alleged TO hold interests.
Using its influence for Heydenfe,dt and his
supporters. the Alta INDUCED in certain
comments on Blgler, who considered them
offensive. MIR. Gilbert was scarcely respon-
sible for the publication, because the d fl
Guilty had arisen while he was absent from
the State as representative IN Congress.
He, however, returned in time to become
involved in the embodiment What the
cause of the offense was may be inferred
from the subjOned extract from the Placer
Times and Transcript. July 81. 1852:
QUIET REBUKF.-The Christian Advocate OF
thus city thus quietly rebukes the Alta California
for its ungeuerous structures upon Goyerno, Big
Ter FOR giving cOuntenance TO the relief train aud
for It's attacks when he was leaving Sacra-
mento for the scene OF It's labors: ut appears
Governor Biger rode at the head of the
relief train as was about to start out from Sac
ramento to meet the immigration. We see nothing
really wrong in it. We have seen Governors
parade at the head OF military companies when
They we're about 10 march against Mexico No
one found any fault with It, 1t was giving the
countenance of the State 10 the enterprise Of
war. Now, when he STATE sends aut reefwoas
ever did II the stores be properly applied-we
no harm in The Chief officers OF the State
heading the movement But the Alta did. We
shall not stop 10 dispute about IT, Ii is matter
OF taste-a matter ON which individuals will DIFF
fer according 10 their different notions of pro-
priety On such matters the Alta Is much better
posted than ourselves. We have no ambition IN
that line.''
The animadversions of the Alta drew
forth from Denver response In the shape
of bitter. personal card. Gilbert took
offense and sent Denver challenge. For
day or TWO prior to the meeting it was under
stood that an encounter was imminent, but
little serious attention was paid to the SUBJ
iont nnf q Ia
mento Union appeared on August 2, 1852,
containing the following:
It becomes our painful duty to announce the
deporabe termination of a duel by which the
community has lost a geHtlemanly and honor
able member and the editorial profession
able, honest and worthy bro her. On Monday,
morning at sunrise hostile me ting took ulaca
at Oak Grove, between the Hon. Edward Gill
bert, senior editor of The Alta California and
Trinity County. Tie immediate cause OF the
lamentable affair was card published by Gem
eral Denver rejecting upon the personal eharac-
ter of Mi. Gilbert. OF the merits OF tn. contr0-
| versy this is not the place to speak. Mr. Gil
| bert challenged the adverse party. The weapons
! selected were NELSON'S rifles and the distance
forty PAGES. Alter the first interchange OF shots,
| neither of which took effect the weapons were
reloaded aud the word given. when Mr.. Gilbert
fell almost instantly, having received the shot OF
| General Denver in the left side just above the
| hip bone. The bail pierced the abdomen aud
passed entirely through the body, coming out on
the right side, almost directly opposite the point
| whefe II entered. Mr.. Gilbert survived but for
four or five minutes after the occurrence. and
| without a word or scarcely gr0an his spiris
| passed from earth. His body was Immediately
| conveyed to the Oak Grove House. where the
sad duty OF preparing II for its last resting
place was performed. The most intense sensa-
tion was produced throughout the State the
receipt Of the mournfu intelligence and all
seemed o unite in the sincere sorrow eyinced at
| the unfortunate issue OF the encounter, aud In
| the deep and heartfelt sympathy expressed for
| the surviving relatives OF the deceased.
Mr.. Gilbert was brought up as printer in
A lhanV. n, Y. And cana 10 California an
| officer - a lieutenant 1t Is believed
| in Colonel Stevenson's regiment. General
| Denver had formerly edited weekly paper
| in a small town near St Joseph. Mo. He
| came to California in 1S49 and resided at
| Sacramento for time, but in 1851 had
! gone to the mines in Trinity County. The
| duel was entirely unnecessary in defense Of
| what was deemed outraged honor. Gilbert
| could have passed what he considered un-
| fair criticism over, but lie was endowed
| with nice sense of honor, and was exceed
! ingly sensitive to adverse criticism. He was,
under ordinary circumstances, discreet
| man. and he should have resisted the temp
| tation to resort to duel for satisfaction.
His partner, Kemble, who was as much
| editor of the paper as Gilbert, wrote after
| the encounter that Gilbert had fallen
victim to the miserable false sense of honor,
which, in the state Of public sentiment then
existing, placed the resorter to the dueling
| code between two fatal extremes Of opinion,
one requiring the adjustment of personal
differences on the field and the other ridi-
culing the practice chiefly on account of the
usually bloodless termination. Gilbert was
seduced into the duel through convictions,
from temperament which forbade his
shrinking from responsibility which the
first imposed, and lost his life from sensi-
| bility to the ridicule to which the second
| and equally vicious class of opinions pressed
| him. The public no doubt indorsed the
| conclusion that Gilbert had mistaken views
| of honor, but they also must have admired
| his spirit and the independence he dis
| played. His death, said kemble, WAS q
| sacrifice to the liberty OF speech and of the
| press unmixed with license and untainted
| by base or immoral motives"