The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-05-23
DUELLING IN CALIFORNIA.
HELL-KNoWN MEN WHO HAZE RE-
SORTED TO THE CODE.
Justice Stephen >. Field Twice . Challenger
David q. HrodericL's Two Ducin - Day,
when Editsrs HAD 20 Back Up Their Eat
to~rials-soue Notable Encounters.

Justice stephen >. Field Twice . challenger
David &. EsrodericL's Two Ducin - Days
when Editors Had 10 Back Up Their Eat
toriais-souae Notable Encounters.
OAKLAND. May 17.-During the years from
1850 to 1881 California was the scene Of more
duols than ever took place in oil the other
Northern States. The practice OF carrying
arms, which survives in the present peaceful
era OF tho Pacific slope, could have but one
logical result, the resort to weapons for tho
settlement Of disputes. Difficulties that else.
where would have been terminated with the
exchange OF hard words, or possibly hard blows,
were referred In California to the arbitrament
Of the pistol or the rifle.
Two lines of action were regarded by tho
makers Of California as equally honorable in tho
event Of an appeal to arms-the street fight
and the moro formal duel according to the code,
with seconds, surgeons, and all the formalities
that surround killing and being killed for
honor's sake. The first, perhaps, required tho
moro pluck from the participants, and was the
moro dangerous to the bystanders, for shots
went wide Of the mark at times. The duel be-
came moro in favor as society became moro
settled, and was moro often resorted to by those
with real or fancied wrongs to avenee, though
until the days when duelling itself became
obsolete the street fight continued to be recog-
lLt no - ~ hoAo w CtA " ANU NIX
an enemy from the surface Of the earth. 1t In
volvod warning an enemy that shooting would
begin on sight after he had had an opportunity
to heel himself, for under no circumstances was
1t permissible to attack an unarmed man. Post
ing an enemy as a coward was also equivalent to
q challenge to a street fight. An instance is Of
record where a man posted an enemy In Los
Angeles, and for fourteen hours remained beside
the placard armed with q shotgun awaiting an
opportunity of shooting his foe.
From the earliest days OF tho American occu-
patton the duel was accepted as a Californian
institution. In 1s47 Gen. Fremont and Col. r.
B. Mason quarrelled at Los Angeles. The Path
finder sent his seconds to Mason and a duel was
arranged. That 1t did not occur was due to the
timely interference of Gen. Kearny.
In 1881 the record OF the duel, of unimpeach-
able authenticity, properly begins. In that year
William Walker, the gray-eyed man Of destiny,
of Nicaraguan fame. was writing slashing arti-
cles for the San Francisco Herald. In ono Of
those he attacked an absent friend of w. Fl.
Graham, who at once made his friends cause
duel. and the latter. as brave a man as ever
breathed, at once accepted. The encounter took
that Walker was severely wounded. Graham.
during the Same year. had a quarrel with an
another Ha@nn San an r5a rsssifsd new UgS Pth. man; g; vas F.:
wounded dangerously.
The respectability Of the duel in California in
phen J. Field, now a Justice of the United States
Supreme Court, was twice a challenger to
sought took place, though he was eager for the
fray; but his challenges are OF interest as show
aag All Ih ea ueRsi resort wdI to w Weapo IN ' for tS bes se uen
ment OF disputes.
The first instance was during the session of the
State Legislature OF which Mr.. Field was a mem
Der In 1851. A fellow member named Moore
made a bitter attack upon Field: who resented
put it. TO coax a bit Of q nght out o. him. He
secured the services of David c. Broderick.l later
United h1s State: States Senator sns a and a victim Z c Of the code e,
Moore, The latter declined a duel, but offered
to participate in a street fight. With a great
Field could meet his adversary Moore crawfished
and made a full and humble apology from his
SEN In iss9 Mr.. Field " was Us' engaged in another
controversy, and sent q challenge to Judge Bar
> s0q sx.n Ths Sssl T rssn sfFaP TSs 70 Sri ,sas R,aG s.l 1e
to be placed with their faces 70 opposite walls,
and were each to be armed with a revolver and
II result the principals were then 70 s. at
At the last moment Barbour. assured of Fields
h msd lss .s ss,. %ssti on Fl tSsrE from 4 SsStaS: pl hs 1s.e a
pistol at the future jqrist's head. Field dared
him to ssOos: but the {hu Thcs w S,iiI b atTaiS So of the Ie
California at intervals-and refrained.
The military and naval elements of early Cali
N. Dibble. an ofieer Of the navy. called 4. p.
replied in Kind and Dibbie challenged him. pfbs-
BILE was q crack shot and believed that, as his
antesonist was 2 novice: he had a sure thing 9
and thereafter slay him delicately and letsurely.
Nothing. however. is more. uncertain than tho
unused to Weapons. bibble carried out a por,
ton OF the plan Of battle that he had outlined TO
his seconds, He drew his antagonists IRE and
In 1852 David {. Frederick. even then marked
for death : 7 s@,'S Ing to q, the r code; s had a d Lisp t.
fifteen PAGES. The party crossed San Francisco
place. Neither Of the principals, was a marks
man, though both were eager for blood. Twelve
either Of them was hit. Then, at the twelfth
fire. Broderick was slightly wounded and the in
In the same year H. A. De Courcy. editor of
the Calayeras Chronicle. challenged W. H. Car
ter, q well.known, pioneer, They fought on the
Courcy fell at the dr.t DIRE severely wounded,
certain amount Of humor rare in the duels Of
that epoch; Col. Magrpder quarreiled with a
T lHsei m pnss Of me al ! pSS %Ss a at one ss eas ahf for a
personal encounter. rough-and-ready rules, He
was restrained by those present. and 9 duel.
fought across the table at which the party were
dining. The doctor grasped his pistol and fired
before the word. without result. Then his cour-
age departed and he tried to escape from the
room. He ran to the door, but 1t was locked.
HI was In a panic OF fear and fell upon the floor.
where he gTovelled In terror. the Colonel IN the
mean time keeping him covered with his pistol.
At last, In despair, the doctor crawled under tho
table to where the Colonel stood. where he
clasped his knees and begged for his life. That
burden was granted to him by the Colonel. who
accompanied the gift by a kicking OF phenomenal
force. The doctor returned to the peaceful East
by the next steamer.
Newspaper men in California in the sos we're
obliged to DO expert marksmen as well as clear
and logical writer's, for whatever position they
assumed editorially they were expected to sus-
tain with rifle or pistol against all those who
might question their motives; Hence It was
editor of the San Francisco Herald, &C
copied a challenge from Alderman John
Cotter. who believed himself injured by
the policy and writings Of Editor NSugent.
opposite San Francisco, and at the second shot
Nugent fell. badly. wounded. Mr.; Nugent had
but just recovered from the wound received at
the hands Ct Alderman c9tter when he was
OF the city by the Golden Gate. Alderman
Hughes. He accepted the challenge, fought the
iuel and was aUain wounded.