The Savannah morning news., 1901-12-24
TWO FAMOUS DuELING PISTOLS.
Said to BE the Firearms Used by
Burr and Hamilton at Weehaw-


From the Rochester Democrat and
Chronicle.
The identical firearms which were
used in the most dramatic incident this
country has ever seen in times OF
peace are at present in Rochester
that two old-fashioned duelling pistols,
the property of Major Richard Church
are the ones which Col. Aaron Burr
and Gen. Alexander Hamilton fought
their famous and tragic duel at Vice.
hawicen. N. ]. on July II, 1904.
The pistols were originally the prop
erty of John B. Church, grandfather
OF Major Church. John Church married
Hamilton's sister-in-law, the daughter
of Gen. Phillip Schuyler. and was con-
sequently q brother in-law of the dis
tinguished statesman. He was. with
Daniel Wadsworth, of Hartford, COM
missary of Gen. Rochambeau's army
during the Revolutionary War and al
the close of that struggle went to Eng
land. In 1895 he returned to this coun-
try, bringing with him a brace of duel
ling pistols, which he had purchased
in London of Wogdon. a famous gun
maker of that day: for he was, like
most other men of his standing, a firm
believer in the code of honor.
As Gen. Hamiltons brother-in-law
Church, was in constant contact with
him and his family. and Philip Church,
his son, father to the present owner OF
the pistols, was Gen. Hamiltons pri-
vite secretary. In the latter part of Au-
gust, 1893. Church was himself chaI-
lenged by Aaron Burr. The occasion
"A trivial f,.o,
the standpoint of a century later, IL
Illustrates the hold which the code"
had upon the men of, that day.
Church had returned from Albany,
and at private dinner, on being asked
the latest gossip at the capital, remark
ed that 1t was said that Burr had re-
ceived a sum of money for some action
in the legislature. One of the guests
took occasion to tell Burr of Church's
statement. and Burr demanded an
apology. Mr.. Church replied that he
might have been indiscreet in repeat
ing such a remark without better proof
of its truth, but the explanation was
not satisfactory, and a challenge was
sent to Church by Burr. Church's pis-
tolls were naturally selected for the
fight. which took place at Weenaw-
ken. n. J.. on September z, 1899 Burr s
shot failed to injure Mr.. Church, and
the bullet from the latter's pistol clipp-
ed button from the colonels waist
coat. After shots had been exchanged,
the formerly unsatisfactory explana-
ton was quite sufficient. and the mat
ter ended.
On January 10, 1902. Philip Hamilton.
son of the general. became embroiled
in a quarrel with j. G.. Ecker. Philip
Church, Maj. Churchs father, was sec
ond to young Hamilton at that time
The same pistols We're used and the
duel was fought on the same grounds
at Weehawken. Young Hamilton was
killed, as was his father two years la
ter.
When the challenge from Burr came,
Hamilton, who was ignorant of most
things pertaining to duelling, placed
himself entirely under the direction
of Church, who was duellist of some
note.
We'll Church." said Hamilton.
what weapon shall use in the duel?"
why not use the same weapon
fought him WITH" suggested Church,
and the suggestion was adopted. In
this connection 1t may be observed that
the owners Of several other pistols
which are claimed to be the ones used
in this duel say that Burr owned them.
This manifests nothing but ignorance
VI the CASAOInS OF the uuel, since the
challenged person is obliged 10 fur
nish both weapons. IL hardly being con-
sidered fair to make him take one from
his adversary's private collection.
1t was July II. 1904. when the men
went to the duelling ground at Wee
hawken. 1t should be definately under
stood that at no time was II Hamil-
tons intention to fire at Burr, and for
some time previous to the fight he had
been winding up his affairs prepara-
tory to the fatal termination Of the
incident Neither did he say. as his
tory has reported. "All right, come
along, Col. Burr; bring your gun and
kill me-" When Burr fired, Hamilton
fell, and his pistol was discharged az
he fell, although he was not conscious
OF II, and later requested that II be
unloaded so that II might not do any
one harm.
The report Of DR.. David Hosack. the
attending surgeon. gives additional
proof of the genuineness OF the pis-
tolls. After describing the condition OF
the wound he said:
II observed to Mr.. Pendleton (the
wounded mans second) that the only
chance OF his reviving was TO get him
Immediately upon the water We
therefore lifted him up and carried him
out Of the wood to the margin Of the
bank, where the bargemen aided US
in conveying him 20 the boat. which
Immediately put of. When we had got,
as I should Judge about nifty yards
from the shore. some lruperfect cfforla