The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-02-19
FAMOUS CALIFORNIA DUELS.
N4NI HiD THEIR START IN
STATE SENATE CHiMDER.

y
Was Killed by Daniel showaiter.
The State Legislature is once more in
session In this year 1905 all is well along
the Sacramento. In peaceful and, indeed.
prosaic manner certain questions viii be
settled. while the election Of a United States
Senator has been conducted as love feast
in comparison with the strenuous days Of
hhf a century ago.
Among the many causes for rejoicing in
this their day and generation how many
Of our lawmakers appreciate their Immunity
from the eNactine DEGREES OF the grim code
az honor: Yet the passing generation
yiyidly recalls a period in CALIFORNIA;
political history when the life of states
man says the San Francis co Chronicle
vas not regarded a. safe risk by the cd
tune insurance companies, for the code
was all too often recognized by these gen
temen "a the court OF last resort
The famous division in the ranks of the
Old Democratic party owing 10 differences
oi opinion on the slavery question was the
Urinary cause of many fatal duel between
noted representative men. Repeatedly the
state thrilled with the excitement attending
these mortal combats, one affair seerninG to
lead 10 another Conservative papers dep
recated the reckless sacrifice OF lives which
were most needed in those formative days
Despite freouent and bitter denunciations
Of the custom on the part of the press and
rilpit the judgments of the bench and
onlnions Of the bar and the enactments tf
the Legislature the code continued TO pick
is victims from the flower Of manhood
The Alta California bewailed the apathy
81 the general public and attributed the
a,iellng craze to the innate love OF adj
venture and excitement which filed the
riinds Of the mpetuous fortune seekers
During the 80, the State was largely
in the control Of the Southern wing of the
Democratic party. among which were
many turbulent spirits known as fire.
eaters" These Southrons who regarded
themselves as "the flower Of chivalry,
believed that the political institutions OF
this new Western State were their own
heritage. In the mid So. when Senator
Douglas split the Democratic party by his
advocacy Of free soil principles his followers
in California, known as Douglas Demo
Gratis. were bitterly reviled by their Southern
associates, whose definition Of treason was
disloyalty to party Thus originated many
acrimonious disputes. embittered by flow
OF mutual vituperative denunciations which
resulted in the frequent erusion OF blood
on certain fields of honor
Among those California Democrats
who focked to the support OF Senator
Douglas. State Senator W l, Ferguson Of
Sacramento became prominent as a leader
Previously he had incurred the enmity
Of the chivalry on account Of the prevalent
belief that he had acted as a mediator be-
tween Senator Gwin and David C. BroderiCk
in The transaction of January, 1857, in
which it was alleged that Senator Gwin
surrendered all the patronage of his Office
in exchange for the influence of Mr.. Brode-
rick in securing his return TO Washington.
Ferguson vas regarded for some time as
marked man, and little surprise was oc-
casioned. when, on trivial prete1t, he was
challenged to mortal combat by George
Pen. Johnston, a noted duellist.
On the night OF Aug, 10, 1858. in saloon
brawl. Johnston had picked quarrel with
Ferguson He accused the latter Of having
made assertions which Ferguson promptly
denied having uttered, and followed with
more emphatic dsavowal, which led 10
abusive language and an attempt on the
psrt Of Senator Ferguson 10 strike Mr..
Johnston The latter drew a revolver,
but was prevented from usingft by his
friends On the following day Johnstons
challenge was sent and duly accepted, and
the meeting place was designated as small
plateau on the northeastern extremity Of
Angel Island
Early on the afternoon Of Saturday, Aug.
p Johnston. accompanied by his friends.
crossed the bay in sailboat. while little
later Ferguson and his followers took the
Petaluma steamer. touching at the shore
OF Angel Island. near the old residence of
Capt Waterman. The seconds OF tergu-
son we're Gen. j. NJ EstiIl and Eugene l..
sullivan. accompanied by Drs. Hitchcock
and Angle.
Johnston was accompanied by William B.
cameron and noted duellist by the uncom-
mon name Of George Washington. who
acted as his seconds. In the presence
" seventy-fve witnesses the terms Of the
agreement we're read, and at O'Clock
ot a brown evening the adverearies were
placed just ten PAGES apart The duelllsts
we're armed with the regulation pistols
and stood half face TO the left, eIpectant
nut calm. as they waited the word OF the
chief second.
Are YOU ready. gentlemen?- he asked.
Ready they both replied.
@Fire-one two three, stop sounded
the words, plnctuated by two pistol shots.
which. however. sped past their mar ks.
The contestants we're next placed but
twenty feet apart. Again they fired and
missed each other On the third trial
Mr. Ferguson emptied his pistol at the
word fire. the bullet striking the ground
az the feet OF Johnston. An intense feeling
II suspense thrilled the spectators, many OF
whom believed Johnston would discharge
his weapon in the air. thus terminating
the affair.
Breathhssly the onlookers awaited the
result as the words "one, two followed.
Al The word stop" following three,
they looked to see hie weapon rise upward.
For two OF three seconds Johnston hest
lated, and Just as the word three rang
out IN the hushed evening air he brought
down his weapon with a savage jerk and
fired straight at his awaiting victim. As
The Gnoks. from his pistol cleared, his face
grew livid with bafied rage, for, smiling
and serene, Senator Ferguson stood erect
and unsoathed.
The pistols we're again loaded and the
adversaries were moved TO a distance OF
but six PAGES, and after delay on account
~ a technical dispute the Hateful words
fre-one. two, three, stop, we're spoken,
and both men fred together. Senator
Ferguson was seen 10 whirl around and fan
N The arms OF his second his thigh bone
tplntered by the half ounce bullet Of his
opponent. while at the same moment John
sion started and dropped bis left hand,
which was resting on his hip finger being