The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1905-04-25


The occupants Of these conveyances
| were drawn together by strong partisan
interest IN their respective principals, for
the meeting upon the field of honor of a
United States senator and a supreme
| court justice of the State of California
was naturally OF utmost Importance.
shortly after 2 o'clock that fresh septem-
| ber morning the principals and their sec-
onds arrived at the appointed spot Mr..
| Broderick was attended by Messrs. Nc
| kibben and Coulter. his seconds, and DR..
Loehr, his surgean. Judge Terry was
accompanied by Thomas Hayes promi-
| nent San Franciscan, and Calhoun Ben
ham, while Dr. Hammond. a frequent
partlcipant In affairs Of this nature,
| served as his surgeon.
| At 6;45 o'clock Mr.. Coulter asked the
usual question, Are you ready?"
| Ready" Judge Terry eagerly answer
| ed, and in the next instant Senator Brod-
| erlck repeated the word. Then followed,
| Fire, one, two
| Senator Broderick swiftly moved his
weapon upward, but before 1t had moved
| many degrees from the perpendicular IL
/ was discharged into the ground, owing to
/ the extreme sensitiveness of hair trig-
ger. Just before the command "Stopn'
enemy and fred with most deliberate
| aim. Clasping his hand to his right
| breast, Broderick reeled and fell to the
ground; DR.. Hammond's services were
| promptly accepted but after his removal
| TO the home Of his friend. Leondas Has
| kell, he steadily sank until death ended
his sunerings on the 10th of September
Judge Terry attempted to escape from
the state but was arrested, and succeed
| ed IN obtaining a change OF venue 10
Marin county, where, during the follow
ing year. he was released after trial.
about the last words of the dying sen l.
tor were, They killed me because | was
opposed to the extension OF slavery and
corrupt administration. Never IN the
history Of San Francisco has the death az
q public man been SO deeply mourned.
The city was draped in black and The
obsequies Of the departed statesman we're
Of most impressive character.
A strong wave Of popular sentiment
threatened for the time to abolish the
practice Of duelling in California but the
douglas Democrats We're destined to sac
flflce another of their best and brightest
then IN session was q bedlam of Internal
dlssenslOns The secessionists were
struggling 70 their utmost TO win over the
state OF California TO the Confederacy;
but the loyalty of the Democratic fol-
lowers Of Senator Douglas succeeded
with the Republican members, In holding
the balance OF power. Prominent among
the Douglas Democrats in the lower
house was G. w. Piercy of San Bernar-
dino county. Through only twentv-six
years OF age ne had, previously to his
election to the assembly served as the
sheriff Of the county and was considered
as the possible successor to the late Sena
tor Broderick, inasmuch as he displayed
IN this session the same degree OF fear-
lessness and fought for the ftirtherance
leader.
Embittered by defeat. the secessionist
element turned its venom upon Piercv.
their abuse eliminating in a public ex-
preston Of contempt for the young loyal-
ist by Daniel Showalter, who represented
nsylvanian by birth. but secessionist
by his affiliations, and noted fireeater
by reputation.
Mr.; Piercy, at the close Of the session.
44f.
his aggressor a challenge which Sho-
walter promptly accepted. and the affair
was scheduled Tor the morning of Nav ~.
1861, 70 take place on the ranch OF
Charles $. Fairfax, at a distance OF some
three miles westerly from San Rafael
Mr.. Percy chose as his seconds Senafor
Watkins and Sam Smith. his surgeon be-
ing Dr. watkins and Sam Smith. MIS- sur
geon being DR., Wake Briarly Mr.. Sbo-
walter was favored by Assemblvna,.
Laspen and DR.. Hammond, the latter
having gained prominence as the second
on the previous evening Showalter ana
his friends left the city on the Petalt,n,a
boat, disembarked at the Embarcadero |
and Proceeded 20 San Rafael where fhes, |
spers the night at the Hotel Marin
Piercy with his friends. crossed the ba,,
leisurely on a sailboat, which drlfted m |
with the tide toward San Quentin.
II was generally believed that Shouai- !
ters friends would never permit Nh |
Piercy 10 leave the ground alive II he /
succeeded in Staying his enemy, ana "a |
a number OF the officials of the nenitan
tiary accompanied Mr.. Piercy Ii tba /
rendezvous the next morning to see that
he got square deal" says Archibald
McAllister a well known pioneer resi-
dent and legislator OF Marin county VI,
was a member Of PIercy's bodvgq,a~d
Mr.. McAllister. who has long held 4 re-
sponsible position In the United States
mint, and Thomas Rodgers OF San Fran
cisco are the only living witnesses OF his
duel. and both went TO the spot prepared
to enforce fair play AS a mere formal
~. the sheriff Of Marin county arrested
MT Showalter. releasing him few hours
ater. In time for him to return to the
meeting place.
The exact spot where this duel was
I0ught ia marked by two magnificent
laks, situated In field a few hundred
Iards southeast OF the old Fairfax house.
MS early ranch house was occupied at
nat time by DR.. A. w. Taliaferro hut at
ne present date II Is known as Pastori's.
ihesc oaks. which are noted for their
treat beauty. have a double charm for
bout them hangs this romance OF the
'rave old days.
The weapons chosen were rtaes. and
he two men were placed at distance OF
orty PAGES apart At this juncture
'iercy's friends discovered that he had
,een placed In a dead line with one of
hese trees. rendering him an easy mark
or Showalter. Their positions were
gain changed so that the afternoon sun
ell equally over the shoulders OF both
leH. CoA watkins tnen read the articles
Z agreement which were listened to in
reathless silence. The spectators were
laced AZ one side, Piercy's friends ming
ng with Showalter's TO anticipate any
osttle move on their part
The command "Fire!n being given. Sho-
ialter shot at the word One and
1ercy at two Both shots went astray.
nd the rifles were reloaded. BY some
Col Hayes neglected to give
he warning word ready but seeing
he men In position, with the butts Of {
heir rifles resting on their hips. he cried .
tied out "fre.r and at the word Sho-
alter brought his rifle down till II COW !
red Piercy. and fired. while the bewild-
red young mans weapon was DISCHARGED J
{ an agile of AZ degrees. Clearly Piarcv 1
ypected 10 hear the warning ''readyh I
nd when the command ''hrei" came so Z
nexpectedly he was unprepared. This 4
me Showalter's bah found it's mark.
nd, crashing through the jaws OF his @
ctim. 1t buried itself in .Se vertehrae v
his neck Piercys weapon fell from ,
Is hands, and. his knees collapsing un- o
r him, he dropped heavily to the Il
'ound. At the request OF Showalter. Dr. '
ammond offered his services for the Sec d
I'd time to his principals victim: but ii '
as all too late, In a few minutes his n
,irlt had passed away
Piercy was buried. with the honors due II
m, at Lone Mountain almost beside the ii
rs carved beneath his name. "He Sleeps +
! Honorable Sleep" +
This last duel Of prominent men pro- :
iced such reaction upon the minds Of i
e people Of the state that the custom | !,
as abolished Showalter afterward | :,
lined fresh notorlety by endeavoring to :,
art an inyfrection In California. He y