The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1906-07-19
BURR HAMILTON DUEL.
Ooe Hundred and Two Years Since II
Was Fought.

One hundred ana TWO years Ilau
elapsed on the eleventh day of the
present month since the memor-
able duel between Burr and Ham
flton, or as thepunctilious records
of that day termed them, Colonel
Burr and General Hamilton. And
when that duel was fought 1t was
the day of physical death tor
Hamilton, and the day of political
death for Burr. Slngularly
enough, Burr and Hamilton had
some traits in common, and these
we're physical, and many that
were different, and these were
principally mental. Both were
short and slight men, both were
handsome, both had been brave
soldiers in the Revolu tionary
war, and both were prac tlcing
lawyers in New York city when
the correspondence took place
that led to the duel. Hamilton
ever had the CT ntidence of Wash.
Ington while the Revolutionary
war was in progress. Hamilton
was on Washlngton's staff IN the
war, and was his confidential ad-
wiser while President. For Burr,
Washington had formed.a a dislik-
ing that soon turned to a distrust
and eventually to an aversion.
AS is noted above both Hamil-
ton and Burr were engaged in
the practice of the law in New
York city in 1904, and both were
eminent practitioners and enjoy
ed lucrative professional engage
ments, which latter, however,
Hamilton was disposed to set
aside IN behalf of public services
which he.concelved were due the
young and fralI republic. Both
were politicians in the other
sense of the word and the express
sion which Burr selected as de.
mand for an explanation from
Hamilton was supposed to have
been used IN a conversation be-
tween Hamilton and several politi.
cal associates, which took place
at Albany IN the previous winter.
Hamilton distinctly abjured any
remark which might have reflect
ed upon Burr's personal charac-
ter as distinguished from his po-
litlcal character and the latter
then demanded a withdrawal of
any and every remark which
Hamilton ever made or was even
rumored to have made rejecting
upon HIM.
BY the side of the burylng
ground of Trinity Church, In New
York city, there runs narrow
thoroughfare known as Thames
street, now banked on both mar
gins with huge Office buildings,
but then partly fronted by resi-
dences. Among these was pub
lie house or tavern, standing next
to the corner of Temple street.
This was the resort of many of
the wits, lawyers, and merchants
of the city, from the business
part of which it stood somewhat
removed. In the early morning
of the day fixed for the duel, Burr,
whose residence held his law of.
tice, proceeded with a surgeon
and a Mr.. Van Ness, of whom the
latter was his second in the duel,
to breakfast at this tavern, in
terding thence to "take boat, I" as
the phrase went, to Hoboken.
While Burr and his seconds
were at breakfast, Hamilton, his
second and his surgeon, and, ac-
cording to the account, man
whowas believed to be his Charge.
man." stopped for refreshment
at the tavern. There was a con.
strained and formal recognition
between the principals and sec.
onds, and Hamilton and his com.
panlons quickly departed, leaving
Burr at breakfast. Despite their
start, Burr was the first to arrive
at the field.
The old tavern has been closed
and demolished, though for years
after and even until lately, 1t was
a widely reputed resort Thus
on July IL, 1904, there were two
meetings between Burr and Ham.
llton, one in New York. one ia Ho
boken, and at the second, uamil