Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1907-09-19
AN EARLY ARIZONA DUEL
WHICH WAS NOT FOUGHT
Or. George e. GoodfelIow Recalls A
Famous Affair of Honor.

The Tucson Star thus calls up the
famous duel which Patrick Hamilton
and Sam Purdy were once going to
fight:
| Ready to staunch the flow OF blood
or ease the pain of diving man, DR..
George f. Goodfellow, now physician
OF the Randolph lines. stood on the
field of battle twenty-five years ago
yesterday as Sam Purdy and Pat
Hamilton of Tombstone prepared for
across the Mexican border near
Ochoaville.
Il have almost forgotten Just what
did take place" said DIR. Goodfellow
at the Santa Rita last night. 1T has
been so long since it all occurred
can't tell you what happened"
But many Arizona pioneers. some
of whom are now in Tucson. still rec
ollect the Purdy- Hamilton duel. which
did not take place because Hemilton
refused to use revolvers that were fur
nished by Purdy's seconds. Purdy TAX
ing a similar stand later.
DIR. Goodfellow was there in the
capacity Of physician to Purdy. He
was prepared to battle with death,
for friends of both men feared that
either or both of them might receive
fatal wound.
As the result Of a quarrel. result
Ling from statements made by Hamil-
ton and Purdy regarding each other,
the latter challenged Hamilton 90 give
him satisfaction on the field of honor
and Hamilton lost no time accepting
the offer to do battle.
BY agreement Ochoaville was Sc
lected as the spot on which the men
were to stand fact to face, and with
cccked revolvers each to try to pierce
the others heart Being in Mexico,
they hoped to escape punishment in
the event of either wounding or killing
the other.
At o'clock in the morning. Hamil-
ton. with William Millikin and John
Burke as seconds and DR.. McSwegan
as physician. was first to arrive at
Hereford, where the men were to meet
and cross the Mexican line.
An hour later. Purdy. with Judge
Edward MCGOWAN and John Seven
oaks as seconds and Dr. Goodfellow,
reached the appointed place. though
the duel was not scheduled to occur
until 10 o'clock
Separated By but a few yards the
two duelists and their followers built
camp fires and slept for several hours.
At day break they started for Ochoa-
vile. the Hamilton party arriving half
an hour before Purdy and his retinue
On level and verdure covered
mesa. well suiicd for the mortal COM
bat. Hamilton's second. Millikin. leis-
urely stepped off ten yards, while
MCGOWAN looked on watchful of the
interests of Purdy. At this junctIre
the time honored custom of attempt
| ing a reconciliation resulted in the
time honored failure.
Hamilton won the toss for positions
and took has stand with the sun to
his back, thus forcing Purdy TO fight
with the glare in his eyes. To face
the suns slanting rays was considered
to be to the disadvantage of Purdy.
As the challenged party. Hamilton
claimed the right to furnish the weap-
ons. producing two Colts 45--calibre
revolvers. They were brand new,
having been bought the day before in
Tombstone to be used in the duel.
MCGOWAN selected one for Purdy,
but returned shortly with the state
ment that Purdy, whose left arm was
weak. could not use the weapon,
which il would be almost impossible
for him to cock.
Then Purdy's seconds produced two
weapons they had brought. but Ham
ilton refused to fight with them. as
sorting that they had been in Purdy's
| possession some time and that he
might have prepared himself by prac-
ticing with them.
An offer from Purdy to toss for
choice of pistols was refused by Ham
ilton, ard this ended the duel, neither
man being willing to shoot with the
weapons brought to the field of honor
| by the other side.
No further effort was made TO bring
the men together and even at this
late day many believe that the squab-
bic over weapons was but preteXt
of the two men to escape shooting al
| zach othar