Norwich bulletin., 1921-06-24
ODD INCIDENTS IN AMERICAN
 HISTORY
THE BRoDERIcK-TEKRY DUEL.

THE ACCOMPLISHMENT DUEL.
 One of the most deplorable duels which occurred at that exciting period in our history just prior to the Civil war was that fought between Senator David C. Frederick of California and Hon. David S. Terry, chief justice of the supreme court of the same state.
 Political disappointment in the east is said to have driven Frederick to Cali fornia in 1S4s. Here his career was just the reverse. He was first elected to the state senate and finally, in 1856, to the United States senate. He was eminent as a debater, opposed the admission of Kansas as state, under the Lecompton constitution, and became separated from the democratic party on the slavery question in 1858.
 At the time politics in California was unsurpassed for bitterness. Men in this state were not accustomed to mince their words. In his fight against the Lecomp- ton men I3roderck at first tried to be decent, but it soon appeared that the l leaders of this party had resolved to give i no quarter to their opponents and were 1 determined to crush Frederick
 Judge Terry had referred to Frederick | in an insulting manner and this Broder- | ick had resented in an expression of like 1 tenor. The election took place on Sept l :, and the defeat of Brodericks party was overwhelming. On the day after the election Terry resigned his position as judge and sent a challenge to Broderick on account of the mildly offensive words used in June.
 The senator hesitated but finally ac- 1 cepted the challenge. The duel took place Sept 18th. 10 miles from San Francisco. By Terry's winning the toss, dueling pis- | tols were used.
 Terry was Texan. a dead shot, ac- customed to affairs of honor. His pistols were set with hair triggers By inten- tion or accident Broderiek got the one more delicate on the trigger. He was ill weak and consequently nervous, but stood his ground with the courage of a martyr. The duel was at 10 paces After the comhatants should say they were ready, the word would be given. ''Fire-one-two" The pistols were not to be raised until the word Fire. ' When that was pronounced Broderick raised his pistol. but owing to the deli cacy of the trigger it went off premature ly and the ball entered the ground about four paces in advance of him. A second later Terry, taking deliberate aim, shot his opponent through the breast.
 In two days Broderick was dead and California was in mourning Ten thou
 sand people attended his San Francisco funeral. Over his body Colonel Baker the most eloquent orator of the state pronounced funeral oration that wa. , pathetic and caused profound emotion
 It was calculated to stir up mems heart.
 and it impressed in glowing words tn,
 conviction that Frederick had been hunt
 ed to the death by his antagonists. In his oration Baker made a manl- protest against the duello. "The code 0
 honor" he said, Fis a delusion and ; snare; it palteFs with the hope of tru , courage, and binds it al the feet of craft, l and cruel skill. It substitutes cold an,
 deliberate preparation for courageou
 and manly impulse; it makes the nier I trick of the weapon superior to tn
 noblest cause and the truest courage" Colonel Baker in 1881 met an heroi
 end at the battle of Balls Bluff. but be
 fore he fell the martyrdom of Bredericl had borne fruit. It produced a might
 revolution in public opinion- In the leg
 islature elected the next year the Doug . las democrats and republicans togethe
 had large majority. Although Terry l life was prolonged 30 years. he never en 9 tirely lived down what people called tn l deliberate murder of Frederick
 length, having grossly insulted Jusitc
 Field of the United States s,lnrem
 court, he met his death from the shot q the marshal who, on account of threat breathed out by Terry, had been assiene 7 to the protection of the judge
 The death of Broderick created q prr
 found sensation in the east. A journa1 I ist at Washington who both reflected an
 guided public opinion looked upon hi loss as a public calamity. In New Tor l city he was mourned as a citizen, an ] appropriate ohsequies were held to Da
 him the last tribute of respect and al t lection.
 Q CTomerrow: Controversy as to Our Cou1 f Costume.)