Year: 1874

tue former WAS iouuu III Ut. ilOetch
who was one of the leading practitioners
Of the age. On that day Burr wrote q
long letter to Theodosia, giving explicit
directions as TO the disposition Of his :
fairs, and also advice in reference to the
education of her little boy. He also
wrote a careful and elaborate letter Ia
her husband, in which other details are
given, and he concludes with the briei
explanation / have called out Gener
al Hamilton, and we meet tomorrow
Van Ness will give you the particulars
The preceding has been written in view
of this. If it should be my lot to fall
yet | shall live in you and your son. .
1t may be observed as striking con-
trast that Burr did not fall, but he sur.
vived both his daughter and her hus.
band, as we'll as their son and died in a
miserable old age.


1t was arranged between the seconds
that Burr should be on the ground first,
and he must have left Richmond Hill
before six o'clock. Pendleton says that
at seven in the morning the Hamilton
party reached the spot (Which was Wee
hawken) and the ferryman was ordered
to wait at the bank. Burr and Van
Ness we're busy clearing the ground so
as to make an opening. The principals
saluted each other in that formal man.
ner which the laws Of honor demand.
The distance was measured, and then
Van Ness and Pend eton united in load
ing brace of pistols. They then drew
for choice of position, which Hamilton
won, and the combatants Immediately
took their places. BY previous agree
ment the following had been arranged
as the method of combat; The parties
having been placed in proper position,
the second who gives the word shall ask
them if they are ready, and being an
swered in the affirmative shall say pres
ent and after this the parties shall pre-
sent and fire when they please. The
word was given by Pendleton, and both
parties presented and fired. Pendleton
says that Burr took deliberate aim.
Hamilton fred after Burr, but the inter.
vening tiHe was matter of disagree.
ment. 1t could not, however, have been
more than two or three seconds, for he
fell mortally wounded by the first fire
Burr Immediately advanced towards the
the wounded man with an expression Of
regret. and then, without speaking, turn.
ed and left the field. The spot on which
Hamilton fell was subsequently indicat.
ed by monument placed there by the
St. Andrews Society, of which Hamil.
ton was a memner. 1t stood in what
was Thirty first street in the old Wee
hawken district, but the improvement
in that vicinity has required its removal


AS Hamilton sank to the ground Pen
dleton ran to his assistance, and DIR
Hosack, who heard the firing, was also
Immediately at hand. The unfortunate
man was hardly able to speak. They
carried him down to the boat, passing
the Burr party, and to prevent ident


fication, Van Ness covered his princi
pal with his open umbrella. Burr was
rowed as rapidly as possible to Rich
mond Hill, where he gathered few nee
essary articles and then fled to Philadel.
phia. He at once felt that his crime
had exiled him from New York, and be
did not revisit this city until after the
| lapse of eight years. Had he been caught
there within a week after the duel, ht
would without doubt have been hanged
by the populace. Hamilton's boat was
directed towards the ferry house at the
foot of Cedar street. 1t was no doubt
the intention of the party to convey him
to the family residence on that street but
circumstances prevented. That morn
ing his departure in boat with Pendle
ton and DIR. Hosack had been noticed
and the report became known. Among
others whose fears and suspicious had
been excited by it, was his friend Will
lam Bayard. This man took his place
at the ferry-house and watched the re
turn of his friend. At last he saw 8
skiff approaching, and soon deserted th,
surgeon and the second, but nothing wa,
to be seen of Hamilton. Bayard under
stood this and burst into tears. As soor
as the boat touched the wharf he urged
them to take the wounded man to his
house; this was 142 Greenwich street
near Liberty, the spot now occupied By
the Continental Bank Note Company
and his invitation was accepted.


DR.. Hosack says he found Hamilton
sitting on the ground upheld by the armi
of his second. His countenance
shall never forget; he had just strength
enough to say This is a mortal wound,
and then sank back on the ground appa
rently lifeless." The ferry-man put