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The Showalter & Piercy Duel
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May 26, 1861
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13
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4 118
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The Showalter and Piercy Duel
Full Particulars of the Affair from our Special Reporter – Mr. Piercy shot dead at the second fire.
We gave in yesterday's Alta the debate in the Assembly, the day before the adjournment, between Mr. Showalter, of Mariposa, a native of Pennsylvania (Secessionist,) and Mr. Piercy, of San Bernardino, (a staunch Union man,) a natice of Illinois. The debate was on the adoption of the Union Resolutions introduced by Mr. Conness, which Mr. Showalter, among others, opposed, and which Mr. Piercy supported. The insult put upon Mr. Piercy, that gentlemen gave Mr. Showalter every opportunity to retract, by the most conciliatory and gentlemanly course the next day in the Assembly, an offer which Mr. Showalter declined, and as Mr. Piercy recognized the code, and to his own language, felt that he had no alternative, he believed himself obliged to vindicate his honor in the eyes of his acquaintances, and on Monday night, the day of the adjournment, a challenge passed, which was accepted. As we stated yesterday, the parties left for Marin county on Friday – Mr. Showalter and his friend in the steamer Petaluma, and Mr. Piercy and his friends in a sail boat from Meiggs' wharf.
Mr. Piercy arrived at San Quentin at half-past eleven o'clock that forenoon and stopped at the State Prison over night.
Mr. Showalter, on leaving the Petaluma boat at San Quentin, started for San Rafael in a vehicle and stopped overnight at the Marin Hotel in San Rafael.
The terms of the duel were to fight with rifles at forty paces. Each party carried weapons of his own selectin – that used by Mr. Showalter belonged to Mr. Hayes. The seconds of Mr. Piercy were Senator Watkins and Samuel Smith ; Surgeon, Dr. Wake Briarly. The seconds of Mr. Showalter were Thomas Hayes of this city and Thomas Laspeyre, Assemblyman from San Joaquin county ; Surgeon, Dr. Hammond.
The Arrangements were made that night at the Marin Hotel, by the seconds, for the approaching encounter. The principals and friends were to meet at half-past eleven o'clock next day, at McDuffie's ranch, six miles from San Rafael.
Mr. Showalter and friends were first on the ground. He was lying under a tree conversing with an acquaintance, when Sherif Doub of Marin made his appearance, having come over the road from San Rafael, and arrested him on a warrant sworn by District Attorney Haralson, whom he accompanied to San Rafael.
Mr. Piercy, meanwhile, was close by on the road, and had secreted himself in the bushes as the Sheriff passed, to avoid being arrested.
Mr. Showalter, on arriving at San Rafael, was taken before Judge Frink, (the County Judge) where an examination was about to be had, when it was discovered that Mr. Haralson was absent, upon which the Court discharged the defendant, who immediately returned to the house of Dr. Taliaferro, three miles from San Rafael, which place was the rendezvous for the seconds. There the preliminaries were arranged and about two dozen spectators prepared to start for the ground. It had been previously arranged, between the seconds, that if Mr. Showalter was discharged by the Judge the fight should immediately proceed.
The place of meeting was about three miles further up the country than Dr. Taliaferro's house. It was a continuation of the road which runs out in the direction from San Rafael, and follows the bank of the creek of that name. The ground was an open grassy space of about five acres, surrounded by thick chaparral, with the stream running through its centre, which was crossed by a log serving as a sort of bridge. The valley, at some distance beyond the immediate ground, was surrounded by high hills, and the tall peak of Tamilpais bore to the southwest from them.
The parties reached the ground about a quarter-past three o'clock in the afternoon, and on the seconds tossing up for the choice of ground, and for the word, they were won by Mr. Hayes. The distance (40 paces) was then paced off. The spectators, who numbered some twenty, seated themselves on the ground, at a distance of about fifteen yards from the duelling ground.
Meantime, Mr. Piercy walked apart on the other side of the creek, in company with Mr. Pennie, one of the Wardens of the State Prison, and Mr. Showalter, being on the ground, paced slowly over the greensward with Mr. Williamson, Senator from Tuolumne.
The seconds then measured for the places where they (the seconds) should stand – to the right of the principals. Mr. Paspeyre held the rifle for Mr. Showalter, and Mr. Samuel Smith, for Piercy. The parties being now ready, the seconds handed the weapons to the principals, (who stood in their respective places,) and then walked off a few paces to the right.
During this time the arena of some five acres was encroached upon by numbers of cattle attracted by the unwonted spectacle. Among them were two or three large bulls, who kept up an incessant mournful lowing, which to some of the outside crowd had a peculiarly ominous sound.
Col. Watkins now read the articles of agreement specifying that the parties were to fire between the words “fire” and “three,” in counting. The reading was listened to with breathless silence by the spectators. It was a scene which few who were present will forget. The antagonists stood confronting each other with their deadly weapons in hand. They were dressed much alike – in black clothes, and each for black hands – their coats buttoned up to hide any prominent mark about their persons.
Mr. Showalter is a native of Pennsylvania – a tall man, with red whiskers and heavy hair, black eyes and a determined cast of countenance. Mr. Piercy was a rather slight formed man, and looked somewhat delicate owing to his recent illness which had caused him to spit blood during the session. He was but twenty-four years of age, and looked even younger than that. His face was immovable, and, like that of his opponent, showed unflinching courage. The sun was sinking toward the west, but did not annoy either party.
When the reading of the articles of agreement was over, and the principals being in their places, Mr. Hayes asked if they were ready. Mr. Showalter replied, “Ready,” and Mr. Piercy, about three seconds later, “Ready.” At the words “Fire! one, two three,” Mr. Showalter fired as the word “one” was spoken, and Mr. Piercy at “two.” Neither shot took effect, and those present who were not engaged in the affair, only as lookers on, believed that an adjustment would now follow. But such was not the case; not was any attempt made on either side. Mr. Showalter afterwards said that at this shot he felt his adversary's bullet pass close to his face. Both men were perfectly cool. The articles read that they were to raise their rifles to perpendicular at the word “Ready,” and then to lower then and fire between the words “Fire,” and “Three.”
After this shot, Mr. Showalter said “Load the rifles again.” After this remark there could be no proposition on the part of Mr. Piercy towards a settlement, even had it been desired, unless he withdrew the challenge, and but for that remark he would have been at liberty to announce himself satisfied, had he wished. The rifle of Mr. Showalter was reloaded by Dr. Hammond, and during this brief interval Mr. Piercy walked aside a few paces, and conversed with Mr. Briarly. When they came up for the second fire, Mr. Hayed said “Gentlemen, are you ready?” and instantly followed with the quick word “Stop!” and then turning to Mr. Piercy said in a peremptory manner, “Hold your gun Perpendicular, sir!” Upon this, Col. Watkins walked towards Mr. Piercy, conversed with him for a few moments in a tone which could not be overheard, and then came back to Mr. Hayes and said: “He can hold him gun as he pleases, until the word 'ready' is given.”
The interruption had no visible effect upon the young man, who responded again “Ready,” as did Mr. Showalter, when the question was put the second time, “Gentlemen, are you ready?”
[We should here remark that another informant states that our reporter is incorrect in this part of the narration. He holds that the word “Fire” was given without the pronouncing of “Ready” for the second time ; and another says that Mr. Piercy did not get his weapon levelled in time, and that the ball went into the air.]
The two men fired about the same moment – between the words “fire and “one, two;” and at this moment Mr. Piercy fell heavily on the ground. The bystanders, and his second, and surgeon rushed up. The bullet of his adversary had struck him in the mouth, a little on the right side, passing through the lower park of his head and lodging somewhere inside, but breaking the vertebrae of the neck. He fell dead and the blood gushed out of his mouth and nose.
As he lay on the ground, his eyes were wide open and turned upon Dr. Brairly, and here was a slight nervous movement of the hands, and of one leg, as it stretched out parallel with the other; but he uttered no sound, and the surgeons were of the opinion that he was unconscious from the moment he was hit. Mr. Showalter was uninjured. He send Dr. Hammond over to see if his medical services were needed, which were accepted by Dr. Briarly ; but, of course, this was merely a matter of courtesy.
The crowd, after a few minutes, started bac toward Dr. Taliaferro's house. Among those present were noticed Charles Fairfax, Senator Gallagher of Calaveras; Senator Wimmianson, of Tuolumne, Assemblymen Chandler and Gillet of Tuolumne, James Moore, D.J. Williamson, H. M. Robee, a reporter for the Alta, Edward Bryne, Assemblyman A. J. Gregory of Mariposa, Charles W. Tozer, Henry Baker, Mr. Pennie, Warden of the State Prison, Charles Minturn, John Kelly, Pilot Commissioner; Martin Flynn, pilot; Mike O'Brien, two State Prison guards and other whose names are not remembered, including a number of residents of Marin county.
On reaching Dr. Taliaferro's house, through a small valley overgrown with shrubbery, the horses and vehicles were taken, and all started for San Rafael. Very soon afterwards, a wagon went out from Mr. Fairfax's house and carried the corpse to San Rafael, where it remained over night, and where, we understand, it is to be buried to-morrow, after a post mortem, which will be held to-day by the Coroner of Marin County.
A large majority of those present at the duel were not friends of Mr. Piercy, were politically opposed to him, and most of them were of the party who had vowed vengeance upon him from the moment he broke the back of secession Senatorial influence by changing his vote, and this leading the way to the election of General McDougall to the United States Senate.
Nearly all of the spectators of the fight returned to this city last evening, having left San Rafael about half past six o'clock, in the Pride of the Bay, the Maria, and two Whitehall boats. They reached the wharf at nice o'clock, and as the news circulated a general feeling of gloom and sorrow overspread our citizens.
The victim was a young and remarkably promising man. He was engaged to be married to a Miss Merrill, of San Bernardino, and the wedding was to have taken place in about ten days. He had been ill all winter, and showed the effects of it in his face. The universal feeling was, that his life had been sacrificed to his unflinching devotion to the Union, in defiant opposition to the Succession influence in the Legislature.
His course in relation to the Union resolutions, in the immediate support of which he lost his life, will always be remembered to his honor and credit. The subject is elsewhere referred to in our editorial columns this morning.
