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David Colbreth Broderick
Reminiscences of the Old Fire Laddies, 1885

BRODERICK’S NEW YORK CAREER

Source: Reminiscences of the Old Fire Laddies, 1885
Page 120
I know there are many of my readers who readily remember Senator Broderick and the incidents connected with his life in this city. In 1838, he was at his trade as a granite-cutter, and then lived in Greenwich Street, between Barrow and Morton. His mother kept a crockery store, Broderick being at the time about eighteen years old. In 1840, he opened a saloon on the corner of Commerce and Barrow streets, which was the resort of such well-known characters as Congressman Mike Walsh, "Charley" Miller, ex-Judge Dodge, now employed at Fireman's Hall ; De Witt Forshay, Captain Bill Raynor, " Ranse " Van Valkenburgh, George B. Dean, Lew and Ben Parker, Yankee Sullivan, John Morrissey, Bill Poole, and many others.

" Mike " Walsh, whose literary tastes were of a decidedly high order, started a paper which he called the Subterranean. Broderick named his saloon after Walsh's paper, and for many years the place was a noted resort.

The Adriatic House, on the corner of Hudson and Barrow streets, kept by " Wally " Mason, was subsequently opened and conducted on the same plan as the Subterranean. The Village House, now situated at the corner of Bank and Hudson streets, is the only successor of the Adriatic and Subterranean now in existence in the ninth ward.

In 1843, Broderick moved his quarters to the corner of King and Hudson streets. It was in 1845 that he was elected foreman of Howard Engine Company No. 34, and some years later ran for Congress against Fred Tallmadge, the Whig candidate.

Broderick was an out-and-out Democrat, and was opposed on this occasion by John Bloodgood, a "stump" Democrat, who beat Dave and elected Tallmadge.

In 1849, Broderick started for California on board of the "Crescent City," and upon arriving there engaged in the business of refining and smelting gold, having as a partner Fred Kohler, at one time an alderman of the old sixth ward.

In 1854, Broderick was elected Lieutenant-Governor of California, and while serving his term was elected to the United States Senate. He became involved in a quarrel with a politician named Smith, which resulted in a duel. When the parties met, Smith savagely fired at Broderick, the bullet striking the latter's watch and falling harmless to the ground. Both parties then shook hands, and after ward became very warm friends. The watch that Broderick wore on this occasion is now in the possession of ex-Judge Dodge, at present employed at Fire Headquarters in this city.

I distinctly remember the occasion when Senator Broderick visited this city while serving as a senator, and I cannot forget the twinkle that played in his eye when he remarked to some of his old friends : " Boys, I told you when you next heard of me I would be a United States senator. Now you see me as one." An ovation was tendered him at the Metropolitan Hotel on the occasion of his visit, the committee on this occasion consisting of Charley Miller, John Phelan, John Wilson and Thomas Kelly.

Broderick always lived like a gentleman. Generous to a fault, he delighted to have his friends about him.

His bearing, his dress, his language, indicated none of the hard experience of his youth. He was fond of books, and was a rare judge of men. The late Colonel John W. Forney, in his "Anecdotes of Public Men," writes : " Broderick was one of the few self-made men who did not boast of having been a mechanic. He was not like a famous ex-President who delighted to speak of his rise from the tailor's bench. He did not think a man any worse for having worked for his living at a trade, nor did he believe him any better. And this theory sprung from the belief that the laboring men of America are seldom true to the bright minds so often reared among them. His memorable words in reply to the haughty Hammond, of South Carolina, on March 22, 1858, after the latter had spoken of the producing class of the North as the ' mudsills ' of society, illustrate this theory. Mr. Broderick said:

" ' I, sir, am glad that the senator has spoken thus. It may have the effect of arousing in the workingmen that spirit that has been lying dormant for centuries. It may also have the effect of arousing the two hundred thousand men with pure skins in South Carolina, who are now degraded and despised by thirty thousand aristocratic slave-holders. It may teach them to demand what is power —

Link'd with success, assumed and kept with skill,
That moulds another's weakness to his will;
Wields with their hands, but still to them unknown,
Make even their mightiest deeds appear his own. 

" 'I sincerely hope, sir, the time will come when such speeches as that from the senator of South Carolina will be considered a lesson to the laborers of the nation.' "

CHAPTER VIII

Page 114
IN the long list of representative men of the Old Volunteer Department who have won eminent distinction, none perhaps deserves more credit, and is entitled to more consideration, than the redoubtable David C. Broderick. He was a part of the history of the old village of "Greenwich," now the ninth ward of this city, and as an old-time fire laddie deserves more than passing notice in this work.

" Dave," as he was familiarly known to old New Yorkers, was born in the District of Columbia in 1820. His boyhood — as, indeed, his early manhood — was passed in this city in the occupation of a stonecutter, and the loss of his father early stimulated him to the efforts which maintained his mother and only brother, and served also to fix and form his character even in his boyhood. He was always noted for his ambition, and when taking his departure for California, it was with a tinge of pride that he remarked to a gathering of his friends: " Boys, when you next hear from me, I will be a United States Senator" ; and true to his statement, he did succeed in attaining that honorable position.

As foreman of old 34 engine, he acquired a popularity that, in this city, few possessed at the time. His energy at all times was manifested in the most resolute struggles with poverty and obscurity, and his ambition impelled him to seek a foremost place in the great race for honorable power. Up to the time of his departure " to fields green and pastures new," his life had been passed amid events incident to a character like his Fearless, self-reliant, open in his enmities, warm in his friendships, wedded to his opinions, and marching directly to his purpose through and over all opposition, his career was checkered with success and defeat. 

When he reached California, in 1849, his keen observation taught him at once that he trod a broad field, and that a higher career was before him. He had no false pride — sprung from a people and a race whose vocation was labor, he toiled with his own hands, and sprang at a bound from the workshop to the legislative halls. From that hour there congregated around him and against him the elements of success and defeat.

Strong friendships, bitter enmities, high praise, malignant calumnies, but he trod with a free step the onward path which led to glory, and lastly the grave. He was finally elected United States Senator after a bitter and personal fight, and from that moment his character was maligned, his motives attacked, his courage impeached, and his patriotism assailed.

Some time after Senator Broderick's election, Judge D. S. Terry, of the Supreme Court, took occasion to attend a political convention, and in a speech bitter and personal, he stigmatized Senator Broderick and all his friends in words of contemptuous insult. When Mr. Broderick read the speech, he retorted by saying that during Judge Terry's incarceration by the Vigilance Committee he paid $200 a week to support a newspaper in the Judge's defense. He also stated that he had heretofore considered Judge Terry the only honest man on the Supreme bench, but he would take all that back. An exchange of letters thereupon took place between the parties, and Judge Terry demanded a retraction. " The Code " held sway in California in those days. Senator Broderick asked, for obvious reasons, that the Judge designate what remarks he considered offensive, and the latter quoted the remark of the Senator as regards   " Let her go! " running a newspaper in his (Terry's) behalf, to which Senator Broderick answered that he had made such a statement, and concluded his letter as follows:

" You are the best judge as to whether this language affords good ground of offense."

Senator Broderick answered that he had made such a statement, and concluded his letter as follows: " You are the best judge as to whether this language affords good ground of offense."

Judge Terry, in answer to this letter, concludes by saying: " To my last letter you reply, acknowledging the use of the offensive language imputed to you, without making the retraction required. This course on your part leaves me no other alternative but to demand the satisfaction usual among gentlemen, which I accordingly do."

Senator Broderick answered this letter by saying that his friend, Hon. J. C. McKibben, would make the necessary arrangements demanded; and on the morning of Sept. 12, 1859, the first meeting took place, but the police interfered, and the principals were arrested. At six o' clock the following morning a number of gentlemen rode up to the ranch of a Mr. Davis, situated about a mile south of Lake Merced. Shortly afterward both principals drove up in different carriages, accompanied by friends, and immediately repaired to a secluded spot a short distance from the ranch. As the time approached for the crisis, every eye was turned upon the combatants. Judge Terry was seconded by Calhoun Benham and Col. Thomas Hayes, while Senator Broderick was cared for by Congressman Joseph McKibben and ex-Sheriff Colton. Mr. Broderick's friends had a short and earnest conversation, and retired.

An official expression notified the combatants to take their relative positions. Judge Terry's lips were compressed, his countenance betrayed that of a man without fear, as well as without religious restraint. Wan and attenuated, he stood a stolid monument on the field of conflict. Senator Broderick could not have been distinguished by the stranger as a principal. With his hands folded behind his back he held earnest conversation with a friend. He would occasionally turn, scan the crowd, and rest his eye upon some recognized countenance.

The muscles of his face were strong, and his visage unrelaxed in particular. His lips, when not conversing, were compressed, and his whole bearing was that of a man who was about to meet a great issue, and who was firmly prepared for it.

At precisely fifteen minutes to seven, Mr. Benham gave a rapid glance at the sky, detected something to the disadvantage of his principal, and approached Judge Terry. The latter, who wore a large stiff-brimmed hat, had drawn the front over his eyes. After Mr. Benham had spoken to him, the front was turned up. When Mr. Colton asked: " Gentlemen, are you ready? " Mr. Terry instantly answered, " Ready." Senator Broderick, when he answered "Ready," did so with a gesture, nodding his head, and inclining his body towards Mr. Colton. Between the words "Fire! one, two," both parties shot. The word " two " was scarcely started upon, when the Judge fired. Mr. Broderick's shot was spent in the ground some four or five feet in front of his right toes. Judge Terry's, however, took effect in Broderick's right breast just above the nipple.

Immediately upon receiving his antagonist's fire Mr. Broderick raised his right arm, still grasping the pistol. It was the impression that he had been shot in the shoulder. His arm contracted, and a spasmodic effort was made to brace himself up. The leaden messenger, however, had gone to a more sensitive and vital part. After endeavoring to summon the will to resist the pressure that was bearing him down, the head dropped in a recumbent position over the right shoulder; the knees bent outwardly, and at length, gently and calmly as a child retiring to rest, Mr. Broderick eased to the earth, pressing his right breast with the hand still holding the pistol, and lying on his left side.

He died within an hour after he was shot. The last words he uttered were to his seconds, when he said: "They have killed me because I was opposed to the extension of slavery and a corrupt administration."

The last words he uttered were to his seconds, when he said: "They have killed me because I was opposed to the extension of slavery and a corrupt administration."

On September 18, 1859, after lying in state four days, the body of Senator Broderick was conveyed to the Plaza, where a panegyric was delivered by Colonel E. D. Baker, and thence the remains were conveyed to the cemetery, where the Rev. Father Gallagher, of the Catholic Church, delivered a touching sermon upon the deceased, after which the body was placed in a vault. Subsequently the remains were deposited on Lone Mountain, where to-day a beautiful monument rears itself as a tribute to the pioneer statesman of the Pacific coast. On the day of the obsequies, over eight thousand people marched in procession, every branch of trade and the municipal, judicial, and State departments being represented in the vast gathering. Great fears were entertained at one time of a riot, but, fortunately, that scene was readily averted. As for Judge Terry, he was released on bail, and when tried for the offense was acquitted.

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