Page:The Burr-Hamilton duel with correspondence.djvu/33

 before the other, the opposite second shall say ' one, two, three, fire, ' and he shall then fire or lose his fire." He then asked if they were prepared; being answered in the affirmative, he gave the word "present," as had been agreed on, and both parties presented and fired in succession; the intervening time is not expressed, as the seconds do not precisely agree on that point. The fire of Col. Burr took effect, and Gen. Hamilton almost instantly fell. Col. Burr then advanced towards General Hamilton, with a manner and gesture that appeared to General Hamilton's friend to be expressive of regret, but without speaking, turned about and withdrew, being urged from the field by his friend, as has been subsequently stated, with a view to prevent his being recognized by the surgeon and barge, men who were then approaching. No further communication took place between the principals, and the barge that carried Col. Burr immediately returned to the city. We conceive it proper to add that the conduct of the parties in this interview was perfectly proper as suited the occasion.