NOPA VELO Reaches Duel Site at Lake Merced

A perfect day for a duel-to-the-death ride. On Sunday morning the skies cleared, the sun shone, and 35 cyclists gathered for the second monthly spin of NOPA VELO, the North Panhandle's new bicycling group for neighbors and friends. Jason and Lauren, owners of Matching Half Cafe at McAllister and Baker, helped riders power up with coffee, tea, and morning munchies. And then they were off -- first to Broderick Street with a nod to its namesake, U.S. Senator David Broderick, and on to the Panhandle, Golden Gate Park, the Great Highway, and Lake Merced.

At the site of the infamous duel between Senator Broderick and California Supreme Court Justice David S. Terry, NOPA VELO re-enacted the deadly dispute. (A just-as-nice return ride ended at Bistro Gambrinus on Fulton Street where riders reviewed the ride and watched Canada score the gold for hockey).

Why a Duel-to-the-Death? A brief re-telling of events:

The year is 1859 and the talk of civil war swirls across the nation, splitting political parties, families, and friends. Two of these friends are David C. Broderick, US Senator from California, and David. S. Terry, California Supreme Court Justice

In an election that same year, Justice Terry lost his seat on the court. He felt he was the victim of a political faction led by Senator Broderick. Indeed, the two men represented different segments of the Democratic Party: Broderick wanted California to enter the Union as a state free of slavery while Terry wanted California to become a slave state.

When Terry lost his election, he criticized the Broderick political faction in public. Broderick responded, castigating the reputation of Justice Terry. Terry demanded a duel. In the 1850s dueling was evidently a proper way to settle disputes even though the state constitution outlawed the practice.

On Monday, Sept. 12, 1859 Broderick and Terry met on the shores of Lake Merced, but were promptly arrested for planning to engage in a duel. A judge released them on bail. The very next day, in true San Francisco style, the two men returned to Lake Merced, along with their their assistants, known as “seconds.”

The seconds tossed coins. Terry won his toss and chose which pistols to use. Broderick won the second toss and decided to stand with his back to the sun. They stepped ten paces, the seconds gave the final count “1, 2, 3” and the two men stood ready to shoot. Broderick’s pistol fired prematurely and lodged in the soil. Terry didn’t hesitate. He shot and hit Broderick in the chest and punctured a lung.

Broderick was mortally wounded; his allies took him to a house at Fort Mason, then called “Black Point”, an enclave for wealthy, anti-slavery San Franciscans. Broderick died three days after the duel. On his deathbed, Broderick had his legacy in mind; he reportedly said, “They killed me because I was opposed to the extension of slavery and the corruption of justice.” The current resident in the house where Broderick died believes the slain Senator still walks the rooms and hallways.

Broderick had a very well attended funeral. He was buried at Laurel Hill Cemetery and the city erected a monument to him there. City leaders also named a street for him. Terry was tried for manslaughter and acquitted in Marin County. Broderick became a martyr to the cause, but Terry became a hated figure in San Francisco – so much so that he was forced to leave the city and settle in ... Stockton.

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Next NOPA VELO ride: Sunday, March 28th. For news & updates: join the NOPA VELO Google Group here and check BIKE NOPA.

NOPA VELO's "Duel by Death" All Over NOPA

This Sunday, Feb. 28th, NOPA VELO spins through the neighborhood and beyond for its second monthly bike ride for neighbors and friends. "Death by Duel" gives a nod to U.S. Senator David Broderick who gave his name to one of NOPA's streets ... and, yes, his life also to keep slavery out of California or, the less heroic version of his story, to settle a personal score with his one-time best friend, David S. Terry, California Supreme Court Justice. More details here on that deadly and explosive spat.

After a meet up at Matching Half Cafe, NOPA VELO riders spin a block to Broderick Street, tip our helmets to NOPA's own "Painted Ladies" and then glide into the Panhandle and through Golden Gate Park to the Great Highway. We'll ride south on the interior street, not the highway, and keep going to the shores of Lake Merced, the site of the infamous Broderick-Terry duel to the death. Expect a re-enactment with last month's Ranger Dale taking on the role of a U.S. Senator and Rick Helf, designer of NOPA VELO's outstanding posters, transforming himself into a Supreme (Court Justice).

We'll roll along the east side of the lake and head back to Golden Gate Park until we reach our drinks and lunch destination at Bistro Gambrinus. Everyone welcome. Kids with their own bikes and in the company of an adult guardian, please join us. A flat, easy ride for all with a cafe break and lake shore stop in the middle. Sunshine expected. Legislative and judicial attire optional.

Sunday, Feb. 28th

9:30 am meet at Matching Half Cafe, corner of McAllister and Baker Streets

10:00 am kick-off

12:00 noon or a bit after: drinks and lunch at Bistro Gambrinus, 1813 Fulton near Masonic

Questions: Lenore at lmcjunker@gmail.com or 415 300 6744.

NOPA VELO Draws On Death-by-Duel Drama: Second Ride Set for February 28

Design by Rick Helf

NOPA VELO, the North Panhandle's much buzzed-about bicycling group for neighbors and friends, is geared up and ready for its second ride. More than 35 cyclists helped NOPA VELO launch its first outing, the wondrous Patty/Tania Hearst / Presidio tour. Organizers invite everyone to return for a trip just as memorable. Newcomers are definitely welcome.

On Sunday, February 28th NOPA VELO cyclists will meet at the Matching Half Cafe to get charged up and primed for the dastardly "Death-by-Duel" dash down the coast. Each month the group delves into the neighborhood's vast and arcane "NOPA Lore" to define its ride and determine its destination.

On the last day of February, VELO vibs spin their wheels in memory of the last days of David C. Broderick, the U.S. Senator from California who was shot and killed in a duel by a California Supreme Court Justice in 1859. Both Broderick and David S.Terry were Democrats, but they disagreed on abolition. Broderick was an anti-slavery advocate, and his one-time best friend Terry wanted to bring slavery into California. In the heat of arguments, they defamed each other's good name and then agreed to a duel near the shore of Lake Merced. Broderick's pistol fired prematurely, and Terry didn't wait for a second round. He shot and mortally wounded Broderick, who died three days later in a house at Fort Mason. The current resident reports that the house is haunted by the man who gave his name to a NOPA street.

February's ride will accommodate bikers of all levels with an emphasis on good times and pumped-up exercise. Kids with their own bikes who are accompanied by a guardian are definitely welcome. The death-by-duel ride will be a flat jaunt from NOPA through the Panhandle and Golden Gate Park to the Great Highway and then south to Lake Merced, a ten mile, one hour easy ride. Along the lake shore, the site of the deadly duel has been preserved for occasions like this. Memorial posts mark how far the two politicians paced before turning and taking their best shots. A re-enactment seems inevitable!

Flickr hoto by uzvards

After contemplating politicians who couldn't talk things through, NOPA VELO riders return by 12:30 pm for drinks and lunch at one of the North Panhandle's new restaurants, Bistro Gambrinus on Fulton near Masonic.

Heavy rain cancels; otherwise the ride is on. For more information contact Lenore at (415) 300-6744 or at lmcjunker@gmail.com. Get all the NOPA VELO news and ride pics at the group's Google group here and look for future BIKE NOPA coverage of the Death-by-Duel ride.

Sunday, Feb. 28th

9:30 am Meet and Mingle @ Matching Half Cafe, 1799 McAllister at Baker

10:00 am Kick off for the ride

12:30 pm Drinks and lunch at Bistro Gambrinus, 1813 Fulton near Masonic

Site of Broderick-Terry Duel, California Landmark No. 19