Horrible Tragedy in Burlington

BRADSTREET, ROSS

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 11/24/2009 at 22:50:05

Davenport Gazette, Davenport, Iowa Territory
April 21, 1842

HORRIBLE TRAGEDY

It is rarely in duty we are called upon to record so melancholy an occurrence as the one which happened at Burlington on the 11th inst. It appears from a statement made in the Hawkeye that Mr. John P. Bradstreet from a fancied insult given Mr. W. G. Ross was attacked by him in the street. Mr. Bradstreet fearing a rencontre had armed himself previously with a pair of pistols. Ross made the attack by firing once or twice with a six barreled revolving pistol before Bradstreet made the first fire. Eight shots passed between them, when both were carried away from this place mortally wounded. Bradstreet shortly afterwards expired. Ross still lingers.
The cowardly and barbarous practice of carrying deadly weapons has been productive of so much sin and misery in our Territory within the last six months, that hereafter, we trust, the good sense of the community will discard the custom as at least ungentlemanly.