EPISODE · Feb 23, 2026 · 37 MIN
E26 - “I Plumped Him!”: First Duel Denver, 1859
from While Buffalo Roamed: The Wild West History of Colorado · host Jonathan Summer Publishing
First Pistol Duel in Denver, 1859 (Park McClure and Richard Whitsett (cover art) fight for honor on the banks of Cherry Creek. Achilles and Hector - David and Goliath - Park McClure and Dick Whitsett? Today, two 58ers have a private dispute and duel it out on the banks of Cherry Creek with 8" Navy Revolvers, at ten paces. How did we get here, where did the idea of an honorable and gentlemanly deadly duel come from? Today the duel, a few famous duels, the rules of the Duel (Code Duello 1777), then, Denver's first gentlemanly gunfight. Best wishes and thank you for tuning in! Further Reading: History of Colorado, Hall, 1889 History of Denver, Smiley 1901 The Holy Bible, Martin Luther Translation (family bible 1600s from Germany) The Iliad, Homer
What this episode covers
Achilles v Hector - David and Goliath - Park McClure and Dick Whitsett? Today two 58ers have a dispute and duel it out on the banks of Cherry Creek with 8” Navy Revolvers, at ten paces. How did we get here, where did the idea of an honorable and gentlemanly deadly duel come from? Today the duel, a few famous duels, the rules of the Duel (Code Duello 1777), then, Denver’s first gentlemanly gunfight.
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E26 - “I Plumped Him!”: First Duel Denver, 1859
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