9 Unexpected Tragedy

CHAPTER 9 Unexpected Tragedy In September 1798, New York City was hit with a yellow fever epidemic. Alexander's family was spared this time, but people all over New York were still frightened. Nearly forty-five people were dying each day in the city.

People did not yet understand that yellow fever was spread by mosquitoes. But they did know that standing water and unsanitary conditions made the epidemic worse. Many people drank dirty or polluted water because they had no access to clean water. In 1799, Aaron Burr proposed to do something about this. At that time, Aaron Burr was employed by the government of New York State. He wanted to start the Manhattan Company. This new business would lay pipes to bring clean water to the people living in the lower end—the southern tip—of New York City. Alexander thought this was a great idea and supported Aaron's plan. But the truth was that Aaron Burr had other plans besides bringing clean water to everyone. The real purpose of the Manhattan Company was to raise money by telling people it was for

clean water, but then only use a part of that money for the job. The rest would be available to the organizers of the plan, men like Aaron Burr. A single clause of the company's charter— the document that set the rules for what the company could do—allowed the Manhattan Company to use any money it wasn't using for water for other kinds of banking business. In New York at that time, there were only two banks. One was the state bank that belonged to the government. The other was the Bank of New York, which Alexander Hamilton had helped to start. Aaron Burr wanted to become an important man in New York. He chose to create his own bank that would lend him money whenever he asked for it. It could also make him a lot of money. The Manhattan Company raised $2 million for its water system, but only used $100,000 to actually provide water! People continued to get sick. Alexander was furious. From that moment on, he knew that Aaron Burr was a dishonest man. So he was not happy when Thomas Jefferson

was elected president in 1801 with none other than Aaron Burr as his vice president! Alexander and Eliza now had seven children. Their daughter, Elizabeth Holly, also known as Eliza, had been born in 1799. By 1801, their oldest son, Philip, was a handsome, charming

young man of nineteen who was very loyal to his father. When a man named George Eacker gave a speech that insulted Alexander, Philip confronted him about it. Eacker called Philip a "rascal." This was a very serious word in 1801. Philip demanded an apology. Eacker refused. Philip wasted no time and quickly challenged Eacker to a duel.

Dueling In the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, dueling was a popular way for gentlemen to settle their differences. If two men disagreed with each other, they would have friends— known as "seconds"—try to work out a truce between them by passing messages back and forth. Usually this worked. But if it did not, the two men would stand a certain distance apart and each fire a single gunshot at each other. If they were lucky, both walked away uninjured. But often they were not. Dueling was dangerous and often illegal, but wealthy men still met in secret and held duels. Any man who refused to duel would be labeled a coward. When Philip talked to his father about the duel, Alexander suggested that he should "throw away" his first shot. He meant that Philip should not shoot directly at Eacker. When Eacker realized this, he would then also fire his pistol in