The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1849-12-15

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/ ed on u similar course, which was frustrated
however by the manly aud GhiyalrOus ay0w-
al Of CrilHnden, ihHt he would sooner lose
his own llin Than pass the first insult, unless
| lie was sure thai tho other mediiHled SONS
undue and'nsduous advantage,
Under these circumstances tie debate be-
gait CrlIenden led oil IN speech Of IN
comparable eXcellence--mild, why, humor-
aus, pathetic, and sublime, by turns, all the
way through from beginning TO end, aud
closing IN u thunderbufsT Of fiery grandeur,
that literally shook tho forest with iempos-
iuous pcns applause. For oi'nll the ora
! tors Kentucky ever produced, lac whr truly
I the most D,mOSHtHtdH, Ills brother, JOHN
was ~ Inferior to- him IN power aud spien-
did effect mn tho pickering Of iiro-1y 10 the
strong, stendy glory of q hsed aur.
Conway followed, and appeared strangely
embarrassed 10y tho bold logic aud brilliant
defamation Of his opponent lie was poll
liicinn Of fine abilities, yet very lar from be-
ing mulch for the other. Besides, Criuen-
deus illusions were 80 loiiy,so perfectly cour-
leouH, that the ideh Of insulting such rival
seemed shameful aud revolving. According.
~, IN his first lnrnngue, Conway, although
exceedingly causlic, did not venture 10 en-
pluy any positive rudeuess
Cthleuden replied in manner tlill moro
inpAssioned, but yet nbslnlnod from ihe use
!
tagonlsl. lie, however, remarked, IN con
cluson, and his Dyes shot lightning ns lac
SAID II, "tlat lao trusted no gentleman would
ulier words, IN tho heat of debate, towards
him, such NJ could not bo tolerated by the
code Of honor"
Conway took Ere like powder n, tho torch.
Tic bounded TO his feet npd poured forth on
the heud oi hlA opponent u torrent Of the
most butter aud burning dcuuucihlion.
lfTlI Han I'm.
teucc--"N our language, General Conway,
adults of only ouo answer, and thnl you
rnny Ice sure, ! viii make right Speedily
lie t'cn descended from thn platform, aud,
tailaHdsd hy a isw select friends, hurried "a
way TO his huirl. lis second. waited ou
Conway the Snue evening, aud hostile
meeting was arranged for the following
morning.
NVhsI Glrong collected NJ the time md
place appointed, ia witness the duel Tie
seconds were Cob Wharton Rector tor Con-
why, aud Ben Drshn for Criilcnden. As
abe seconds "a all such mortal coubats are
ulitn more Important. ~ respects The tnai
result, 'hnu even tho principals themselves,
Ne niHy be pnrdOncd fnr briefly skctchlng
The Two who acted IN The prereui case.
Wharton Rector was progressed durlist,
notorious alike for the number aud fatality
of his nurderuus conflicts. lie wns uniyer-
sally ieaIed Throughout the west. fiom 81.
Louis To New Orleans, although la some
shrewd minds there had always fingered
doubt M To the character OF his e,urngc,-
These thought that the desperate relied or
Il his Immense personal strengthened the dchd-
ucss of his him, rather than on innate aud
uucouqncrnblo bravery.
Ben Deshn,a son Of the celebrated govern
or OF Kentucky, had but recently cmigrutcd
to Arkansas Ills prowess was not. known.
but Only imagined from his singular mud
striking appearance. lilo was n tall pale,
slender man, whose thin lip wore an ever
lasting smile, or sucer-oue could hardly
tell which, so ambiguous was its expression
and hlH eyes were ns small M an infants,
fierce, reddish, aud unuteruhly piercing
such dnggrr-Iikc eyes, cnnsng every gRzcr
to quail, could never belong To n coward,
THIS nt least, was the general belief of all
who 81" him.
As soon ~ the parties appeared on the
ground, they began to make their urrnngG-
mcnis, aud serious difficulties arose between
the seconds on various points of ORDER
While the dispute ns To these was pending
for almost nu hour, Conway bccnme restless,
nngry, aud ngitated while Crittcndcn trust.
ing MI to his FREUD, lay quiet on a blanket,
with his eyes shut as Il enjoying a comfort
able rlunber.
tIuutty Uvrry-TrrE --rt-4rr+i,rr--rt-+4----
principals took their positions, with their
pistols cooked, and their fingers on the trig-
gers. All WINS ready. when, to the astouish-
mcnt of the spectators, Ben Deshn hastily
advanced End scizing General Conway rude
" lay the shoulder, exclaimed with mn onth,
"Why do you not stand fair ? Are you a
coward ~
lryou do that ngnin, will shoot you, 10y
Ilcavcnm shouted Wharton Rector. cnragcd
at tho unfair conduct of Crittondcn's second.
"lour idle menaces cannot deter me from
the performance OF my duty" replied Drsha,
as with a smile Inc walked back To his place.
lie had gained his object. Conway was eX-
} cited by the insult to the verge of frenzy
lls face flushed, aud his nerves shook with
passion. lie was not physically in the hest
state To drive the centre of n Target Deshn
Ind tic word, and lac waited several minutes
before pronouncing il. This was contrary
to all rule, 6nd served to madden Conway
more aud more.
While the two antagonists We're thus snnd-
ing in position, the spectators AT glance
! contrustcd their aspect and bearing. Crit
tenden inheriIed the nobigst vt humuu forms.
with fair hair, blue eyes, nnd lofty counle.
nance, frank and open IN its expression, and
wearing the sent of acknowledging bravery
lie stood calm, collected aud uncoucerncd,
like rlleman about to fire at mark. But
: Conway had stern face,oyes dark as night,
and his look OF indubitnhle courage WAS per
, cepIbly lnged with revenge Owing to
tho insults of Ben Deshn, all his limbs were
J remuuus with rngc.
> At length Busftu gave tho wurd,t n vrirp-
that rung afar over the hills like the peal of
n trumIrhet-"Fire One two !-three !"
Al the sound FIRE !" Conway, still under
th, effects of the prcviDns agitation, Instant