The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1850-11-16
"CRACK snOoTINGl"

oHe orN 49, rinsr ANo lAsr prrl,
The following capital ancl,to 4, iold by /
that ihecuous fellow "John ~ York" 0f al
couple Of officers in a late war The leading
character Of che stoy II undoubtedly the gal
liant Gen. Bennett Riley, late Governor of
California
There l. not q hmycr, nor more ccccn-
trir officer Ia the United States afmy than
Gen. H. Over forty years hc has
boon in active soryiccs-in the wars of ~, iu|
lnllnn Wl- aud the skrimm1gcs in flurida
upon tic irunhcrs aud in MrNico IT. In
never been court martialcd nor has hc ever
worn any other dress than the uuc or green
since be entered the army; aud perhaps hos
been n more engagements tliHu any OF hiB
living contemporaries.
During and allor the laAt war with Great
Britain, lho subject Of my sketch was station
cd upon the frontier ia tle ncighborhood 81
Platsburgh, particularly. lie was at the
time OF the INCIDENT | am going to relate,
lieutenant, and one Of the crack shots with
the deadly western rife.
Though the ulost ci,il aud kind hearted man
in the world, tho Lieutenant became cntana-
lcd IN Hu affair of honor with brother oiii-
Ger, All attempts ~ a settlement of the di-
hculty proved Of no ayaii and az last, pistols
were ~ length agreed upon.- Neither of the
parties nm Jaii in the line pistolie. In fact q
respectfully dumqnsioucd barn door would
have been perfectly safe Al a long distance.
II wa, on a freezing cold morning that the
comhathnts went out to finish their difficulty
with powder aud lead. The thing had boon
80 quietly managed, TINT none but the two
seconds and the surgeon know anything Of H.
b. ss44s!4d Aeli.cicd- -Haa-A CLEARING. covered
| HHN. 4 H. 4
feet Qn level, and picrcng northwest
wind. Zero had risen so far above the tcm-
pcraturr. OF the atmosphere, that man would
have 90 climb 90 reach IT,
The hero of my sketch was as cool as the
weather while his opponent was a hpsty fire
eating gentleman, tull of pluck, and as brave
a- amy officer in his corps. The pround-or
the snow that covered twas measured on
according Ia the then existing rules Of The
code and the pistols were loaded in the pres
cngr Of the opponents. a bag, containing 10
ihc''s sum 81 l,c ammaSition ii,iist. .'''s
The comhniants were duly stationed and
awaited tl'- vord---t,. tr,,yD e-a-r,l ,Nyal-
upcd u a warm o,crcuat, while his ad,otsa-
," he'd iorgottcn that Indispensable accompa-
uimcnt
Ar-yon--rcady ?
Ready 10y both.
'tirc., ue--two-.three =
Bod discharged their pistols at the word
two, and both without effect.
Another shoi+. exclaimed the quick tenn.
T5r5d 5FcrT,
Agreed, replied the othor, without wait
ing 10 consult his second.
The weapons were again loaded aud dis
charged with Tie same cllect as before.
'luoiher shot demanded Fir,-catcr
agreed
NHd InofhoT SHOT II WIZ, wittfl itf,c FUsUtr--
shot after shot was given and taken. until
the S-aut OF onllets put an abrupt stop to the
deadly strifu Il
Whats TO be done now" a,kcd our huru's
second
Any'hing you please, MAS iha-4nick re-
\ parloy was called. and consultation
held between the seconds and surgeon. The
principals were sounded and the result was.
HAT ula challenger would hear nothing hat
an apology.
\ won't give one slid RI, cmphati-
caly.
Then we will fight it out, was the reply
sent back.
but how asked the doctor '"
send iaT more bullets .--.
This was the only alternative. and tho sec
onds, with the surgeon, went back to the |
camp for more ammunition, leaving the prin- |
ciPN ACTORS alone viii cacll,0thGf. tt,
who besides overcoat, had provided himself |
with pocket pistol, whose contents were
rather more cnliyening than cold lead. when /
trry frrruus vvcru nut Of nVht, sudrrd himsuit T
upon stump and made the acquaintance Of |
his pocket companion.
The ovcrcoatless officer cast a Glance NJ
the buttIc, and thrcshe't and stamped about
IN the snow, exceedingly i'll az ease R-
kept his station on the stump now and then
casting look in the direction the bullet seek
ers had taken, and then consoling his inner
man With aeleAl+.4.r ~ La
The latter finally took 10 a stump
ro1 rrti ttriftffttt hi- frt4tsttee heels against
is sides most vigorously, at each pull made
by Il at the quart consoler.
ilalf an hour passed, and nothing was seen
IT tho seconds ur the surgeon. he challcn
ger grew momcntafiy More impatient His
ingers and toes were bcnumbed with cold
md his ears were tickling with the sharp Bit
er air. Three times he jumped down as If
Intending 20 leave tho ground, but at each es-
ay II cruel a-hem! ffum Il brought
lim again to the stump
Too Internal = growled the little man bo- d
wcen his ohattering teeth. II
What would you give for a horn just now?' =,
R-
.Downright'murderr continued the freez- {
ny officer r
|,twoutd help himamazingiy, said R ?
0 himself
-'t-4-'voT,it stand Il TT length nxeinitr,tri
he sufferer. Curse the duct and the seconds e
a particular r
And again he settled his understandings b
lto the deep SNOW, with an evident design :
} return and look aiter the Ioitercrs him
elE "
Hold on, my boy = said R, they'll II
e here in a few minutes' Il
Don't speak 10 me- SIR, u,
Nv ell but viii; come aud take drink =.
'sro's no use of yotfr freezing yourself Clio y
ous whiskoy? brought il from Plattsburgh al
yself' In