The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-02-26
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Dueiing Seventy Years Ago.

gives tnis ACCOUNT OF the duel between Gin
ton and Swartwout;
"rhe following letter has reference to
duel in which Dewitt Clinton had been
concerned with John Swartwout as long
ago as 1902. Swartwout was devoted
friend and admrer of Aaron Burr. then
vice president The friends Of Clinton.
among whom Cheetham was most conspic.
uous and most scurrilous, accused Burr of
coquetting with the federal party-the Rrav-
est ofense which in these days could be laid
at the door of a republican. 1t reached
Clinton's ears that Swartwout had accused
him OF opposing Burr upon personal and
selfish grounds. Clinton responded. IN his
gentle and unimpassioned way, by proclaim
ing Swartwout "a liar, n scoundrel and a
villain This was reported to Swartwout.
and, OF course, challenge Immediately
followed. Col. Smith, Swartwouts second.
has left us the following account of what
occurred on the ground at Weehawken,
where the combatants respectively sought
satisfaction. Clinton was accompanied BY
Richard Riker, the hero afterwards of Hal.
leck's Recorder.
The gentlemen took their stations, were
each presented with pistol, and, by order,
faced TO the right, and fired, Intellectually.
AT the request of Mr.. Rker / asked Mr..
nv JNh odtlsuGu, blTE 11G
answered, 81 am not" The pistols then
being exchanged. and their positions re.
sumed, they by order faced TO the right.
and fired second shot without effect. At
the request of Mr.. Riker agai addressed
Slr. Swartwout, care you satisfied, sir?"
lie answered strongly in the negative
We proceeded, and third shot was ex-
changed without injury. AT the request of
MIR. Riker l again asked Mr.. Swartwout,
''are you satisfied, sir?" lie answered,
81 am not, neither shall | be until that
apology is made which / have demanded.
Until then we must proceed" | then pre-.
sented paper to Mr.. Riker, containing
the apology demanded, fer Clinton's sigma
turc, observing thatwe could not spend our
time in conversation; that this paper must
be signed, or proceed. Mr.. Clinton de-
clared that he would not sign any paper on
the subject; that he had no luminosity
against Mr. Swartwout; would willingly
shake hands and agree to meet on the
score OF former frie dship
''Alr. Swartwout insisting on his sigma
ture to the apology, and Mr.. Clinton de-
Ginning, they stood at their posts and fred
fourth shot. Mr.. Clinton's ball struck
Mr.. Swartwouts left leg, about five inches
below the knee. lie stood ready and col
lected. AT the request of Mr.. Riker i
again addressed Mr.. Swartwout, ARE you
satisfied sir?" He answered that it was use
less to repeat the question:; Mr.. Clinton
repeated that he had no luminosity against
MIR. Swartwout, was sorry for what had
passed, proposed to advance, shake hands
and bury the circumstance in oblivion
During this conversation Mr.. Swarlwouts
surgeon, kneeling by his side. extracted
the ball from the opposite side of his leg.
MIR. Swartwout, standing erect on his post
and positively declining anything short of
an ample apology, they fred the fifth shot,
and Mr.. Swartwout receiving the shot in the
left leg, about five inches above the ankle,
still, however, standing steadily at his post,
perfectly composed. At the request of Mr..
Riker l again addressed Mr.. Swartwout.
''are you satisfied, sir" He iorcibly an
swered, 81 am not, sir; proceed" Mr..
Clinton then quit his station, declined the
combat, and declared he would Are no
more. Mr. Swartwout expressed himself
surprised that Mr.. Clinton would neither
apologize nor give him the satisfaction re-
quired and, addressing me said, ''what
shall do, my frcnd?" | answered, MIR.
Clinton declines making the apology re-
CURED, refuses taking his position, and pos
lively declares lie will fight no more; and
his second appearing to acquiesce in the
disposition of his principal, there is nothing
further left for you now but to have your
wounds dressed The surgeons attended,
dressed Mr.. Swartwout's wounds, ard the
| gentlemen in their respective barges re-
turned to the city"
Mr.. Bigelow also describes the duel be-
tween Coleman, editor of the Erentng Post,
and Capt. Thompson, in which Thompson
was killed;
| ss'Tho vonr attar Clinton ras lao
by Senator Dayton of New Jersey, a warm
partisan of Burr. This affair, however,
was arranged without a meeting, but the
year following Robert Swartwout fought
with Richard Riker, who had been Clinton 6
second, and severely wounded him. The
same year Coleman. the editor of the Erea-
ing Post, was provoked by Cheetham, the
Thersites of the press of those days, to
challenge him. Friends, however, inter-
fered, and the affair was settled upon the
understanding that Cheetham would be-
have more discreetly in future. Out of this
challenge, however, grew another quarrel
which was attended with altogether deplor.
able results. A harbor master of New York
by the name of Thompson-he was called
Capt. Thompson - gave it out that il
was Coleman, not Cheetham, who had
shown the white feather on ihe occasion
| just referred TO. coleman heard OF II ana
challenged him They met in what is now
Twenty-thlrd street, then called Glove
Lane" at the edge of winters evening
The ground was covered with snow, and it
was cold and nearly dark shot or two
was exchanged without effect. The prin-
cipals were then brought closer to each
other, that they might see one another
more distinctly. At the next shot Thomp-
son cried out that he was hit, and fell head.
long into the snow, MORALLY wounded.
Coleman and his second hurried away,
while the surgeon raised the bleeding man
and examined his wound at the same time
suggesting to him the propriety Of never
mentioning the names of any of the parties
to the meeting. Thompson promised he
would not, and kept his word. lie wa:
brought, says Mr.. Bryant, 'mortally wound
ed, to his sisters house in town; he was
laid at tine door; the bell was rung; the
family came out and found him bleeding
and near his death. He refused to name
his antagonist, or give any account of the
affair, declaring that everything which hat
been done was honorably done, and desired
that no attempt should be made to seek on
or modest his adversary"
Tho Dany Globe.
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