The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-05-07
TICONDEROGA.
The Centennial of Ethan
Allen.
Sketch Of the Hero Of the
Green Mountain Boys.
Where He Came From, What lie Did
and How He Did 1t.
HIS TILT WITH GOVERNOR TRYON.
The Controversy with Ben
edict Arnold.
THE MIDNIGHT EXPEDITION.
0In the Mama nj TIM CrAaf IehnVDh and
HIS TILT WITH GOVERNOR TRYON.
The Controversy with Ben
edict Arnold.
THE MIDNIGHT EXPEDITION
"IR the Name Of the Great JehOVuh and
the Continental Congress-"

TIcoNDERoGA n. Y, May s. 1875.
The town OF Ticonderoga has been destroyed by
Are. There Is nothing about it now TO remind one
or It's former prestige and glory. The danes have
swept across its business centres and destroyed
al Its prominent hotels. Though mine host. Mr.
Fleming, has done all no could for me, am COM
PEELED to write upon the upturned bottom OF o
bureau drawer, underneath the ruttering and I'm.
certain rays or q convusive Kerosene lamp
can't help admiring these whole-souled, plucky
and patriotic people. Hundreds OF them, within q
few months past. have seen their homes crumble
20 ashes over their heads Hundreds more, nan
tically fighting the DANES. were finally compelled
10 seek refuge in the caves and grot-
toes OF the great o,ershadowing mo untains
snvironing this quaint provincial district
apon every hand and yet in the sublimity OF their
desolatlon they arise, Phoenix like, from their
lsnes and contribute to the last dollar they pos
sess to fifty celebrate what they call the ETHAN
Allen Centennial put which is nothing more nor
less than centenary tribute TO the bravery and
courage OF American pioneers, whose great sa-
Sacity ana daring have, either directly or indi-
rectly, wrought out for us, adown the avenues OF
hundred years, all those blessings OF peace and
liberty that we now enjoy.
WHO WAS ETHAN ALLENf
VINO is the man whose memory Ia to be thus
honored and what his deeds?
He was a hero; a frontier's-man; a giant-a man
of extraordinary physique and one who knew no
such word fear. He never had the advantage
OF even ordinary education, but mis- innate
wit, his Intuitlve knowledge OF human nature
have evoked from his lips some of the most terss
and dramatic utterances IN history.
Though he led the Green Mountain Boys on the
very ground upon which the house Ia built where
Ia am writing he was not a Vermonter, but was
born In LItch1eld, Conn, IN the year 1889. his
home was in the wilderness, and somehow, while
yet child, his personal character caught the
reflex OF his rugged surroundings and day by
day developed in him the subsequent man.
SO far as history leads us to Judge, Ethan Allen
was, from his youth up. wild, daredevil, I'M
petuous fellow, fond or adventure, and always
most pleased when involved In the greatest
danger. He seemed to feel that he had
charmed life," and 1t will be seen
In the sequel that such was actually the case. At
hear3 he was noble ana tender o creature as
ever lived, but his temper when once aroused
lashed Itself 10 fury and madness and knew no
bounds. he never sought q quarrel with any
man; but American history has no page upon
which Is written the fact that when involved in
dispute Ethan Allen ever yielded an inch 70 his
antagonist. Benedict Arnold fought him once,
and the Green Mountain Boys shouldered their
guns ana started home; the personal mag netism
OF the man inspired the love OF all his associates
ana thrilled them, seemingly. with the same RASH
ness and daring that are never absent nom his
own personal career.
ALLEN GOES TO VERMONT.
While yet in early lie Allen thinking he could
better his situation, moved from Litchneld 10 the
fertile districts OF Vermont The section ofcountry
he chose for his future home was directly west OF
the Green Mountains and on the eastern borders
OF Lake Champain. No credltabe mention Ia
A. nd a.. 49,
Ia this year that he first bucKled on q sword. At
this time william Tryon was made Governor OF
New YORK, and great dispute arose concerning
the lands belonging TO New York state ana the
State OF Vermont Allen, understanding the sig.
nincance or grants already given, and ap-
preciating the fact that spectators were
striving to wrest from him ana his
associates lands which were really their
own, revolted against the imposition,
and at once put on the armor TO defend what he
presumed TO be his rights. IL was this deter
mined and persistent action upon his part that
constituted what we now regard a. the state OF
Vermont, for otherwise the whole territory would
have belonged TO the state OF New York.
ORIGIN OF THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS.
Just at this time, when the CONFLICT respecting
the land grants was raging most 1ercely, Allen
organized band OF followers, who have ever since
been known as the Green Mountain Boys. they
we're all men OF nne presence ana physique, who,
in addition to the physical hsrdihood and powers
they possessed, were spurred on to ac-
lion by the Circumstances that they were
defending their liberties Immediately upon
the formation OF this coterIe, Governor Tryon
who, appreciating Aliens bravery ana courage,
ana proportionately tearing him, especially when
be remembered that bis Tryon'S demands were
unjust, at once denounced Allen a. q vaarant and
traitor, and efered . reward OF klso for his cap.
ture.
ETHAN ALIENS RESPONSE.
BY this time the organization OF che Green
Mountain Boys was complete, Allen being chief
commander, with seth Warner and Remember
BAKE as associates. 1ryon, determined to uproot
eli VINO opposed him. onersl an additional re-
ward FOR Allsn's capture, and also agreed to pay
$50 for tue app ehension Of any Of his confeder.
aies, No sooner had this onicial mandate been
Issued than Allen with that innate aud bitter
sarcasm which crops out through his whole
career, published q now pronunclamsnto, In
which be offered, personally, reward
efE5 to any person who would ~ any lime deliver
the body OF Governor Tryon into the hands OF any
Green Mountain Boy. Governor Tryon, ridlculed,
abasned and COMPOUNDED, abandoned tho quarrel,
ana IN thIs particular instance no member OF
"Aleu's 6aug,u as the Governor styled 10, was ap-
pretended.
ETHAN ALIENS GROWING GLORY.
Though the Green Monntain Boys we're now IN.
Der thorough organization, aside from protecting
thelr LAID grants aud maintaining the sovereignty
Of Vermont against the demands OF real estate
SPECTATORS In New YORK, they had figured In his.
tory acarcely at al. and nothing had been heard
Of tnen outside oil the territory 10 whisn they had
their bones. Bot soon after tnis they played that
magnificent part In history whIcn renders their
name forever green, aud whlcn has Influenced
these nre.ruined and poverty striuKen peoplc 70
sonor, hundred years after, sheir memory win
Gtting ceremonies.
TIKI FIRsr ouENs.
in TIE year 1875, ana on TIE 18Th Of APRIL 90.
surrcd tnat great eyant wRica has last
seen coruOHorsscd N ms oHe naR.