The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1875-11-18
second of Eacker, and David s. Jones

second of Eacker, and David s. Jones
acted for Hamilton.
Everything being ready, the word was
given. There was NJ report from either
side. The principals stood prepared,
but without firing. Ecker had re-
solved to wait for Hamilton's fire. Ham
ilton reserved his shot, it was said, by a
command of his father.
At length, Eacker took a careful aim
and fired. 1t was but a second before
Hamilton. The latter, it was said, fired
in the air. Hamilton fell, shot through
the body. He was removed to the city,
and died early the next morning. In
was buried in st. Paul's Churchyard,
where his headstone may now be seen.
In December following, two striplings
of twenty met on the same ground, after
dark, and fired at each other without in
jury. The affair was so trivial that it is
unnecessary to mention their names.
One of the most notable duels on rec
ord was that between Dewitt Clinton
and John Swartwout on July 81, 1902.
Clinton was ranged with Hamilton in
politics, and Swartwout was N of the
tirmest friends of Burr. MI. Clinton,
in an unguarded moment, had used GER
tain expressions relative to Mr.. Swart-
won't, which drew from the latter a de-
mand for reparution. Col. William s.
Smith delivered the missive, and ex-
planned that the offensive epithets were
"liar, scoundrel and villain" Mr..
Clinton recollected applying the first
two, but refused apology, writing to Mr..
Swartwout that he thought they were
deserved, because the latter had imputed
unworthy motives to him in the Burr
controversy. At the same time he sent
for Mr.. Richard Riker to act as his
friend.
Mr.. Riker consulted with Colonel
Smith, and they proposed a settlement
by mutual Withdrawals of offensive
words. Mr.. Swartwout, however, re-
quired a written apology, and this Mr..
Clinton peremptorily refused. The sec
onds then prepared for a meeting, and
arranged a code of ten articles, contain
ing the most minute provisions to be
observed ia the affair. Mr.. Clinton, on
his part, had mentally resolved to intro.
duce another item in the proceedings,
which he did, as will be seen.
On Saturday, July 81, at 5 p. M, the
parties reached Weehawken, aecompa-
MED by two surgeons, Drs. John IL
Douglass and Isaac .Ledyard. Each Of
the seconds afterward gave his version
of the scene, of which the following Ii
the substance:
The parties being ready, Col. Smitl
distinctly gave the word, and they boil
fired without effect. Mr.. Clinton the1
varied the proceedings by requesting hi
second to ask whether his opponent wal
satisfied; stating that he bore him NJ
resentment, and would be willing t.
meet him again in friendship. Mr.
Swartwout was not satisfied, and Tho
pistols were again loaded. A secont
time they were fired without result, an6
Mr.. Clinton's question and offer wert
repeated, and again rejected.
For the third time the pistols were
prepared and delivered. Col. Smitf
gave the word. Here Nj. Riker says h,
observed that Mr.. Swartwout facet
round before the word, which drew Ri
ker's remonstrance. Swartwout fire.
before Clinton, and the latter was sho
through the coat. Again the previou
offer was made and refused, unless &C
companied by an apology, which. Il
writing was then presented to Mr.. Gin
ton for his signature. He read it an,
returned it, saying he would fire all nigh
rather than ask pardon.
The principals now, with noticeabl
GOODNESS, stood ready for the fourth shot
At the word they fired with more deliE
Grafton in their aim, MI. Clinton being
moment after his opponent. Swartwou
received a ball in his leg, just below tn
knee, but he stood firm, though pale
His surgeon fastened to him, and, Will
the seconds were busy with the pistols
DR.. Douglass quietly extracted the bal
from the other side of his leg, contrar
to an article of the code.
Mr.. Riker, for the fourth time, repeat
ed Mr.. Clinton's question, care 20,
satisfied" Mr.. Swartwout, standinI
erect, said, 81 am not. 1t is useless t
repeat the question"
"Then," said Mr.. Clinton, al be,
you all to be witness that I have no ed
nifty to Mr.. Swartwout, and I m CON
i. PEELED to shoot at q man whom l do nc
wish to hurt. But I will sign no paper
L will not dishonor myself"
So they fired the fifth shot, and Nj
Swartwout received a ball in the sam
, leg just above the ankle. al am nc
satisfied" said he, in reply to the usui
question; proceed with another shot.
At this moment, DR.. Ledyard, VIII
had assembled from the river, appeare
at the edge of the rocky platform, an
cried, "Mr. Clinton, don't fire agair
Mr.. Swartwout needs our assistance.
Mr.. Clinton stepped toward him an
said, evil it be right to fire again?
| "By no MEANS" said the doctor. Nj
Clinton then asked Mr.. Riker what b
!. should do. His second, after a me
ment's reflection, said to Col. Smith
"Mr. Clinton shall not fire again.
Swartwout's second then said, "There
nothing further left for you now but
have your wounds dressed"
It was said that Clinton approache
I Swartwout as he sat on a stone unde
the hands of the surgeon, and said, I"
l am sorry 1 have hurt you so much.
Then to Col. Smith he remarked, Z"
l wish I had his principal here"-meanin
Col. Burr-"I will meet him when b
pleases." That meeting, however, We
!. not to fall to the lot of Clinton.
As a result, in part, of the foregoin
2 encounter, and partly from politics
I quarrels, another duel occurred in 1S0
between Robert Swartwout and Richar
Riker. The latter afterward becam
/ Recorder of this city, and was familiarl
known as "Dickey Riker." At tn.
e time he was Attorney General Of til
t State. He fell at the first fire, receivin
q severe wound in his leg. E.
The poets Drake and Halleck, VIII
published "The Croakers" in the EUe,
l ing Post in 1919, amused themselve
and the city about this duel in the TO
lowing lines:
5 "The Riker, like Bob Acres, stood
Edgeways upon a field of blood,
The why and wherefore Swartwout knows,
! Pulled trigger as a brave man should,
And shot-God bless him-his own toes"
In 1904 followed the fatal meeting b.
i tween Rrr1. ond Hamilton urhan n