Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1876-03-24

/ In searching the old manuscripts and
! newspapers CT Vermont, Tor historical puT-
| poses, incidents have been encountered
which, though hardly admissible in detail
| in an othcial history of the State, will new
| ertheless interest many readers in these
| days. Among these is Il duel, attempted
more than eighty years ago, by two eminent
Nermonters, an account OF which was given
in the newspapers of that day, bu: mas not
been perpetuated by tradition. In It's time
it was an exciting event; but tine attempt
ed tragedy had 50 much OF the ludicrous in
It's failure. that the parties aud their friends
doubtless prOfessed to tOioTgetir.
Ira Allen was probably the most enter
prsing, energetic and Industrious of the
public men OF Vermont in his day, holding
many important Offices at the same time
councillor, State Treasurer, agent to Con
gress, and surveyor general-and withal
engaged IN large pubic and private enter
prises His public work, considering the
multiplicity Of his emplOyments. was done
surprisingly well, and yet not perfectly
well. Has tate was that Of all Others VINO
undertake too much, and his last days were
filed with consequent misfortunes and trial>,
which goaded hun almost to insanity. and
undoubtedly fastened his death. For some
years before and also alter he LETT the othce
Of State Treasurer. Re urged upon the
legislature the ,4ecess.ty OF settling his ac
count. but this business was long delayed,
and so long that Allen himself had forgot
ten some things necessary TO explain his ac-
counts tO the satisfaction OF others. ln
1871 Isaac TichenOr was appointed to ex-
anime the accounts. who, IN llY2, reported
an apparent balance against Allen, and
Allen claimed about the same amount in
his favor. Moreover. Allen proposed TO En-
ter suit in the United States Circuit Court
against the State. and 1ichenOr was ap
pointed to defend the State In 1893 Tiche-
nor reported that, through Darius Chip
man, he had prevented the entry Of the
suit. Allen then asked an act for thel pur
pose of making a final settlement, when
Iichen0r was req uested TO attend and show
cause. If any, why this act should not pass
He complied, and. after much discussion,
the bill was dismissed. This was on the
3lst Of October, and on that day occurred
the cOllu-ion between Allen anu Tichenor,
which rc>ulte challenge. The follow
ing l. from the tdrmar' Library Of No
veinber { 1893
" We hear from Windsor, thal on Friday
last, IN consequence Of some m.sGnder-
standing brtween Msjor-General Ira Allen
and Naj0r-Gsneral Isaac TIchenor, the ior-
Der sent the latter challenge t. a tuel,
which was readily accepted. And On SIT
urdaY morning az SIX O'Clock, they ap-
peared according to agreement, on the east
bank OF the Connecticut river, Just Opp0-
site 10 " ind-or, IN order to exchange =
few shots Their rules were made. tie
ground was measured, they placed them
selves back to back, marched of. and wheel
cd az the word az this instant a humber Ut
spectator, who had Just then arrived rushed
between them and seized their arms; they
then returned, alter having given satlsfic-
tory proof OF their unGauuted nrmness and
courage"
friend OF TichenOr was dissatiiei with
so much OF the above account IS relates TO
the challenge, and stated, in the LiJraTy OF
December >, that Iichenor provoked the
challenge, and told Allen " he was ready to
give him any sati, fiction he wished Ter.
when, where. and in Whatever manner be
pleased and at the sane iime cau.iOning
him against using long gun; this was
previous 20 General Aliens sending Gene
raj Tichen0r line to ln5et him over the
river. This particular exception >erye> as
pTcCt Ct the rest OF The account nether
the aliu>ion to q long gun was 2 studied IL
suit. implying that Alien Wu- gccGst )med
10 the coll0gGlal ions. b3w, OF q hint that
Tiehencr was the best -ho, probably the
best in NcTmont-may Re guessed. Had
the fight gone On. Allen doubtless would
have fallen. and licheuoT would have been
branded e,a murderer. instead Oi becoming
Tor YEAR an exceedingly popular GJyorrVr
Of Vermont -lfoRfpeiier UGichmdH