Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1879-07-24

ana went out TO nelp him. Together
they quickly decided upon a plan Of
action. Remembering his trip through
the ice blocks of the Ohio, Allen led
his horse up stream for one hundred
yards or more, threw the stirrups up
over the saddle, mounted, and, telling
the frightened and trembling old ferry
man to hold the torch high above his
head and follow slowly down stream
until he reached the ford, urged his
brave horse into the food. For mo-
ment the animal trembled on the bank,
then lost his feet and, encouraged by
the shouts and caresses of his master,
swan gallantly for the further shore.
Allen had calculated we'll; the current
swept them toward the ford as they
crossed. Nearer and nearer the strong
horse swan to the opposite shore; near
er and nearer the river carried them
down to the ford. They had almost
reached it. The danger was almost
past, when suddenly the horse stopped
swimming and whinnied in distress
A great tree had been washed into the
river, and his feet were tangled in it's
wlde-spreading branches. For mo-
ment Allen gave up all hope; sick and
dizzy, ,bewildered by the darkness, deaf
ened by the roaring of the flood, he
thought he must drop from the saddle.
Still, he nerved himself for one last eff
fort, and pulling his horses head to the
side, urged him to go with the stream.
The brave brute obeyed, burst himself
loose with one last mighty plunge,
dashed toward the ford, obtained
footing, and carried his half fainting
master up on the hank out of the flood.
I'VE are safe, we are safep' shouted
Allen, when his voice came back to him.
Thanks to God and Gen. Jackson"
came family from the Old ferryman on
the other si6e, and then the wet and
weary, but none the less determined
and hopeful, William Allen rode toward
Chiliicothe away from the Scioto.
At breakfast-time. trembling in every
limb, his horse ready to drop to the
ground, he came into the town. Thur
man and other friends were waiting,
hoping against hope that he would ap-
pear. There. was no time to be lost.--
Quickly a fast team was put to light
wagon. Allen changed his clothes,
swallowed pint of hot tea, and in ten
minutes was driving toward Washing
ton Court House. He arrived just be-
fore the meeting commenced, arrived to
find the place filled with people who
had been assured that he would not
dare to meet Bond in a joint debate.
The Jackson men were almost mad
with excitement; his unexpected ap-
pearance at the last moment was greet
ed with cheels and shouts of delight.
In a'short sharp speech he exposed the
trick which the Whig managers haG
attempted, and then went to bed the
hero of the hour, and with the assur-
ance that he would have ;he support oi
nearly every man i'll Washington.
They did, indeed, stand hr him nobly.
He secured hundreds of " hig votes in
all parts of the district; but he could
not overcome the large majority in his
opponents favor. There was much dis
satisfaction at this time because ofthe
failure of the Government to give the
people of that section of Ohio daily
mail service. Allen was recognized as
an Administration man, and lost heav
lily because of this failure. When the
votes were counted it was then found
that he had run 1900 ahead of his
ticket, but that Mr.. Bond had defeated
him by majority Of between 200 and
300.
The following winter when he was
about 20 leave the Capital for an indef
mite time, he went TO say goodbye tG
to the President. jackson expressed
much sorrow at his defeat, and calling
to his Secretary asked for the appoint
ment book. When it was brought, he
turned to Allen and said:
"Mr. Allen, want to keep you in
public life Run your eye through that
book and see what place you think
would suit you"
Without hesitation the defeated Con.
gresham, setting an example which
unfortunately has not been very exten.
sively initiated, replied:
81 am very much obliged to you, Mr.
President, more obliged than can tell
you; but / can not now, and 1 do not
think 1 ever will, accept any Office by
appointment. III am to stay in public
life it must be in position to which
the people elect me-"
"You are right, SIR" said the Presi.
dent, in his short, blunt way, and he
closed the appointment book. Allen
returned to Chiilicothe, and quietly
practiced law for nearly two years.
A STEP UPwARD-UNTTED STATES SENATOR.
During the exciting Presidential
campaign which resulted in the election
of Martin Van Buren over Harrison
! Mr.. Allen worked with much energy
to secure the success of Democratic
candidates for the Legislature, and
when the contest was over he had the
satisfaction of knowing that his party
would have a majority of one on joint
ballot. There were no "bolters" or trad
ers in those days; a majority of one
was, for all practical purposes, as good
as fifty, and it was assured that Ohio
would elect Democrat to the United
States Senate. This was the situation
when Allen went up to Columbus, the
State capital, to attend to business of q
personal character. The Legislature
was then in session, and on the evening
after his arrival the Democratic mem
bers of the body, ostensibly to celebrate
the election Of Democratic United
States Senator, who had just been
chosen in Louisiana, but really for the
purpose of becoming better acquainted
with their own candidates for that of
fee, who were then in Columbus by the
dozen, announced that Democratic
reunion and supper had been arranged.
To this entertainment Gov Lucas an0
all the other prominent candidates were
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