New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-07-03

Tho settlers thought n grant made by one colony
under the Crown was good that made by
another under the same Crown. and decided TO
sist. Practically left 10 their resources, they
took matters into their hands and organized
for their protection against the Workers. the
famous band OF Green Mountain Boys under Ethan
Allen. The affairs of the grants were managed by
committees appointed in the several towns. who met
in convention occasion required TO adopt meas
ures for their common defence and welfare. The
resolutions and DEGREES OF these conventions were
regarded the law OF tho land and their infraction
was always punished with exemplary severity. The
local committees called committees Of safety.
These held court and gave judgment. It severe
when a person convicted OF being . Yorker"
The severity OF this punishment Is illustrated by
that suffered by Benjamin Hough in IVA
Hough lived in the neighborhood OF Clarendon.
There moro rabid Yorker than he. In
the winter OF that year he went 10 New-Yorls
When he returned, March g. the date OF the
passage by the Legislative body OF New-York of
a much execrated law making it a felony with a
punishment Of death to act against the authority
OF NewYork~ State In regard to the disputed
grants. in his saddlebags he carried commission
issued by the officials of NewYor1 as q justice Of
the peace He proceeded to execute the duties of
his office within the grants In defiance Of the con-
vention which forbade it. He paid no attention TO
the repeated warnings OF the committee of safety
to stop, and finally he arrested
Ethan Allen was at the head Of this committee.
With Cue soleInnity the judges. every Of whom
was man In homespun, capable OF puncturing a
coin with his rife far he could see it, passed
judgment the victim, who acknowledged the
crime laid at his door OF violating the acts of
the convention and promoting the passage of the
obnoxious law.
The judgment of this committee read Ethan
Allen, lis that the prisoner be taken from the bar
of this committee of safety and be tied to Il tree
and receive two hundred stripes; his back being
dressed. he shall depart out OF the district and
on return without leave of the convention, suffer
DEATH
This sentence was carried into execution. The
poor victim taken in front Of Ethan
Aliens house and tied to apple tree, where he
received two hundred Impressions Of the beech
seal his bare back. laid ON in the presence of
a Large concourse of people" Hough then got a
certificate and passport stating that he had re-
ceived all the punishment awarded him. and d.
recting that he should be permitted to go to New
York State
As he handed him the paper Allen remarked
sarcastically: This certificate together with the
receipt your back viii doubt be admitted as
legal evidence before the Supreme Court and the
Governor and Council OF New-York though the
Kings warrant TO Governor Wentworth and his
excelency's sign manual with the great seal OF
the Province OF New-Hampshire Will not" Hough
fastened to the city Of New-York. where he gave
under oath minute account of the incident
Although the beech seaI' was the most common
punishment inflicted on the Workers" others were
frequently applied Sometimes the house or the
mill of a YORKER" would be burned to the ground
by the authority OF the committees. This was ac-
complshed usually by q goodly sized company
ana there was apt to be considerable merrlment
100 Occasionally, upon the promise of the offender
70 mend his ways and take out a title from New
hampshire this punishment was committed to the
uhroolng or his domtclle. He was not permitted
TO put the roof on again until he had fulfilled his
promise ''
Sometimes the punishment was submission TO
popular ridioule. A Dutchman of Arlington be-
came a partisan of New-York He spoke Sarcastic
eally about the proceedings OF the Green Mountain
BOYS and their conventions and advised the set
tiers 70 come in under the wing OF New York and
fcparchase their lands from Governor Tlyon's gov
eminent; pisresardins all warnings. he was final
~ arrested and taken before a committee sitting
IN the Green Mountain Tavern in Bennington
AFTER nearing his defence IL directed that he
pc tled 10 an armchair and hoisted to the sign in
'front.' OF the tavern, where he should remain for
e"o hours The sign was twenty-five feet from