Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1871-03-03

committed to one NJ. de Mothe, bold Cap
tain of one of the Carignan companies, and
its builder gave his name 10 the island for
ever afterwards. 1t was the first perma-
nent occupation and settlement by the
French of any part of the soil south of lati-
tude 45o. The site selected was low land
projecting into the water, and from which
point the eye could sweep the lake up and
down for distance of many miles. As a
commanding position from which to watch
the enemy, who always came on the water,
it was admirably chosen. The fort with its
clearings must have occupied an area of an
acre. 1t was made of timbers from the for
est, stones from the shores, and earth from
the surrounding soil, being intended rs
military rendezvous from which to attack
the angry Mohawk Iroquois, with whom
war was an inevitable and incessant neces-
sity. Here a constant armed guard was
kept, and numerous dwellings must have
been erected by the hdbtdns from Canada.
Several regiments at times occupied the
forts. -...--.
1t was only year later when the treach-
erous foe surprised and murdered Captain
Sieur de Traversy and also nephew of the
French viceroy, one Captain Sieur de
Chuzy or Chazy. They were killed while
hunting and fishing at the mouth of the
river that empties its waters into the lake
on the New York side, just opposite where
the fort stood; n river to which Chazy be-
queathed his name, which was also more
latterly given to an adjacent town. Some
q 4 III
time made captives. The place Of the muir
der is still traditionally preserved, being
marked by mound. The Indian who
bore the tidings of the Viceroy at Quebec
had the audacity to boast that he had slain
the officer with his own hand. NJ. de Ira
cy had him instantly strangled. Septcm-
Der of that year saw twelve hundred
Frenchmen with one hundred Huron and
Algonquin savages assembled at Fort st.
Anne, ready to proceed up the lake and
avenge the death Of their comrades. Six
Jesuit priests accompanied the expedition,
and the war was prosecuted in the name
and for the glory of "The Cross" Twenty
two years later twelve hundred Mohawk
warriors invaded Canada, and Fort st.
left partly in ruins. Peter Kahn, the trav
eler, who passed through the lake in 1919,
was shown the spot where it stood, which
he describes as then quite overgrown with
trees. In time the fortress was partly
abandoned. But continual reference is
made to the site by military authorities for
more than a century and a quarter after its
I,a Grot A
on Isle la Motto i'm 1856 found its ruins
still in existence. So late as 1900 the re-
mains of chimneys were visible, as were
also the traces of well, which it is pre-
sumed was located in the centre.
1t is undoubtedly true that small settle
ment was made by the French around this
fort on Isle la Motte and so far as ii is true
that the Island is Vermont soil, this settle
ment dates back fifty-nine years earlier
than the reputed first English settlement
at Fort Dummer, in the southeast corner
of Vermont. No other existed from lati-
tude 45o to Albany. Why, then, should
the claim be put forth by antiquarans that
Fort Dummer instead of Fort st. Anne is
the oldest settled place in the Green Noun
tain State?
On Sandy Point one hundred rods from
the U. S. lighthouse, remains of this an
tique fort are yet to be seen, though erected
POS years ago. They are the Oldest relics
within hundred miles. Thirteen little
hillocks of earth, mingled with cobble
stones and debris. inclose a circular area of
over half an acre, forming part Of Il low fiat
of several acres pushing out into the lake,
on the extreme point of which stand these
mounds. Pine and oak trees on higher
land skirt them on the east. a single
mound on the south side-the side most
exposed to Attacks four feet high and
sixty feet in circumference out of its side
is growing pine tree seven feet around its
body, and not less than seventy years old.
The plow-share has never torn up the soil,
the earth around has never been excavated
and may be full of relics. The earliest ira
dtions denominate these curious mounds
"The Old French Fort" The Isle La Mot
ters know nothing about them save by ira
dition. 1t is not a little surprising that the
Historical and Antiquarian Society of Ner-
mont has never seen fit to institute a care
full inquiry concerning an examination in
to this spot. A thorough search might
bring to light many valuable traces of for
mer days, and may be developed to the GU
rious adventurer in many an old French
coin or buried treasure. The days of 1866
were not an era of greenbacks, and silver
and gold is forever temptation to the del
yer into the bosom of Old Mother Earth.
Rouse's Point, n. Y. d. II.