Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-12-16
An Interesting Relic.

An Interesting Relic.
At the meeting of the New England Historic
Genealogical society fast Wednesday, the iron
bar of the queens gate ofthe famous fortress at
Louisburg was exhibited, and Mr.. Charles W.
futile made the following remarks concerning
it;
Our associate, Mr. j. B. Stearns of this city,
being in the island Of Cape Breton early in The
summer or late in the autumn, made special
excursion TO the site of the famous fortress and
city of LouIsburg, so memorable IN our proyln-
cial history. There he iouud some persons dig
ginT among the ruins OF the walls on the land
ward side oil the ancient fortress, for building
materials, bricks and stone. Among group
of cannon balls, pieces of shell, and other iron
missiles which had been thrown out with the
debris from the depth of fifteen or twenty feet,
lay curious device which attracted his atten-
ton. 1t was wrought iron bar an inch and
half in diameter, nearly round, four feet long,
attached al one end to a strong iron joint with
strong attachments 10 at sohd stone masonry.
The other eud Of the bar was curved at %ht
angles and made to fit INTO strong ringDOt
fastened also mo solid masonry. Near the
hook end Of the bar was fastened chain con
sisting of several strong links, which led TO
lock which had also been attached to the MAJ
sorry. The chain was still fast in the lock
Every part of this structure was made IN lbe
strongest manner, capable Of great resistance,
and weig ned about d hundred pounds Although
somewhat wasted with rust its shape Has as
perfect us the day it was made. The luncuun
OF this strong device was manIfesrly 10 bar and
sccure a door against which great force might
be applied on one side 20 break il down and
force an entrance. Mr.. Stealns, having with
him a plan OF the original fortress, was ahle 10
IDENTITY the spot where the excavation was going
on, in which this device was found, as the
Queens gateway, near the eastern or sea end
ol The walls OF the fortdcatiOn. Arpreciaung
the historic value Of his relic, Alr. SlcarnS al
once purchased it, and with some difficulty,
from i size and welght, brought IT TO Boston,
aud has kindly allowed it TO be taken here for
exhibit IN to the men bers of this society on this
occasion. | rearet MIR. Searns' absence hon
The country nj + is time, since he could give
more detailed account of his finding this inter
esting relic OF Louisburg.
The history of this relic, fresh from The ms
OF the most celebrated military structure ever
built on our coast, Is involved IN the history Of
the glorious events which made the names oil
Peppcrell and Warren, OF Amherst and Bos.
cnw,n immortal Their lllustrlOns deeds are
well known 10 all. The history Of the celebrated
fortress which was the occasion of these memo.
IabIe events is, perhaps, less widely kn1wn, l
beg your indulgence while ! rapidly review its
history, so interesting in connection with this
fine relic.
The want of grand naval and commercial
station, amply projected by strong fOrthcalOnS,
al or near the entrance 10 the gulf OF ST. Law
leuce, was beginning to be extensively felt, both
in Old and New France, when NJ. Randot, the
intendant OF justice, police and finance in New
France, submitted memorial to the home gov
ernment in 1908, in favor of making the island
Of Cape Breton such station, The war then
in progress between France and England pre-
vented anv action being taken upon this memo.
rial; but French policy kept this island in view
for that purpose France would not, therefore,
in the Treaty OF UtTecht, made in April, 1913
agree that Cape Breton should remain open for
the use of both nations in common, as the Eng
Iish desired, but insisted on reserving the island
TO itself, with liberty TO ioriliy the same, while
she Welded up Nova Scotia and Newfoundland
to the English, After the peace of Utrecht the
French people Of Newfoundland, and else
where, who were not satisfied TO live
under English rule, removed to Cape
Breton, and a considerable colony gathered
there in a lew years. Cut Oft from maritime
territory in that region, tue French more than
ever felt the necessity of carving the project of
NJ. Raudot, suggested in 170S, into effect, The
French government authorized its military en-
oineer to select the best site Tor fortified hdr.
Dor in Cape Breton. I'll choice fell on 4 harbor
on the southern side Of the island, long pre-
vlOusly known as "Harbor English" having
been place much resoried to by the English
marine. Immediately this name was changed
to Louisburg, in honor Of the reigning monarch
of France, and the island took the name of Isle
Royal, by which it was known till it finally be-
came an English province, by the articles OF
the treaty Of Paris, made in 1853.
The plan of the Qualifications designed to he
erected at Louisburg having lbeen made, and
approved by the government the work OF con-
struction began in 1920, aud went on, with but
little interruption, for twenty-five years, till
1745; when New England took upon itself The
task of testing the strength and capacity of this
pk al IN bn cl1ig
While France expended in this period the enor-
nous sum of Ell 200 600 sterling in the construc.
ton Of this great military work, it had not
reached completion in 1145 and although then
very Servicedbe as defence, it never was fin.
ished as designed, France becoming tired of fur
nshing money for the work, The building of
this fortress was the occasion Of brisk trade
between Isle Royal and New England, carried
on, co1ertly, however, on our part. 1t is said
that even materials for this fortress which alter
wards became so dreadful in the eyes of our
ancestors, were sent from New England; and il
may be that this iron device now before us has
only come home, having been the work Of some
New England blacksmith aud l0cksmith hun
died and thirty years arc,
In June, 1745, the New ENGLAND forces under
Gen PepDerell, afterwards Sir William PgpDer-
ell, captured LouiSbnrg, 10 the surprise Of the
world. The breaches made in the wall and
works by Pepperell were repaired by the English
after they were in possession 1t was The zen
cral desire OF Old and New England that the
fortress should he demolished and the island
laid open common to both nations Tor Ine pur-
pose OF fishing aud trade. BY tue tleaiy of AK
In Chapclle in 1I4S, II was, 10 the great regret Of
New England, surrendered to the French with
out restrictions The French held L1uisburg
Till 1853, when it was again wrested from them
ny he English, never to he restored. After
holding it nearly two years, the English were so
fearful lest the French should recdblure il, that
is 4 -
from the face OF the earth. IL February, 1860,
Pitt, the great English minister, issued The
memorable decree Of the English nation, that
LOuisOurg should he raZed 10 the ground. Com
m3dOre Byron, grandfather of the celebrated
L2rd Byron, was charged with the execution OF
this memorable ordcT-the utter eXtlngui,h.
mtnt Of tue greatest military structure in the
new world, not perhaps equaed, in some re-
sUectS, by any built since. On his arrival at
Lpuisburg, early in the splng, the work OF de.
mOliflon began and went on for six months. All
the movable articles of value IN LUuisburm were
first sent to Halifax, where the English had be-
gun 10 bHiid great naval station. On me
seventeenth day Of October, a memorable div
10 the history of this great work of military art
and science, one hundred and twelve years ago,
The last tram of powder was lighted, and the
only remaining part of the famous city and
fortress OF Louisburg flew into the air, and fell a
mass of ruins, leaving nothing but a few fisher
mems huts to overlook a deserted harbOr and
the arandest ruin in British North America.
II is from this memorable ruin, brOOded over
by 81 ence and desOlatiOn for more than cen
fury, that this article has been taken, within a
few months. No more interesting memorial of
that historic fortress can hardly exist it is lit-
ling, perhaps, that il should come to New Eng
land to the descendants OF those who first
Numbered at the gateway which it barred in the
days gifts prime, TO remain until the rust which
now so lhicky encrusts it shall have deyoured
il altogether.
The End of n Mexican Despoi