Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-08-10

sail, only .halting to breathe as she mount
wave, and then darling onward.
We encounter long white draw" wher'
the railroad crosses the lake, a sort OF break
water to the north wind. Beyond the short
gradually contracts. The ruins of For
Ticonderoga on the promontory to the right
present their Jagged outlines to the sky, mere
haggard ghosts of war, yet standing as wit
nesses of the past. Turning the point anC
passing along its southern side, we encamI
under the ruins, hard by "Trcmble meadow.
A cool reception we had that night. How
the rain came down! But the next day
opened clear.
Ticonderoga is now mere pasture ground
where sheep and cattle keep the grass cut
short, which clayey. soil affords. Lodges OF
blue Trenton limestone form the back bone
of the point, abrupt at the apex, and steepesl
on its southern side where growth of trees,
pine, oak and hickory, edge the water. On
the north the approach to level is more
gradual, where, down by the lake behini
grove of locusts stands hotel. A large elm
on the south side, past which subterranean
passage Is said to have led from the fort,
having survived the woodchoppers of Mont.
calm and those troublous times, is now
entering upon a peaceful old age.
Most visitors follow Ethan Aliens route,
which led I'D from the northeast, but we
will take the opposite direction. Climbing
the slope, talus OF loose stone confronts
you from the shattered walls. Reaching the
summit you see the fort was of the star
order, its points or redans being somewhat
irregular on this side. Through Offering little
resistance to the clements, the earthworks
have undergone least modification. In the
centre is the square parade strewn with
f-o g la I'D bor crrrn1pH.
ing it. Then there is the covered way,
leading up from the north east, the bastions,
the moat, the parapcts, and the glacis or
open field, where much OF the fighting was
done.
OF the old barracks little remains, the
ruins of the west building being the most
considerable. Here we sec remnant OF the
battered walls, and can trace the position OF
a window or door, but no roof, gable or
flooring remains. In the charred Intel OF a
door ia seen relic of the old woodwork,
and fireplace marks the position of room
in the second story.
AT one corner of the parade some treacher-
GUS holes at the surface betray small under
ground room, arched over with stones, called
the "Ovcns," now choked with the debris of
the Quilted sides and roof. Turning over
some o: the rubbish, which doubtless had
been sfted many times by pilgrims and relic
hunters, we came upon something which
said iron" and proved an old grape-shot,
now much corroded.
From the east barracks double line OF
stone marks path to the remains OF the
grenadier battery attributed to Dieskau, at
the extremity OF the point. Passing down
by the covered. way YOU soon come upon the
old fort well, by the roadside, long since
fallen to decay, IN keeping with the place.
Standing by the ruins OF Ticonderoga, an
interesting, if not striking view is opened up
of the surrounding country. Just over the
lake to the south stands Mt. Defiance, on
whose summit, now marked by signal,
Burgoyne's men planted their battery on the
night Of that memorable Fourth, q mere hill,
a thousand feet high perhaps. Under It's
dark side curls the lake, which is lost to sight
behind the opposite headland. Below is
seen the creek, winding its ''weedy way"
from Lake George hidden by intervening
hills. Silence now reigns about the old fort.
AT evening the frogs hold their nightly
serenade in the marshes below and the lone
whippoorwill calls from amid the ruins.
You are reminded OF the time when the
French abandoned the place at the approach
of Amherst. How those cannon spoke which
the spiteful Frenchmcn loaded to the
How the earth shook and the
echoes Numbered back from Mt. Defiance as
Ticonderoga went off like great bomb.
The citadel of Quebec is good key to
some Of the mysteries of Ticonderoga, but
they now have little in common. On the one
hand you have mere heap OF ruins with
little left to indicate its former significance,
while on the other there is the old fort still,
but little changed and the, memory OF Wolfe
and Mnptralnl the prasg on
the Plains OF Abraham.
Back of the fort on the edge of the
meadow, dwells thrifty Irish family, with
their pigs and geese and turkeys all about
them. For relics they have been on the
watch for many years, and now have
large collection, quantities Of lcaden bullets,
grape shot Of many sizes, common bullets
and broken shell, flints from the gun-locks
soldiers buttons and many incognita
large corroded iron spoon was produced witt
the suggestion it was worth its weight il
gold and was used by the soldiers in making
hasty-oudding. Next day boy came rush
Ing down to the boat, as we were setting on
with the great rusty spoon in his hands which
he offered at reduced rates, but we told hin
we were going to Lake George, and were al
ready provided in that line but might cal
on our return.
II.-From Ticonderoga Through Lax
George.
For several miles we follow the winding
of the creek, through low swamp lands, pas
farms, novels and canal boats until we reacl
the little village of Ticonderoga with it
paper mill and its graphite mill and nalura
waterfall which suggested the old Frencl
name of Carlton Qhe chimes) for the Fort
Here carter takes us, boat and all, abov
the rapids and piers Of logs, full mile and
half. In the stream again the valley widens
opening extensive prospects and the creel
gradually expands into the shallow, reed
foot of the "Horlcon." Soon these tall, slim
reeds, rising like wands from the surface, dis
appear, and glance at the water tells yo
this is another lake. Champlain is rolled ant
muddy water beside this. As you lean owe
the boat and peer into the depths it seems lik
looking through great lens. Every stick
every stone and leaf and passing fish is see
distinctly, though 20 feet of water intervenes
Through vista OF over-hangng hills, w
sec long strip of silverY water, tianked Of
either side by bold escarpments, rocky head
lands, the high, dark barrier Of hills an
mountains, bold ar-at-hand panoram
of lake and mountain scenery, long dee
valley carved in among the hills, throug
which runs stream of crystal water, a larg
mountain spring. On the right perched u
on the steep bank stands hotel for Sun
mer guests, screened by the trees and wood
about it. Beyond towers a high, massive
bald-headed hill, rising almost perpendicr
larry from the water, presenting its smootl
gray face to every passer on the lake, calm
his attention to "Roger's Slide" for this is il
name. The anecdOte Of the tory spy
familiar, how pursued thither by Indians, h
made his escape by working on their supe
stition. They track him to the edge of II
cliff, and see him speeding over the lake q
skates. Thinking be had jumped of, il
of adroitly stealing down at one side, the
believe the Great Spirit protects him an
give up the chase.
Passing this, we stop at point
Hague, N. Y, where we encamp. S
Antbopy's nose" Is opposite, woode