New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-07-03

Journal kept by Lieutenant lIaddcn. Of Bureoync's
army was discovered in 1875, and has been recently
edited and published by General Horatio Rogers 81
Providence. This journal offers the last historic
comment the old foit.
The following June found the British Army again en-
canp,d at Crown Point. making eager prcparaIi MS
10 meet the enemy AZ TcOndcrcca. \ day or co
later the British transports carried the standard OF
England southwark, and never did the ill-faicl Bur
coyne and his mongrcl army cncamr again by the
cd fort Defeat and surrender awaited them at
-araoga. But with that famous expedition the tide
OF war shifted 10 the south and the military history
of the old frt ended Since then silence, so idc and
ruin have fallen on the deserted wotks.
The point has long been owned by the Crown Point
Iron Company. there fw Inhabitants along the
peninsula a solitary farmhouse just without IN,
amparts Is the only human habltatiOn near the fort
Tho ear,hwOrks. thongh Of course. grass-gown. mr.
still sharp and well defined. They were Constructed
twenty-five feet high and twenty-five fe't thick. sql1rc
in ou,nc bast'ons Tho total length Of the rampars
Is So yards, nearly half "A mile. The great gate
was on the north side, where a sharp depression IN
the wall, we'll as causewny over The moat, sun
indicates its site. From this gate. secret passage
led underground in eastery direction, TO the lake
shore. Traces OF the passageway are still 10 BE- seen.
Entering the gateway one Is struck by the natural
parade ground which the strata OF limestone rock
permit though here and there Irregular. Even IN
Its present extreme decay the Old Fort offers parade
ground in many respects superior TO that I'm the
fortress at Quebec. There were four barrack build
ing, built OF limestone sight OF the massive stone
chmneys brings the vivid reminder OF those far away
days when this sns outpost in the wilderness. and
bricks were unknown. Two OF the bulldnss were PIG
feet long, another 1879 feet, and the fourth ISL Three
OF these structures now only heap, Of stones
The walls of the fourth nrc sim standing huge lime
stone chimncys and all. Tie great hrcplaccs are
there and the sockets IN the walls where the military
builder, once inserted Oahcn beams Lut every vcsige
OF woodwork has disappeared though the walls holi
out, dcfylng the storms which sweep In so roughly
from the lake.
In the south wall Of this binding T. sim 70 be seen
a rude tablet bearing. among strange devices. the
Initials OF King George and General Amherst and the
date, 1850. This Is the most Interesting relic in the
fort and 1t strange that IT has not been stolen
defaced long ago In the northeast corner Of the
walls the garrison WELL originally ninety feet deep
and eight feet IN diameter, now largely filed with
rubbish. Half century a party Of deludcd
youths excavated this well under the belief that gold
had been buried there, Int reaching the bottom
they rewarded by finding old chains. spikes
bayonets and shovels. Indeed, the tradition Of buried
gold has caused number of strange occurrences
within the walls The only tangible discoveries,
however, have been plenty Of garrison odds and ends
such bullets. rusty bayOnets, knives and cd iron.
picked up by the children at the farm house.
The principle article In the O. lection Is n
queer Old key, hinge and quaint enough to have been
tho key Of the great gate of the fort
The garrison cemetery lay jus. Of tie Iamparts
and many Of the older inhabitants of the region can
remember when II was still prnkled with headstones
but the matter OF fact Inhabitants having reverence
for British soldiers though deud. invaded the old
fort burying ground, pulled up the beadstoncs and
carried them of to do duty In stone fences and farm
house foundations.
In 1856 only two hcadstoncs remained, and as they
seemed likely 10 disappear also the late General John
Hammond. OF Crown Point, had these two remaining
memorials Of British occupation carefully removed, al
his expense and erected In the park at Crown
Point village one stone is weathcred aud broken The
inscription the other has been decipherel by
bers OF General Hammonds family read rs follows