The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1898-10-21

On Il high point Of land which .iuts
out into Lake Champlain, thirty miles
from its source, stand the ruins of old
Fort Ticonderoga. There is less OF the
walls to be seen to-day than there was
five years ago: and in few years little
save memory will remain of the place
where Montcalm. Lord Howe, and Bur-
goyne fought for the glory Of France
and England.
The chief historic spot in the State
OF New York is going to decay, and is
being torn to pieces year by year.
The stones quarricd for the fortitica-
tions by the old French and English
soldiers make handy building materials
tor the stone walls of the farmers who
live nearby Even the fort itself is
located upon private property, and
tourists to the ruins are permitted to
view them only by the courtesy of the
gentleman who owns the land.
Let the curiosity-seeker or historian
who would visit Fort Ticondrroga
wander down to LarrabceS Point on
the Vermont shore of Lake Champlain,
some quiet summers day. One hun
dred and twenty-three years ago, on
the afternoon Of the ninth of May,
Ethan Allen and his Green Mountain
Boys reached this spot. They hid in
the bushes along shore, and waited for
night to fall. As it grew dark, they
came out of their hiding-places, and
prepared to cross the lake to attack
the fort. But the most diligent search
brought to Ii .ht only enough boats for
eiyhty-thrce of them, while there were
two hundred and thirty in the little
band. Nothing iaunted. \ Hen, taking
command Of the eighty-three, started
across, leaving the remainder on the
Vermont side under Colonel Seth War
ner. He landed without being dscov-
cred. and sent the boats back for the
rear guard. But day began to break
Ethan Allen knew it was now or never.
a!Id. with his handful of American
patriots. started up the slope. W ell,
the rest is history, and the storming
of the hill at Santiago was the same
Yankee GRIT which, more than Il cen
tury before, sent the Green Mountain
Boys, in the b!acknesS Of night, up the
heights Of Ticondero.a to attack and
capture the English garrison.
An old scow will carry the visitor
across the lake. and land him on the
very spot where the Americans set
foot From here drive OF halfa mile,
through several gates,-tor it is all
private land, ,-brngs the visitor to the
foot of the hill. From the edge Of
Lake Champlain the ground Slo, .cs
gently upward to this hill. AMI j. coy
cred by Il beautiful grove of locust trees
and Lpmba"dy poplars. In the midst
Of this grove stands large white house
Of colonial style Bult in 1926 rs the
summer home Of Il wealthy New York
man. and afterwards used as Il Summer
hotel, it is now deserted. With its
crazy doors swinging in their hinges,
and broken windows rattling in their
frames, it is typical Of the dc,oation
which has fallen upon this historic
place.
Following Il Path from here for Il
short distance, two large stone gate
posts are reached. This is the old en-
trance, and in Years gone 10y Il massive
iron gate hung between them. Bat
this, like all the other portable prop
crty. was carried of long ago. Here
WAS the outer wall which surrounded
the entire ground, and along this wall,
ON the inside, ran a driveway, consider
able portions ot which are still visible.
t'rnm here u hil rises abruptly some
liily or sixty t.rt. crowned by the old
French battery. "Cnrrilpl. Whrn
Baron ID 2S,lau N ,l. his fam pus dash