Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1901-06-28
BIG FIND OF RELICS
THREE GUN CARRIAGES SECURED
FROM WRECK OF ROYAL SAVAGE.

tHOM WHGON OF nOTAI OFNNNoS
Il q Falcon "a Diver from Illinois, Goes
Down at vaIcour Island and Brings Up
Revolutionary War Material, Cannon
Balls, Culinary Utensils, Bayonets, Etc.
The greatest find of relics ever known
on Lake Champain was made Wednes-
day afternoon, June 10, by j. G.. Falcon
of Evanston, ILL.,, and force of men who
had been employed for some time by the
city water works, says the Burlington
Free Press. Mr.. Falcon Is a diver of
much experience and has devoted some
time to searching for relics and doing ali
sorts of work under water. He complet-
ed his work for the city several days ago,
but upon being informed of the location
of the schooner Royal Savage, which
was sunk south of Nalcour Island in l776,
he determined to investigate the wreck
and if possible secure some relics.
With a force of men, barge with der
ricks and all equipments for the work he
went to the island Wednesday afternoon.
When he reached the bottom of the lake
| in about 20 feet of water he discovered
| the wel-defined outlines of the schooner.
He found three gun carriages, quantity
| of cannon balls and some smaller arti-
. Giles. With the aid of the derrick the
relics were hoisted to the barge and
brought to this city. The three gun car
riages are the most interesting parts of
the find. Although much eaten by rust
and damaged by the action of the water,
they still retain their original form and
appearance. They are constructed of
wood and iron and in many places the
wood is eaten away until there is hardly
enough left to hold the structure to-
gether. The wood is partially petrified
and almost as solid as rock. The iron
bars and bolts of the carriage are corrod-
ed and covered with large punches of
rust, some of them being nearly as large
as mans fist. The carriages are two
feet high, three feet wide and four feet
long. They weigh in the vicinity of 200
pounds each. One of the carriages has
been given to the city of Burlington by
Mr.. Falcon, but the other two were boxed
and shipped to the Smithsonian Institu-
ton at Washington, D. G.
Mr.. Falcon spent about two hours in
search of the relics and aside from the
carriages secured about 30 cannon balls
and shot. Among them were chain shot,
bar shot, grape shot and solid shot. He
also secured rib of the boat and some
rigging.
A large number of people gathered at
the dock to see the relics. Although
several previous attempts have been
made to get portions of the wreck they
have been unsuccessful with one or two
exceptions, when small articles. such as
few shot and small pieces of wood from
the boat. were taken. From historical
Standpoint the find is a most valuable
one. and further developments may lead
to the discovery of the papers of Gen.
ARNOLD, which were lost at the time of
the battle.
Mr.. Falcon continued his search Thurs
day and was more than amply rewarded
for his trouble, his findings being more
interesting if possible than those of
"Wednesday. He made the TRIP in his
launch and upon going down located
what he supposes to be the magazine of
the vessel because of the large quantity
of shot, cannon balls and bullets found.
He worked for some time but was obliged
to return to Burlington sooner than he
wished on account of the high wind.
He secured about 100 ten pound can
non balls, 400 or 800 grape shot and a
quantity of lead bullets. The latter are
as good condition as when made. The
find also includes bones from different
portions of human bodies. No entire
skeleton was found but Mr.. Falcon hopes
o secure bones and will look especially
for sets Of teeth He also found knives,
Forks, spoons, tlints for muskets, bayo-
nets, buttons from officers uniforms.
boarding pixies, sailors needles, thimbles,
ish hooks, spears and other small arti-
tles. He brought several hundred
pounds of the relics to Burlington.
Among the interesting articles found
we're pieces of leather shoes and glass
ware. The latter is much thicker than
hat used today. No trace of cannon