The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-06-29
A GROUP OF RARE RELICS.
Gun Carriages and Cannon Balls
From the Royal Savage

Mr. Falcons Gift to the Smithsonian
Reeeived-An Important Incident
of the Revolution Recaued-The
Collection Very Highly Valued
Additional relics of historic Importance
have been added to the rich and varied
collection Of colonial and modern arms
and ammunition at the Smithsonian In
stitUtion. The new group consists of two
gun carriages and a quantity of cannon
balls. Speaking OF the acquisition an Of
fetal of the Smithsonian Institution to-
day said:
This find, which Is one OF the greatest
ever known to have been made on Lake
ChampIaIn, was made about Two weeks
ago by J. @. Falcon, Of Evanston. III, and
a force Of men, who have been employed
for some time by the city wateTworks AIr.
Falcon is an experienced diver and upon
completion OF his work for the city was
Informed of the location of the schooner,
Royal Savage, which was sunk, South of
NalcOur Island in I756. He determined to
investigate the wreck, and if possible to
secure some relics.
He Immediately set to work with 4
force of men, barge, derricks, and all
the equipments necessary TO carry on the
work. When he reached the bottom of the
lake, in about twenty feet of water, he
discovered the weII-defined outlines Of the
schooner He found three gun carriages
( a quantity Of cannon balls, and some
smaller articles. With the aid of the der
rick the relics were hoisted to the barge
and taken TO Burlington, Vt.
The gun carriages are the most inter
esting parts OF the find Although badly
eaten by rust and damaged by 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 together. The wood is
now partially petrifed and is almost as
hard as rock The iron bars and bolts OF
the carriage are corroded and covered
with Ia-ge cIumps of rust, some OF them
being nearly as large as a mans fist. The
carriages are two feet high, three feet
wide and four feet long. They weigh IN
the vicinity of two hundred pounds each
One OF the carriages has been given to
the city of Burlington by Mr.. Falcon
! while the other two he has presented TO
the Smithsonian institution.
Mr.. Falcon secured about thirty can
non 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 1t is said that
Mr. Falcon intends TO make another visit
to the spot wh=re the boat was sunk
and find, if possible, some more interest
ing relics.
From a historical standpoint the find is
a most valuable one and further develop
ments may lead to the discovery of the
papers Of General Arnold, which We're
lost at the time Of the battle.
The schooner Royal Savage was de-
stroyed IN the campaign Of I376. During
that summer the British were busiIy en-
gagged in preparing feet for lake
service Three boats were launched at
St Johns The Americans were also
actively employ ed at the other extremity
( Of the lake in preparation. to oppose the
threatened invasion The superintend-
ence of the construction of the American
fleet was confided 10 General Arnold.
BY the middle Of August, Arnold vas
prepared to take the lake with a naval
force carrying ffty-tive guns, seventy
eight swiveIs and manned by $50 men.
His feet consisted Of the sIoop Enter
prise, the schooner Royal Savage. schoon-
er Revenge. schooner Liberty, the gon-
doiaS New Haven, Providence, Boston,
Spitfire, and Philadelphia. After several
small engagements between tbs Ameri-
cans and Canadians and Indians. the feet
was anchored on September 3 IN the
main shore Arlold's fleet had been IN
creased and numbered fifteen vessels,
mounting eighty-fCur guns The British
force was tWelUy-Hine vessels, mounting
eighty-uine guns
At O'Clock on Friday morning, Octo-
Der Il. the English were discovered pass
ing Cumberland Head with a strong
north or northwest wind and bearing IN
the direction OF Crown Point. toward
which It was supposed Arnold had retired
As the English appeared in sight off Cum
hs-r a ter g-4lFNr
/ on board The Congress galley and urged
that sail Immediately be set and that the
enemy be fought IN retreat On the broad
lake. but Arnold declined at that late
hour TO change his line of defence. Cap
tain Pringle was some distance ahead of
NaicOur when he first discovered the
Americans He Immediately changed his
; course toward the island with view TO
engaging them. but found a great DIM
Guilty IN bringing any of his vessels into
action About Il clock, however, the
gunbOatS We're enabled to sweep to wind
ward and take position to the south Of
the American fleet, when they opened a
IRE upon the Royal Savage. with which
4; the galleys had advanced short distance
in front of the line. The British schooner
/ Carleton soon afterward came 10 the as
siStanCe of the gunbOaJs-
The Royal Savage sustained The fire
Of the British vessels until EeT maStS
were crippled and much OF her Raging
. shot away She then attempted TO return
. to the line but running too far 10 lee
ward. grounded near the southwest point
Of the island and was abandoned bV her
men, who succeeded in reaching the other
boats in safety At night the British
boarded the schooner and set fire To her
The battle resulted in victory for the
English and almost total destruction 10
the American fleet. The hull of the
schooner Royal SaVa &c lies where she was
sunk. The upper timbcrs. It is said can
Yet be seen during low water IN the lake
ArnOld'S papers it is thought. We're on
( board the schooner and were also lost
D