Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1901-10-01
!. BRITISH GOLD
Buried For More Than A
/. Century in
LAKE cHAMPLA|N
Ais Just Been Uncovered By A
Civil Engineer.

! OuuAu6 uOu, W. OCV' L. ACI
Thousand English sovereigns, after
lying Tor nearly century and quar-
ter In az old hulk at the bottom OF
East Bay, Lake Champlain, have been
Recovered, and are now deposited In
the Allen National Bank in Fair Ha.
ven.s
For many years there has been a
tradition in this section OF the State
that at the bottom of East Bay, near
Carver's Falls, was a sunken boat con-
taining large amount of English
gold, with which it was intended to
pay off the troops of Gen. Burgoyne
In i7J7. The gold was shipped from
| Quebec In a small sloop, with a crew
and guard of 10 men, the eXpedi-
tion being under command of one
Capt. Johnson.
1t vas intended to deliver the mon
ey to Burgoyne at Ticonderoga as his
men were almost in a state of mutiny
because of not being paid. On arriv-
ling at 'Ticonderoga however, Capt.
johnson found that Burgoyne was in
pursuit of St. Clair's army in Yer
mont, so he started for Skeenesboro,
now Whitehall, N. Y, intending to
meet the General there.
Learning that the American forces
had been defeated at Hubbardton, and
we're in full retreat, he concluded to
change his course, 90 up East by to
Carver's Falls, near which was a
bridge shat Burgoyne's. army would
have to cross in order 20 reach Skeen-
esboro. Here he would deliver the
coin to Burgoyne. He anchored his
boat within sight Of the falls and
awaited Burgoyne's arrival.
While Capt Johnson and his. men
were there waiting on the sloop they
were greeted by a volley from band
Of American soldiers who were re-
treating from East Hubbardton. Sew
en- of .Johrsons men fell dead. The
Americans continued the fire while
the remainder of the boats crew ran
below.
Seeing that there was no chance of
saving the vessel Capt. johnson Scut-
tied the craft and with his remaining
three men, jumped overheard and
tried to swim ashore. They were
pierced with bullets and all perished
The Americans knew nothing Of the
treasure on the Sloop.
Many years after ward it was learn
ed that the E1glish government had
offered reward for the arrest of
Capt. Johnson, who it was supposed
had run away with the treasure.
For 124 years the hulk remain at
the bottom Of the bay, while tons Of
earth and sand, accumulated from the
river, we're pied on top of it, During
the high water last spring the current
was so strong that considerable Of the
accumulation was washed away and a
portion Of the sloop exposed to view.
A few days ago George B. West, a
civil engineer, who made the plans
and superintended the construct, ion of
the big dam at Carver's Falls for an
electric power station, concluded that
be would Investigate. Taking with
him about thirty men, he changed the
course of the stream, and then, With
pick and shovel, soon had one side Of
the slcop free. A charge Of dynamite
broke up the hulk. The timbers were
found In good condition.
In the cabin was found considerable
glass and other war fifteen muskets,
much the worse for their long INNER
sion, and other minor articles. An
old iron chest was found in the cap
tain's room. When opened it was
found to contain 10000 soverelgns.
This was the treasure that was sent
from Quebec for the purpose of paying
Burgoyne's troops. Its recovery, of
course, clears away the cloud that had
so long lowered over the reputation Of
Captain johnson.