Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1901-06-21
RELICS
Valuable Find Discovered
In Lake Champ|ain
THE ROYAL SAVAGE
Sunk in Its Has Been Ran.
sacked by Divers

Burlington, June 2l.-The greatest
find Of relics ever known on Lake
Champlain was made Wednesday af-
tern, on by ]. e. Falcon OF Evanston,
ILL.,, and force OF men who have been
employed for some time by the city
waterworkS. Mr.. Falcon is diver of
much experience and has devoted some
time to searching for relics and doing
all sorts of work under water. He
completed his work for the city several
days ago and on being informed of the
location Of the schooner Royal Savage
wnlcn was sunk south of Nalcour Is
land in 1916 he determined to inveSti-
gate the wreck and if possible secure
some relics.
With a force of men, barge with
derrick and all equipments for the
work he went to the island WedneS-
day afternoon. When he reached the
bottom of the lake, in about 20 feet
Of wafer he discovered the vel -detin-
ed outlines of the schooner. He found
three gun carriages quantity Ut
cannon balls and some smaller arti-
cles.
The find is most valuable one
from historic standpoint and sever
al efforts to the same end have been
| made heretofore but without success.
The schooner Royal Savage was de.
stroyed in the campaign OF l776. Dur
ing that summer the British were
busily engaged in preparing fleet for
lake service. Three boats were launch
ed at St. Johns. The Americans were
also actively employed at the other ex'
tremity OF the lake in preparation to
oppose the threatened invasion. The
superintendence Of the CONSTRUCT ion
of the fleet was contided 10 Gen. AT
nold. BY the middle of August Ar
mold was prepared to take the LAKE
with naval force carrying s. guns
and 7s swivels, and manned by 395
men.
His fleet consisted Of the sloop En-
terprise, the schooner Royal Savage
schooner Liberty and gondolas New
Haven, Providence, Boston, Spittlrt
and Philadelphia. After several smal
engagements between the Americans
and Canadians and Indians the flee
was anchored on Septe mber % IN tn
channel between Valcour island ant
the main shore. His fleet had beer
increased and numbered ID vessels
mounting "a guns. The British force
was 20 vessels with SO guns.
Ats o'clock on Friday morning
October II, the English were discov
cred passing Cumberland Head with
strong north or northwest wind ant
bearing in the direction Of Crow
Point towards which it is supposed
Arnold had retired. AS the Englisl
, appeared in sight Uff Cumberlan
Head, Gen. Waterbury went aboar
the Congress galley and urged tina
they should Immediately set sail an
fight the enemy in retreat on th
bIoa1 lake; but Arnold declined a
that late hour to change his line
defence.
Capt. Pringle was some di,tanc
ahead Of Valcour when be hrst oil
covered the Americans. He immed
ately changed his course towaro tn
island with view to engaging thel
but found great difficulty in brlngin
;. any of his vessels into action. Abot
I II O'Clock, however, the gunboats wei
. enabled to sweep to windward and tai
l a position to the south OF the Amer
= can fleet wien they opened a t1re u
l nm the Royal Savage which with u
. galleys had advanced short dlstan'
. in front Of the line. Toe brltls
U schooner Carleton soon afterwal
came to the assistance OF the gu
boats. o
The Royal Savage sustained the n
of the British vessels for some tin
and until her masts were crippled al
much of her rigging shot away 81
le then attempted to return to the lin
le hut running too far to leeward W
10 grounded near the southwest polnu
10 the island and abandoned by her M
u who succeeded In reaching the 9th
re boats. At night the British board
r. the schooner and set her on tire.
Ia The battle resulted in victory
the English and almost total destrt
tion to the American fleet. Inc n
of the schooner Royal Savage lies
the spot where she was sunk. i
upper timbers can yet be seen ourl
low water in the lake. Arnold's
3 pers were on board the schooner d
we're lost.