Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1901-07-25
FIND OF WAR RELICS.
MANY ARTICLES TAKEN FROM
WRECK OF ROYAL SAVAGE.

WRECK OF ROYAL SAVAGE.
Further Developments May Lead to
the Discovery of Payers of
Gen Arncid.
New Orleans Picayune The great
est find of relics ever known on Lake
Champlain was made the other after
noon by ]. G. Falcon of Evanston, H.,
and force Of men who have been en-
ployed for some time by the city water
works. 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 COM
pleted his work for the city several
days ago. but upon being informed of
the location Of the schooner Royal Saw
age, which was sunk south of Valcour
Island in 1776, he determind to investi-
gate the wreck, and, II possible, secure
some relics.
With force Of men. a barge with
derricks. 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
water he discovered the well-defned
outlines of the schooner. He found
three gun carriages, a quantity of can
non balls and some smaller articles
With the aid OF the derrick the relics
were hoisted to the barge and brought
TO this city. The three gun carriages
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 con-
structed 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 petrified, and is almost as
solid as rock. The iron bars and bolts
of the carriage are corroded and COW
cred with large punches Of rust some
of them being nearly as large as a
mans fist The carriages are 3 feet
high, feet wide and 4 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
yesterday and shipped to the Smith
sonian institution at Washington ID. c.
Mr.. Falcon spent about two hours in
search of the relics, and aside from the
carriages, secured about thirty cannon
balls and shot. Among them were
chain shot, bar shot, grape shot and
solid shot. He also secured a rib of
the boat and some rigging. 1t is his
intention to make another visit to the
spot where the boat was sunk, and find,
if possible, some more interesting
relics.
Previous Efforts Unsuccessful.
A large number OF people gathered
at the dock the other day to see the
relics. Although several previous at
tempts have been made to get portions
of the wreck, they have been unsuc-
cessful with one or two exceptions
when small articles such as few shot
and small pieces OF wood from the boat
were taken. From historical stand
point, the find is most valuable one,
and further developments may lead to
the discovery of the papers of General
Arnold, which were lost at the time of
the battle.
The schooner Royal Savage was de-
stroyed in the campaign of 1875. Dur
ing that summer the British were bus
lily engaged in preparing fleet Tor lake
service. Three boats were launched at
ST. Johns. The Americans were also
actively employed at the other extrem-
ity of the lake in preparation to oppose
the threatened invasion. The superin-
tendence of the construction of the
fleet was confided to General Arnold
BY the middle Of August Arnold was
prepared to take the lake with a naval
force, carrying fifty-fve guns, seven
ty-eight swivels and manned by 1896
men. His feet consisted of the sloop
Enterprise, the Schooner Royal Saw
age. schooner Revenge, schooner Liber-
ty and gordolas New Haven, Provi-
dence, Boston, Spitfre, and Philadel-
phia. After several small engagements
between the Americans and Canadians
and Indians, the fleet was anchored on
Sept. 23 in the channel between VAL
cour island and the main shore. His
fleet had been increased and numbered
fifteen vessels, mounting eighty-four
guns. The British force was twenty
nine vessels, mounting eighty nine
guns.
At o'clock on Friday morning, Oct
IL, the English were discovered pass
ing Cumberland head with strong
IOTtu UT HOIlIlWtSt Wluu anu DedTlUS
in the direction of Crown Point, to-
ward which it was supposed Arnold
had retired. AS the English appeared
in sight off Cumberland head General
Waterbury went on board the Congress
galley and urged that they should i'm
mediately set sail and fight the enemy
in retreat on the broad lake. but Ar
mold decline at that late hour to
change his line of defense
Brave Stand by Vessel.
Captain Pringle was some distance
ahead of Valcour when he first dis
covered the Americans He immed-
lately changed his course toward the
island with view to engaing them
but found great difficulty in bringing
any of his vessels ilto action. About
IL o'clock, however. the gunboats were
enabled 10 sweep to w!ndward and take
a position to the south of the Ameri-
can fleet, when they opened n fire upon
the Royal Savage, which, with the gal
leys. had advanced short distance in
front of the line. The British schooner