Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-11-29
LAKES PRECAUTIONARY.
The Meaning OF the Proposed CcIcbrn-
ton of It's Discovery.

ton OF IT'S Discovery.
There Is good deal OF interest in the
project or fitting celebration OF the
So0th anniversary of the discovery Of
Lake Champlain. which Will occur ON
July 4, 1909. The resolution, introduced
by MIR. McCucn of vergennes passed by
both houses and signed by the governor,
provides for commission to con-
s'st of the governor and six other
members to be appointed by
him before July /. 1901 The com.
mission is empowered to tallo the nee
! esSafy measures to TO secure n fitting
Observance. 1t Is advised to confer with
the New York and Canadian authorities
for cooperation. and it Is TO report to the
General Assembly OF 1903.
| In the preliminary discussion of this
subject 1t has been suggested that a wa
| ter pageant be arranged. with decora-
ted floats, and perhaps u model Of Cham
plaips ship, with historical tabloaux and
suitable addresses. Such a celebration It
is believed. might be continued through
| three days. The principal exercises
would be held on July L. Probably these
exercises would be held at Burlington
One day might be given to Plattsburgh
Isle La Motto and other places of inter-
est In tho northern part of the lake
Another day could be spent at Ticon1ero-
ga, Crown Point ard points in the south
trn part Of the lake.
1t Is expected that New York and Can
ada will appoint similar commissions It
has been suggested that national patri-
otto societies ike the Sons a,,l Daughters
| nj 10
Danes and Society of Colonial Wars
might hold their annual metipgs for 1909
either at Burlington or Plattshurgh.
| 1t Is probable that France will be In
vited to participate, as it was a Frurh-
| man who discovered the lake.
| At the tim. of the discovery of the
lake. New England was unsettled and
! practically an unexplored Wilderness
Only one English settlement existed In
America. that at Jamestown, Va found
ed in 1901. I'rasre held two posts, Que
bee and Port Royal, n. s. Spain had
established the settlements of St. Au-
gustno and Santa Fee about three
months after Champlains entrance into
this lake, Henry hudson entered the Del
aware, and also the river TO which his
ow,, rame was given. Eight years later
the Connecticut river was explored IS far
as Hartford.
The founding of Fort Drummer near
Brattlehoro. in 1924. is usually given
first settlement made IN Vermont, but
In 1865 or 1866 Capt. La Motto of the ia
nous regiment of France, built a fort In
Isle La Motto called 81. Anne where q
considerable body of troops was station
ed. and under General de Tracy an exre-
dition was conducted against the hostile
Iroquois to the south which won n peace
lasting nearly two decades Although
this fort was not continually occupied,
1t was a frequent rendezvous and stop
pirr; place. Many French grants OF large
"seigniories" were made on both sides of
the lake. including one to Sieur de Beau
leu, who commanded at Fort Duquesn,
and planned the ambuscade which result
ed in the death of General Braddock; blu;
1t impossible to secure many French
| colOnistS.
Long before Samuel de Chaplplaus adj
| vent this body of water was the great
highway for Iroquois ard Algonquin war
parties. During the French and Eng
lish contest the lake the natural
route from Canada to the Hudson river
country and southern New England. Near
its southern extremity the French built
ftTtS ' al IiltH anu I eu'il IL. N!''''i Inv
English developed into Forts Ticonderoga
and Grown Point.
Some Of the most important engage
ments of the I7res.rh and Indian war were
fought on the shores of Lake Champlain.
Here Baron Diesknu and Lord Howe
gave up their lives and here Lord AM
herst and Gen. Montcalm contended.
1t was ut Ticonderoga that Ethan Al
len in the name of "the Great Jehovah
a,,l the Continental Congress- compelled
the british flag to be lowered for the first
time In the Revolutionary War, and tho
military stores captured at this time ana
transported to Boston We're Of material
aid to Washington IN his siege of that
city, The first naval battle of the RevO-
Luton, In which fleets werc engaged, was
fought ON Lake Champaign, the Amer,-
cat, ships being commanded by Benedict
Arnold One of the bloodiest and most
important naval battles of the War Of
1912 was fought at Plattsburgh.
Just 200 years after Champlain's d'scov-
cry. what is claimed to have been the
second steamboat TO be PIT into practical
use, was operated on the waters of the
lake.
Thus the centennial of steam navga-
tios, in the lake may be celebrated in the
year 1903 and additional interest is lent
from the fnct that Samuel Morey Of Fair
lee is said to have invented Il steamboat
several years before Robert Fulton built
the Clermont.
Such a celebration as the one proposed
for 1909 will not only stimulate interest
In historical matters, but will call atten-
ton to the attractions of Lake Champlain
as one OF the finest summer resorts in
the United States
WONDERS OF DELIRIUM.