Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-02-18
HORACE w. BAILEY.
Nowbury, Vt. Feb. ii, 90
THE RATTLE WITH THE 1ROQUO1

Nowbury, Vt. Feb. II, 20.
THE RATTLE WITH THE 1ROQUO1S
There is so much interest being taken
now in the early history Of Lake Cham
plain that anything pertaining to hi,
voyage is eagerly sought after at pres
emit
Among other important events of that
early date was the battle with the Iro
quois.
John Strong. Esq. Of Nergennes, who
wrote much Of the early history Of Addi-
son county for Miss Hemonway's Gaze
teer. in foot note. I'm speaking OF the
battle with the Iroruols says. FOR a
fun account Of this battle and its loca-
ton, see Nergennes Citizen, GLocal His
toryD Dec. %, 1851"
The files az the Citizen and those Of
the Vermonter, that succeeded the CIT
ten. were given by Mr. Crane to the
Verg.nnes Public Library, and we re-
produce the article below from them:
1907, JULY FOURTH.
On this day, which afterwards be-
came so celebrated in the history Of
our country. Samuel Champaign en-
tered the lake that now bears his name
having left Quebec tho 18th of NAY pre-
vious. He was accompanied by party
of sixty Huron and Algonquin Indians
and two Frenchmen, having been obliged
to leave their shallop at the rapids a.
hove: all tho Frenchmen that left QUE
bee with him refused 10 follow except
these two. Champlain was here furnish
ed with twenty-four bark canoes by his
Indian allies. With these they proceeded
up the lake. They we're now entering
the country Of the Iroquo!s These the
old French writer's tell US. formerly re-
sided in the country about Montreal but
at remote period were driven to the
southwark by the more powerful Adir-
ondacks-CIurons and Acknowledgment
| settled In the central parts Of the State
Of New York-especially on the Moha wk
river one of these tribes claiming. and
to considerable extent possessing Yer
mont. These two nations, tho Adiron-
dacks ard IroQuos were D-rpetually at
war. 1t was one of these foraYs that
Champaign awaited himself TO penetrate
the country.-Tfe with his party proceed
ed up the lake with great caution. son y
ing three canoes with three mon in each.
several miles ahead to see Il an enemy
was in the neiShborhood. and cnconlp-
ing esch night in the woods on shore.
Champlain in his narrative .avs :-'T'ro-
crossing along the west shore OF the lake
7 ob..crvcd to tho eastward high noun
y RS the tops Of some II them covered
with snow: the Indians Informed him
that the country around these we're in
hahited by Iroquois: that between these
mountains were five valleys very fertile
Ia corn and other food An IroQuois
runner having di.cOverel them as they
were coasting along the western shore,
gave information Of their approach. They
We're now within three or four days
travel Of the habitations Of tho Mo-
hawks tho most warike Of all the
, I"oQuois nations. on the eath or July about
10 o'clock at night they were met by a
party Of two hundred Iroquois who came
out from the western shore At first
the Adlrondacks withdrew into the lake,
but the Ir0quois making for the land.
they again approached and after shout
ing, whoopng, brandi.hing their toma-
hawks and going through other m,n-
oevures, sent two canoes to ask tho Iro-
! quois II they wished 10 fight, they were
answered there was nothing they wished
for more. They then proposed TO wait
,,,,u ,,,o-,i,r -btcb n.os o,rood :.
49,
inc lro'uo's now commenced making
| "ar'l'"'es OF pores ana DARK cut WIN
rud' axes on STONE ana metal Inc Hu-
rons came Just within AFRO" shot ana
arranging ue'r boats IN me maze
'hem 'ast TO stakes drlFen IN the mud
Inc night was spent In singing the war
songs and other lndian rites preparatory
10 battle Just as the morning da"hed
'he oattie commences ny night or ar
/ rows from the HuronS' 'haNpisln ana
ms TWO men We're kop' out ol slsh' uh'i'
! hitsr theN hah landed winch theY soon
| Nl0. Inn IrOQuoiS now came out boldly