Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-06-03
THE ROYAL SAVAGE.
Interesting Facts Resardise General
ArnoId's FIaxship, Sunk In Lake
Champ1aia IN 1919.
tFrom the Malone Farmer)


AS so much Is being written and
printed these days regarding the pros
pective attempt Of the government 10
raise the Royal Savage, 1t recalls the
fact that the late Amzi Turner. of Peru,
with his son Bently s. Turner. was en-
gagged at one time in an attempt to raise
the vessel. Tho latter Is the father and
grandfather Of two Of the publishers
of The Farmer. At the bottom Of this
article will be found a letter from Mr..
Turner which we are glad TO reproduce.
We are indebted also to the Piattsburgh
Republican for some facts regarding
this historic vessel In years long past
many attempts were made by various per
sons TO raise the flagship. but without
success. In the New York Times Of April
-. a dispatch dated at Plattsbugh. re-
ports damage by high water in Lake
Champlan. and that interference was be
Ing caused thereby in the work OF rails
ing the Royal Savage The note further
says:--
The Royal Savage was not only the
flagship of Arnod's feet but was the
pay ship. and tradition says that a large
amount OF gold Is in the hull. n In said
to he in the stern which is In nifty fee,
Of water. while the how projects toward
the shore. There is no apparatus or
Lake Champlain heavy enough to raise
SO heavy a vessel"
Lest the New York commission should
he banking on that gold for expenses II
Is well 70 give authority In the matter
II may I've added In passing that one
would he well justified In surmisIng the
gold to he IN the stern, since something
must have been heavy enough to sink the
schooner end up according to the Times
account
Winslow c. Watson. In his history Of
| Essex county says: THE schooner was
badly crippled, and In attempting to fai
ba ok. grounded upon a point Of land near
the south end OF Valcour. was abandon
ed by her crew. and during the nigh
burned by the British. The papers and
wardrobe Of Arnold were lost on board
this vessel. Forgetting the extreme pow
ertv Of the Continental Congress at tina
| epoch. innumerable attempts have beer
| made 70 secure tho treasures she was
supposed to have been loaded with. FL
| forts have been made to raise the wreck
and skiliful divers have examined he,
cabin and hold She was scarcely sub
merged eight feet In low water. and wal
|
tions from Prattsburgh Republican, +
| IL represented that the bottom Of thu
lake In the vicinity IL strewn with BALL
and bullets, the latter white and glisten
Ing by the attriton OF the sand. Man,
interesting relics among them burste'
| cannon. have been raised and preserved
| from the wreck.
The note mentioned above was In tn,
4 70 IS arl &c
follows: "s' Although efforts have beer
made by companies and individuals from
time TO time since TO raise the hulk. sh'
will remain with her coveted treasurer
until the final unheaving Of all things 1,
| old ocean and other small ponds. In thu
latter part Of last summer when the wa
ter in the lake was uncommonly low. I'M
upper works Of the old schooner coulc
! he distinctly seen from the decks o.
passing vessels. and Captain Georg'
( Conn anchored his schooner over thu
wreck and with graphing irons succeed
ed in dragging several large pieces Of oal
plank from the side OF the vessel. n,
sends US large stick for cane and
pieces for rulers, and other articles have
been presented to other parties. also I
piece to clinton Lodge for a gavel Tn
| WOOD IL as DlHCk AZ eUOuy, anu aiH1's
as heavy It finishes with a beautiful
polish"
AIbursh Springs. W.
| Editors Malone Farmer
| have been amused by reading sew
eral articles In different papers latel,
regarding the raising OF the Royal Saw
age. Gen. Arnod's flagship, sunk durinl
that memorable naval battle near Val
cour Island in Sept 1872, Enthusiast
speak OF putting her In floating condition
and probably expect her 10 Zine" IN
procession that Is to be made on LAX
Champiain during tercentenary week
July next. II the tercentenary commits
sion succeeds in raising her at all
imagine they will have hard time |,
getting her IN condition 10 be seaworthy
| The writer had hama In pulling on
some OF the timber ok the old hulk ii
1e47 or ls4s and will enclose piece OF tn
timber under separate cover as proc
Of my statement. notice some writer
claim she is nifty feet under water
| while as fact. she Is scarcely covered
by eight feet In low water. am Sur
we will all rejoice TO see her ahoat.
am wondering what she will look like
She may resemble the Turtle" Will
which Capt Ericsson met the Merrma'
In the James river during the rebellion.
Most truly yours,
B. 9. TURNER.
|
sNOxr COHoUEREn