The Columbus journal. (Columbus, Neb.) 1874-1911, 1909-01-06

Out of her ruinsi made famous be-
cause of the history which. marks
every stone and inch of ground, old
Fort TicOnderoga is to Use again. Rich
is the place in the associations of the
colonial and revolutionary wars, and
| now that thrilling chcpter from
American history is to 70 preserved
to coming generations by yhe purpose
of its owner, Mrs. S. H. p. Pell of New
York city, who intends t., restore
buildings and grounds anG walls to
their pristine glory ard strength and
make it her summer home.
1t is expected that the West bar
manded the surrender of the fortress
in the name of the great Jehovah and
of the continental congress as tradi-
ton has it will be finished next July
for the tercentenary of the 3ming of
Champlain. which is to he celebrated
under the lee of the old walls on the
trembling Meadows"
Tic2nderoga has been in the pos
session of the Pell family for nearly
a century. and the approaching cele-
bratiOn and renewal of interest in
early American history caused the
present pr: prietor to consider its re-
Mobilization. e
Mrs. Pells father, Col. Robert NJ.
Thompson of New York city, is under
taking the rebuilding and restoration
of this historic pile. TIE West bs--
racks, or officers quarters" will be a
m'lseum. and the other buildings with
in the Enclosure are to be used for
residential purposes.
Memories of centuries cluster about
Ticonderoga, held and taken from the
beginning of time by various races of
men. The legends of the aborigines
tell of the prOmontOry on which 1t
stands having been defense Of the
Mound Builders and then wrested from
Them by the Indian hordes. The Iro-
quOis lost it to the French, the French
surrendered it to the English. and then
England was obliged to yield it to the
forces of the revolution. After that it
was taken and retaken, and finally dis
AAoullCu anu uUduuoASO anu CCuOCu
with the step of fighting men no more.
Its position made it for centuries the
key to the Hudson valley and Of the
way from this country to Canada. The
fertilization stood between Lake
Champlain and Lake George, on bluff
which commands the river connecting
the two bodies of water The Indians
were accustomed to come down from
the St. Lawrence and the Richelieu
rivers to Lake Champlain, and f.om
there past the site of Ticonderoga to
Lake George, then called Horizon.
From the lake canoes could be carried
across to the headwaters of the Hud-
son. whence the progress was easy to
Albany and to the mouth of the
stream where lies the present city of
New York.
Fort Vaudreuil was. sS far as is
known. the first stronghold built by
white men in this locality, and In la.:r
years 1t became known as the Grena-
diers' battery. There are evidences
that it was connected by tunnel with
Fort Ticonderoga during the British
occupation. The grst defense on the
site of Fort Ticonderoga was known as
Fort Carlton and was erected by the
French In 1755. 1t was of wood, faced
with stone. and was built under the di.
rection of Gen. Montcalm. Carlton
means chime of bells in French and
the designation was given on account
of the musical sound Of the falls in
the river mile or SO distant.
The appellation Ticonderoga Is In
dian in origin and conveys the idea of
falling of brawling waters. The old