Omaha daily bee., 1909-07-03

u DEHHNt AAIHA set OUT IN AnN AOE canada
on a commercial expedition and to spread
the gospel. Its valley formed a great
natural gateway from the mouth Of the
Hudson to the st. Lawrence. This the In
dams long knew, and for its control many
bitter wars were fought Then the white
came and batted with the Indians, and
later between themselves, for supremacy
in the contest that should decide whether
French or English civilization should pre-
vail.
In the contest Of the colonies for indie
pendence the alarms of war again sounded
In the valley and the territory around Il,
as well as on the lake, the English seek
ing to Join forces from their base at New
York, thereby cutting off the patriots Of
New England from the men in the field in
the middle and southern states. Then,
again old Ticonderoga, which saw the Eng
fish triumph over the French, Crown Point
and Plattsburg, all became strategic points
Of value. Control of the thoroughfare for
which the Indians battled was to determine
the issue of independence. The first forts
seized by the patriots in their struggle
were upon 1t, while near by, at Saratoga,
the most overwhelming victory of the pa
triots was won.
Again in the war which was to confirm
American independence nv Nhli0S All hNV
lake were scenes Of stirring action. In and
around Plattsburg raw New York militia
men defeated veterans Of the campaigns
against Napoleon in Spain and France,
while in Plattsburg bay the most decisive
naval victory OF the war was won by the
Americans.
Champlein frat heard Of the lake and its
country from the friendly Indians of the
north. Those told him of its great beauty,
its abundance Of fish and anne, the scores
of beautifully wooded islands upon its
bosom, the great forest which lined 1t on
either side, the Adirondack mountains on
the one shore, the Green mountains on the
other; its great width In some places and
its comparative narrowness In others. and
above all. it's immensely.
ChampIain's First Expedition.
To see this country and take possession
Of it in the name Of his king, Champlain
set out in the summer OF 1000 with a large
force OF friendly Indians and q few
Frenchmen. Going up the st. Lawrence
to the mouth Of the Riohelieu, he was de-
serted by a large number of the natives,
whereupon he sent all but two of his white
companions and proceeded with sixty
braves. Just what day he reached the lake
history does not state, though It is clear
that +; was in the first days Of July that
he saw the water to which with pardon
able pride he gave his name.
Champlain had been told by the Indians
that the lake and the surrounding coun-
try was fairer than any of the country
to the north. and as he entered the lake
he found they had spoken truly. Many
pretty islands were on every hand, the
home of deer, bear and many species of
birds. On the shores great forests grew,
many of the trees Of varieties which he
had known in France, but larger and finer.
Ascending the AXE" says Parkman,
the historian, Cumberland Head was
passed, and from the opening Of the great
channel between Grand Isle and the main
he could look forth on the wilderness sea.
Edged with woods. the tranquil flood
spread beyond the sight. Far
on the left rose the forest ridges of the
Green mountains, and on the right the
Adirondacks, haunts in these later years
OF amateur sportsmen from counting rooms
or college halls, Then the Iroquois made
them their hunting grounds; and beyond,
in the valleys of the Mohaw!, the Onon-
daga and the Genesee, stretched the long
line of their five cantons and ~palisaded
towns. " Their goal was the rocky
| promontory whore Fort T1conderoGa was
long afterward built. Thence they would
pass the outlet of LAX George and launch
their canoes again on that Como Of the
wilderness, whose waters limpid as a foun-
tain head stretched far southwark between
their thanking mountains"
ROut of the Indians.
Savages who had inhabited the lands
about the head OF the lake had left before
the white man came and had withdrawn
into the interior, and It was not until the
end OF the month was near that unfriendly
Iroquois were encountered and defeated,
leaving to the white man control of the
fair domain.
In his quaint journal, which is to New
France what Governor Bradford's records
are to the Massachusetts Bay Colony,
Champlain paid high tribute to the beau
tiful country he had seen. the depth Of
water in the immense lake, the great guam
titles Of fish and game awaiting the trap
per, the fisherman and the hunter, de-
scription that today sounds true, for man
in his incursion on the country about the
lake has done little to decrease the natural
attractions and has done much to enhance
them. On the many islands are homes and
hotels and camps, large excursion and
| freight steamers, as well as the speedy