The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-04-01
MAY MOVE BODY l. OF COMMODORE
 M'DONOUGH
Champlain Tercentary Com mitte Asks Permission of
 Hero'S Descendants.
Remains Now Lie in Mid dletown Marked Only by
 Small Stone Slab.


 McDonough Commanded American Fleet in Battle of Lake Champlain, Vic toriously Fought Sept. IT 1914, in Plattsburg Bay
 Against a Superior Brit ish Force.
 Mfddietown. April 1.-rhe descend. oueh. the hero of Lake Champlain have been asked to consent to the re- moval of his body from Riverside cem- etefy in this city to Plattsburg- on tho shores of Cumberland Bay. The fam fly of Comm odore McDonough are con- sfdering the matter.
 The request came from the McDon- ough committee of the Lake Cham plain Association who are making the plans for the tercentenary celebration of the discovery of the lake. The celebration is to be attended by President Taft, Vice President Sher- man. Senator Root and other men o1 national reputation. and it seems par tfcularly appropriate that the suggeS- ton be made at this time.
 As to the transportation of the body If the family consent, a, small torpedo i boat, or if the passage through the Champlain canal make it more desfr- able q lighthouse inspection boat will probably be provided by the govern. ment to carry the body down the Con necticut river. up the Hudson, and through the canal and lake. Fitting ceremonies would be observed at Mid dletown as well as at Plattsburgh, 1T which the Navy department would be represented.
 At present his grave is marked only by small slab about four feet ir
 Though Commodore McDonough was not born in this city he spent practical ly all of his life here. Ills house stood on the site of the Y. M. c. A. building It was torn down at the time that building was erected
 Some of the woodwork, however, was placed in E. K. Hubbard's residence. The battle of Lake Champlain was among the great naval battles of the who WAS at that time only 31 years of age was in command of a small American fleet in the lake. A British fleet carrying more guns and more 1914, in Piattsburg Bay. At the first broadside fired by the enemy young game-cock kept as a pet on board Mo Donough's ship the Saratoga, flew up- VI1 G E ulbs IuSdQp1A6 HIS WuIlSS ne gave . crow Of defiance like the blast of a trumpet.
 Swinging their hats McDonough's men cheeFed the bird again and again. They went into the fight with such art1or that in less than three hours all the British ships that had not hauled down their flags were scudding to a place of safety. as rapidly as possible. That ended the fnvasion from Canada. Within few months the treaty of peace was signed. ts McDonough continued to serve his country until his death in 1925. He was in command of the fleet in the Mediterranean when he was taken i'll and had to be relieved from duty. He dded soon after and was buried in this city which had been his home so many years.
 It seems strange that Middletown has never erected a monument to mark his resting place. Not even a. street in this city is named after the hero.
 The anniversary which is to be eele- brated this year Is tue tercentenary Of the discovery of Lake Champlain by Samuel de Champlain. the famous French explorer.