Evening star., 1930-05-05
PLANE EMPLOYED
TO HUNT Cannon
Tlconderoga Museum Official
Tours Latin American Coun-
tries for Weapons.
BY GRETCHEN S. SMITH.

Locating cannon by airplane became
o popular sport during the World War,
but doubtless the first peace-time en-
ployment OF planes for the same pur-
pose has been that Of II. Jermain Slo-
cum, field representative of the Fort
Ticonderoga Museum, who, with one
companion, Beckwith Haven, assistant
field representative of the museum, has
Just completed a 10-week expedition
into Central and South America and
the islands of the West Indies in search
of eighteenth century cannon to be used
in the restoration OF old Fort Ticon-
deroga, N. Y.
Mr.. Slocum Is stopping in Washington
q few days en- route to Fort Ticonderoga
on business relative to the transporta-
ton of the cannon which he secured in
the southern countries to the United
States. Twenty cannon, located in
Nicaragua and presented to the Fort
Ticonderoga Museum by the Nicaraguan
government, are expected to arrive in
this country during the early part of
the Summer. Mr.. Slocum declared that
he had received great assistance from
President Moncada of the Nicaraguan
republic in his search for guns of the
desired period. He further stated that
invaluable cooperation had been ex-
tended to him and Mr.. Haven through
out their two-week visit in the Central
Marine Corps and the Army engineers
now working upon the plans for the
proposed interocean canal in Nicaragua
Questioned as to why guns to be used
IN the restoration Of Fort Ticonderoga
should be looked for In Central and
South America, Mr.. Slocum explained:
18th Century Cannon Identical.
'Tron and bronze cannon Of the
eighteenth century, whether cast in
France. England or Spain, were identi-
cal. Practically all the English and
French cannon Of that period are either
privately owned in museums or have
disappeared: Some IS cannon will be
needed in the restoration OF Fort IT,
conderoga, the outstanding monument
In the United States of the French
Indian and Revolutionary wars. The
old fort, built by the French In i755
and then known as Fort Carillion, lay
practically in ruins until 1920, when
Stephen Pell Of New York, owner Of
the property on which the fort was
located, decided to restore the fort as
q national monument and museum.
Through series Of years Mr.. Pell had
accumulated data on the location Of
various cannon desired In the complete
restoration of the fort.
Most Of these guns were In the coun-
tries just visited. We secured 81 cannon
altogether. In many instances we found
beautiful bronze cannon too heavy to be
moved, and therefore useless for our
purpose. This was particularly true OF
the old citadel located $500 feet above
Port au Prince, Haiti. We first few
above the citadel built by that famous
Negro Christophe, who had had hun
dreds Of heavy bronze cannon carried
up to the citadel. How he got the guns
there is mystery. It Is said that every
stone in Christophe's castle cost q hu-
man life. After flying over the place,
we later hiked up there, but were only
able to secure three cannon, which will
later be transported to Fort Ticon-
deroga."
Cannon From Fort Orange.
From old Fort Orange, in the Dutch
West Indies, the Fort Ticonderoga Mu-
scum will receive eight cannon OF the
desired size and period, secured through
the assistance of the governor and vice
governor Of the Dutch islands. A little
known chapter of history, closely inter-
woven with the American War for In
dependence, was disclosed to the "gun
explorers" while visiting the Dutch
West Indies. During the Revolutionary
War the Dutch inhabitants had built
up brisk trade and friendly relations
with the American eolonists. In IT'S,
shortly after the Continental Congress
had adopted the first American flag,
the privateer Andrea Doris sailed into
the Port Of Orangestat, on st. Eusta-
cius Island, proudly flying the emblem
Of the new Republic. The guns Of Fort
Orange, located on blu7 above the
port. promptly saluted and offlcially
recognized the American flag. This was
the first official recognition of the new
Nation and 50 incensed the British
that promptly following the episode Q
British neet, commanded BY Admiral
island, seized all the stores and then
completely destroyed the town Of
Orange by blowing up the sea wall. The
town was Immediately flooded by ocean
waters and there to this day, Mr.. Slo-
cum tells you, may be seen the remains
Of the Dutch settlement lying beneath
10 feet Of water.
Other countries visited by the Fort