University of Vermont - Ariel Yearbook (Burlington, VT)

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CHAMPLAIN C 'T TRETCHING away from north to south, in abroad sweep of one hundred and twenty miles, lies Champlain. Upon her shores and waters have been enacted great events, Here the native red man urged his birch canoe upon his own pursuits of peace and strife. Here the intrepid Frenchman, Champlain, camped upon the explorations which gave his name to her fair waters. The gray goose winged his way above these open reaches, or, evening falling, settled upon the sheltered inlets. Majestic stag drank deep along the shore. A country teeming with vigorous untamed life. V Here bloody wars were fought, this was the highway of an hundred desperate sorties of white man and dusky ally. The stirring war-cry and the crack of flintlock rifle echoed above peace- ful waters. Brave men died upon these shores or sank beneath these clear waters. Called by the Iriquois, Caniaderi-Guaruntef' or, The Door of the Country, Champlain proved truly a natural gateway into a land of mighty promise. To these pioneer families her shores presented far-flung as- pect of rugged hill country, forest covered. Along her banks arose the log cabin of the settler. The ring of his axe resounded here as he cleared his fields. Un the broad slopes overlooking

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co TETS .+A UNIVERSITY CLASSES MEDICS ATHLETICS ORGANIZATION WOMEN FEATURES -1-

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Champlain the forests gave Way to ever spreading clearings whence circled the smoke of rude stone hearths. y So arose, beside Champlain, a ,X my ix Z S l A .. 'V 1, . 1 ' .,,, if' ' A .N ' 'Q f . 1 1,f nf o l EW Qu XA QI' I strong and hardy people, God-fearing, , N Q 4 4 V7 , , : hi h-thinkin men and Women un- ff 4, .g g . ' dismayed at the rigors of the forest, , p 'X Q,-l ,,., striving in common effort toward the T domination of the Wilderness-toward the founding of a race! , -1.. ,v,.,,, 'Mi 'f:. -af , m Here lay inspiration for patriot hearts. For these glories of Wind-swept Wave and rock-strewn shore the Green Mountain Boys fought with purpose unyielding. Here, under cover of blackest night, ferried Ethan Allen and his hardy troop upon their daring mission. Their success in capturing Fort Ticon- deroga marked the first surrender of the British Flag to the American States. This frontier people, self reliant, purposeful, now found them- selves involved in a War for independence. Invading armies, red- coated, with painted allies of the wilderness, swept down the great Waterway to give battle. Champlain's Waves, now turbulent, were breasted by soldierfladen batteaux, and schooners hewn from green timber. A At once arose the sound of the adz and the caulker's mallet. A fleet emerged, inadequate, un- gainly, poorly armed, but manned with strong hearts dauntless in spirit. This rude fleet engaged the enemy against great odds in a hard fought A battle which was the first naval engagement of the Revolution.