Carlton Island
A ride in an open buggy of 20 miles, through snowy woods over the bare hills and across the river to Carlton Island on such a day as this, presents a variety of winter scenery and also of going beside the novelty of the ride over the snow and across the St. Lawrence upon wheels. Wheeling in the winter is usually anything but pleasant, but to-day the weather has been mild, and with an extra coat and a warm robe, the ride was very comfortable. Having reached the head of the island, we improved a few moment while our horse was eating, to interview:
THE OLD FORT
which most people have noticed who have traveled along the river in that vicinity. It is situated on a bluff-like headland at the westerly end of Carlton island and the most conspicuous thing about it and one that first attracts the attention of the passer-by is a score of old chimneys. These huge old specimens, relics of a memorable epoch in the history of our country, that have survived the wear and tear of a century, were built of blue limestone, an abundance of which material was obtained in excavating the moats about the fort. These chimneys are 25 feet in height, some of them with a fire place on either side. That they were substantially built is proven by their existence at this time. On the inside the fort must have been some 40 rods in length, from east to west and 20 rods in breadth. It is surrounded by a moat about 20 feet wide and 12 feet deep. The inner wall or breast work must have been 20 or 30 feet high. On the side towards the river the ground descends precipitously, the water being 60 or 80 feet below. Near the center of the fort are the remains of what must have been the magazine and near this is a hole in the ground about 10 feet in diameter, down which we looked "as far as we could see" and kept our distance, This must have been the well. The ground in and about the first are bare and the view from this point is fine. We considered ourselves well paid for the clamber up the hill and over the decaying walls of the old fort. The landscape view from here is the summer must be beautiful.