TELL, WILLIAM, the champion of Swiss liberty; was a native of Burglen, in the canton of Uri. He was distin guished by his skill in archery, his strength and courage. He joined the league of the Three Forest cantons formed to free the country from Aus trian tyranny. The Austrian governor of Switzerland, Herman Gessler, pushed his insolence so far as to require the Swiss to uncover their heads before his hat (as an emblem of his sovereignty), and is said to have condemned Tell, who refused to comply with this mandate, to shoot an apple from the head of his own son. Tell was successful, but confessed that a second arrow, which he bore about his person, was intended, in case he had failed, for the punishment of the tyrant, and he was therefore retained prisoner. While crossing the Lake of the Four Cantons, or Lake of Lucerne, in the same boat with Gessler, a violent storm arose. Tell, as the most vigorous and skillful helmsman, was set free, and he conducted the boat successfully to the shore, but seized the opportunity of springing on a rock, at the same time pushing off the boat. On this rock, since called the Rock of Tell, a commemorative monument or chapel has been erected.
He had fortunately taken his bow with him; and when the governor finally es caped the storm, and reached the shore, Tell shot him dead on the road to Kiiss nacht. This event was the signal for a general rising, and a most obstinate war between the Swiss and Austrians, which was not brought to a close till 1499. The uprising is said to have happened on Nov. 7, 1307; and the citizens having previously chosen for their leaders three men of approved courage and abilities, namely, Werner of Schwytz, Walther Fiirst of Uri, and Arneld Melchthal of Unterwalden, they secretly agreed to surprise and demolish the castles in which the imperial governors resided. This compact being effected, these three cantons joined in a league for 10 years, which gave birth to the Helvetian Con federacy. The story of Tell's shooting the apple from his son's head is not re corded by contemporary writers. It is a familiar legend related of national heroes in other countries.