Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1847-08-05
}Whole No. 1913.

of a communication received by him Z" from an
eminent citizen Of Newport Of less years" he
says, "han nay ancient friend lin confirmation
of the excavation said to be made by Prof.
Scrobein,) which b says places the question IN
the clearest light, wherein he says that he
was present at the time alluded to with Lieut..
Barber, and enjoyed also the personal acqua'n-
lance and regard of Professor S AntiquarI-
an then refers to the details of the report which
were before omitted from their length, which
states that "Aftcr tedious delay in procuring
the necessary implements for minute exam
Ination, and after exposing the base OF the col
umnS upon which the superstructure rests, the
pedestrium clearly defined, consisting of
large flat rock or mtieouI Of heridemitat form.
and immense bulk, supported from below by
inverted obelisks of graf stone, varying IN
length from ~ to II feet inches "-'as a more
extended excavation was forbidden from fear
Of loosening the bed of the rum, the system Of
probing Qhe Last resort of geologists) was de-
cidcd upon, for the purpose of detailing thceA-
act proportions of the staminae of the pedeStrt-
um which was effected by piercing the ground
at the sides with long iron rods of peculiar for
nation, made expressly for the purpose
! The foundation of the paisstr'um and reeep-
umun, consists of single stominae without the
pcdeStrium of less proportions than those of the
main structure" This is the substance OF the
Report, according to the statement Of Antigua
rian, which was made by Prof Scrobein, as
the result of his labors TO Il committee Of the
Royal Society of Antiquarians at Copenhagen,
of winch Profs. Rapin and Graetz constituted a
majority of the Committee, who embodied II
in a report which was read before the Royal
College in 1896. and being approved of by
them, conclusvely established in their opinion
the fact that the race of men who erected the
tower at Newport Were the offspring OF Uhe
Northmen) cmigrants from the St Lawrence
prior to the year 1915 This most ridiculous
and false report was evidently not intended for
this location, where its folly and falschood
could be so easily detected and exposed IL
was probably intended by those who delight 10
ideal in the marvellous, or whose aim it is to-
detract from the merits of Columbus the first
discovery of this Continent, and favor the pre-.
tensions of those who claim the merit of the dis
covery by the Northmen, centuries priOr 10
that of Columbus; and encouraged by those
whose interest and vanity prompts them to fa-
yor the design; with these objects in view the
3 false and groundless statements made in the
Report alluded to, was so contrved as to de.
ceive those to whom il was addressed, and so
a al, al Dr;I Of ho
claimed the discovery of the New World by
=, the Mortimer, that receiving it as a true and
correct statement of facts made by one Of their
, own society, and Of their own appointment on.
that special mission, the Royal Society Of
An,iquarans at Copenhagen approved of the
report on its being read before them in 1896, and
considered it as conclusively establishing the
& fact, that the of men who built the tower
| in Newport were the offspring of (the North.
/ men) emgrants from the st. Lawrence in the.
: llth century To establish this was their
f aim, and they have SO far succeeded by deccp.
J.. ton, falsehood and fraud. | acknowledge this
!. is severe language, and regret the necessity
n of resorting to it, but the dsgraceiul course
. taken to effect the design, richly merits IL, and
8 more, the severest censure of every lover ot
g historic truth If have not already, l will
!. before dismiss the subject, prove the absolute
n falsty of the report alluded to--and the cor
o rectness Of my own statements to every un-
;. prejudoed and candid mind.
>, When in a former communication in answer
e to Antiquarian | stated and proved by
~ ,l., a Ia.
At knowledge or memory ofthe Oldest inhabitants
m who had lived from forty years to "thrce score
Of and tcn,' within a short distance Of the old
Of ruin that no excavation had been made around
te il to their certain knowledge, as stated in The
,r report attributed to Prof Scrobien. did NO,
ir depend on my own memory or that of the Hon
4. Stephen Cahoonc, General Treasurer of thu
id State who is the gentleman to whom alludct
x who had lived many years within 100 yard
OF of the old ruin, and who was most To hkel,
II. rccollect if any excavation had been made, cx
ly cepting such as before noticed, which bVt
N that gentleman and my self recollectcd, but oi
'h the testimony OF many others, who did no
us reside in the immediate vicinity of the rum
az am aware that the old fabric was visited SOM
as years since Gt may have been as long ago a
Is, 1922 by Col. Tottcn, of the u 5. Engineers
ie- with several officers of the Army then siationc
he here, accompanied by stranger who nigh
IN have been, as far as know, Prof Sorobcn
he understood the object of Col. Totten was
IN ascertain whether the foundation of the run
ne commenced on the rock, which in some place
'll on that ridge of land lays near the surface,
ch whether il was laid on inverted arches, 70
'rs what object | never knew, but he was not al
ed lowed by the proprietor to dig sufficiently dee
ia- TO effect his purpose. am also aware th0
Capt Fatio, when he commanded the Rcvenu
he Cutter on this station, came on shore with pa
ost Of his crew with view Of making excavation
ms around the old ruin, aud was informed at n
IL time by Capt Fatio, that he could not obta
we permission from the proprietor. have be,
i A.. An. &C. a.. =