Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1858-06-18
4 STORY OF THE NORTH.

The following narrative OF the fate OF
Errick Rande, Is particularly interesting
and appropriate at the present time. As
early as 908, Errick Rande, an iceland
chieltain, fitted out an expedition OF
twenty-five galleys at SuefeIl, and hav-
ing manned them with sufficient crews of
colonists, set forth from Iceland to what
appeared a more cOngeniai climate
They sailed upon the ocean fifteen days,
and they saw no land. The next day
hrnnght with If Storm and manV yes
sci sunk in the deer. Mountains OF ice
covered the water as far as the eye could
reach and but few galleys escaped de-
struction. The morning Of the seven
teenth day was clear and cloudless; the
sea was calm, and far away to the north
ward could be seen the glare OF the ice
fields rejecting on the sky. The remains
of the shattered feet gathered together
to pursue their voyage, but the galley OF
! Errick Rande was not there. The crew
of q galley that was driven further down
/ than the rest, reported that, as the morn
ing broke, the large fields. OF ice tnat had
! covered the ocean were driven by the
current past them, and that they beheld
the galley of Errick Rande, borne by re-
sistless force, and with the speed OF the
wind, before a tremendous field Of ice
her crew lost all CONTROL Of her, and they
were tossing their arms in wild agony
Scarcely a moment had elapsed before
it was walled in by hundred ice-hills
and the whole mass moved forward and
was soon beyond the horizon. That the
galley Of the narrators escaped was won
derfuI it remained, however, uncontra-
dicted. and the vessel of Errick Randt
was never more seen. Half a century
after that, a Danish colony was establish.
ed upon the western coast Of Greenland
The crew of the vessels which carried
the colonists thither, IN their excursion
into the interior crossed a range Of hill
| that stretched to the northward they ap
preached nearer to the pole than an,
preceding adventurers. Upon Iookin!
down from the summit Of the hills, the
beheld a vast and interminable field 0
ice, undulating in various places, an,
forming a thousand grotesque shapes
They saw, not far from the shore, fg
ure in an ice vessel, with glittering lei
cles instead of masts rising from ii. Gu
f riosity prompted them to approach, whe
: they beheld a dismal sight. Figures {
: men in every attitude OF woe were upo
the deck, but were icy things one fe
ure alone stood erect, and, with folde
D arms, leaning against the mast. A hatcl
5 ct was procured and the ice split away
e and the features of chieftain disclose,
pallid and deathly and free from deca,
, This was doubtless the vessel, and tn;
-, the form of Errick Rande. Benumbe
q with cold, and in the agony of despai
: his crew had fallen around him. II
!; spray of the ocean and the fogs had fir
zen as it lighted upon them, and covere
! each figure with an icy robe, which IL
!, short lived glance Of a Greenland su
, had not time TO remove. The Dam
! gazed upon the spectacle with trembling
: they knep not but the scene might
a their fate. They knelt down upon Il
f deck and muttered prayer in their n
4 tive tongue for the souls Of the frozt
! crew, then hurriedly left the place,
' the night was approaching.-C Curiositi
!; of Literature.