The Irish republic. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1867-18??, 1867-08-03

| POTONAC-A e
RUNIC Observation-Disclosures DISCOVERED BY THE
IRISH sst II. .I34 E.
The following further account of the alleged remark
able discovery the falls of the Potomac Before agree
ing to accept the statements entirely credible it be
well to await the opinions of gentlemen of good scientific
reputation at Washington e.
To the Editor of the Washington Union.
Permit through your columns publish the details of
the discovery the city of Washington of the remains of
Icelandc Christian woman who died in the year 1851
and of the inscription in Runc characters which marks her
grave the of which has already sped by ee
graph through the New World to the Odto publish fact
which materially affects the history of the discovery of Amer
lea by Europeans by adding one more proof to the
generally received by historians of the extraordinary
voyages by the adventurous Nohmen without compass
quadrant the eastern coast Of this continent five centuries
before the landing of Columbus and fix the of their
inland explorations least in direction BESIDES to
record curious items with respect to the habits and
customs of this hardy people to note most interesting
cimen of their early monumental characters Runes to
confirm in most striking the authenticity of the
Iceandic historical sages and to give another illustration of
the great length OF time it requires write and
truthful history And in doing shall endeayor to be plain
and brief; but do not give all the mnua, the
Indulgence of your readers await the publication within
the coming year. OF the full account OF my archaeological re-
searches in the Oneys Iceland America etc. wherein the
copous text will be accompanied with and draw
ings.
4t THE sKALHoLT SAGA. = . 81 #'
In 1863 in digging about the ruins of the ancient college
at Skalho (which is said to have been built in 1857 by
Bishop Isei in Iceland the Latin MS, bearing date Ill.,
and known the Skaholt Saga exhumed entire
This before this time unknown except from fragment
in the famous collection of MSS of Arnas Magnus, which
was DESTROYED by fire. 1t is most remarkable story appar
emily written by monk purports to give historical
of the explorations of the celanders In the newound
Vinland and in the country to the south and west called
Huitramannaland, Ireland in Mikla, Great Ireland
which spoken of having been long before discovered and
visited repeatedly by the Irish. This is most important
statements for although there illusions in the
saga and in the Landnamaboc of unimpeachabe
acity of this earliest discovery Of America rh they
are but vague and pncertan It also narraes the adyen
puny they styled the natives in derision of their
ardy and skulkg habits And among other things there
is account of under the command of Hervarur
along the of Huitramannaland in souhery direction
from Vinland arthas Vineyard where they had wntered
and repaired their ship and thence north andnorthwes
and various rivers the ascent in of which finally
stopped by succession of falls to which, from their general
shape and oamy appearance they gave the name Of Hvid
sark white skirt These falls particularly noticed for
it stated that in their neghborhood the Legitimate daugh
ter of Snorri (who born in Vinland and of
Karsefne by Gudd the widow of Thorstein killed
with small spear an arrow and buried near the spot
where she fell Now Sir Thomas Murray to whom the Ska
holt Saga referred by its diseoveres Mr. Philip Marsh
and by whom has recently been translated into English
has conecured that the here spoken of receiving the
of several large rivers its Western Shores and up
which the adventures seemed to have sailed the Chesa
peake Bay and from observations to the length of
the days and nights by which the latitude determined
he supposed that the Whitesr Falls the Great Falls in
the Potomac river above Washngtonhe only falls in any
of the Chesapeake rivers But this he mentioned the
fancy which importance could be attached How
ever but anticipate the substance of this letter. it is
permitted say that the authenticity of the Skaholt Saga
being ndispuaby by the recent discovery of the
very grave the daughter of Snor the specaons of this
learned gentleman proved to be correct The confrma
ton of this saga will also cnch the theory that the Irish
the first Europeans discover the continent of America
THE DISCOVERY aa.s s.s's 4
With this interesting saga well many others in my
mind since my arrival in the United States have made
several trips the Great Falls of the Potomac ascertain if
any of the visit of Hervardr wereto be found HAY
ing examined the prominent rocks above and below the falls
for distance Of several miles the 2Sth Of June 1867 in
company with NJ Louis Lequereux the distinguished geolo
gs Professor Brand ofWashngton and DR. Boyce OF Bos
ton had the happiness and satisfaction to discover the most
ndsputabe proofs of this early Iceandic voyage in Runic
inscription marking the grave of Icelandc named
Suau and afterwards by exhuming the partial remains OF
inscription which have gventhe Of the White shirt
Runc the northeast side Of the large rock
commonly called the Arrow Head" in the Potomac river
miles below Eal