Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1867-07-20
The Runic Inscriptions at Great Falls.
THE FACTS IN THE CASE.

The Runic Inscriptions at Great Falls.
THE FACTS IN THE CASE.
Such exaggerated accounts are float in re-
gard 10 the discovery of RurIc Inscriptions
and an cient relics on the Potomac, this side Of
Great Falls, that we feel it our duty to give
the facts in the case. The Gothic MARKS found
upon the Arrow Head Rock, by Prof GassIn
som show con onclusively ,hatthe Nortatuen not
only visited this country long previous to
Columbus, but that they ascendea the Po-
tomac 10 Great Falls and buried there an
ICelandio woman named Suasu, widow OF
kjoldr, sister Of Thorgr, an illegtimate dangh-
ter of Snorri Thorfinnsen, famous char
ac'er IN Scandinavian history. Tney WEN
mp on the canal steamer John J. Baall.
Suasu was one of em she was about eight
feet high, and robustuous in proportion. She
wae woman OF comprehensive mind and
great grasp When the Mortimer landed az
Analostan Island old Snorri was down with
the rheumatism, and Thorgr had the Spring
fever, the worst kind, but the brave Suasu
lifted each by the seat of the pantaloons and
waded ashore with her burden. This was tili4l
and sIsternal. She was Christian. She was
virtuous and happy, bat old Snorri was a rusty
old cuse. He used to loaf about q. all the bar
business and spending his Roman coin in old
rye.
The proper name of Suasu was Susannah,
but when old Snorri got about half corned he
called her pet names, and more SO the drunker
he got, thus: "Susannah," "Susan," "Sukey."
''Susy." "Sue." ana when in his maudlin
stage, ''Su-Su," or "Suasu.'' Susannah per-
ished prema maturely. She imprudently partook
Of soft crabe, persimmons ana milk, on pic.
mic party She pucksred up and died. Old
Snorrj felt pretty bad about it, and m nst have
got very drunk, for he sculped her name on
the rock as "Suaeu." The widow was sim
cerely lamented by large circle of friends.
She wss red headed, and wore her hair turned
neatly down to cover large wen on the back
Of her neck. This volume OF back-hair was
thought by her admirers TO resemble a water
fall; hence the name for this style OF wearing
the hair This Is why she was buried by a
waterfall. 1t lends romantic interest 20 her
name, that she who first achieved the water
fall, was buried by a water. fall. Old Snorrt
got Crawford to sculp her likeness. 1, is to be
seen on the dome Of the Capitol, and is an ex
eellent representation. including the wen. 1t
has the same swelling proportions, the same
sweet potato shape. In her right hand she
holds a rune chlsel. The obliquity Of vision,
noticed in her statue. is readily explained.
Christianity was introduced into Iceland abou,
the time OF Suasu, but the Sabbath was not
observed. Old Sporri used to 90 a fishing
regularly on that day. Suasu hoped for better
things, when she could wear her new Sunday
bonnet She got cross eyed looking two ways
for Sunday.
The baptism Of Suasu by Henry Ward
Beecher is to be seen in the Rotunda Old
Snorri used TO gamble at ten pins. The group
on the eastern portico Of the Capitol represents
his style OF playing. He had hefty way OF
delivering the ltgnumvita, killing most Of the
boys that set up the pins. The widow is seen
in the background demonstrating with the old
man. but prudently keeping out Of the way Of
the ball. Mr.. Thorfnnsen buried the widow
by the Arrow Head Rock and chiseled her
epitaph in the aforesaid runes. They are in
good state Of preservation, considering that
they have stood the wear and tear OF eight
centuries In soft sandstone. The letters vary
from An imperceptble indentation to an inap-
Ireciable depth. The rock is Of a deep grey.
Ish red color, inclined to green. 1t rests upon
Its southeast peak. and points to the north
west, at an angle of 20 degrees from the quad
nature Of the plane OF the rivers surface. Its
without fissuIes except sometimes at high
wafer, when perch fishers make a stand there
The inscription is called the White Shirt In
scTiption." Old Snorri's shirt was pretty dirty
when he landed, and Suasu washed it at the
Falls. Hence they were called the White
Shirt Falls" and the inscription the White
Shirt Inscription" 1t reads when transposed
into Roman letters, with the signs, and indls.
tinct and restored ruses in brackets,) as fol-
lows
[Sign o. HI ANDREW [sign Xl HAN.
lC]OCK [sign X] ONA ROC KFISH BENZ.
DER. CAIUG]HTA THIR TY FOUNDER.
known sign, consisting of figure OF nasal or
gan. impinged upon, a. extremity. by dexter
thumb, succeeosd by four digi,ais. upright,
and in right line.
Which. translated into English. as nearly
literally possible, and emitting the sign>,
reads thus:
Here rests Susannab. Susal, Sukey, Susy,
Sue, Syasy or Suasu. The fair haired. land
something over,) the grass widow OF Jolter or
kloldr and sister of Thorgr, children OF the
same father .... twenty five years OF age so
she said.) Bad luck to the scallawag who DIS
To r6s her ashes. 1851"
These runes do not elosh around as the
Massachusetts and Rhode Island runes do,
where figury.fours. Roman letters and deci-
NAL fractions are mixed up pretty bad. The
Potomac runes are marked altogether by mega
tive characteristics. They have no curves or
ornamental strokes, and look AS il they were
jabbed in with dull jack. knife while tn
fish " as cooking. II is hence one OF the pures,
and most important Runic inscriptions a,
present known. 1t was discovered oy Prof
Gsssinsom, of 9ascony. Prof. G. was pre-
coc,ous from the cradle. He was able 10 20
alone al two months, and has travelled ever
since Oh his shape and talent. He made up
his mind that he would find a Runic inscrip-
ton at Great Fails, and he did. lie was ac-
companied in his discovery by Prof Beau
hickman. the distinguished Washington
fnancier, Prof Bhoy, Of Boston, the reno wned
muscular christian, and Prof Liguorup, who
has given SO much attention TO pneuma,ics
The appearance OF Prof. Gassinsom is striking
though not prepossesslng. He is seven "a feet
high and weighs out 81 pounds. He has nigh
forehead and the supra OF bItal ridges stick GU,
about toot. Half Of him is forehead and the
rest legs. He has none Of those internal com.
bmatlons called bowels. HIS face is remark.
ably expressive and cute; his nose Is promi.
nent and overshadows q set of large teeth
which he displays gratuitously. His dexter
eye mas an obiique and intensely knowing ex.
press Ton. An excellent likeness OF Prof. CI.
can be seen IN the froutispiece OF Derby
..Phuni xiana.'' He ~ man who once seen
will never be forgotten. He is both self.pvs
sessed and retiring, He has now retired To the