The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1872-08-03
PIRATES OF THE FROZEN OCEAN.

A Weird Tragedy of the Frozen Fiorls
scrs-A Legend OF the SIX aids of Old
Acted out in the Living Present.
From Iceland, that land of SHOWS and
natural phenOmcnoti, comes the tidings of III
event, curious and tragic, which recalls one
of its own Evolutionary legends. The fig
ures who aphear ut this development of
this story loom out Vague and shadowy in
in the details the localities wherein the
events took place seem almost rs unreal as
haunted land and a sombrcncss OF Coloring
shades the picture of the narrative which
gives to this tragedy the weird strength of
a recital of the days Of necromancy and
of the old NOrcsman
To the NorthWard of Reylliavig, the
capital of Iceland, rises the extinct volcano
Snwifcls-JOllull, celebrated in the traditions
of the island From the foot of this vol
cano extends SOFT of bay called the Dyra-
ford, almost surrounded Ivy enormous peaks
of ice and snow, whose SUBMITS are lost in
fOgs. The calm and MINDLESS sea is in
closed by volcanic walls formed Try the flow
of lava, and which takes the shape of ram
parts OF fantastic contours rendering still
stranger TO the eye the effect of the pale
glare of the polar sun. During the Write
months the bay of Dyraford is silent with
the silence, AS it were, of the tomb The
hamlet of Dyratiord, enveloped in its snowy
pail, shows no sign of human life, and he
only sounds which at intervals break t.
prevailing stiffness of this profound AMI
mysterious monotOny are the echoes OF
dogs which bark unseen. The sides of
the bay are indented VITA. multitude of
excavations of a volcanic character, into
which, in summer, the waves may ne heard
precipitating themselves as in bottonA4ss
abysseS.
In the first days of last January rumors
reached the ears of the police of Reykiavig
coming from the village of Dyrafiord, of
strange and unaccountable proceedings
which had taken place in the BAY of
Dyraliord. For several nights the few
dwcllers in the hamlet had heard myster-
lous noises in the bay. 1t seemed to them as
if a ship, grating its keel against the ice-foes.
had come in anchor in the middle of the
gulf. This event was so unnatural that
no one believed in its truth, and the noises
were attributed to some mantestions OF the
evil spirit. Nevertheless some of the villa.
gers, holder than tho rest and more curi
Gus, ventnred from their huts, and bv the
pallid light reflected from the sunny peaks
lhey distinctly saw the masts of a brig out
lined III the shadows of the night. Then
men were seen 10 leave the vessels side.
bearing bundles on their backs. and make
their way To the shore upon detached
masses OF ice; reaching the shore they ap-
peared to the trembling witnesses to disap-
pear beneath the earth's surface. These
were the stories coming to the knowledge of
the police of Reykiavig, who caused orders
t".be issued for a close watch to be kept
over the bay. The most probable theory
advanced as an explanation of these mvs
teriouS gofngS and cofriings was that the
noises were caused by band Of smupgIers
who had established depot in Iceland
Tor their WIRES, which We're atterward car
ried 10 the Continent. But scarcely had the
precautions for capture been taken bv the
police before the bay became as silent as
before, and even the magistrates themselves
began to believe that the whole affair was
bnt the product of the supcrstitious minds
of the inhabitants Of Dyraford But that
the magistrates were wrong and the villa
gers correct events We're soon to be prove
In the middle OF February. at about six
o CLOCK III the morning, a child was found
few miles from lteykiavig, lying upon the
ground, covered with wounds, senscIess.
apparently dead. The child was a strange
being, who seemed 10 belong to an African
or an Asiatic race his complexion was
black, but his regular features suggested
Nublan or kaffir origin. His ace was
about twelve years. Charitable hands
lifted this poor waif from the ground, and
he was carried to Reykiavig, where under
careful nursing he revived
The boys first action on regaininr con
seriousness was to lift his hand to his throat.
which was lacerated with wound made
0y sharp instrument as though an effort
Lad been made TO separate the head from
the body at n single blow. Then he mut.
tered III - furious voice words in an nm
known language, which was incompre
hensihle to those around him The mapis-
trates were called TO his bedside, and at
tempts were made to solve the mystery
which was revealed in the presence of the
Guild. Several days passed in the condi
uon OF the doubt and ignorance of the
meaning OF the boy, who himself perceiy-
ed that he was not understood He then
endeavored TO translate his thoughts by
means OF signs. 1t WAS soon discovered
That he had been witness to an atrociors
CRIME, and that he wished to aeence him
sell upon some unknown person or persons
But upon whom? What was the crime .
VINO was the victim This was what no
one could divine.
One day. however, the boy, who had now
recovered his strength, made sign to those
ABOUT hm that he wished to rise from his
bed. The night was coming on. He an
proachcd the window, and by signs indi-
Gated that 1t was necessary TO wait until the
darkness had supervened. HIS mute di
rec'ions were finally understood to have
this meaning
Take with YOU ten or twenty armed
men and come with mcD
The magi trates held council together.
They saw clearly that it was their duty to
undertake the adventure and soon two of
the principal sysse}nlpnds or officers of the
police, left the house, guided by the strange
lad and followed by thirty soldiers The
young negro appeared to be ina state of ex-
ASPIRATION bordering upon deirum; he
ran forward, and then turning he would
grind his teeth as if furious at the slow
ness OF those who accompanied him.
Soon the small band left Reykiavig be-
hind them. The route which was follow
cd was that which led to the Geysers
Along this road-if it could be Ca'Ied a
road-rose masses of lava of a pyramidal
shape, and distant from each other about
ttty yards. In every direction were heights
and flssures-here an elevation as high as q
mountain peak. The negro boy still kept
MS rapid pace, and it was with difficulty
that the military party could keep up with
him. At intervals he would stop and would
rOu1tiplv his uocturac 4, thop, f,IIo,-