The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1873-11-13
MADISON NOTES

Prof. Anderson of the State University
delivered lecture Friday evening, Nov.
7th, before the literary societies, on the
Discovery of America. The learned
gentleman, threw much light on this
dark subject. During his recent tour to
Europe, he gathered much interesting
information from the Morse records at
Copenhagen, and has proved conclusive
ly from history that the Norwegians
have a prior claim to the discovery of
America. The Norwegians, from the
eighth to the thirteenth centuries, were
a maritime people, and during the early
part of the ninth century, made many
discoveries. A certain king in love with
beautiful princess, was told by her
that she would wed him when he con-
quered all Norway He brought the
whole country into subsection to his
yoke. Many of the nobility left the
country. Some went to Iceland and
some to Greenland. A father sailed to
Greenland, had been separated from his
son Tho was detained in Norway. The
son itted out ship and sailed to seek
his iather The weather was stormy
and he lost his bearings. After ,nany
weeks the tempest Tossed little craft
made land. But the sailors knew from
the appearance of the country that this
was not Greenland. A second time land
| was seen, but that did not correspond
| with the appearance of Greenland. Sail
ing farther north, they arrived at Green
land, where the devoted son found his
| father. When he returned to Norway
the description of the new country
reused the adventurous spirit of Lief
year 1000. His brother died there A
few years since skeleton encased in
armor was exhumed, near the place
where the Mortimer are supposed to
have landed. The armor corresponds
with that preserved in Copenhagen.
An analysis of it shows that it is of ex-
actly the same composition as that worn
by the Mortimer there. The lecture
gave an answer to the oft repeated ques-
ton, "who built the tower at Newport, u
that the tower was built by the Morse.
men.
Another brother of Erikson, went to
colonize Vineland, for the country which
Erikson discovered has been known by
that name he took with him one hum
dred and fifty men and seven women,
also cattle and sheep. An inscription
in Runic characters was found near Mar
raganset bay. This adds weight to the
statement that the Norsemen foun.
ded a colony there. During the tenth
eleventhand thirteenth centuries, many
voyageshad been made to Greenland.
A terrible disease, called the blacl
plague, swept over Norway about the
middle of the fourteenth century; bu
three hundred thousand people remained
out of population of two millions. Tht
plague spread to Iceland, Greenland anG
Vineland. In consequence the colon,
was broken up. The Sargos, now il
the archives at Copenhagen, contains al
account of the voyages of the Norseme1
and the colony in .Vineland. Pope Pas
cal appointed bishop over Norway
Iceland, Greenland and Vineland.
person sent by the Roman Pontiff, t.
Norway, to ascertain the state of religion
there, learned of the Norwegian discoy
cries, and ON his return wrote an accoun
of them, which is still preserved in til,
archives at Rome.
Columbus made trip to Iceland. 81.
may have learned there from the ole
records, of the new continent. His ide.
that at seven hundred leagues from
| Spain, there was new continent, re
quires some other foundation than mer,
conjecture. The lecturer made some
remarks as to what would have bee1
the present state of our country if the
discoveries of the Mortimer had beer
followed by immigration.
The above is an imperfect sketch O.
this excellent lecture. Prof. Andersen
by his researches in the musty archives
at Copenhagen, has been enabled tt
throw considerable light on this topic.
HARVEY