Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1873-07-31
Correspondence of the Hsrald.l
THE DISCOVERY OF AMERICA
Danish Authority ON the Subj ect-How IL stands
In the Light OF History.

that America was discovered and
partially colonized by the Mortimer
some 500 years before the alleged
discovery by Columbus. Historic
authority tells us that the Mortimer
were the ablest navigators in Europe
at the time the discovery of the new
Continent was made. Their practi-
cal squadrons showed themselves
Huccessively on the coast Of almost
every known region, and constantly
maintained the ascendancy that re-
suits from superior energy and cour-
ageous ambition. Preceding the
discovery of America they spread
themselves over all the islands of the
British Archipelago, and had finally
seated one of their priI ces, the great
Chute, upon the throne of Alfred
One Of the fairest portions of France,
to which they gave the name of Nor
mandy, fell into their hands through
conquest. When the Saxon blood
temporarily regained the ascendancy
in England, one of the Northman
chieftains, as if to maintain the hon-
or OF bis stock, crossed the Channel
from Normandy, crushed by single
decisive blow the feeble array OF his
competitor at the battle of Hastings,
and secured to himself and his pos-
terity the British sceptre. Moved
to further corquests the Mortimer.
by force Of arms, succeeded to Sicily,
and the northern coasts of Italy and
Greece, and for time gave law
from the throne of Jerusalem and
Constantinople.
They displa yed everywhere har-
dihood and enterprise unsurpassed
by any maritime nation; and could
they have anticipated by century
or two the discovery of the compass,
they would have given to their infiu.
ence upon the ocean the same univer.
sal extent that knowledge of that
instrument has since given the
Spaniards, the Portugue se, and the
English. Among the less import
ant achievements of the early histo-
ry of the Mortimer, was the coloni-
cation Of Iceland in 875 and that of
Greenland in $780, The leader of the
colony that settled in tho latter
place was Eric tie Red, who gave it
the name of Greenland. 1t may
properly be remarked in this connec-
ton that the names of the principal
leaders of this colony are still pre-
served, and while they seem TO per-
petuate the memory of the first COL
onists, identify them as real person
ages in distinction from fictitious
history.
The colonization Of Greenland was
an event which led directly to the
discovery Of America. Even before
this time it IS obviously probable
that some of their ships, navigating
between Norway, the British Arch
peligo and Iceland, ali which coun-
tries were then in thtir possession,
should be drawn out Of their course
as far as the coast of America by O
strong easterly wind. Some such
accidents are in fact attest ted by Ice
landic writer's, and others may have
happened which history does not
trace. But when the Mortimer had
extended their settlements to point
as near the American coast as Green.
land, occurrences Of this kind be-
came almost matters of course; We
find, accordingly, that the year suc>
ceediDg their establishment in that
country is the one assigned by Ice-
landic writer's to the discovery of
America The account of this event
was given mainly by Hermit, whose
name is still attached to the southern
promontory of Greenland, called by
the English, Cape Farew ell. Herm-
If had son, BORNE, who is repre-
sented In Icelandic chronicles as
young man of enterprise. His pur>
suits led him to spend much of his
time in foreign parts and at home
with his father His father having
sailed for Norway during the absence
of his son, he was missed on the sons
return, who Immediately determined
to follow him, and with the assent of
the crew set sail in pursuit, without
discharging the cargo, though unac.
quainted with the course. Norther.
ly winds drove them from their
course, fogs bewildered them. They
were lost tor weeks and months, but |
eventually landed upon a sandy |
coast, but as it's description did not
correspond to that of Greenland, they |
left it. A few days sail with occa-
sionaI landings, showed them the
same kind of country. After other
explorations they made the southern |
coast of Greenland, where, it is said,
Biorme found his father. The die.
coyery OF Biorme naturally became |
topic OF conversation in Greenland.
AT length Lief, son of Eric the Red,
was prompted to engage crew of
thirty-fve men, including a German |