The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1874-10-15
An lntert sting Volume.

AMERICA NOT DISCOVERED BY CoLuM
BUS-An II e,orica Sk,t o. the Dis .ovety u
America by the Noisemen in thu tenth C injury.
By Prof X b. Anderson Of the University o.
Wisconsin with an Appendix o, tn Hi sa;e ca
Wan Languages. $40 > G. Gfggs y Co..
Chicago
In this work the author, Prof Anderson,
takes the ground that America was moi
originally discovered by Columbus. but
that the Norsemcn were the first Europe
ans who ever set foot upon the continent
He claims that in the year 4 ID. 9S6, Bjarnt
Herjulfson, Norwegian sailor, goin"
to Greenland got into a fog which lasted
many days and he kept drifting, he
knew not whittier, until the sun came
out and he saw land, but as it did not an
swer the description Of Greenland, Bjarnt
did not go ashore. He sailed northward
two days when he got sight of Land
again He kept on in northeastern.
course and in three days saw land the
third time He still continued ON his
course and in four days more reached
Greenland. 1t is supposed that the land
thus seen, was, first the present Nan
-. -' e 49,, 49,.
Nova Scotia, and the third New Found
land A few years after that Bjarne
visited Norway, aud told OF his adven-
lures. Left Erikson bought Barnes ship,
started out and found the land just as it
had been described to him. This was A.
D. 1900 In 1907 another expedition was
fitted out. The author gives us an ac
count of the various expeditions fitted out
for Vinland, rs the new county was then
called, the success of those who landed,
and much curious and interesting informa-
ton in regard to the people who first
came here He takes the ground that
Columbus learned of the discovery from
the Icelandic and German writers; that
before he started tor this country he went
to Iceland, and Travelled around learning
all he could about the new continent;
that he finally went back 10 Spain and
fitted out his expedition and discovered
America again. The author after giving
a description Of the discovery and early
settlements OF this country by the Morse.
men, asks who these people were and
answers it in the following languages:
Permit me to answer this question
briefly The Norsemen were the de-.
sccndants of branch of the Gothic
race that in early times. emigrated
from Asia and travelled westward aud
nortllward, finally settling down in
what is now the west central part OF the
kingdom Of Norway. Their language was
the Old Morse, which is still preserved
and spoken in Iceland. and upon it are
founded the modern Morse, Danish, and
Swedish languages. The ancient Morse
men were bold and independent people
THY were IA free people. Their rulers
we've elected by the people i'll convention
assembled, and all public matters Of i'm
portance were decided in the assemblies,
or open parliaments of he people.
Abroad they became the most daring adj
venturers. They made themselves known
in every part Of the civilized world by
their daring as soldiers and navigators.
They spread themselves along the shores
oi Europe, making conqu,sts and plant
ing colonies. In their ,onquering expedi-
tions they subdued large portion OF
England, wrested Normandy, the fairest
province Of France. from tue French King,
conquered y considerable portion OF Bel
GUM, and made extensive inroads into
spain. Under Robert Gulscard they made
themselves masters OF Sicily and lower
Italy in the eleventh century, and main
tanned their power .here for Il long time.
During the Crusades they led the van of
the chlvalry Of Europe in rescuing the
Holy Sepulchre, and ruled over Antioch
and Tibcrias under Harald. They passed
between the pillars of Hercules, they
desolatrd the classic fields Of Greece and
penetrated the walls of ConstantinOple
st. aging away into the distant east, from
where they originally came, we find them
laying the foundations Of the Russian EN-
pire, swinging their tw0-edged battle-axes
in the streets of Constantinople, where
EmperOr's body guard, and the main sup
port Of his lettering throne. They carved
their mystic runes upon the marble lion in
the harbor of Athens in commemoratlou
Of their conquest Of this city. The old
Morse Vikings sailed up the rivers Rhine,
Schelde, the Seine and Loire. conquering
Cologne and AacheE, where they turned
the empcror's palace in stable, filling
the heart OF even the great Charlemagne
with dismay, The rulers Of England are
descendants of the Norsemen. CANCER
Rolf, known in English history BY the
name RollO, son Of Harald Haarfgar's
friend, Ragnwald Mereiorl. invaded
France in the year 912 and took posses
sion Of Normandy; and in 1865, at the bat
tie Of Hastings. William the Conqueror, :
great-grands0n Of CANCER Rolf. conquer, d
England; and it is proper to add, that
from this conquest the pride and glory of
Great Britain descended. II is also . not |
iceable fact, that the most serious 0pp0si-
ton that William the COnqueror met with
came from colOnists Of his own race, who
had settled in Northumbria. He wasted
their lands with fire and sword. and drove |
them beyond the border; but still We find
their energy, the perseverance, and their
speech existing in the north English and
lOwland Scotch dialects.
This Is book that will excite no little |
interest in the historical and literary |
world. and viii prove valuable addition |
to any library.
Benton county will be Anti.M ooopoly |
AHA vAar ~ 4 IN Wa Ar c0mfi6orsh