Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-06-29
The Vil1ings-The Discovery of
Iceland and Greenland.

THE NOrthmen, in the seventh
eighth and ninth centuries after the
birth of Our Lord, inhabited the great
peninsula of Norway and Sweden, with
branches established in Denmark, Fin
land, the Farce Islands, and all about
the coasts of Northern Europe. They
were a wild, rough and tumultuous
race, so given to rowing and adventure
that they made their appearance, at
one time or another in their history, in
every part of Europe which could be
reached by sea. They certainly visit
ed the shores of the Mediterranean,
and they once held such complete pos
session of part of France that their
name is still preserved in the title of
the province Of Normandy. Before the
time of King Alfred they ravaged En-
gland continually.
These people, who have left their
names all over Europe, were never
welcome anywhere. Even at home,
they quarreled among themselves. And
it would seem that when things grew
uncomfortable for them in their own
country, they took ship and sailed the
sea, carrying destruction and terror
wherever they went. The chiefs were
called JarlS, OF EarlS, and the sons of
chiefs to whom were given maritime
command were called Vikings. These
were usually the younger sons, who
were driven out by contentious at
home, as well as by their own fierce
desires, to find plumber and occupation
in ravaging the coasts of the rich
Southlands. In course of time, these
wild sea rOverS were masters Of the
seas of Europe. Their Captains came
to be known generally as Vikings. In
these days we should call them pirates.
Such man was Flokko, who, in the
ninth century, discovered Iceland. Pr
rate he may have been, but he took
with him families, cattle and tools, as
if intending to live like an honest man.
Warned by the trials which other
voyagers had had when trying to find
| new lands, FlokkO carried in his shin
three ravens which had previously
| been cOnsecrated by the pagan priests
of Norway. Two ravens were sup
posed to bring to Odin, or Wooden, the
chief deity Of the Mortimer, news of
all that happens in the world. And
| FlOkko relied on the ravens to tell him
when land was in sight. The first
raven, when set free, returned to the
land whence the ship had sailed; there
fore this was yet the nearest shore.
! The second was let loose some DAYS
afterward, and, after wandering in the
air, came back to the ship, showing
thereby that there was no land in
sight. But this and the third, when
set at liberty after TWO days, mounted
up into the sky, circled about as if to
take view of the horizon, and then
took a straight flight into the West.
Flokko followed in that direction. and
so reached the island for which he
| searched.
The colony did not thrive. It was
broken up, and the colonistS returned
to Norway, bringing an evil report of
the land, which they called Iceland.
But in S75, ten years after Flokko's
failure, one Earl Ingolf, who had
Quarreled with one of his neighbors
and had killed some of his thralls, or
bondmen, found it necessary for him
to flee from the wrath of the King.
Harold Haarfager CHarold the Fair
haired), and he accordingly took his