The New York herald., 1877-01-16
nORSEMAN OR INDIAN 7
The Old Stone Mill in Newport and The an
cient Rock at DishlOn.
NEW ENGLAND ANTIQUITIES.
Archaologists in Councl-The Early Visits Of
the Norsemen to the Shores of Vineland
[By TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD. ]

BosToS Jan. Is, 1877.
The archaoogists and antiquarians Of the world
promised another fruitful theme for investigation
and discussion has been furnished them in the
Gently reported discoveries OF Dr. Schliemann. The
matters involved in dispute this time the histories
and significance Of the old Stone Mil Newport, r.
l., and the Ancient Rock Taunton River at Dlghton,
Mass, which bears inscription supposed 10 have
been wrought upon its surface by the Norsemen who
came here about the year 1000 A. d. 500 years
previous to the discovery OF this continent by
Christopher Columbus The subject OF preserving this
rock and also OF erecting monument commemorative
Of the visit OF tho Norsemen is now attracting the
attention OF not only antiquarans and literary gentle
men, but also OF citizens generally, and 1t was at
preliminary meeting this afternoon of those Interested
that the genuneness OF the rock and inscription and
the history OF the Newport mill unexpectedly pre-
cipitated.
DIGuToN ROCK.
The origin of the inscriptions cut tho Dighton
rock have for several centuries been the study OF his
torlans Professor Ralu and others OF the Royal So
ciety Of Northern Antiquaries, of Copenhagen, Dem
mark, decided in their belief that the rock was
inscripted by the Norsemen that Ole Bull. VIOLIN
ist requested Neis Aruzen to purchase 1t for that
ciety, OF which the King Of Donmurk rs the Presi-
dent This purchase, which Mr.. Bull recommended,
was subsequently, made and the King Of Denmark was
mammoth relic when Boslonans suddenly awoko 10
the consciousness that II the rock what II is
claimed be ought to be taken away from Mas
sachusetts. Among those who OF this 0pinion
were such President Eliot, OF Harvard College,
Professor Longfellow, Thomas G. Appleton, Gov.
ernor Rice, Mayor Cobb, John G.. Whit.
oomaercai and political circles fhe rst step was
got the Copenhagen society to reinqush its claim
Boston savans are considering how the old rock
shall DO preserved. AS IL Is now situated, In Taunton
twentyfour hours, and as the and tear from this
aggravated by rol,c hunters something must
be done very quickly II the inscriptions are to be pre-
served, and hence the proposition to move the rock
TO Boston.
THE RELIC TO BIN PRESERVED.
The meeting OF gentlemen interested this afternoon
was unexpectedly Interesting, and whatever may be
the nature Ct tho inscriptions the rock whether
thew arc the work OF the Norsemen in tho year 1000
or OF Indians several laert Is pretty cor
tain that the relic Is TO be preserved for postey
dispute over Thomas G. Appleton, chairman Of the
Committee OF Preservation, was kept away by ncc.
dent but his In the form OF letter, winch
was read to The meeting.
NoRsEMAN OR INDIAN.
Mr.. Appleton, Of course, took the ground that the
Inscription on the rock was made by the Norsemcn,
iortiyng his position by Tho conclusion arrived by
tho learned Antiquarian Society OF Copenhagen as
well as the General conviction in the affirmative
which prevails IN England The Journal Of Naviga-
tors contended, marks out certain particulars OF
our coast strengthening the belief. aud c0nflrmatory
mention is also made by Mr.. Mitchell, OF the Coast
vey, How important these discoveries held be
in their day, remarked Mr. Appleton, Is shown by the
fact that the Pope Of The time confirmed upon
American bishop the title Of Bishop Greenland and
vincaud, the latter then being the given to New
England from the abundance oil Wild vine thon found,
and which now abounds wherever the woods are un-
touched. In having the rock brought to Boston Tor
preservation Mr. Appleton suggested also the erection
of q monument statue commemorative oi the visit
of the Norsemeu, remarkna tnat the same might be
called "Erc, after the father who coOnized Green.
land .Lief." after his son who FIRST visited vlne
land.
TnE ONLY INSCRIBED ROCK IN YANKEEDoM.
Rev. L. T. Hale, who has Tor many years been active
fostering the public sentiment which has length
been aroused made powerful speech in favor oil
preservation and counsclltd early action TO II
from tho action Of tho tide and weakness OF relic
auntcrs. Ii Is the only inscribed rock in New Eng
land he said, which comes In before its settlement,
and II permitted such q monument 10 60 To decay
wo should say very little aterward about our rever-
OF many others in declaring his belief that
the Norsemcn who inscribed the Dighton rock were
the first human beings who ever landed this part
the American continent THIS declaration
seconded, and the object OF the meeting coqucntly and
eabo ratciy urged by Professor f. N Horsord, Har
ward College. and Curtis Guild OF the Commercial Ba
ietinA
MILL
Tho subject Of the Old stone mil at Newport, Il. l.,
which was this point Of the meeting incidentally
alluded 10 by Rev. DR.. vinton, brought out some
valuable Information and theories from Ole Bull Dr.
Vnton wanted 10 know what the edice II It
was q mill, what kind OF miliY II denotes somc-
thing he said entirely different from anything else
In the country and he did beieve was erected
by the Indians their Immediate predec ssors Might
IT not have been Roman structure for 1t certainly
has some OF the characterstIcs OF Tho Saxon archec
ture In England? What was IL built forY If
il was IN Europe tho answer would be
that IL was erected by the ''Tcutontcst.'' But
how account Tor sucn structure
here in Newport? Why not associate this specimen OF
architecture with similar ia EuropcY H. he
cluded 1t was intended either as an observatory
structure OF defence IL was elective both situation
and design and the surroundings indicated To mind
that the edice was intended AS a work OF defence.
THE NoRsEMAN CLAIM
Ole Bull replied that he believed that the Newpor.
Mill, called, was erected by the Norsemcn aud
that II used TOR the storing OF vauables There
similar structures in Norway, he said, he had
heard that they had also existed in Normandy In
France, $50 years before the Norscmen came here.
CLAIM FOR THE INDIAN
lively scene here ensucd among the distinguished
archeologists consequence OF of their number
ridiculiDg the idea OF the inscription on the Dehton
rock having been made by the Norsemen
DR.. Green, Boston's city physician. He SAID
there several rocks within radius Of
twenty-five miles Of Dighton which bore similar
Inscriptions. Two at Portsmouth, r. l., and one 1T
Tverion H. l., and 1t was his belief that the inscrip
tons were put on. heseroc and the one at DghIon
by IDdlans, and that they commemorated nothing
more than u battle or perhaps big catch OF nsh by
one OF the tribes. he Doctor also said that like
inscriptions were TO be olnd on stones in Maine, Ver
mont, New York and Pennsylvania. He alluded TO
visit which he and Professor Wyman, OF Harvard had
mad. 10 hop and said that the Professor agreed
with him that tho stone marked by Indians, that
the ndentatons were made with hard stones and that
he had never yet heard OF any American archeologst
who thought otherwise. In concluding his bou dls-
cusslon, Dr. Green sad that he did not believe the
characters ON the Dghton rock had any more
ton with the coming OF the Norscmon In the year
1000 than Bunker Hill monument had To 90 with tho
arrival OF the Pilgrims in massachusetts Bay.
INDIGNANT MUSICIAN
This was too much Tor Ole Bull lie jumped around
the room IN perfect Juror of excitement and indig
nation for several moments unable to express
himself, even in his usual uniniegiDe way. He pro-
duced photograph OF the inscriptions, but the doctor
he only recognized them as simple Roman charac
tcrs which he could not understand. The eminent
professor OF catgut and horschar then replied to the
distinguished professor OF physic that he hoped hc
would bc kind enough not to critIcse those who could
understand them.
CONSIGNED TO BOSTON
The gravity OF the anquaans having been restored,
tho meeting on motion OF William T. Baker, voted to
leave the further matter OF raising funds and prcsorv