Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1877-05-23

The ieesandis DiseGyeFer of America.
AT Dighton, not far from Fall River,
Massachusetts, is to be seen a rock
standing alone on the bank of river
about eleven feet long, and between
four and fvs wide, on the face of
which appears avery- old and mystic
rious inscription.
This inscription was found two
centuries and half ago by the Pill
grims, but as it was not in any
language known to them, they never
could find out who carved ii, or what
it meant Fer many generations its
mystery was as great to the descen-
dants Of old Elder Winslow and his
companions as to themselves, and
only few years have elasped since it
became known what the strange
characters signifed.
It is now pretty certain that this In
scription on Dighton Rock was
craven by some IceIanders, who dis
covered our continent nearly nine
hundred years ago, Eve centuries be-
fore Columbus made his famous
VOYAGE across the Atlantic
The inscription is as follows !:
GRIN, CXXXI, n, NJ, NAM and
between the \ and the N there is a
rude drawing Of a boat. 1t has been
interpreted by scholars learned III tho
Icelandic language to mean. 'Thorin,
with Isl Morse seamen, took posses
sion
Perhaps it could not have been 50
readily deoiphered had not other evil
dences Of the presence Of Lcelandic
voyagers have been discovered in
New England, aad had not the ira
ditions Of such voyagers, preserved 10
what are called the Iceland 'Ed1as,
been studied and translated
In those ancient and hitherto little
known books, the whole story of the
discovery of America by Icelanders is
revsaIed. So long age as 996, an
Iceiander named Bjarne, on his way in
Ship to Greenland, where he was
going to visit his father, drif;ei far ont
Of bis course, and after many weeks
fopad himself ua9r . land covered
with trees,
Blu; he did No: Land, and when he
returned to Iceland, he told what he
had seen Among those who eagerly
FASTENED to him was certain adven-
turous sailor, called Left Eric SOL.
Left lost 70 time in fitting on: ship
and in the year 1000 sailed for the
mysterious land described BY Bjarne.
In due time be reached the bleak coast
ofLabrador. and sailing thence south
ward he came pom what We call Cape
Coz. He landed near the spot where
Provincetovn now stands, and pro
baby pursued his voyage as far as
Buzzard's Bay. where he is said to
have built some huts. The land grew
50 many grapes that he gave it the
name Of EineIand lie then returned
safely home.
Two years later his brother Thor
waId made the same voyage, and spent
the winter OF the New England coast;
and five years after that, in 1907,
another brother, Tborfn, crossed the
Atlantic with three ships and $50 men
and spent the bleak season near what
is now Fall River. 1t is this Thorfo
who is supposed to have had the in
scription grayen on Digdton Rock.
The Pilgrims, while exploring the
country round about Plymouth, found
grave, in which was the remains Of a
man with yellow hair by the side of
the body were some bowls, trays aud
dishes. Now it used to be customary
in iceland to bury such utensils wit.
the dead.
About forty years ago a shelton was
found near Fall River, with bronze
breast plate On its breast, and bronze
belt about the waist; and these articles
being fashioned very much like those
Of the Icelandors Of the tenth century,
gave further proof, If any were needed
that this continent was really dis
covered by IceIanders about that
period.
1t is proposed to remove DighToa
Rock to Boston. aud to place it where
this valuable relic ofearIy discovery
may be carefully preserved and there
is also project of erecting memorial
in honor of the brave Left and his
equally intrepid bro thers
Texas Jack tells this story 4 was
out ouce with party in Texas, aud
we came across big Cinnamon bear.
a fellow proposed to capture him With
a Iasso He made good throw, and
got the loop around the bears ueck.-
When old cinnamon felt it get tight.
what do vor think he did ? He inst