The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1880-08-06
A VIKINGS SHIP.

IL ,hs southwestern part OF Chris
t;anis Ford, In Norway. 10 situsted the
bathing establishment OF SandeGord.
renowned ~ resort for rheumatic and
nervous patients The way from this
place to the old town OF Tonsber9 con-
ducts 10 small village called Gogstad.
near which is tumulus OF funeral hill.
long known in the local traditions
under the name Of Kings Hill Kosg-
Maug). In the fat fields and meadows
stretching from the Fjord 70 the foos OF
the mountains. this mole, nearly 80
feet in diAmeter. rises slowly from tbs
ground, covered with green turf A
mighty king had here found his last
resting place, surrounded by bis horses
and haunds. and with costly treasures
no his body. but for centuries super.
.t,'io and the fear or avenging ghosts
hal pre- vented the examination Of the
PUP ,os.d gave. until nov this spirit Of
prv.sti .ation has dared to penetrate
int, it, secrets The result has been
the disc very ~ coniplets vessel Of
war. n perfect Viking craft. in which
the unknnwa 'chieftain had been en-
tonpbsd
The soos Of the peasant on whose
ground the tumulus IL situated bsgAa
In January and February an exs4vs-
ton: they dag down we'll from the
top. aud soon met with some .timber
Happily thy ai.pended their work a,
this p.nnt, anil .rrp,rtsd the matter IN
Caristianis, whrrr ths Society Ear the
presersatjon Of Ancient Monuments
took mp the task. aud sent down DR..
Nieolays sen. an expert aud learned anti
quuy. to conduct the further investi-
g,tian. Under his able guidance the
excavation was carried on in the
mouths Of April and Nay. and brought
To happy caaclusicn. revealing the
whole body OF sn' old VIKING ycssei.
"a feet long between stem and stern. 16
iaet broad sn,idships. drawing 8 feet
and with 20 rios. This IL by far the
greatest craft found from tho olden
times. In 1863 the Danish Professor
Engelhsrlt dug out from the turf moor
nj Nyian. In Schlesvio. q vessel forty.
five feet 10 length. aud IN 1867 another
was found at Tune. in Nor say. - feet
long; but neither II these can in com-
pletene'u or appointment 10 compared
with The craft now excavated At Cog
stsd. The tnmalus IL now nearly =
mile distant from the sea. but it is evi
dent from the natureof the allnvial soil
that IN old.n times this waves washed
its bsse. Tho vessel had consequently
been drawn mp Immediately from the
ford aud placed ON \ layer Of fascines
or hurtlles Of hazel branches aud moss:
tina s,ces hsi then beea covered with
still clay. and ihr whoia been filled up
will, earth aud sand tn form the funer-
u hill. But the craft 10 pla I'd with
the stem toward the sen. 1t was tbs
grand imagination Of tho period thai
when the greet Father Of the Universe
should call him. the mighty chieftain
might start from tho funeral hill with
III, fully appointed weasel out upon the
blue ocean.
IN the stem oftho ship. 6rst iisclased
to the eye. several interesting objects
were fonnd. A pisce Of tiuher psoSsd
to bsthe stock Of The asC6os; It .was
perforated tn hold the iron. but Of this
no more was found than q few rem
nants. In tho bottom tba remnants oil
two OF three ssnall hosis 81 q very els-
giant shaps were placed over multi
tude Of oars. some 81 them for the boats;
others. twenty feet long, for the large
craft itself. The form OF these osrs
u highly interesting. and very nearly
like that still In nee In Eoglish rowiae
matches. ending In q smail. finsly.cu
blade. snms At them with ornamental
carvings. The bottom deals. ss we'll
preserved ~ u they were OF yesterday
are srnamsnied With circular iines. Ia
heap Of oaken chips and splinters
was found an elegantly shaped hatches
couple Of inches long, OF the shap;.
pecalisr to the younger iron age. Eo,ns
loose beams eoded In reaghly carved
drsgoos' hesda painted In the sams
colors - The bows and sides Of Thu
vessel Ito wit. yellow and black. Tn.
oolnrs bad not been evidently dissolved
10 watsr % they still exist; bat, 4.
olive or other kinds. 81 vegetable nil
were unknown 1t tho time, Il 10 sup-
possd that the colors have been pre
pared with acme sort Of fat pcshapa
with blnhber.
Az the excavation proceeded, The
whole length al the weasel vac laid
bare. All sloag the sidse nsasly from
stem "a stern. and on the outside. sx,
tended row Of circular shslla. placed
like The scales Of ash; nearly 100 ol
thess Are remaining. partly painted in
yellow and black. bat il many q ,hsu
the wood had been cansu mel and ooly
the central iron plate IL preserved
From tho famous tap~stsy al Bsveus
il Il we'll known that the aucieai
Viking vssssls kad three rows Of
shiclds alsug the frceboard, bat Il vsu
supposed that they wess thee used By
the soldiers In the strisr. aad only
placed there Cog coavcnieacs. II L
now clear that they bad only an orna
mental purpsAe. beiag o. very lhiu
wool. not thicker shan stiff pastclnarsi
and unable 10 ward OF any serisns hi.
from . sword. In the middle Of the
vessel large oaken block, soliaIy fas.
tened 70 the bottom. has square hole
for the mast. and several ccntrivances
shaw Inst tho maat was eonsGrueied 10
beiak la31 down IN. 6nme plsees oI
tsw and fsw shfeds al : wullea stnl
probably che msinsail. we're found hare
r.. eAss - a y. 4 A..