Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1880-07-16
in Ancient Norscmun's Ship.

~ tnOU53Du years ago INC Ncr!c fllfattH AM
sea kings wero accustomed to f.: OUT oypcIi
items TO p'unjer ships Oh tho hiph seas AID
ravacc the countries Of Europc. Som"
times they col quered paris OF tho tcrTitcr,
thoy invaded, and. establishing c>!ooy there.
90, tut c'cd Tho rativG inhakitnti 10 th:f
role ST others. they reurned to ihcir hom :.
anooS The iiirdS Of NorTey laden with II.
spoils Of war 1t has been for uaay ages !: tn
dlion among tho nhsbitsnts around GArir,
aoa ford, 10 Norway. that q large tuInulGs, ~
mound, about niio inland. was tn, rcsiaS
plao, OF mighty sca king, who had bee; hut'',i
lhefo long e;turleS ago IN his war shlr, vi !
his costly treasures AID hia arms. anrrouatc!.
% tho custom Tas 10 these remote day. viii
his horses nod hs hpup3s. Unll rcecuii
the sup' ra'iion of the psasautly had prevented
tho mound from b,log disturb ID. In JaUu,y
OF the present year the sors OF tho peasant On
whose groond the tumulns $ situated bcE.u
the work OF excavation, but core rrtc .eGu:
far, notified TIC Antiquarian Society q: Uhrst'
ana o.! WHIT they were doug, and 90 ,Xosrt
aad learned a5GqIary was sent to the neigh
boring village OF Gosstsd to c)ndrc; the farther
Investigation. BY The cnd OF May tho marn
was laid bare and exposed tho whll, body vi
an old Viking rcss l. II feet long between 5 CO,
and stcro. l6 feet broad amidship;. drawn.
five feet Of water, sn1 with Twenty rbI. Ihg
Copcnhsgen correspondent Ct tho LnrGoE
Times, who til The story, goes on 10 say:
"ln the stem OF tho ship, frs: disclosed ~
the eye, several lntcrCsilGg obicc,a were tcuo,i.
A pic, OF timber proved 20 be the stock ct H..
aLchor; it vas perforated to hold tho iron. hu
OF this 20 mtrJ was found Lhaa n few r.m-
uan.s. 10 tho bottom the roma; or If tGo or
three small oakcn boats OF very elegant shepr
| wcre placed ever multitude Of ohr5. some OF
them for tho boats. others % feet long, for thr
large craft itself. Tie fern C! these osis i,
highly loteTts ing, ADD very nearly ike Iht:
| still 10 use ia liog'ish rowing matches, cndin.
| 10 small, fac!y cut blade, soEo of them WITH
ornamental carvings. The bottom IDEAS. :
| well preserved as if they were t Yesterday. a'c
| ornancntei with circular llare. Several picc ;
| ct wood had the appearance Of havipg be-
| longed to slodgcs and some beams snd desls are
supposed to hsvo formed compartments tivid.
ing the banks of the rowors on zach lido :rum
! . passage or corridor in The middle. In y hcau
| OF oaken chips and sllnters WAS found an cc
gantly shaped hatehot. atou! two inches l1rg,
OF the shape pc lliSr To- tho younger iron ng"
Some loose beams ended in roughly carved
dragons head, painted in tho same C )lors as lhr
| bows and sides Of tho vosscl-to wit, yellow nnd
elacK: Inc colors had evidently no. been dis
| solved in water, as they still exist; Luz rs o.irr
oil or ether kinds Of vegetable il were unknown
at tho time, it is supposed that the colors hsd
been prepared with some sort Of fs!, perhs,s
with bubbsr."
or the remains Of the oidsos king nothing Wa
found bu: q few bones, Fragments of to boLcs
| Of his horses and hounds and some metal orrs-
menls. Tho troatures buried with him had dis.
appeared, under the temptation they prcsent.,i,
1t Is supposed, TO some Of his surviving warriors.
But Tho CiacGvery Ct this relic of a bygono nee
has create good deHl Of excitement in the AT
tlquarlan world, and has corrected some thcor,cr
in respect TO tho ships OF tho Vikings.