The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1883-10-25
Who Discovered America!

James Wood, of Albany, in a recent
lecturer, says Eastern exchanges, gave
the following curious tradition as exist
ing among the Welsh: In ITO, two
brothers, David and Madoc, qusrreled
for the throne. The younger, Madoc,
becoming Disguised, gave up the
struggle, and fitting out ship, sailed
west. The next year he returned, said
he had discovered fruitful country and
call d upon his .frieads to follow him.
He had no difficulty in filling ten ships
with men, women and children. They
sailed away. and, according to the Welsh
story, were never heard Of again.
This would not be worth much as
history we're it not that it seems con-
frmed by evidence found on this side of
the ocean. In 1870. Ave hundred years
after Prince Ma loo lef, Wales, .
Welsh minister named Morgan
was sent from New York to North Caro-.
lima to preach to some WEIGH people who
settled there. One day he wandered far
beyond the outskirts Of the settlement,
and Was captured by the Indians. They
took him many miles inland, and pre-
pared to burn him at the stake. The
fsgots were piled around him, and his
doom seemed sealed. Suddenly he ex-
claimed in Welsh, "Hsve come SO far
to die like dog at last?" To his surprise
the Indian chief sprapg forward. loosed
his bands, and embraced him, crying in
Welsh, "No; not if you speak in that
language" Henceforth he Was the hon.
ored guest OF the tribe. Morgan's sur
prise deepened when the principal men,
bers of the Indian tribe gathered around
him and began to converse with him in
Welsh. he preached TO them and they
understood him. But what amazed him
most was to discover that they had q
manuscript copy Of the bible in the
Welsh language. Morgan relates this
story in letter sent to friends in Wales.
This letter is we'll aulhnticateo, but it j.,
the only evidence we have in the mat
ter. So far as we are aware nothing
more was ever heard of this Indian tribe
who spoke Welsh and had Welsh bible.
But fifteen or twenty years later an ex-
ploring party, returning from beyond
the Mississippi river, relate, that they
found tribe Of Indians who spoke the
Welsh language. They, too, have
q manuscript copy of the Welsh bible.
None OF their number can read it. and
they keep it as Q mysterious treasure,
carefully rolled up in the skin Of ami
mails. And fifteen or twenty years later
still another exploring party brings US
back strange news from the Red river OF
the north. They have found there singu-
lar people with whitened hair and blue
eyes.
Lastly. Cstlin speaks OF q tribe OF
white Indians dwelling about the upper
courses OF the Missouri. They are differ
ent from the tribes around them. Some
have fair skin and blue eyes. and their
language is strangely mixed With . great
number OF Welsh words.
Nov, says Mr.. Wood, 'hcre We have
FIVE independent accounts. which seem
to tell one story. They are 90 strange
that historians don't know what to do
with them. But il Indians on the Amer
lean continent can speak the Welsh lam
guags, they must have been taught at
some; il there are manuscript copies Of
the Welsh Bible here, they must have
como somehow. And you can put these
facts together - you please"
Another new facE was stated By the
lecturer. In speaking OF ths discoveries
Of John Cabot, he sid in substance:
Here IL , strange thing. John Cabot