Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1883-07-12
VERY CURIOUS STORY.
America Said TO Have Been Settled
by the welsh In II7O.
Autbur,s Mauazina

AmeTica Saiu 10 HAVE betn ScttiSu
by the welsh In II7O.
Authur's Magazine.
In lecture delivered by Mr.. James
Wood Of Albany, N. Y, he related the
following curious tradition which exists
among the Welsh:
10 ITO, two brothers, David and
Medoo, quarreled tor the throne. The
younger Msdoo, becoming disgusted, gave
mp the struggle, and fitting ont ship,
sailed west. The next year he returned,
said he had discovered fruitful country,
and called upon his friends to follow him.
He had no difficulty iu filling IL 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 his
tory were it not that it Seems confirmed
by evidence found upon this side of the
ocean.
In 1910, 500 years after Prince Medoc
left Wales, Welsh ninister named
Morgan WAS sent from New York to North
Carolina to preach to some Welsh people
who settled there. One day he wandered
too far beyond the outskirts Of the settle
ment and was captured by Indians. They
soNh hii hhhy blttbb lnlhlu huu pre-
pared TO burn him at the stake. The
fagots were piled around him, aud his
doom seemed sealed. Suddenly he ex-
claimed in Welsh; "Have | come 30 far
to die like dog at last 20 To his sur
prise the Indian chief sprAng forward,
loosed his bonds aud embraced him,
crying in Welsh "No; not II you speak
that language" Henceforth he was the
honored guest OF the tribe.
Morgan's surprise deepened when the
principal members OF the Indian tribe
gathered around him and began to con.
verse with him in Welsh. He preached
| to them, and they understood him. But
| what amazed him most WAS to discover
that they had manuscript copy of the
| Bible i'll the Welsh language.
Morgan Relates this story In a letter
sent to tr'onds in Wales. This letter ia
well authenticated, but il Is the only
evidence that We have In the matter. Sc
far as We are aware, nothing more was
ever heard of this Indian tribe who SPOKE
Welsh aud had q Welsh Bible.
| But, about Is or 20 years later, an ex.
plorlns party, returning from beyond til.
Mississippi river, relate, smonp otbel
| "", thoe thcy iouuu trlDe OF IN
dams who speak the Welsh language
They, too, baye manuscript copy OF til,
Welsh Bible. None OF their number car
read it, and they keep it as mystriou.
treasure, carefully rolled up in the Skin
of animals.
Aud Is or 20 years later still anothe,
exploring party brings us back strang,
news from the Red River of the North
They have found there singular people
with white hair and blus eyes. Thes,
people speak the Welsh language.
Lastly, Cstlin speaks OF tribe o
whits Indians dwelling alo lg the uppe
courses OF the Missouri. They are differ
ent from the tri es around them. SOM
have fair hair and bue eyes, and the
language ia strangely mixed with a grea
number of Welsh words.
Now" says Mr.. Wood, ''here w
have five independent accounts, which
Seem to tell one story. They are 81
strange that historians don't know VIVA
to do with them. But II Indians on tn,
American continent can speak the Welsl
language, they must have been Taught a
some time (; II there are manuscript oopie
of the Welsn Bible here, they must hav
come here somehow. And you can pu
the facts together ~ you please"