Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-02-16
AMER GAS DISCOVERY.
AtU0IINIS OF PRE-C0LuMBiAN
VOYAGES AND SHORT STAYS.
Iceland's Ancient Lore Records an
Expedition Which Took Place
as Early as $50.

The ancient lore of the Icelandic sagas
furnishes proof of the early colonization
of the american continent in the tenth
century by the Scandinavians The sagas
and songs upon which ancient Scandina
Wan history is founded, and those continu-
ing the history of America by the North
men, were originally intrusted to the men,
DRY and these verbal traditions formed his
torical narratives.
In the early part of the twelfth century,
when the Ieelanders had become familiar
with the Latin chirography, they were
committed to writing. Manuscripts found
in Iceland during the year 1850 make re-
cord of an expedition to Greenland led in
$50 by Eric Red of Iceland. His son Left,
who accompanied him, enlisted crew of
thirty five men, and set sail from Green.
land on another voyage of exploration. In
due time they came TO a well wooded land
to the southwest of Greenland, where day
and night seemed more equal than in
Greenland and Iceland.
After a short sojcurn in this newly
| found country, Lief, in company with his
| followers, returned to Greenland, and the
! fame acquired by this expedition encour-
aged his brother Thorwald to embark in
the same vessel in 1902 for the recently
discovered territory, to which was given
the name of Wlneland (Vineland). Thor
valid and his crew, having safely reached
| their destination, spent the winter in the
| booths which Lief had erected. In the
spring he explored the western coast, and
| found the land not only attractive, but
rich in vines and forest.
No evidences of human habitation were
visible, nor did he find the lairs of ami
mails. Afterwards sailing eastward they
came to a cape, upon whose sandy beach
| they landed. Having crossed the projec-
| ton, to their surprise they saw three
boats, made of skins, partially buried in
| the sand, beneath which nine men lay
hidden, eight of whom were caught and
| killed, one managing to escape. Later
| these Mortimer were attacked by the Es-
quimaux, to whom the eight so recently
killed probably belonged. Thorwald, IA
tally wounded in the encounter, was
buried on the promontory where he fell.
His crew returned to Greenland with a
rich cargo Of timber.
The sagas make mention of another ex-
| petition, undertaken by Thorfn Karlsfue,
who enlisted as his associates sixty men
and five women. Sailing from Iceland in
a southerly direction, they arrived at the
| place where Lief had built his huts.
After landing the COWS and bull to Craze,
which they had brought with them, Karls-
fue ordered his men to fell trees and pre-
pare timber for the ships cargo, and while
thus engaged they saw emerging from the
woods many Skraelings Happening to
appear where the bull was feeding, and
being rather of a feiocious spirit, he bel
lowed loudly and made an attack upon
them, which led them Immediately to
retreat.
After securing reinforcements they re-
turned, and although they were not able
TO make themselves understood to the
| Mortimer, by means of signs, however,
they were enabled to barter flrs for such
commodities as the Mortimer were willing
to sell. When the natives had withdrawn,
karlsfue caused strong wooden fence to
be placed around his booths, which proved
to be a wise preeaution, as short time
afterwards the Skraelings returned, when
fierce fight ensued, in which many of the
Esquimaux fell. The Mortimer soon be-
coming weary of their abode in 50 strange
a country, and exposed 10 the frequent
attacks of the natives, in the spring re-
turned to Greenland