Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-04-03

number of the best-known scientific soci-
the White House that he conceived and e1-
ecuted this remarkable hoax, which set the
scientists of this country and Europe to in
vestigating the Icelandic discovery of Amer
ica, which caused the Washington newspa-
papers to run out extras discussing it, and
which was of so scientific nature that it
has even crept into history, and to-day has a
part in some of the stories of the discovery
of this continent.
1t Was Piece of Boyish Fun.
Just now, when the Worlds Fair is at
tracing so much attention to Columbus, the
story of this attempt to wrest from him his
laurcls will be especially interesting. 1t
was on Mr. Cowan's part piece of boyish
fun, and it is from him and from the news
paper reports and the scientific documents
of the day that L take the story.
The Great Falls of the Potomac are about
IL miles above Washington. The region
about them is wildly romantic and there
are many great rocks which arise out of
the river and which are covered
with the MOSES of ages. 1t was on
one OF these rocks that in 1867 it was claimed
Il
plorer of Copenhagen, had discovered a
wonderful Runic inscription which con-
clusively proved that the IcelanGers had
been here more than 400 years before Colum-
bus discovered America and had on this
rock recorded the death of onE of the famous
women Of their tribe. This woman's name
was Suasu, and the inscription stated that
she came from the east part of Iceland and
that she was buried there in 1851.
First Publication of the Story.
The first publication concerning the dis
coverv was made by the Washington Co1asti-
t'fiondI Union, copy of which, of Monday,
July s, 1861, lies before me. This contains
a long article with the following headlines
above it: Extraordinary Discovery Be-
low the Great Falls of the Potomac; Ice
landic Woman Buried in 1O51 With
Trinkets Roman Coins, Etc, Exhumed; A
Remarkable Runic inscription; America
Discovered by the Irishr'
The article consists of letter from Pro-
fessor Ratinnson in which he states that he
first got the idea that this inscription ex-
listed from the Skalholt Saga which was ex-
humed in Iceland in 1868 and which told
the story of wonderful trip which Ice
landers had taken in the latter part of the
twelfth century to a mighty unknown
country. This Saga the Professor said was
found under an ancient Icelandic church and
Ii described many things connected with
America and among other things spoke of
the White Shirt Falls which he now be-
ieved were the Great Falls Of the Potomac
First Description of the Find.
The Professors letter stated that he had
come from Norway TO study the discovery
of America in the light of this Saga and
that be had been rewarded by finding this
ssWhite Shirt Runic Inscription on the
northeast side of large rock, known as
Arrowhead Rock, 13 miles above Washing
ton and two miles below the Great Falls -
He stated that the rock was covered
with MOSES, but that in climbing it he
had scraped these away and had discov-
cred Icelandic characters cut to the depth
of an eighth of an inch in the rock and each
of these characters was three inches high.
He had dug under the rock and had found
ther. some human bones and great guam
tity of old Roman coins He stated that he
intended TO give these coins and the teeth
Of the Icelandic woman, with cast of her
remarkable epitaph, 10 the Smithsonian In
stitution, and he forwarded a photograph
which he had taken OF the inscription to the
editor. His article is long and full of
scientific terms, and it reads as though it
was published in good faith.
Inls puDilcatloi eieateu 81 siea'a sensa-
,ion that the Eueling Union ran out extras
containing the news, and these stated that
photographs of the inscription would be
shown at the bookstores of Washington.
Even Located the Explorer.
A long article was published about the
(fctitio1s) noted explorer, which stated
that he was born in Munich of Danish par
epts. that he had graduated at the Uni
-ynrsitv of Copenhagen. and they described
tie wonderful discoveries which he had
made in the past 1t stated that the Gar
Of Russia had given him medal, and it
described his personal appearance aud told
all about him. For a number of days re-
ports of this kind were kept mp in the news
papers, and the press throughout thee ontry
took up the matter and the. New uYork
Evening Post published long critical