The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-07-13
THE VIKING WELCOMED
Reception of the Sturdy Morse
men at the Fair.
CHBERED BY MANY THOUSANDS.

Who Groetings Mnrrcd by mn Accident In |
which One Man Had His Lower Limbs |
Crushed Almost to a Jelly and Others |
Arc Slightly Hurt.
CHICAGO, July 13-The city OF Chicago
and the Worlds Columbian exposition
yesterday paid their tribute to the other
discoverers of America-the Norsemen.
Magnus Anderson, OF Christian, master
of the Viking ship, his officers and his
crew never dreamed of receiving such a
welcome from the American people at
Chicago and at Jackson Park as was ex-
tended to them yesterday. There was a
massing of jubilant tScandanavians on land
and wBter from Milwaukee to Pullman,
all waving handkerchiefs and hats and
singing the national Norwegian air. Uni
formed bands were on many of the larger
boats playing American and Norwegian
airs at intervals, while singing societies of
young Norwegians were grouped on the
main decks singing over the water to the
brave little band of sailors on the Viking
boat the songs most familiar to them.
The union flag of Norway and Sweden
and the separate colors of the Norwegians
foated- from every masthead, from every
rainbow line of decorations, and on the
buildings of the White City facing the
lake. A magnificent procession Of boats
started from the city for Evanston at 10
o'clock in the morning with light breeze
and n clear Aly. There were thousands of
passengers on the steamers which had
been chartered for the occasion by Scandi-
navian societies, kindred organizations,
the city counsel and Commissioner Ravn,
of Norway.
The big propeller Nebraska was loaded
npftI
were pcrched on the yard arms of a big
three masted schooner, and the decks of
the steamers II. j. Gordon, Music, Post
boy, Cyclone, Adrenne, Iynnhoe, Duluth,
Chief Justice Waite, josie Davis, Arthur
Orr, Rome and South Haven were black
with humanity. In the reception and
escort fleet were also dozen steam and
sailing yachts, and when the Van Bnren
street pier and jackson Park were reached
there was hardly room for the larger
vessels to move on account of the number
OF smaller craft darting here and there.
The Viking was sighted off Evanston at
11:30 o'clock. When the fleet had sur
rounded the queer looking boat, with Cap
tain Anderson atAnding in the stern, there
was n cannonade of salutes from every gun
on the Michigan, johnson, Ivanhoe and
other boats, from every whistle, and from
throats of tons of thousands, accompanied
by the waving of hats and handkerchiefs,
the playing of the Norwegian national air
by the bands and the singing of the same
Captain Anderson and his ruddy men
answered by waving their caps and firing
q small gun. The johnson took the Vik-
ing in tow and an irregular line was
formed to the rear on each side. AT noon
the Michigan cast Off its hawser, and the
lvanhoe, as the official reception boat, came
mp. Captain Anderson and his crew were
taken of in n tug and boarded the Ivan
hoe, where they received a hearty welcome
and three cheers. Commissioner Ravn
and his guests gathered around the sturdy
men of the north and l. X. Boy es III a
Chicago master in chancery and II Nor
weyian, addressed them.
Captain Anderson said 1t afforded him
much pleasure to know that the gentle
man who had invited him on board was
the royal commissioner for Norway to the
fair. He wanted only 1900 to build the
Viking but he could not get the govern
ment to give it to him. 81 think we have
the government at home with us now"
said the captain.
After taking lunch on board, the Viking
the men returned to their boat, Mayor
Harrison joining them, and the Johnson
took 1t in tow. The brown and white sails
were unfurled to the breeze, and the fleet
moved on the Van Buren street pier.
Thousands of people lined the shore and
crowded to the waters edge ON docks and
piers and tied mp boats to cheer the Nor.
wegan sailors and their ancient craft
The arrival of the procession at the Van
Buren, street pier WAS marked by an acct
dent that came within an ace of proving
the second horror of the week The small
pleasure steamer Imperial, which plies be
tween the pier and Lincoln Park was al
fha dppk hnyinu OF tnEa ohn
forty or moro people for n northbound
trip. just as the IMPERIAL was about tt
steam out the big steamboat Arthur Orr
which had participated in the lake parade
came rapidly in behind. The big boat
crashed full in on the little one driving il
Into the landing for distance of ovei
thirty feet. The pier at the time wa,
crowded with people, and their escape wal
little short of miraculous. One man, nam,
unknown, was caught between the boa
and the timbers and his lower limbs iron
che hips crushed almost to jelly. Severa
others received contusions of the hands
feat and limbs, but not SO serious as II
prevent their hobbling away.
When Jackson Park was reached ther
was the same multitude of people on tn
piers and beach to greet the Noresmen
There was an official blunder which forced
the guests from the Ivanhoe and others /,
stand in the hot sun at the North pier un
til the Viking could be brought back from
the Casino pier, where professor Putnam
addressed Captain Anderson, saying h
believed the Norsemen crossed from Ic.
land to America 1000 years ago, but tn
viking had sailed twice as far. He &C
cepted the ship as an exhibit of Norway
The third official reception took plac
under the dome of the Administrator
building. President Palmer explaine,
that it had not seemed fitting to the OFF
Cials of the fair that there should he grea
rejoicing so soon after the appalling calam
ity which had cast gloom over ALL Th
reception Of the Viking shoud not conflic
with that given the Spanish caravels. Tn
Norsemen had discovered America sc
years before Columbus did but humanit
was notyet ready for its settlement. Spai
had the glory of opening this country I
mankind, and Norway had the glory
giving Jurisprudence of America.
This paid admissions at the fair yeste
day were s4.323.