Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-03-11

ehips as flags are now used on festive occasions.
They were also hung here when not in use so
that they ght be out OF the way and "a. the
same time protect the rowers from the spray
They were about three feet in diameter Of very
thin fir boards. and fastened at the center BY en-
iron boss 1t Is also supposed that thev had n
metal rim, but these were ali cOrrOdsd away
from the shields found on the ships sides in
the mound. They were hung on each side from
little before the stroke oars to within a saOr:
distance from the steering apparatus. In the
exhumed ship those on the port side had disap-
peared except two. probably taken away b.
robbers who entered the mound in search of
weapons and Gesecrated the grave some time
during the pagan era. Those remaining were
Is well preserved as on the day of the burial
In battle a circle or burgh OF these shields
vas formed by the Vikings around the leader
and the standard bearer.
CARRIED THIRrY-rwo OARS
The vessel carried thirty-two oars which were
worked through holes in her sides a little below
the rail. These oars wonderfully like those
Of modern make and are from sixteen and half
TO eighteen feet long. they were used amid
ships or al the extreme ends. They were put
through these holes from the inside and small
notches are cut to allow the broad blades "a
pass cover was provided for these holes
when the oa-s were not in Use. One man was
required for each oar. which he probably worAe j
standing. with 4 short, quick stroke. Thirty
make the elegant craft c,eaye the waves a,
high rate Of speed
But they also made use OF the wind. Their
vessel carried a single mast which was between
afty-nve and sixty feet high The boat was
anely adapted fer lacking ard respondsd
quickly to her rudder. The sail had certainly
. hundred square feet of surface and was Ike
the sails used by coasting vessels in Norway to
tbs day. The mast set in a socket at the
Heel and steadied by ingenious contriyauce
on the level of the ships floor. IL vas taken
out when the battle was coming on when
there head wind and laid upon hiyh
Sanctions, erected in the middle of the ship
where IL was out of the way. Ire sail was
square and fastened to ward Mt the top and
With ropes at the bottom. These ropes were
made OF bast, o, which many pieces were fouTH
m the tomb The original mast was broken
on as II Is seen in the model. but fragments oi
~ were recovered.
Perhaps the most interesting and curious o,
ths parts OF this Old craft i the steering ap-
paratus. II was previously known tina: ancient
ships were s,eercd from the right side-heuce
our starboari-but no one knew before thu.
snlp was exhumed how the rudder vas secured.
~ Is nov known that 1t was secured BY a rops
which passes around il az the rail and also BIZ
one that passes through lower down and fasteEs
Hto eo.ical projection the ships side
Inis projection prevents !. from wearing away
TIE woodwork The broad piece OF plank whic Eli
forms THIS ruGder looAs clumsy affair for steer
ing out II Was not Ii was turned to cut tie
wsIer At an angle by q short tiller
THE LATERAL RUDDER
A learned man al the Smithsonian Ins.itutio,
Who has seen the original ship at Christian,
And who has May interesting things to tel
about 1t, says representations OF this lateral
rudder are found on seals Of northern eitie.
and on baptismsl fonts; also il has re.icf over
the door OF the Leaning Tower AT Pisa and or
the tapestries o: Normandy ss late a. this
twelfth century. Contractors who butt sL,u,
Tor Louis XI agreed 20 furnish two ruddef1
one on each side. The hinged RAIDER can,
into use after the art of building elegant sim,
hke those Of the Viking age was lost IL,
clumsy vessels which followed required a NOR,
powerful rudder
The origin Of tie lateral rcdder is in II,
Seriy use OF The paddle for steering On thi
snaeaa Lakes 81 New England bos.s are 500.