Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1893-07-13
THE VIKING SHIP.

music We're 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 in their
native fiords 1t was the proudest day
in Captain Andersen's life and he almost
forgot how to speak in English so as to
make himself understood.
Norwegian Colors Were Everywhere
The union flags Of Norway and Sweden
and the sep. ate colors of the Norwegians
fioated from every mast head, from every
rainbow line of decorations and on the
buildings Of the White City facing the
, lake 4 magnificent procession of boats
started from the city for Evanston with
. light breeze and a clear sky. There were
thousands Of passengers on the steamers
which had been chartered for the occasiCl
by Scandinavian societies, kindred orgaui-
cations, the city council and Commission
er Ravn, of Norway. In fact the escort
I, ing feet, consisting of thirty or forty
vessels of all kinds, was packed with
| humanity to the point of danger almost.
The waters were alive with craft all along
the line Of tie procession. UucIe Sam was
represented by the revenue cutter Apdy
johnson, the gunboat Michigan and .ths
coast survey steamer Blake
Columbus Was Ruled Out of Date.
The official reception boat Ivanhoe met
the procession at noon, and the captain IF
the Viking and his crew We're taken on
board, where Commissioner Ravn and Iis
guests welcomed them, l. h Boyeson, If
this city, being the spokesman. He sad:
"Our ancestors came to this country and
carried the flag of freedom. They touched
upon the shores of America with the
Viking ships long before the Spanish ca:;-
wells We're heard Of The statement thtC
this was impossible has been disprov, |,
because the Vikings descendants have
come over here in the same boat and l
the same way as did the Vikings 900
years ago. They have come with the same
courage, the same herOism, the same in
dustry, the same love of liberty and free
institutions.
Had 60 Build His Ship Himself.
viking courage and Viking energy
have been applied to our civilization. The
captain of this ship is the editor of The
Shipping Gazette in Norway We vel
welcome him and his crew as the types of
Norseman energy and progress
Captain Andersen said ii afforded him
much pleasure to know that the gentle
men who had invited him on board was
the royal commissioner for Norway to the
fair. He wanted only =. coo to build the
Viking, but he could not get the govern
ment to give it TO him II think we have
the government ut home with Us now"
said the captain.
Arrival at jackson Park.
After taking lunch the Viking men re
turned to their boat, Mayor Harrison join
ing them and the Johnson took it in tow
A brief stop was made at Van Buren,
street, where there was a great crowd and
then the Viking was escorted to Jackson
park where nearly all the visitors had
gathered on the piers A brief welcome
was given by Professor Putnam and then
the Worlds fair official reception took
place in the Administration building, the
rotunda of which was packed
President Palmer's Remarks.
President Palmer explained that it had
not seemed fitting to the officials of the
fair that there should be great rejoicing
so soon after the appalling calamity which
had cast a doom over all. The reception
of the VikiI6 should not conflict with that
given the Spanish caravels. The Morse
men had discovered America 500 years be
fore Columbus did, but humanity was not
yet ready for it's settlement Spain had
the glory of opening this country to man
kind and Norway had the glory of giving
jurisprudence to America. Captain And
ersen responded, Viking cheer was given
by him and his crew and then they were
taken upstairs and entertained by Presi-
liant Dol,par