The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-10-26
VOYAGE OF A VIKING
Captain Andersen Talks Before
the Contemporary Club.
The NOrseman Gives an Interesting
Account Of the PerilOus Trip Across
the Atlantic Ocean.

The Contemporary Club was addressed
by Capt. Magnus Andersen. of the Viking
ship, at the Propylaeum last night The hall
was darkened, and the lecture was profuse-
ly illustrated with views of the various in
cidents spoken of.
The lecture was brief historical sketch
of Norway, Captain Andersen's native
country, and it's people from the earliest
dates. Views were displayed showing the
topography of the country, which the Cap
tain thinks had a great deal to do with
forming the character of its people in the
early history. Their country was shown to
be billy and barren, with but few fertile
valleys where villages could flourish. The
character of the country naturally led the
inhabitants to become seafaring men, and
it was from their life upon the sea that
they came to be known as the Vikings, or
sea kings. AS the greater portion of the
people Of the country were sailors and sea-
faring men, their energies and talents
turned to the construction of vessels, and
the fact that they attained high degree
of proficiency in their work has been DEM
onstrated beyond all controversy by the
fact that Captain Andersen and his crew
were enabled to make the voyage across
the Atlantic and land at the worlds fair
pier in the Viking ship, constructed in ex-
act counterpart of ship of the ancient
Vikings, The ship after which the one to
be seen at Chicago's great fair was con-
structed was one that was found buried in
a mound Of clay and is now preserved on
the grounds at the Norwegian University
at Christiana. When the project of the
worlds fair was started CAPTAIN Andersen
leans, as well as their visitors to the fair
opportunity of seeing the patterns of the
first Norwegian vessels. and at the same
time showing his to the S MoT6 dne a tbe
ence of navigation since the early days of
history. 1t was proposed TO raise funds by
popular subscription for the purpose of
building an exact counterpart of the orig
inal Viking ships and send it to the great
fair. There were, of course, persons who
thought the plan not feasible but the effort
was made to raise the subscription and as
has been seen, 1t was successful. One per-
picking question was as to the possibility
of successfully navigating the, Atlantic
with a vessel constructed with the rIIdder
upon the SIDE History recorded long voy-
ages by the forefathers of the Norwegians
of to-day in their Viking ships, and 1T was
evident that these ships were constructed
with the rudders upon the sides, as was
to be seen by the antiquated ship preserved
on the university grounds Captain Ander-
sen, with faith In the recorded history OF
his country, was of the opinion that II the
early Norwegians had been able to navi-
gate the seas with such vessels the Nor
wegians of to-day could also do the same
thing and StrenuouSly objected TO propo-
sitions to change the construction of the
ship to the extent of putting the rudder at
the stern He successfully opposed this
proposition to depart from the old plan,
and the rudder was placed upon the side,
as of old. The trip across the Atlantic was
illustrated by views showing the Viking
ship at Christiana and its departure from
that port for the voyage to Chicago, and
the various scenes and incidents that en-
liyened the entire voyage BY means of
these views the audience was taken through
the ship from stem to stern and shown all
of its construction and appliances Maps
were shown displaying the route across
the mighty deep and the distance travelled
each day. The views also gave iilustra-
tons of the scenes along the route or the
ship up the Hudson river, through the Erie
canal and to Chicago via the lakes, and.
lastly the reception rendered 1t upon It's
arrival at the great fair.
CAPTAIN Andersen is the man who came
into a great deal OF notoriety a few years
ago by his attempt to cross the Atlantic
i'm a canoe A detailed account of the
stormy experiences encountered upon this
trim was also given lin his lecture last night
and profusely Illustrated with views. The
man Christensen. who was his mate and
crew upon that trip accompanied him on
his VOYAGE on the Viking. After the lee
ture reception was given the lecturer by
the club.