The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-03-24


through the Erie Canal and through the
Great Lakes.
ALBANY Journal
The Viking ship which is to be sent to
the Worlds Fair by the Norwegian gov
eminent will probably reach here some
time in June. She will cross the ocean
under her own sail, and will be one of
the most interesting naval exhibits at the
exposition.
1t was not until 1860 that any effort to-
ward preservation Of mementoes of their
former naval grandeur was made by the
Norwegians. Then the government set
aside money for the excavation of various
mounds which were supposed to be the
graves of great Vikings. In these
mounds ancient relics of immense inter-
est were discovered. 1t was found that
when great Viking died he was usually
buried with his ship and armor in one
big mound.
The efforts of the well known Nor
wegian, Prof. Nicolaisen, were finally
rewarded in 1880 near Sandefiord, on the
eastern coast of Norway. Here in one
huge mound he found the remnants of
of one of the VESSELS in which the Vikings
1000 years ago made their expeditions
to other countries of Europe after booty
and glory. They went to England, Ire
land, France-often as far as the Medi-
terranean, to Egypt and adjacent places.
The sentiment entertained toward these
Vikings is aptly illustrated by the prayers
that were offered in the churches: ga
furore normanorum, iberanos, o DOM
ine''
The ship was very carefully dug out
and shipped to Christiania, where it was
added to the collections in the museum
attached to the National university.
Visitors to the city rarely miss seeing
one of the sights of the town.
Last year the question then came up
about Norway being represented at the
Worlds Fair. The well known seaman,
late superintendent of the Scandinavian
Sailors Temperance Home, Brooklyn,
Mr.. Magnus Anderson, conceived the
idea of building an exact counterpart of
this ancient vessel and sending it to the
fair. His plan was enthusiastically re-
ceived and a committee, composed of the
most prominent men in the country, met
and discussed ways and means. On the
4th of February last an exact model of
the old Viking ships was launched and
is now at Christiania being rugged up for
its daring voyage across the Atlantic
during the months of May and June.
Every detail of the old ship is strictly
adhered to in the building and equip
ment of the new. There is no deck,
nee ssitating the crew to try the hard
ships which the old Vikings were used
to. If severe weather should be en-
countered, sail will be stretched over
the stern part Of the vessel, serving as a
deck. For skipper is chosen Mr.. Mag
nus Anderson; first mate, Captain Gun
dersen, the second mate, Captain Chris
Jensen, who, in 1886, together with Mag
nus Anderson, tried to cross the ocean in
the small boat Ocean. The crew will
consist of the best sailors from Norway.
The size of the vessel is 81 feet in length
and 80 feetin width.
The Viking ship at the museum in
Christiania is the oldest ship in the
world. 1t was vessel of the same class
in which Left Erikson, or Left the Hap
py, after having landed in Greenland,
finally discovered America, or Vineland.
as he called it.
Under such circumstances it is no
wonder that the Norwegian colony in
New York and Brooklyn will exert itself
and give the ship a royal welcome. A
committee of three from each of the nu-
merous Norwegian societies has been APP
pointed to see that the ship is properly
received
1t is expected that the vessel will drop
anchor down the bay in thu narrows,
where it will be met by an excursion and
escorted up the harbor, During the YES
sells stay there banquet will be ten
dered to the officers and crew, with invi-
tations to the civic authorities and repre-
sentatives of the press.
After the ships soiourn it will pro-
coed up the Hudson, through the Erie
canal and over the great lakes to Chica-
go. The crew of the Viking ship will
pose asancient Vikings, with helmets and
armor similar to those which Prof. Hors-
ford has discovered on Rhode Island,
dating back to Lief Erikson's visit to this
part of the country.
The claim of Lief Erison's discovery
has always been disputed, but is now on
a good way to be cleared up by a late act
of Congress. A historical work found in
the royal library of Copenhagen, and
written by two scientists in the year
1870, will be brought over for exhibition
at The Fair This work shows that Left
landed here about the year 1902. Prof.
Horsford says in one of his works that
he has found indisputable proofs that
the neighborhood Of Boston was inhab-
tod hv Norsemen before CoIun,huc ara;p