The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1894-02-14
America First Discovered by a Boy.

Almost four hundred and nifty years
before Christopher Columbus was
born, America was discovered by
Norwegian boy named Biorn, son Of
Hergolf. He was known by no other
title, for in those days sons did not
share the fathers name.
In the year 1902 Hergolf, an Ice
land colonist, fitted out two small ves-
sells for trading voyage to the'Green-
land settlement, and placed one of
these under the command of his son
Biorn, a youth Of sixteen years, who,
having been bred to the sea almost
since infancy, had mastered the de-
tails Of his profession by the time he
arrived at an age when other boys
usually commence their apprentice
ship.
When near the southern coast Of
Greenland Biorn's ship encountered a
heavy northeasterly gale, which lasted.
several days, and drove his vessel far
to the South and West. The storm
broke in the night, and when morning
dawned he discovered a strange land
close aboard. Sailing along the coast
for some distance, he found large
bay, into which he steered and drop
ped anchor. Upon landing, the coun-
try was seen to be clothed with vege-
tation and the streams swarming with
fine salmon. Trees of large growth
grew in great numbers just back from
the shore, and the climate was balmy
and delightful. Of natives they saw
nothing, and believed the land unin-
habited.
Rejoiced over his important discoy-
cry, Biorn returned to Iceland, and
communicated the good news to his
friend Lief, son of Eric the Red, who
had founded the colony on the coast
of that island. The two ambitious
young men Immediately entered into
an agreement to share the expense OF
equipping suitable vessel, sailing to
this>newly discovered land and bring
ing back whatever cargo promised to
reimburse them for fitting out the
ship.
Their first sight of the new land was
not calculated to impress Lief with a
promise of its fruitfulness for it was
rocky, barren and gloomy. This gave
rise to openly expressed dissatisfac-
tion on his part, but Biorn assured
him that farther South they would
meet with green fields and woodlands.
After the fashion Of the early nayiga-
tors in naming geographical discover
les according to the features first pre-
sented, this place they called Helle-
land, and to the low, sandy shore
which they observed beyond it, and
which was covered in spots with
clumps Of small trees, they gave the
name of Markland. Two days later
they fell in with new line of coast,
and sailing along this for several
hours Biorn made out the bay in which
he had anchored on his previous voy-
age. In this harbor they brought the
ship and moored her.
This Vinland Of the early voyagers
is known at the present day as New
foundland. After making several
short cruises to the Southwark and
Westward, and sailing through the
Gulf of St. Lawrence until the river Of
that name was reached, the ship re-
turned to her first anchorage, where
the explorers passed the winter.
In the account of this remarkable
voyage, made five centuries before
King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella
bade god-speed to the Italian naviga,
tor in the Spanish harbor Of Paios, it
is recorded by Biorn and Lief that the
length Of the shortest day during the
winter of the year 10O2-3 was eight
hours. This proves conclusively that
this Vinland of theirs was no farther
North than Newfoundland, otherwise
the length of the day would have been
shorter,-Harpers Young People.