The Wichita daily eagle., 1894-01-30
DISCOVERED BY A BOY,
4 SixteeD-Year-Old Lad the First Euro
pean 70 See America.

| 4 sixteep-Year-Old Lad the First Euro.
pean 70 See America.
| Almost four hundred and fifty years
| before Christopher Columbus was born
| America was discovered by Norve-
| gian boy named Biorn, son of Hergolf
He was known by no other titls, for in
those DAYS sons did not share the IA
! theirs name.
! In the year 1902, Hergolf. an Iceland
! colonist, fitted out;two small vessels for
a trading voyage to the Greenland set
/ tlement, and placed one of these under
the command of has son Biorn, youth
of sixteen years, who, having been bred
TO the sea almost since infancy, had
mastered the details of his profession
by the time that he arrived at an age
when other boys usually commence
their apprenticeship.
When near the southern coast Of
Greenland Biorn's ship encountered a
heavy northeas sterly gale, which lasted
several days. and drove his vessel far
to the south and west. The storm
broke in the night and when morning
Gawned he discovered strange
land close aboard Sailing along
the coast for some distance ne
found a large bay, into which he steer
ed and dropped anchor Upon land
ing the country was seen to be clothed
with vegetation and the streams
swarming with fine salmon. Trees of
large growth grew in great number
just back from the shore. and the eli
mate was balmy and delightful. OF
natives they saw nothing, and believed
the land uninhabited
Rejoiced over his important discov
cry. Biorn returned to Iceland and
communicated the 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 agree.
ment to share the expense OF equip
ping suitable vessel. sailing to this
newly ydiscovered land, and bringing
back whatever cargo promised to re-
imburse them for fitting out the ship.
Their first sight of the new land was
not calculated to impress Lief with
promise Of its fruitfulness for it wa,
'NNNN Jul anu = APpilIN MS StNc
rise TO openly expressed dissatisfaction
on his part, but Biorn assured him that
further sonth they would meet with
green fields and woodlands After
the fashion of the early navi-
gators in naming geographical dis.
coveries according to the features
first presented, this place they called
Helleiand. 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 MarSland. 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. Into this harbor they brough,
the ship and moored her
This Ninland of the early vovagers Is
known at the present day as New
foundland- After making several short
cruises to the southwark and west.
ward, and sailing through the gulf Of
St Lawrence until the river OF tha,
name was reached. the ship returned
10 her first anchorage. where the ex.
plorers passed the winter.
In the account of this remarkable
voyage, made FIVE centuries before
King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella
oaoe God-speed To the Italian naviga-
tor N the Spanish harbor OF PaloS. IL
Is recorded bv giorn and Lief that the
length Of the shortest day during the
winter or the year lO02-3 was eight
hours This proves concinsively that
this Ninlend Of theirs was 10 further
north than Newfoundland. otherwise
the length of the day would have been
shorter. .-Harper's Young PeorIe-