The Penn's Grove record., 1897-07-09
THE A n
4 Novel historic Celebration

with the sturdy, honest, temperate
Quakers was celebrated in 1882, and the
landing of other n~ationalities in this
country has been duly celebrated in the
past. But few histories give an ac-
count of the discovery of America
about 800 years ago by the Norsemen,
and the celebration of their landing
was left until last Monday when the
| Norwegian residents of Philadelphia
commemorated the event of the land
ing of Left Erickson in the neighbour
hood of Rhode Island nine centuries
ago.
If old Left Erickson and the sturdy
Norsemen who sailed with him across
the turbulent waters OF the Northern
Atlantic 900 years ago, as near as mod
ern historians can figure it, could have
seen the quaint celebration in Phlladel'
phia last Monday in commemoration OF
their deeds they would, at least, he as
sured that they are not forgotten. His
tory does not record the voyage OF the
| Norsemen. The knowledge which the
present generation has upon the sub
jeet comes from the Morse legends
handed down from parents TO children
through the centuries. The burden oil
| these old legions is that two or three
centuries before Christopher Columbus
was born n hardy viking. Left En-
ricksou, and his valorous crew drifted
across the Atlantic Ocean from the
rocky promontories of Norway 10 a spot
somewhere on the New England coast.
1t was in commemoration of this that
Mondays celebration was held, under
the joint auspices of the Norwegian
societies of Philadelphia and a citizens
committee. The programme included
a representation of Left Errickson's
voyage aud landing. The voyage was
made from Roach's %sbipyard, at Ches-
ter, in a craft fashioned after the vik-
ing ship. 1t was a metal boat, gotten
up for the occasion. The high Prov
was in the form OF II dragons head AID
neck and in the stern rose a dragons
tail to the same height.
This queer ship was manned by a
crew of Norwegian sailors, dressed as
Norssmen, in brown, flowing hauberks
and sparkling metal helmets. The pro-
polling power was eight sturdy pairs of
arms, each pair welding a strong
twelve-foot oar. Captain Matthias
Hanson, who ~personated Left Errick.
son, sat in the stern and steered with a
long sweep, while two other Norsemen
stood in the PROV with uplifted spears
and battle axes.
The police boat King went TO Ches.
ter and towed the viking boat up to
Spreckels's sugar refinery, where the
line was cast off, and the crew IoWed
the rest Of the way TO Pine street wharf.
At League Island tile curious craft was
me- by an escort of tug boats, all de-
corated with American and Norwegian
flags. +
The battle ship Iowa lay in mid
stream of the hayT yard aud the cruis
Ct Columbia vas Lied Up a! one of the
docks. When the viking boat came
abreast the Warsbips their oi1cels and
msn hurried TO the rail to get a gfNnre
Of her. It Was a striking contrast
the giants Of cur modern navy and re-
presentation 0t the pigmy ships in
which, legend saYs, the first foreigner
came 10 thsse shores.
When The King and her tow hove in
sight below League Island the tugs set
up a ~screeehiug Of whistle. that was
distfscting to a landsman. This con-
tiDued at intervals until tie expedition
landed, and was Joined in by passing
steamers. The Naval Reserves, lying
at Queen street, saluted as the process.
sion passed.
Upon arriving at Pine street wharf
the viking boat was lifted out of the
water by machinery on board the King
and placed upon a large truck, drawn
By six horses. The crew took their
places inthe boat, and Miss May Anon
SOD, dressed 10 Norwegian costume,
stood in the Prov. Preceded by a
squad Of mounted police. and a repre-.
s~entaiion from the Norwegian societies
Of the city, the float was drawn to Fair
mount PARK, where, at the public boat
house, the viking craft was launched
upon the ~SchuyIkill.
Short speeches we're made by Emlen
Hare Miller, who had the whole affair
in charge, and Lars Ball, representing
the Norwegiaus. Then the crew clam.
bered aboard the cumbersome little
boat aud Towed up and down the
Sehuylkill. A large crowd witnessed
this second launching. The ship will
be left at Paramount for a short time
before she in dismantled.
How Dolly Madison Saved the De-
c%laratiOn Of Independence.
1t was al this moment, just as she
was III the act Of hurryiDg away, that
Dolly Madison was seized with an in
SEPARATION that will ever cause her name
to live in the heart of every true Ameri.
can. She stopped to think that ahe had
packed up all of the valuable personal
and official papers Of the President.
The records were safe Was there any.
thing moref What if the White House
should BIZ burnedS Did it contain any
thing of value TO the Government that
she had neglected? The Declaration
of Independence In a flash she called
| In mini fhia mnet nranio,a oil H..