Daily Kennebec journal., 1897-08-20
Residence in ollden Days d
0rkney's Nobility.
St, Magnus, the Martyr, and Cath.
edral to His Memory.
Tragic Fate oi the Builder Of tho EarIs
Palace.
Orphir, August /, 1897.

of OTkiSS, anu even now is
the largest and most i'm
portant town in the islands, although
its Importance has greatly diminished
of late years. Sir Walter Scott is
credited with having described it as,
"A base little burgh both dirty and mean,
Where there's nothing to hear and
naught to be seen,
Save a church where of old time bishop
harangued.
And palace that was built by an Earl
who was hanged"
Kirkwall is not nearly so picturesque
as Stromness, but historically it is far
more interesting. Stromness is quite
modern town compared with Kirkwall.
A church and village stood on the
same site before the Norwegians came
to Orkney. When the Norsemen took
possession of the islands Kirkwall was
chosen as the capital, probably on ac-
count of it's fine. large harbor and also
for its central position in regard to the
North and South Isles. 1t became the
principal residence. Of the earls and
bishops of Orkney and iJutland Tor
Shetland), and was for several centuries
a rendezvous of the Norwegian fleets,
and the headquarters of the fierce
Morse earls and their no less fierce
Scotch successors. The Scotch came.
into possession of the islands about the
beginning of the 14th century, and
from that time were given by the
Scottish kings to one or other of their
favorites as the caprice took them.
Kirkwall. like Stromness, consists of
one long narrow street which widens
out considerably in the middle where
the cathedral stands and then narroWs
again. The houses are built in very
rambling sort of fashion, and the few
modern buildings there are only make
those around them look more quaint
and eccentric. 20"
The cathedral is a fine building of red
sandstone, built in the regulation form
of the cross with square tower in the
center. This tower has been partly
destroyed by fire, and is now only 133
feet high and seems much too short in
proportion to the rest of the church.
The central cross and spire are consid-
cred the most ancient parts of the
cathedral which has been enlarged AMI
beautified at various times by the
Scottish bishops. The roof of the
cathedral is supported by, rs pillars.
IS feet high Four columns of greater
strength and height connected at the
top by four pointed arches support the
tower in the center of the cross. These
pillars are all beautifully fiuted and
carved. and ornamented with fine
tracery. st. Magnus to whom the
cathedral is dedicated, ruled Orkney
Jointly with his cousin Hacon, about
the close of the eleventh century. Tha
latter appears to have inherited all his
ancestors love of war and conquest
while the former seems from the first
to have been cut out for saint Mag
nus was very popular as he was kind
and just to all his people, and his
cousin became very jealous of him and
determined to get rid of him in som.
way. He induced Magnus to meet him
at the island of Egilshay and stipulated
that they should each be accompanied
by two boats with an equal number oi
men. Magnus kept his promise, bu1
Hacon took with him a large body vi
armed men. Magnus refused to figh;
as his men wished him to do, and tt
save his cousin from the crime of kill
ing him he made the following offers
He CMagnus) would go to Rome and
never return: or Hacon could send HIN
to Scotland and keep him there; or he
could cast HIM into a dungeon anC
blind or MAIN him. Hacon would have
accepted the last proposal, but his fol-
lowers declared that they were tired OF
the joint rulership, and that one OF
the earls must die so Magnus was ex
ecuted. His body was buried at Birsay
hp nn,-tl, lof Ia, y; .;-,i
stricken mother. His grave was SAT-
TO emit bright light and a delicious
odor, and it was visited by pilgrims
rom all parts of Orkney, and gradual
~ the tomb Of the murdered earl be
eathe the Shrine of the martyred saint
"a lew years afterwards the King o.
Noi"ay granted half the Orkneys t
i'o'aho nephew of Magnus. Hacor
was dead and had been succeeded by
MS son. Paul, who refused to surrender
amy part OF his earldom, and captured
2" VI hoiands ships. Roland returned
~ Noi"ay and Immediately began pre-
pa'".iohs Tor another attack on Orkney
anu ne vowed that if he was successful
nc would build "a stone minister a.
n'rkwaH' to he dedicated to his uncl,
masnus. Roland succeeded in landing
az Westfay and his second attempt wa.
complete success, and soon he be
game sole earl of Orkney. AS soon a:
ny was settled, he remembered hi!
Vow' and in 1137. laid the corner stone
- .he Cathedral of st. Magnus a
nirkWall. When the central cross wa!
nnisned, the remains of ST. Magnus were
moved from their first resting place il
'irsay and deposited in the Cathedral
Mhich was then consecrated to tn,
.,or"eglan saint and martyr. Wher
Tue cathedral was finished, ROLAND
paid visit to Jerusalem, and wa.
nhahy Killed in Caithness, where he hat
gore on hunting expedition, and hi
pooy was laid to rest in the church HI
iau founded. Many other distinguish
ed persons are buried within its walls
"nen Hakon, King of Norway, wa
oeieated at Largs he retreated to Kirk
wall, where he died-of a broken hear
i. Is said. His remains were placed be
lore the Shrine of St. Magnus' unit
spring and then carried to Norway t
pe iaid to rest in his native soil. Som
years after the Maid of Norway die,
at South Ronaldshay and was burie,
IN -