The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1911-11-01
Are Mandan Indians Descendants
Of Norsemen of Ancient Periods

"All people on earth have dark hair
with the exception of those who are
descended from the north European
race" says DR.. Herman Fjelde of ABB
ercrombie in a letter. But when
de Ia Verandry was in the Dakota re-
gion near Bismarck in 1898, he found
the Mandan Indians with blond hair
the other Indians. Nobody knows from
where they originated. Some suppose
that they. are descendants from the
Norwegian ace others that they de-
scended from the Irish. The Irish
got the light hair from mixture with
the Norwegian vikings. The hair on
such descendants is rather reddish in
color.
The best Norwegian historian in
America is Hjalmar Rued Holland. He
has written in The Records of the
Past. that m out in Washington:
D. c., about his research work, and
since his work is concerning North
Dakota it may interest the readers te
hear what he says. Mr.. F'jelde the1
quotes as follows:
I'm 1898 the Chevelier de la Veran
dry made a trip from Montreal to this
seat of the Mandan Indians (near tn.
present Bismarck. n. d. Near thei:
territory he found a small stone Carl
ously ensravd on both sides with
strange characters. He satisfied him
self that the inscription was not OF
Indian origin and then took it with
him to the Jesuit scholars at Quebec.
They were agreed that the inscription
contained letters indians use only
p~ictographs) and that these letters
were T%artarian in origin. 1t was then
ent to the minister of the marine, G.
de Mauripas. For a detailed account
of this stone see Kalm's Travels Into
North Dakota. London, 1911, volume
three. pages 125-128.
"'Tartarian and runic characters
have a remarkable similarity and
would look alike to one who. was not
a specialist in either. AS the Tartarian
origin is out of the question n the
inscription was neither of: Indian or
any, known European origin the con
clusion is more than probable that 1t
was a runic inscription, used by. the
vikings. This belief gains emphasis
when We remember hat this stone was
found near the home of the Mandan
signs Of being the offspring Of a mix
ture with a blond white race. Cor
a full discussion of this interesting
tribe see The Mandans, a study OF
their culture. archaeology and lang
uage by Will and Spinden, Cambridge,
Mass, 1906 particularly pages 99-1O4.)
About a year ago the Minnesota
Historical society appealed, through
Governor Eberhart, to the French
authorities to find the stone. but these
authorities merely shrugged their
expressive shoulders and murmured
something about American humbug,
But there is no humbug possible in
this case and we car not afford tc
lose u earliest historical records be.
cause Of this supercilious indifference
On my way to Europe I therefore
stopped in Washington and with the
energetic support Of Senator Knute
Nelson succeeded in getting our sec.
rotary. John Knox. and the French
ambassador. NJ. Jusserand. to make
of1cial request to the French to make
search for the stone.
In Paris this summer I person.
ally searched the museums of the city
for the stone but in vain. AS nom
of, these museums existed at the time
the stone was sent to France it i,
probable that the stone is reposing II
some private collection. If yet in ex.
lstence. The most feasible route t.
find any trace, Of it seems to he .tt
search the archives and private "a.
GERS of NJ. de Mauripas, minister O,
the marine to whom the stone wa.
sent. This work has been kind,