Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1919-10-30
ADDRESS GIVEN
ON RUM, ',.s,:: So.
<,,ac, .oeA
H. r. Holland :. Ephrialm Discusses
Evidences of Early Exploration
in Minnesota

An account of an Exploring Expedi
aion to the Center of North America
an 1862" was the subject Of an address
given by Fl. R. Holland Of Ephriam
Door county, Wisconsin, before th'
Sauk County Historical society OF
Wednesday evening at the home o
Mr.. and Mrs H e. Cole. It Is though
an exploring party was lost ii
Minnesota before Columbus came tt
America and Mr.. Holland has spen
several years investigating the mat
Ter.
1t is very well established tina
Left Erickson came to the New Eng
gand coast In 1000; that Thorfin Karl
sefne, chieftain, came to the same
coast with all his wealth in 1908. re
manning three years before he was
driven out by the Indians-some o.
his descendants still living; and thai
Bishop Eric Upsi came to Vinland in
1121.
Under tree about 40 years old
the Kensington Rune stone was found
near town In Minnesota by the
above name. The tree was evidently
growing over the stone before the
advent Of the pioneers.
When found 1t was noticed there
were strange characters on it but II
was rejected as fraud. About ten
years after 1t was found the matter
was referred to Mr.. Holland who, af-
ter some study, decided it was gen.
uine. The fight has been going on
ever since.
The Minnesota Historical society
appointed a committee of scientists
and the learned men came forth with
a report that the inscription was gen
uine.
Mr.. Holland took the stone abroad
an~1912 and spent some time study
ing it. He has now just returned from
a new trip to Minnesota where he
found additional evidence where q
massacre had occurred and where a
boat had been fastened to a rock,
also sunken graves.
According to recent documents
found, Paul Knutson came to Ameri-
ca with an expedition on the same
date as given on the Rune stone.
This expedition was sent out by the
King Of Norway in 1855 to search for
a lost colony of Green1anders who. for
some reason, had given up Christian
lty and came to this continent. Part
OF the expedition returned in 1864.
TWO years after that inscribed on the
stone. They did not find the lost
colony.
In these late days Vilhjalmer Stef-
fansson, the explorer, discovered
Coronation gulf, described in his
book, my Life in the Arctics. He calls
the people there blonde Eskimos, pos-
Sibly the lost colony.
All this leads up to the inscription
on the stone as follows:
Eight Swedes and TWENTY-FIVE
Norsemen on journey Of expior-
alton from Vinland far TO the
westward. We had camp two
skerries (very small barren is
iands) one-day's Journey north
from this stone. We were out
FISHING one day. After we return
ed home we found ten men red
with blood and dead. AVN Ave
Mare-save us from eviI)
On the other side of the stone is
the following:
we have ten of our party by
the sea to look for our vessels
fourteen-day's journey from this
island. Year 1862.
1t is supposed the expedition Of
Paul Knutson sailed into Hudson bay.
then up the Red river of the North.
west OF Minnesota, where the boats
were abandoned and journey begun
overland to the east Where the
Rune stone was found part of their
number were killed by the Indians
and the survivors left the record.
Other things have been found there
which would Indicate white men had
been in the. region. BY opening the
graves at some future time it is hon
ed TO throw more light on the sub
ject.
Inc audience was greatly interest.
ed and enlightened by the splendidly
given address. Mr.. Holland ia an
earnest and energetic speaker.
Inc officers were reelected and
the following became members: C. H
Dlnsmore, Reedsburg; Mr.. and Mrs
T r. Risley, Baraboo.
Mrs. 3. v. Alexander gave her f.
nancial report as follows:
cash on hand last report -- $3.50
Dues collected A1no
interest on w. Warner bequest 1000
Anterest on Liberty bonds - 2.o7
Total --- Eer,
Expenses oc 81