Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1924-06-18


cety. Washington. d, c.
Shetland ponies are sure to be
thought by most persons the principal
product of the Shetland islands, such
is the power of a name. AS matter
of fact the Shetlands and their sister
isles the Orkneys, just to the south,
are the seats of a great fishing indus
try; and ponies and cattle are merely
raised as side issue, just as shawls
and stockings are knitted.
There is much of mystery about
these northern outposts of Great
Britain. Relics of an ancient race
presumably Picts-that inhabited the
Islands are numerous, but practically
nothing is known Of that race. The
Romans called the Shetlands ultima
Thule" roughly 'the end of the EARTH"
but recorded nothing worth while
about the people of this ultimate spot.
BritOn and Scot seem to have been
equally in ignorance of their near
neighbors to the north during the early
centuries
What became Of these supposedly
Pict1sh inhabitants Is a mystery, for
when the Vikings swarmed down to
the Islands before the Tenth century
they found no one to challenge them.
SO they took possession and set up an
independent regime under Scandi-
navian earls. In 1898 these rulers be-
came subject to the king Of Norway,
and the islands therefore became Nor
weSiAn possessions. Not until 1868
did the isles pass to the Scottish
crown.
KiFkwall, the largest town of the
Orkneys, the base Of the American
navy's mine-sweeping squadron which
opera fed in the North sea in 1919, is
a quaint place, and in ordinary times
Is quiet enough. A very narrow lane,
called Bridge street, leads back from
the steamship landing. 1t is paved
with aagstones, and when a team
passes the pedestrians have to stand
close 20 the walls or enter the door
ways.
Facing a broad plaza stands the
Cathedral Of ST. Magnus, distinctly
the "show-place" of the Orkneys. 1t
is not remarkable so much for it's
length and breadth and height as for
its fine state of preservation, despite
Ats age It was founded in 1136.
Where Hakon Died.
Across the street from the cathedral
are the remains Of the bishops pal
ace, building with large hall and
a great round tower. The latter was
Quilt in 1910, but the hall is much
older, for here Hakon, the last Of the
great sea-kings of Norway, died in
1868. This event occurred Just after
the battle of Largs, on the coast of
Scotland, which, though a mere SIR
mish, was fateful because it gave IL
Scotland her first claim to the islands,
resulting two centuries later in their
annexation. Hak6n, sick and weary,
came to Kirkwall hoping to be re
stored to health by ST. Magnus; but
the saint did not intervene and
Hakon's body was temporarily in.
tered in the choir of the cathedral.
Stromness, the second town in i'm
portance, lies on the opposite side OF
NAiO ASi0hu AAOAu lAllhWdAl anu 10
tinctly more picturesque 1t stands
on the slope of a hill, overlooking
beautiful harbor, and it's single street
twists and turns through it for about
q mile.
Stromness was the home of John
Cow, the famous pirate, whose career
suggested to Sir Walter Scott the
character of Cleveland in 1.-THE Pirate"
Here also lived Bessie Mile, an old
nag who sold "favoring winds" to the
mariners and from whom Scott devel-
oped the idea of Norma of the Fitful
Head. From the, hill back Of Strom-
ness one may have fine view Of the
Island of Hoy, the highest land in the
OrkneyS.
Ring of Stenness.
A most interesting feature of the
islands is their huge stones appar-
emily used in religious services like
those found in Britain at Stonehenge
Separating the Locks of Stenness and
Harray Is narrow neck of land,
known as the Bridge of Brogar, at the
southern entrance to which Is a huge
stone, IS feet high, popularity desig-
mated as the watch Stone" or "Sen-
tinel" In a field at the right are the