Lögberg-Heimskringla - 23.07.1964, Page 18

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LÖGBERG-HEIMSKRINGLA, FIMMTUDAGINN 23. JÚLl 1964
The lcelanders Discover America
By Thorhallur
Almost ten centuries ago,
the first European set foot on
the east coast of North
America, this being five
centuries prior to Columbus’
crossing the Atlantic. The
man who made this outstand-
ing achievement was the Ice-
lander Leifr Eiriksson.
During the two centuries
preceding the year 1000, the
so-called Viking Age, navi-
gation and shipbuilding in the
fjords and straits of the in-
dented coasts of the Northern
countries had developed to a
surprising extent. The Norse-
men succeeded in building the
f a m o u s merchant ship
“Knorr”, which could cross
the high seas. The construc-
tion of this vessel must be
regarded as one of the most
noteworthy contributions of
the Nordic races to the world’s
cultural history.
While the mighty contin-
ental commonwealths of
antiquity and the Middle
Ages, such as the Romans,
were content with sailing the
smaller seas and along the
coasts, the Norsemen set forth
undaunted on the open
Atlantic. They thus became
the pioneers of a new era,
“The Age of the Ocean Cros-
sings”.
To begin with, they
established settlements to the
north of Scotland on the
Orkney, Shetland, and the
Faeroe Islands. Later they did
the same in Iceland about
874, and then in Greenland
about 986.
Compliments of . . .
STEVE#S RADIO & T.V.
SALES & SERVICE
Lodies', Men's and Children's Footwear
PHONE 7-6243 ARBORG, MAN.
COMPLIMENTS OF
VETERAN#S GARAGE
Massey-Ferguson Soles & Seryice
PHONE 376-2245 — RES. PHONE 376-5S73 ARBORG, MAN.
NORTH STAR C0-0P CREAMERY
ASSOCIATION LTD.
Makers of
Canada First Grade Butter
Telephone 376-5562 — ARBORG, Man.
North Star Food Lockers
Economical Locker Rentals
Cutting, Wrapping and Quick Freezing
Finest Bacon and Ham Curing and Smoking
Telephone 376-2307 — ARBORG, Man.
AGRICULTURAL PROMOTION and
EDUCATIONAL FUND
Promoted ond Finonced by the Oldest Co-Operative
Creamery In Monitoba
Vilmundarson
Leifur Eiríksson
Leifr Eiriksson’s father, Ei-
rikur raudi (Eric the Red)
who had emigrated from Nor-
way to Iceland, was the head
of a settlement in Greenland
where men from Iceland
founded a colony which lasted
for five centuries. This perish-
ed in some mysterious way
about the time Columbus
sailed westward.
When regular sailings be-
gan from Norway and Iceland
to Greenland, it was inevit-
able that the great continent
in the west would soon be
discovered. In 986 the Ice-
lander, Bjarni Herjolfsson,
found these new lands when
driven off course on his
voyage from Iceland to
Greenland.
About 14 years later, Leifr
Eiriksson set forth from
Greenland in search of these
cóuntries—Helluland (Baffin
Island), Markland (Labrador),
and Vinland. It has been a
matter in dispute, if the last-
named country was New-
foundland, Nova Scotia, or
even New England.
Not long after, another
Icelander, Thorfinnur Karls-
efni, tried to establish a
permanent settlement in Vin-
land and remained there for
three years. There his wife,
Gudridur Thorbjarnardóttir,
gave birth to the first white
child to be born in the New
World.
Gudridur was no doubt the
most widely travelled woman
in the Middle Ages! She was
born in Iceland lived in
Greenland, and from there
emigrated to Vinland in North
America. She then returned
to Iceland for final residence
and in her advanced years
made a pilgrimage to Rome.
One may imagine how this
woman could have influenced
the general history of the
world had she been able to
impart her vast geographical
knowledge to the rulers in
Europe.
But the Nordic pioneers
were too early. They did not
succeed in settling the New
Compliments of
ARBORG
DEPARTMENT
STORE
ARBORG, MANITOBA
Clothing . . . Giftware . . .
and shoes for the
whole family
Phone 376-2976
Compliments of
J. B. Johannson
& Son
Agents
NORTH STAR OIL. CO.
A Subdivision of
Shell Oil Ltd.
Deoling in High Quality Fuels
ond Oils
ond Shell Form Chemicals
Phone 376-2201
ARBORG MANITOBA
World. The distances were
too great and the need spur-
ring them on was not suf-
ficiently pressing. There are
some reliable sources to show,
however, that the sailings
from Greenland to the new
countries, probably in search
of timber, were continued un-
til the middle of the 14th cen-
tury.
For many years visible
traces of the Norsemen’s stay
on the North American coast
have been sought in vain.
Two years ago, however
some ruins of what appeared
to have been several houses
were finally detected on the
north peninsula of New-
foundland. All indications
prove that these ruins are of
Nordic origin, specifically a
forge and traces of charcoal
and slag.
The aborigines of North
America, Red Indians and
Esquimaux, did not know
how to use iron. Carbon-14
tests indicate that this small
settlement is about 500 years
older than Columbus. Thus
manifest means of proof have
been added to the reports in
the ancient Icelandic sagas
concerning these astonishing
voyages to Vinland.”
Linn's Weekly Stamp News.
Compliments of . . .
Medo-Land Dairy Products
MILK - CREAM - BUTTER - CHEESE
Phone 233-7114
ST. BONIFACE MANITOBA
Compliments of
S. A. SIGURDSON & SON
Imperial Esso Agent — Esso Service Stotion
ARBORG, MAN. PHONE 376-2247
Compliments of
A. S. BARDAL LIMITED
FUNERAL HOME
843 SHERBROOK ST., WINNIPEG
SPruce 4-7474
N. O. Bardal
122 HEARNE AVE.
VE 2-3792
K. L. Bardal
STE. 3, BARDAL BLOCK
775-1036
Compiiments of
Arborg Farmers’ Co-op Ass’n Ltd.
• FEED
• PRODUCE
• MEAT
• GROCERIES
• DRY GOODS
• HARDWARE
# AGENTS—Can. Co-op Implements Ltd.
PHONE STORE DEPT. 376-2331
OIL DEPT. OFFICE 376-2667
• CO-OP PETROLEUM
PRODUCTS
SERVING ITS MEMBERS
AT COST
ARBORG
MANITOBA
CONGRATULATIONS . . .
to the lcelandic People on the 75th Anniversary of
their Annual Celebration Day at Gimli, Man.,
August 3rd, 1964.
MANITOBA ROLLING MILL COMPANY LIMITED
SELKIRK, MANITOBA