Lögberg-Heimskringla - 14.04.1995, Blaðsíða 5

Lögberg-Heimskringla • Föstudagur 14. apríl 1995 • 5
EHNAIFK'W /AI^IECCIÐCOTIES
From lceland to Winnipeg July 1889
Condensed version
Original by Sveinn Arnason
The stoiy of a group of Icelanders
emigrating to Canada in 1889
was retrieved and published in
its entirety in the Ólafur Thorgeirson
Almanak 1949 issue, through the
enthusiastic efforts of Dr. Richard
Beck, who came to America early in
life.
He was a professor at a university
level and like so many of his compatri-
ots, overcame adversity and acquitted
himself with honour to reach a level of
education whereby he enjoyed the sta-
tus of professor at one of our well
known universities.
The writer of the article explains in
an interesting manner the joumey of 30
Icelandic people from the eastem part
of Iceland to Winnipeg and their per-
sonal experiences upon arrival. In his
younger days Dr. Beck had been a fish-
erman off the east coast of Iceland
based in Seyðisfjördur. Here he became
the foreman of an open fishing vessel,
propelled by sail and oars: A hard and
dangerous life against the open sea and
elements of the weather in an Arctic
clime.
Upon arriving at Seyðisfjördur,
Sveinn and his brother went to visit
Rassmussen, the husband of their aunt
Anna. He gave Sveinn a half pound of
silver for spending money. From there
they travelled in fog and heavy seas to
AMMAv:$ IPIEI^IhSl
Young Kristjan stood beside the
buggy and watched the anxious
young father-to-be walk back
into the house. He had been out visit-
ing, to help pass the time, he said. The
wait had already been long. Not that
Stjáni knew much about childbirth. He
just spent a lot of time waiting for Doc
Joe to get done so he could drive him
back to town again.
He watched the horse shift weight
from one hip to the other. Maybe he
should have unhitched and taken the
harness off. Doc Joe did say it would
not be too long. Stjáni picked up a long
twig and began breaking it into small
even pieces, being careful to keep them
all the same length. He thought about
the drive out here this early morning.
His pabbi kept this horse and buggy
ready at the far end of the livery stable
for these trips out in the country with
the doctor. Stjáni was glad he was the
one expected to do the driving.
Doc Joe was good company and they
had had many a good visit as they trav-
eled along the country roads, such as
they were. He had told his driver some
things about himself, such as that he
was not a registered doctor, not like the
ones in Winnipeg or Grand Forks. After
the death of his first wife and children
he taught himself to read German so he
could study the books to learn to
become a homeopath. He told how he
had been one of the original people to
come to Gimli, about how he had
walked with others from Gimli to North
Dakota. Stjáni learned he had lost his
three brothers, one from peritonitis and
two from TB. One brother had gone to
a place in Minnesota where they
wrapped TB victims in sheep hides and
kept them out in the cold, hoping to kill
the germs in the lungs, but his brother
died there.
He remembered when that old man
nearer town died from the Spanish flu
last winter. He had taken a quilt from
the cutter in with him and wrapped up
to sit in a comer of the kitchen out of
the way. When the old amma came out
to the cook stove to cry, Stjáni knew
By Ethel
Thorlacius
what had happened.
She quickly brushed
away the tears and set
about making coffee for
Doc Joe and himself
before going home. The
hours had been Iong at
the bedside and Doc mmmm—mmmmm
Joe looked weary as they headed the cut-
ter and team down the road. Then he
said, “You know what is wrong with this
work, Stjáni min? You are always saying
goodbye to your friends.” The boy shook
his head. Doc Joe’s little daughter had
also died from the flu.
He heard a faint, high sound, the ciy
of a baby — he had heard it before,
many times. Smiling to himself, he
walked around the buggy, straightening
hamess and giving the horse a reassuring
pat on the mmp and nose. The sun was
up now, climbing into a bright, warm
day. Before long, Doc Joe and a jubilant
father emerged from the house, the
young man wringing the doctor’s hand
when they got to the buggy. The doctor’s
step was light and lively and he folded
his tall, thin frame into the buggy. With a
wave, the partners started down the road
to town.
Stjáni was thinking about that young
man and his new baby. Maybe someday
he would have a family, too, although at
14, he really didn’t think much of girls.
They seemed so silly and laughed at his
size so often. He stole a look at Doc Joe,.
A satisfied smile was there, lighting up
his tired face and making his kind eyes
twinkle. Stjáni slapped the reins on the
horse’s back after they reached the main
road and they hurried back to town.
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the Faroe Islands.
Sveinn Amason describes in detail
the high precipitous barren cliffs and
islands with narrow ocean passage
ways in between. It was here that a girl
fell overboard but was saved. Her wet
skirt had billowed like a balloon and
kept her afloat long enough to be
saved. The following day, at 5 o’clock
in the moming, Scotland was visible. It
was here they had to leave their ship
the Thyra which returned to Iceland.
Here he saw a lighthouse rising out of
the sea. It was a sight to behold for the
first time.
During the evening
they entered the Firth
of Forth and Sveinn
comments on the
bright stars and street
light in total darkness By Einar
of a June night. They Arnason
were not accustomed ^^^^»■■■
to such total darkness being the chil-
dren of Iceland, the land of'the
Midnight sun. Here they saw the Milky
Way reaching across the dome-like sky
in total darkness. From there they
boarded a train for Glasgow to find
Continued on page 6
Author’s note: Johannes Jonasson was
“Doc Joe” to the people of the Icelandic
community in North Dakota. He was
also called ‘Johannes Læknir”. A paint-
ing of him sitting beside a sick little girl
hangs at Borg Memorial Home. It was
painted by Rose Benedictson. Doc Joe
never learned to drive a team, so he
often walked to his patients. When he
needed to ride out into the country, his
driver was my dad, Kristjan Byron.
Scholarships Offered
Canada lceland Foundation
We invite students of Icelandic or part-Icelandic descent to
apply for the following scholarships which are offered or
administered by the Canada Iceland Foundation. Priority may
be given to first time applicants.
All applications must be received by Friday, September 15,
1995.
Information and application forms are available by contact-
ing Lögberg-Heimskringla, 699 Carter Avenue, Winnipeg,
Manitoba R3M 2C3, phone 284-5686, or Dr. Albert
Kristjanson, 18 McMasters Road, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2Y1,
V^phone 261-0212, summer (Gimli) 642-7167._________
The Heidmar Bjornson Memorial Scholarship
In the amount of $500. Will be given annually to the student obtain-
ing the highest academic standing in Icelandic Studies in his/her
final year at the University of Manitoba. The award will be made by
the Department Head.
The Margaret Breckman Mack Student Award
In the amount of $500. Will be given annually to a needy student of
good scholastic ability who is enroled in the University of Manitoba
Bachelor of Science Nursing Degree Program.
The Canada lceiand Foundation Scholarship
One scholarship of $500. to be awarded annually. Award to be
detennined by academic standing and leadership qualities. To be
offered to a university student studying towards a degree in any
Canadian university.
Einar Pali & Ingibjorg Jonsson Memorial Schoiarship
One scholarship of $500 to be awarded annually. Award to be deter-
mined by academic standing and leadership qualities. To be ofTered
to a high school graduate proceeding to a Canadian university or
the University of Iceland.
Emilia Palmason Student Aid Fund
Two awards of $500 each to be given annually. The recipients must
be of good moral character, college calibre and primarily in need of
help to continue their studies in high school, college or at the
University level. The donors hope that "somewhere along the high-
way of life” the award winners will tiy to provide comparable help to
another needy student.
The Gunnar Simundson Memorial Scholarship
One scholarship of $500. to be awarded annually. This annual
scholarship will be awarded to a student in university or proceeding
into a university in Canada or the United States. The recipient must
demonstrate financial need and high scholastic ability.
Thorvaldson Scholarship
One scholarship of $500 to be awarded annually. This annual
scholarship will be awarded to a student in university or proceeding
into a university in Canada or the United States. The recipient must
demonstrate financial need and high scholastic ability.
John Jonas Gillis Memorial Scholarship
The late Ingunn Gillis made a gift to the Canada Iceland
Foundation to set up a scholarship in memory of her son. A
scholarship of $500. will be awarded.
Arnold W. Holm Scholarshíp
One scholarship of $500. to be awarded annually. This scholarship
to be awarded to a student demonstrating financial need - who
qualifies to proceed to university education and degree.