The Icelandic Canadian - 01.12.2003, Qupperneq 43

Vol. 58 #2
THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
85
search for it.
Mr. Iceland, or JonJonsson—or what-
ever his name was, was called the “walking
Icelander”. He left Winnipeg soon after the
treasure was found. Two years later he was
traveling in Oregon and California and was
said to have walked over the Rocky
Mountains. He was not like the “walking
Jew,” at least the walking Jew that Eugene
Sue, the Frenchman wrote about.
Wherever that Jew set his foot down, left a
mark of seven nails from the soles of his
shoes. Accompanying him was a bad har-
vest, starvation, plague and misfortune. But
the walking Icelander was different.
Wherever his footsteps led, beautiful and
fragrant flowers sprang up. He brought
light and warmth and all who became
acquainted with him were filled with hap-
piness and contentment. He was a citizen
of the United States and traveled extensive-
ly in New England and may have lived in
Boston. He was seen in Cuba during the
Spanish-American War at the turn of the
century. He was among those who cared
for the sick and injured. An Icelandic sol-
dier spoke to him there. I have not heard of
him since then.
Mabel Campion lived in the crooked
house for two years. During that time she
worked at the Albion Laundry, except
when she was sick. WheN she was back on
her feet after her illness, she never walked
in her sleep, and never talked in her sleep
either. Her temperament changed greatly
after that. She became considerably calmer
and discreet, and spoke well of everyone.
She often attended church, read the Bible
regularly and prayed for a long time before
she went to bed. Once she said to my
cousin and me,
“It was rather strange that I should be
looking for a secret treasure when I walked
in my sleep. It must have been a sign from
a higher power that I should look for the
good treasure—that precious treasure that
stones and rust cannot harm. I have found
it at last! I am so happy and full of heaven-
ly joy, that no words can fully describe. I
know that I am to help others to have the
same happiness and benefit from the heav-
enly joy. There is a hidden treasure in
everyone’s heart—gold more beautiful than
the most precious jewel and it behooves me
to find it.”
A short time later she joined the
Salvation Army, became a captain and went
to India in the summer of 1898 and I have
not heard of her since.
Madeleine Vanda has been a widow for
a long time, and is now living with her
youngest daughter who is married and lives
a short distance from St. Boniface. Her
eldest son was highly educated and got a
good position east in Quebec. Her other
daughter has written several short stories
which have been published in good maga-
zines. She has maybe used some ideas for
some of her stories from the old woman.
The last time I spoke to Madeleine Vanda
two years ago, she told me she had recent-
ly dreamed Berg the castaway and she
believed he said to her “Blessed are the
pure in heart, for they shall see God.”
Mrs. Colthart only stayed a short time
in Winnipeg after the treasure was found.
She went home to England and was two or
three years in London . After that she went
to Australia and died there at her sister’s
home a few years later. This is what Edna
told me in 1909.
Godson went east to Toronto in the
winter of 1887 and worked for a winter in
a theatre. He was, it was said, a genius at
preparing the stage, arranging the back-
drops and rehearsing the actors. He died
just before the turn of the century. His son
grew up with his mother in Fort Rouge. He
was in poor health all his life and died
around the age of thirty.
Lastly I would mention that I was
married in the spring of 1887. The girl that
I so often saw skating became my wife. I
am not allowed to talk about our courtship.
My wife thinks I have said enough about
her in the second chapter of this story,
though I am not going to tell all the events
that led to our marriage. She says truthful-
ly that this is the story of the hidden trea-
sure, that was found at last, and not a love
story. I have always kept that in mind since
I began the third chapter. I will content