Historical Tales: American, Vol I

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You may not distribute copies of this text for commercial purposes. incidents, and present them as a gallery of pictures that 4. This text is intended to be a faithful and complete copy of the original might serve to adorn the entrance to the temple of history, document. However, typos, omissions, and other errors may have of which this work is offered as in some sense an occurred during preparation, and Heritage History does not guarantee illuminated ante-chamber. As such, it is hoped that some a perfectly reliable reproduction. pilgrims from the world of readers may find it a pleasant halting-place on their way into the far-extending aisles of Permission to use Heritage History documents or images for commercial purposes, or more information about our collection of the great temple beyond. traditional history resources can be obtained by contacting us at [email protected] Original Copyright 1904 by Charles Morris 2 Distributed by Heritage History 2010 TABLE OF CONTENTS THE SIEGE OF FORT SCHUYLER .................................. 78 ON THE TRACK OF A TRAITOR..................................... 84 VINELAND AND THE VIKINGS ......................................... 4 MARION, THE SWAMP-FOX .......................................... 89 FROBISHER AND THE NORTHWEST PASSAGE .............. 11 THE FATE OF THE PHILADELPHIA ............................... 95 CHAMPLAIN AND THE IROQUOIS ................................. 14 THE VICTIM OF A TRAITOR ......................................... 99 SIR WILLIAM PHIPS AND THE SILVER-SHIP ................ 21 HOW THE ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH WAS INVENTED ... 103 THE STORY OF THE REGICIDES ................................... 27 THE MONITOR AND THE MERRIMAC ......................... 109 HOW THE CHARTER WAS SAVED ................................. 32 STEALING A LOCOMOTIVE ......................................... 113 HOW FRANKLIN CAME TO PHILADELPHIA ................. 36 AN ESCAPE FROM LIBBY PRISON ............................... 118 THE PERILS OF THE WILDERNESS ............................... 39 THE SINKING OF THE ALBEMARLE ............................ 124 SOME ADVENTURES OF MAJOR PUTNAM .................... 45 ALASKA—GOLD, FURS, AND FISHES ......................... 129 A GALLANT DEFENCE .................................................. 51 HOW HAWAII LOST ITS QUEEN ................................. 134 DANIEL BOONE, PIONEER OF KENTUCKY ................... 55 AUL EVERE S IDE P R ' R .................................................. 62 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS ..................................... 69 THE BRITISH AT NEW YORK ....................................... 72 A QUAKERESS PATRIOT ............................................... 75 Original Copyright 1904 by Charles Morris 3 Distributed by Heritage History 2010 CHAPTER I which the foot of the European was first set upon the shores of the trans-Atlantic continent. It is the story of this first discovery of America that we have now to tell. VINELAND AND THE VIKINGS In the autumn of the year 1000, in a region far away from fear-haunted Europe, a scene was being enacted of a very The year 1000 A.D. was one of strange history. Its advent threw the people of Europe into a state of mortal terror. different character from that just described. Over the waters of Ten centuries had passed since the birth of Christ. The world unknown seas a small, strange craft boldly made its way, was about to come to an end. Such was the general belief. manned by a crew of the hardiest and most vigorous men, How it was to reach its end,—whether by fire, water, or some driven by a single square sail, whose coarse woollen texture other agent of ruin,—the prophets of disaster did not say, nor bellied deeply before the fierce ocean winds, which seemed at did people trouble themselves to learn. Destruction was times as if they would drive that deckless vessel bodily coming upon them, that was enough to know; how to provide beneath the waves. against it was the one thing to be considered. This crew was of men to whom fear was almost Some hastened to the churches; others to the taverns. unknown, the stalwart Vikings of the North, whose oar-and Here prayers went up; there wine went down. The petitions of sail-driven barks now set out from the coasts of Norway and the pious were matched by the ribaldry of the profligate. Some Denmark to ravage the shores of southern Europe, now turned made their wills; others wasted their wealth in revelry, eager to their prows boldly to the west in search of unknown lands afar. get all the pleasure out of life that remained for them. Many Shall we describe this craft? It was a tiny one in which freely gave away their property, hoping, by ridding themselves to venture upon an untravelled ocean in search of an unknown of the goods of this earth, to establish a claim to the goods of continent,—a vessel shaped somewhat like a strung bow, Heaven, with little regard to the fate of those whom they scarcely fifty feet in length, low amidships and curving loaded with their discarded wealth. upwards to high peaks at stem and stern, both of which It was an era of ignorance and superstition. converged to sharp edges. It resembled an enormous canoe Christendom went insane over an idea. When the year ended, rather than aught else to which we can compare it. On the stem and the world rolled on, none the worse for conflagration or was a carved and gilt dragon, the figurehead of the ship, which deluge, green with the spring leafage and ripe with the works glittered in the bright rays of the sun. Along the bulwarks of of man, dismay gave way to hope, mirth took the place of the ship, fore and aft, hung rows of large painted wooden prayer, man regained their flown wits, and those who had so shields, which gave an Argus-eyed aspect to the craft. recklessly given away their wealth bethought themselves of Between them was a double row of thole-pins for the great taking legal measures for its recovery. oars, which now lay at rest in the bottom of the boat, but by which, in calm weather, this "walker of the seas" could be Such was one of the events that made that year forced swiftly through the yielding element. memorable. There was another of a highly different character. Instead of a world being lost, a world was found. The Old Near the stern, on an elevated platform, stood the World not only remained unharmed, but a New World was commander, a man of large and powerful frame and imposing added to it, a world beyond the seas, for this was the year in aspect, one whose commands not the fiercest of his crew would lightly venture to disobey. A coat of ring-mail encircled Original Copyright 1904 by Charles Morris 4 Distributed by Heritage History 2010 his stalwart frame; by his side, in a richly-embossed scabbard, Red, the discoverer of Greenland, and a Viking as fierce as hung a long sword, with hilt of gilded bronze; on his head was ever breathed the air of the north land. Outlawed in Norway, a helmet that shone like pure gold, shaped like a wolf's head, where in hot blood he had killed more men than the law could with gaping jaws and threatening teeth.

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