The first Norwegian settlement in Griggs County, North Dakota

8 ' THE I'TliST. NORWEGIAN SETTLEMENT. grants of many nationalities, a large per cent of whom were Norwegians from all parts of the country. Five days out of harbor the propeller shaft broke, and had it not been for the cool, calm action of the ollicers a panic would have broken out on the...

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Format: Text
Language:unknown
Published: State Historical Society of North Dakota
Subjects:
Rip
Online Access:http://cdm16921.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/ndsl-books/id/53670
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Summary:8 ' THE I'TliST. NORWEGIAN SETTLEMENT. grants of many nationalities, a large per cent of whom were Norwegians from all parts of the country. Five days out of harbor the propeller shaft broke, and had it not been for the cool, calm action of the ollicers a panic would have broken out on the deck. After two hours of signaling the attention of a small cattle steamer was attracted to (lie distressed ship. For live days the little craft tugged and pulled and 'finally succeeded, in dragging the helpless ship into the harbor of St. Johns, Newfoundland. For about nine long, dreary days the hundreds or emigrants lived on (lie ship while it underwent repair. After again setting sail, they finally reached New York May 20th, having spent over a month in crossing the ocean.1 liefore leaving the ship they were examined by the inspectors. The examination, according to the testimony of the emigrants, was very brief and seemed of little importance. In New York they exchanged (heir original tickets for regular (rain tickets. From New York they took the train to Chicago, where they remained three days. They arrived in St. Paul, (he ci(y jo which they had bought tickets in the old country, .May ISth. The cost of the (rip up (o (his point was about .$50 per individual. They had taken advantage of reduced rates caused by a. rale Avar beJAveen different railroad companies. The transporting company furnished them with board and lodging during the journey and during their stay in the different cities before (hey reached Ncav York. From St. Paul (hey took the train to Granite Falls, where some of their old acquaintances lived. Mere they took Out their first papers. At this place they also bought Avagons and oxen. For the oxen (hey paid about |100 a (earn. With one of (lie .Minnesota. settlers2 as leader they traveled in covered wagons (o Hen- son, Minnesota. The women and children remained in Granite Falls. From Benson (hey took the train lo Fargo, where liiey again resumed (heir journey in wagons. They (raveled along (he Northern Pacific railroad to Valley City; then turning due north they were guided somewhat by (he Sheyenne river, though they did not follow its winding course. During (he first part of the travel north (hey slaved with a. stray farmer here and (here, but as they advanced (hey entered a region of utter wilderness,' where thev traveled for miles and miles without seeing a single human habitation and were therefore compelled to sleep in (he wagons. While they were searching for a good place on which to make1 a, settlement the United Stales surveyors Avere making the survey of the country and dividing it into sections and quarter sections. Hon- some reason or other no report of the ship's arrival at St. Johns had been received in KnrA'md or Norway, so it had almost been e.iven up for lost. The people in Norway had' mourned over their friends on the ship as dead, and were filled with surprise and jov when they received letters from the emigrants, postmarked New York. ^Christian Arrstad. Scanned with a Zeutschel Zeta book scanner at 300 dpi. Edited in Multi-page TIFF Editor.