Page:History of Barrington, Rhode Island (Bicknell).djvu/42

22 tongue, but was unfortunately destroyed by a heedless hand."

The rock to which he undoubtedly refers, has been re-discovered and happily corrects the error of statement made by Professor Diman that both rock and inscription had been destroyed. Fortunately for the theory that the Northmen wintered at Mount Hope, Mr. William J. Miller of Bristol has located the rock on the shore of Mount Hope Bay in the town of Bristol. The rock is of graywacke, ten and a half by six and a half feet in length, and twenty-one inches thick. The surface is much worn by the water which only leaves it bare at low tide. The inscription is a boat with a series of lines and angles, which, it is claimed by Mr. Miller, were carved by some Norse sailor, left in charge of a boat and awaiting his companions. While these characters and those on the Dighton Rock with the skeleton in armor found at Fall River, do not establish the fact of the Norse discovery of these shores as their "Vineland, the Good," they certainly afford strong circumstantial evidence in maintenance of the theory. We must satisfy ourselves with the pleasing fancy until the truth shall be established.