Friends of the Viking Ship

06/19/2026

Captain Andersen and his crew were confined in cells at the police station until 7:00 that morning of June 19th, at which point they were hauled out and charged with drunkenness and disorderly conduct—which they vehemently denied and refused to sign a written statement of guilt. They were then transported to the Butler Street Police Court, where they were thrown into a holding cell with about another dozen prisoners.

Rasmussen recalls, “We were packed solid. The air was so foul we had difficulty breathing, and the company was far from the best. We had to share our fate with the dregs of Brooklyn." After a long wait--during which several fainted from the heat--the men were brought before Judge James Tighe, who, after treating them in a "very haughty and taunting way" as they pleaded not guilty to all the charges, grudgingly released them on $200 bail each.

Captain Andersen was indignant over his arrest and imprisonment, later stating: "If I had not been under engagement to attend Mayor Gilroy's reception (later that day) I would have gone straight from that police court to the 𝘝𝘪𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 and I would have turned her around and sailed her back to Norway."

06/19/2026

June 19, 1893
After the festivities at Prospect Hall wrapped up at around 3:00 am, the 𝘝𝘪𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 crew left on foot toward the ferry that would take them back to New York City. As they walked, they were accosted by a “party of roughs” and a scuffle ensued. The Brooklyn police soon arrived, but rather than apprehending the attackers, they focused their attention on the crew. Both Captain Andersen and crew member Rasmussen were clubbed with nightsticks by the police before they could utter a word in their own defense.

According to Rasmussen, “All the people gathered around us and reproached the policemen for their actions against us. In return, the police used their nightsticks on anyone they could reach, man or woman. The captain and I were hit the most. When he asked them not to hit me, he was hit, and when I asked why they were hitting a man who had done nothing, I was hit." Captain Andersen and five of the crew were then arrested and hauled away to the Hamilton Avenue police station (pictured). Rasmussen recalls: "We sat in this miserable dungeon until almost 7:00 that morning. The hours dragged like days, and we had plenty of time to compare this treatment with the honor shown us in Newport and New York. Now we were prisoners in Brooklyn."

06/18/2026

Rasmussen writes of his day on June 18, 1893: "Sunday was spent partly on board 𝘝𝘪𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 and partly ashore. At 5:00 that afternoon, we all gathered in the Seamen’s Home in Brooklyn. We were allowed to use an administrator’s apartment to freshen up for the festival to be held that evening. Our clothes were so dirty that it didn’t help much to brush them. We marched to Prospect Hall with our Viking banner in front. We arrived at about 8:00 P.M., and were met with applause from the six hundred guests present....Women in Norwegian national costumes escorted us to the dining room, where an excellent meal was served."

Little did the crew know the "adventure" that awaited them once the festivities concluded...

06/18/2026

𝘝𝘪𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 under sail in New York

06/17/2026

Rasmussen continues: "We were surrounded by pleasure boats, steamers, and sailboats, filled with spectators wishing us welcome. There was an incredible din of whistling, honking, bell ringing, and cheering. The Viking was greatly admired, and we had made her quite festive. Three silk banners waved. The Star Spangled Banner waved from the flagstaff up by the golden dragonhead, the Norwegian flag from the pole by the tail, and from the mast, the Viking flag with the raven and the Norwegian lion. On the sides hung the yellow and black shields...The approach to New York is rather narrow. It was quite dangerous to navigate among such a crowd of boats. Some boats tipped over, but no one drowned. Everyone wanted to be as close as possible to the 𝘝𝘪𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨. "

06/17/2026

June 17, 1893
Crew member Rasmussen describes their approach to New York on June 17: "Early on Saturday morning, we sailed through Long Island Sound in beautiful weather. Captain Andersen, who had traveled to New York by train the day before, met us in a steamer. He brought along twenty-four men, all trained sailors. They were to help us row the 𝘝𝘪𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨. Once they were on board, we continued through the Sound towards City Island..."

06/16/2026

June 16, 1893
In New York, final arrangements for the 𝘝𝘪𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨's reception are now complete.

Meanwhile, crew member Rasmussen writes of the effort to get the beached 𝘝𝘪𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 back into the water: "At high tide, we tried to get her in the water again, but she was mired in sand and would not budge. It was already June 16, and we were expected in New York on the 17th. What could we do? All inventory was moved to another boat...In the afternoon, the tugboat 𝘑𝘰𝘩𝘯 𝘍𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘳...arrived to tow us to New York. The 𝘑𝘰𝘩𝘯 𝘍𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘳 put the tow on the 𝘝𝘪𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨, called full speed, and pulled. Finally the 𝘝𝘪𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 began to glide, and by 9:00 she was in the water. Everything was quickly heaved on board, and soon we were gliding out of the harbor under fireworks, whistles, honks and salutes from all the steamboats."

06/15/2026

A reminder that our first Open Day of June is this Sunday! Please note that there is a $7.00 fee per person to enter the park for this festival, separate from the fee to tour the ship.

Experience the ultimate Midsummer celebration filled with live music, traditional folk dancing, and the iconic maypole raising at the 116th Father’s Day Swedish Midsummer Festival in Geneva. Highlig...

06/15/2026

Crew member Rasmussen recalls the afternoon of June 15th: "After many hurrahs, we again boarded the ferry. We were taken to the Rowing Club, where the Norwegians and the American reception committee were waiting. We finally got a chance to clean ourselves again. When we were ready, we took off, two “Vikings” and two committee members in each carriage...We passed beautiful houses and visited many, including the Vanderbilt estate, where we were served champagne."

06/15/2026

June 15, 1893
In Newport, 𝘝𝘪𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 was towed to the naval station. The slip was too narrow, so she was towed onto the beach. With help from the Navy, 𝘝𝘪𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨’s crew scrubbed her hull - then were given leave to take desperately needed baths. Rasmussen wrote, “After soap and water, scissors and shaving knives, we hardly recognized one another.” Festivities, including music, speeches, a tour of the city, and a celebration dinner, began in the afternoon and continued until midnight.

Meanwhile, in New York, Mayor Thomas Gilroy was engaged by Boyeson to arrange the reception of the 𝘝𝘪𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 crew at City Hall once they arrive there from Newport.