The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1854-06-03
The Ashes of Columbus,

The remains Of Columbus rest in the Ca
thcdral Of llavanna. The cathedral will re-
pay the traveller for visit. 1t is a plain but
noble building, and the monuments are dis.
posed generally with good taste. II contains
some good pictures and fine marble monu-
mcnt, surrounded by the statute Of the Nir
gin. On the right Of this an urn, containing
the remains Of Columbus, is enclosed in the
wall, behind fine basSO relieve, in marble,
OF the bust OF the great navigator, the size Of
life.
Opposite to the tomb Of Columbus there
is a small beautiful painting, bearing date
l473, and said to represent the Pope and
Cardinals celebrating mass previous to the
expedition Of Columbus
The following is from the Washington Ir.
wings most interesting account Of the life
and voyage of Columbus:
THE body Of Columbus was deposited in
the convent of st. Francisco, and his obsc-
quics were celebrated with funeral pomp in
the parOchial church of Santa Maria dc Ia
Antigua, in ValIadolid. His remains were
transported to the Carthusian convent Of the
Las Cuevas, at Seville, and deposited in the
chapel of Santa Christie. In the year 1896.
they were removed 10 ili,paniola, and in
tered by the side Of the grand altar of the
cathedral of the city Of San Domingo But
even here they did not rest in quiet On
the ccssion of IIispauoa to the French in
1873, it was determined by the Spaniards to
bear them off to the Island of Cuba AS pre-
cious relics connected with the most glOri
Gus epoch Of Spanish history.
According, on the Goth December, 1875,
in the Presence Of an august asscmblagc of
the dignitarics ofthc church and the civil and
military officers the vault was opened be-
side the high altar Of the cathedral; within
were found the fragments Of a lcadcn collin,
a number Of bones, quantity Of mould, cv-
idcnty the remain Of q human body. These
were carefully collected and put into case
Of gildcd lead, secured by an iron lock -
the ease was enclosed in coffin covered
with black velvet, and the whole placed in
temporary mausocum. On the following
day there was another grand convocatOn
at the cathcdra the vigils and masses Of
the dead were chantcd, and a funeral ser
mon was preached by the archbishop Af
ter these solemn ccrcnonials in the cathedral
the coffin was transported TO the ship. at
tended by grand civil, religious and militia
~ procession. The banners were covered
WIN crap. tntrt were tUali'S ana ftNIuii'cS,
and discharges Of artillery; and the most
distinguished persons Of the several orders
took turns to support the collin.
The reception ofthc body Of lIayanna wa.
equally august. There was Splcnd d pro
cc>>on Of boats TO conduct it from the ship
to the shore. On passing the vessels Of war
in thc.harbor, they all paid the honors due
to an Admiral and Captain General Of the
navy. On'arrving at thc mole, the remains
were met by the Governor Of the island ac-
companicd by the Generals Of the military
staff They were then conveyed IN the ut
most pomp to the cathedral. Masses and the
solemn ceremonies Of the dead were per.
formed NY the bishop, and the mortal remains
Of Columbus were deposited in the wall, on
the right side Of the granda altar, where they
II Ill rrInnin'