The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1854-09-13
From Lam&Itine's Memefies OF Celebrated Chars i
THE FIRST DISCOVERY OF CO.
LUMBUS.

rushes recently torn up were seen near
the vessels. A plank evidently hewn
by an axe, a stick skillully carved by
some cutting Instrument a bough of
hawthorn in blossom; and lastly, a bird s
nest built on branch which the wind
had broken, and full of eggs, on which
the parent bird was sitting amid the gen.
tly rolling waves, were seen floating past
on the waters. The sailors brought on
board these living and inanimate wit
ncsses of their approach to land. They
were voice from the shore, confirming
the assurance of Columbus. -
Before the land actually appeared in
sight, its neighborhood was inferred from
these marks of life The mutineers fell
ON their knees to the Admiral whom they
had insulted but the day before, craved
pardon for their mistrust, and struck up
a hymn OF thanksgiving to God for asso-
eiating them with this triumph. Night
fell on these songs fthe Church welcom-
ing a new world. The Admiral gave
order that the sales should be slose-reef-
ed, and the lead kept going; and that
they should sail slowly, being afraid of
breakers and shoals, and feeling certain
that the first gleam of 'daybreak would
discover land under their bows.
On that last anxious night none slept
Impatient expectation had removed all
heaviness from their eyes; the piolets
and the seamen, clinging about the masts,
pards and shrouds, each tried to keep
the best place and the losest watch to
get the earliest sight of the new hemis4
phere The Admiral had offered re-
ward to the first who should, cry Land,
provided his announcement was verified
by its actual discovery. Providence,
however, reserved to Columbus himself
this first glimps, which he had purchas-
ed at the expense of twenty years of his
life, and of untiring perseverance amidst
such dangers. While walking hequarter-
deck alone at midnight, and sweeping
the dark horizon with his keen eye, a
CLEAN of fire passed and disappeared, al
again showed itself on the level of the
waves. Fearfulzof being deceived by the
phosphorescence of the sea; he quietly
called Spanish gentleman cf Isabella's
court, named Guttierez; In whow he had
more confidence than in the piolets,
pointed out the direction in which he
had seen the light, and asked him wheth-
re could discern anything there. Gut
tierez replied that he did indeed see a
Pickering light in that quarter. To
make indeed still more sure, Columbus
called Lodrigo Sanchez, of Segovia an
other in whom he had confidence. San
chez had no moro hesitation than Gut
tierez in pronouncing that there was a
light on the horizon Butthe blaze was
hardly seen before it again disappeared
in the ocean, to show itself anew the next
moment, whether it was the light of a
fire on low shore alternately appearing
and disappearing beyond the broken
horizon, or whether it was the floating
beacon of a fsherman's boat now rising
on the waves and now sinking in the
trough of the sea.
Thus both land and safety appeared
togcthar in the shape of fire to Columbus
and his two friends, on the night be-
tween the 11th and 18th of October,
1892 The Admiral enjoined silence to
Rodrigo and Guttierez, kept his obser-
vation to himself, for fear of again rails
ing false hopes, and giving bitter
disappointment to his ships companies.
He lost sight of the light and remained
on deck until in the morning, hoping
and despairing alone, awaiting the tri-
umph or the return on which the NOR
row was to becide He was seized with
that anguish which prccedes the great
discoveries of truth, like the struggle
which anticipates the liberation of the
sole by death, when cannon shot; sound
ing over the sea few hundred yards in
advance of him, burst upon his ear, the
announcement of newborn world, which
made him tremble and fall upon his
knees. 1t was the signal of land in sight
made by firing shot, as had been ar
ranged with the PintG, which was sail
ing in advance of the squadron, to guide
their course and take soundings. At
this signal general shout of {" Land hol"
arose from all the yards and riggings
of the ships. The sales were furled, and
daybreak was anxously awaited: The
mystery of the ocean had breathed its
first whisper in the bosome of night
Daybreak would clear it up openly to
every eye.
Delicious and unknown perfumes reach
ed the vessels from the outline of the
shore, with the roar of the waves upon
the reefs and the soft land breeze. The
fire seen by Columbus indicated the