True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1858-08-11
M1SCELLaNY..
How the Pacific was Discovered.
" GRACE GREENWOOD

On golden Autumn day, almos, three
and half centuries ago, near the summit
of mountain on the ISthmus of Darien,a
company Of Spanish soldiers and native
Indians came to sudden halt. They
were the party of the heroic Caslilian
explorer, Vasco Nunez de Balboa. Thus
far they had marched from the colony on
the Gulfof Darien, for many weary days,
through dense tropical forests, infested by
venomous reptiles and fearful wild beasts
through pestiferous swamps and black
Shiny streams, and over rocky heights,
encounlering the most dreadful fatigue,
illness. hunger and thirst, in the hope Of
discovering a new ocean, upon whose
shores might lie that country Of whose
marvels and riches the savages told such
stories the India of which the great.
hearted Columbus dreamed, when he set
out on that voyage which the wise men
of Europe thought would end in plunge
down some ocean cataract, into black
chaos. a thousand leagues below the
world.
Balboa has been assured by his Indian
guide from the summit Of certain noun
tain he would behold the grea. sea, whose
waves washed the shores of the vast ter
ri!ories veinet with gold and silver ORE
Rousing their little remaining strength
the daring adventures lOiled up the rough
ascent as eager to behold the promised
sea as were the lsraelites Of old to catch
sight of "the promised land" But just
before they reached the highest point,
their leader commanded halt and they
all paused, breathless but reluctant
Balboa had resolved 10 be the first to
behold the Pacific, and he proceeded
alone TO the summit. do not think that
this was noble act, but selfish one.
, quite unworthy the true hero. Surely
those brave followers, who had shared
with him all the perils and hardships o.
the expedition, should have had their full
share in the first joy of discovery. But
he had it all to himself-the glorious
sight Of that vast placid ocean-those
green and Aowery shores-the beauty the
grandeur. the mystery Of new world
it was more than he could bear unmoved
He sank on his knees and gave thanks tc
, God. Then he called up his followers
and they cut down large tree and made
, Of it great cross, which they erected or
the spot in sign Of conquest and civiliza
8 ton. They also carved the names o.
King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella upor
. several prominent trees-lhus taking pos
a session of the land. ..
e They then descended 10 the sea shore
!, and Balboa having in one hand his drawI
Y sword, and in the other the Spanish Stan
= dard, stood in the rising tide and shouted
-" Long live the King and Queen o
d CASTLE v'--thus taking possession Of tn,
sea.
!, Perhaps they fingered on that shore til
Y night, and saw the sun descend into tn
d calm, transparent expanse Of sea, turning
;. all the waves into a vast sheen OF gold
Is and setting the western heavens aglov
Il with burning splendors till they seeme
like the open gates Of "the golden city,
a or the mighty Pavilions Of the "King o
e Glory"
= When the news Of thia discovery, @
e such incalculable importance TO the Who'll
,s world, reached Spain, it caused grea
As wonder, rejoicing, and triumph, and tn
" name OF Vasco Nunez de Balboa wa
/. associated with those of Christopher Co
a. umbus and Americas Vespucus. Yet
am sorry to add, in less than four year
III from the time of this glorious discovery
n he was accused Of disloyalty, and put
IN death by the Spanish governor Of Dariel
" So it little profied The brave adventr
= rer that he had found mighty ocean, Q
,e which European eyes had never befol
I'd gazed. and pointed the world to regiol
- Of exhaustless riches. Yet let US hop
as that for him the waters Of that unknow
an sea, which lies between us and the trr
n, "Promised Land" was Illuminated by Il
ed "Sun of Righteousness" and that Il
Dr. gates of the golden city Of God were n
he closed against him.--[Little Pilgrim