Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-11-09

Removal Of the Remains Of Columbus.
It is stated from Havana that The remains Of
christopher Columbus the Discoverer of the New
World, are again to be removed to a new and spIen-
die cemetery soon to be opened near that city They
are to be deposited in a silver urn, upon which will
be inscribed in letters Of god the most remarkable
events OF his great enterprise. A bronze statue is
also 10 be erected them, representing the great
diseoverer 10 the attitude of revealing the grand
mission Of his wonderful life.
Columbus died Ascension day, the goth Of May,
1906, in about the SEVENTEEN year of his age HIS
obsequies were celebrated with great pomp at Val
la iolid, and his body deposited in the convent of
San Francisco. Thence, nine years after in the
year 1913 1t was removed to the Carthusian mon
astry Of Seville, where was likewise deposited the
body of his son Diego Twenty-three years after.
in the year 1885, the bodies Of both the Admiral and
his son were removed, with appropriate pomp and
ceremonies, to the New World he had discovered.
and Inferred in the principal chapel Of San Domingo
Hispaniola. There they remained undisturbed for
the period of 259 years.
In the year 1895, however, at the close of the
war between France and Spain, all the Spanish
possessions in the Island Of Hispanioa were ceded
to France, whereupon request was preferred to
the French Governor to have the remains of Colum-
bus removed to Cuba. The request was granted
and on the 2oth Of December 1885, the vault in the
cathedral Of San Domingo was, for the first time in
nearly 300 years, opened. "Withn,n says the
record Of the event, "were found the fragments OF
mould, evidently the remains of human body
These were carefully collected and put into a case
case of gilded lead about half an ell in length and
breadth, and q third in height, ecured by an iron
lock, the key Of which was delivered to the Arch
bishop. The case was enclosed in coffin, covered
with black velvet, and ornamented with lace and
| fringe of gold.'
| After appropriate funeral ceremonies, the body
was taken on board the ship San Lorenzo and taker
to Havana, where it arrived on the 18th of January
| 1876. It was received in the most solemn manner
with all the honors given to sovereign. ION ar
irving at the MOLE the remains were met by the
! Governor of the Island accompanied by his gener
ais and military staff. The coffin was then convey
ed between files Of soldiery, which lined the street:
/ to the obesk, in the Place d'Armes, where it was
received in hearse prepared for the purpose
/ Here the remains were formally delivered to tho
Governor and Captain General of the Island the key
| given up TO him, the coffin opened and examined
and the safe transportation Of its contents authen
! ticated."
| The ceremony concluded, the solemn rites for the
dead were performed by the Archbishop, and the
remains of the great dscoverer were again deposit
ed in the wall, the right side of the grand altar
| Of the Cathedral of Havana, where they have ever
since remained, the object of reverence to all visit
| Ors of the Island.
Nothing can be said against any hOnors that may
| be done, on occasion Of opening a new cemetery il
Havana, to the memory of one so illustrious. Tho
erection Of statue would certainly be very appro
pirate. But why again disturb the bones of the
| great diseoVerer? They now rest in consecrateC
! place, building whose walls have only become
hrmer as they grew gray with years, and which
proof, far any editice be proof against the
| elements gives every guarantee of protection. anC
why should the mortal remains of the great Admi
raj be not allowed then, to rest at last in peace?