Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1872-02-29

WQeQ ne returned from dis SUtlQleS LIS
love for the sea was stronger than be-
fore. Perhaps he already looked upon
the sea as the place where be was to
struggle for fortune and fame. An old
relative of the family had for years,
coursed the sea, cruising against the
Turks, Venetians, rivals of the Genoese.
In the care of this relative young
Christopher was placed, and with him
he made his first voyage. This life, so
full of exploits and perils, pleased the
young mariner, who possessed a great
love for adventurous expeditions. In
1866 he undertook voyage on his own
account to ascertain whether Ireland
was inhabited. He passed beyond it
about three hundred miles and was sur
prised to find that the sea was not frozen
| over. In one of his voyages he learned
that four Venetian galleys were near
and he decided to give them chase. He
encountered them between Lisbon and
Cape St. Vincent, Portugal, where a
fierce battle took place that lasted an
entire day. Unfortunately the ship on
which Columbus was took fire, and with
it a Venetian galley which he had Crap
pied for the purpose of boarding. There
was no other means of escape but to
| Jump into the sea and swim ashore.
Aided by the inhabitants he proceeded
to Lisbon where he had acquaintance,
as he had been there before. This was
/ about 1870. Columbus made Lisbon his
residence, and here he married Philippe
Mognitz, daughter of PerestretO, COlOni-
ger and governor of the island of Porto
santo, who soon died in poverty.
Columbus provided for his family by
designing maps and geographical charts,
and with the assistance of charts left by
Perestreto, who had been an indefatig-
able mariner, he traced new routes for
nayigators.
About this time he began to suspect
the rotundity of the earth NayigatOrs
gave glowing accounts concerning other
lands seen by them, especially of Japan
/ These stories and the authority OF an
cient geographical writers, induced Col
umbus to believe that there were other
countries yet unknown.
This idea, although a truth, was born
of an error, belief common in those
times, viz. That five-siXths Of the
globe was land and one-siXth water,
hence i'll whatever direction one might
navigate he must necessarily soon find
land.
He communicated his ideas and pro-
iects to Paul TascanelH, a famous Flor
entine philosopher, to whom he sent
charts upon which he had traced the
routes he intended to follow.
In his reply Tascanclli cited much
geographical authority which served TO
strengthen Columbus in his opinion, and
he decided to cross the Atlantic and
reach the eastern shore of Asia. Al
though his proposed project was opposed
by all, his continued studies and calcula-
tions confirmed more strongly his be-
lief in the existence of unknown COun-
tries.
He gave his whole energies to the
execution of his plan, and from this
time commenced his life of struggles,
trials and disappointment. He first Of
fered his services to Genoa, that his ma
tive country might have the honor Of the
discoveries that he might make. Being
refused assistance he turned to Portu-
gal, England and Spain, all Of whom
refused the required assistance in money
and ships John H., of Portugal, sub
mitted the project to the examination of
a council, which rejected it, treating the
author as a visionary person.
John H., however, secretly armed
small vessel and sent ii with orders to
follow the routes indicated by Column
bus on his charts, but the sailors were
frightened at being in unknown waters
and returned, thus bringing ndicule
upon the expedition, Columbus was
greatly incensed at this unworthy pro-
ceeding of John IL, and entered into
negotiations with Arigo VII, of Eng
/ land. ". o. p.