The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1873-10-21
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fE DISCOVERY OF AMERacA,
BY JOHN S q ABBSrr,.

: = -.
5 just as the sun was rising over the
shle waves of the Mediterranean, o1.the
tdirl of August, 1892, three small ves:i
sells, two of them without dccksU but,
with forecastles and cabins for the crews,
smiled from the little port Of Palos iu
Spain, under the command Of Christie
pher Columhus,in search OF a new world
Il seems almost incredible. that only four
years ago, science had made
sslch slight attainments that a council of
The most learned men of Spain, appoint
the assertion that the world was round
to be absurd. ' e'a
"What!" exclaimed these sages of the
century, "can any one be so
foolish as to believe that the world is
round, and that there are people on the
side opposite to ours who walk with
their heels upward and their heads hang
ing down, like Dies clinging to the cell
ing ?-that there is a part Of the world
where trees grow with their branches
hanging downward, and where it rams,
halls and SHOWS upward p 17'
The general voice OF the community
pronounced Columbus half craxad ia
natic Even those who had been induced
to embark with him had entered upon
the perilous enterprise with .he gre attest
reluctance As the Admiral spread his
sails n, cheers from the shore greeted
him Tears, lamen'ations, and dismal
forebodin5s oppressed nearly all hearts.
Columbus steered first for the Canary
Islands. A strong wind drove them rap
idly along into the abvss Of unknown
seas, and as the hills Of Spain sank be-
meath the horizon the timid and super
stitious seamen we're filed with terror.
Already there were indications of mutt
ny. On the third dav out, one Of the
vessels was disabled by the unshipping
of the rudder, which was supposed to
have been Intentionally done by some
one on board. The injury was soon re-
paired sufficiently to allow the crippled
vessel to keep mace with the rest OF the
feet bv their shortening sail. At the
close Of the week they arrived at the
Canares, about one thousand miles from
the port OF Palos Here they were de-
tanned three weeks. obtaining new YES
sci for the disabled one which was found
in many respects unfit for sefvice,and in
making repairs. .-..-- ....
! On the 9Th Of September, Columbus
again spread his sails He was now fair
ly.em barked on his voyage The Cana.
rits were on the frontiers of the ther
unknown world All beyond was region
unexplored, A calm kept the vessel,
rolling for three DAYS within sight of tht
islands, ,bnt on the 9Th wind sprang up
so,l in few hours the peaks Of the Ca
/ adfes disappeared beneath the horizon
/ 1t was sunny, serene anil beautiful Sab
ba h hut on board the vessels there wer
discord and loud murmnrings
MANY Of the seamen had been com
pelle6, by royal decree, to embark ol
this expedition As the last traces o
the unknown world vanished from thei
sight they gave such loud expression t.
their discomfort that it reached the ear
OF the Admiral He did everything i
his power to inspire them with his ow
enthusiasm, but in vain. Both threat
OF punishment and promises OF larg
reward were requisite to hold in chez
the rising spirit of insub ordination T
allay the fears Of the ignorant crew, ca
lu,nhus resorted to the. artiice Of kepr
ing two daily records, one correct 70
himself. and one which made the dis
tance which separated them from Spai
much less than it really was ,.s -..-..
Slowly the davs came and passed ava
as the intrepid Admiral, ,incpssantly com
hating the mu,inous disposition of hi
C ew, pressed all sail, AMI from the bow
of his ship kept an eager lookout towar
the west, while every change in ih
weather, and every Object was examine,
with The closest scrutiny. A weed d "a,
ing upon the water, u sea bird of unus
ual plumaye, any change in the color G
the sea or the aspect Of the clouds wa
subjected to the closest inspection. Th
lead was frequently thrown, but no bo'
tom could he found ..-........
BY the first Of October the little fee
| had traversed two thousand three hur
dred miles Of the ocean in directio
. almost due west But, according to tn
reckoning which Columbus exhibited t
the crew, they had only reached sever
teen hundred miles, 1t was delightful
autumnaI weather, and gentle breez
waited them over smooth sea. The
had fallen in with the trade winds. hitl
erto an unknown phenomenon But th
incessant blowing OF the wind in til
same direction day after day, with no Vi
ration, increased the alarm of the SCI
men. 1t seemed to them that they wei
being driven into regions where thel
could he no possibility of return.
The crew became more and more MI
tinous. Those on board the Admiral
ship had formed a conspiracy to thro
him overheard and Immediately to tur
their bows toward hcme NJ ordinar
man could have controlled such ell
ments of disorder BIT Columbus, evt
calm, diguifed. and just, BY his presen'
alone, overawed these turbulent spirit
While sternly engaged in this NOR
struggle another week of intense anxle
passed away To inspire the seame
with some of his own zeal he offered
reward, amounting to about one hu
dred and twenty five dollars, tn the ol
who should first catch sight OF land :
= This gave rise to many false alarm
:, Every cloud in the western SKY whlt
= could be thought to vail maunta
peak would give rise to the exutlr
shout of land land !" Colnmbus,co
sequently, found it necessary to iss'
the order that whoever should give
' false alarm should forfeit al claim to tt
reward. The clouds were so often marie
! in the western sky in forms so striking
!, resembling mointain peaks as to decei'
The most practiced eye
Still The weary days came and wer
q q and no land appeared. The alarm OF u
crew was continually increasing. 1
length their murmuis became SO 10,
. that the situation Of Columbus was
: most desperate He WAS compelled
b assume the altitude of defiance. Tho
oughly arming himself he declared tn
6 no consideration should induce him
/. abandon the enterprise upon which
had entered A. the same tiWe be d