Sharp County record., 1878-02-22
THE ASHES OF COLUMBUS.
Only a Grain or Two of TawAy Dust-Find-
ing OF the Great DISCOVERIES Bones
Part of the Remains Only Buried in the
San Domingo Cathedral.

OHlg l"O VI ld"hl
ing OF the Great DISCOVERIES Bones
Part of the Remains Only Buried in the
San Domingo Cathedral.
| From the New York Times
There is little doubt that if Barnum
were still the great Snowman that he
once was, and had proper moral mu-
scum in which to exhibit the strange
creatures which nature and art were
formerly so kind as place within his
reach, he would long ago have given
the lovers of antiquarian subjects an
opportunity to look upon the dust of
Christopher Columbus, if not upon an
entire skeleton of the diScoverer of
America. 1t has remained for another
man, not a Snowman, to introduce a
part of the GenoeSe navigator to New
York City, and there is no probability
that the infinitely small and entirely un-
recognizable part of him that has been
brought to these shores will ever fall
under the observation of a public that
would take melancholy delight in do
ing homage to so valuable a curiosity.
Mr.. CASTILLO, civil engineer, who has
been employed upon the Cathedral at
San Domingo City, arrived in this city
a few days ago, on his way to Rome,
and is stopping in Washington Place.
A Times reporter called upon him last
evening to learn whether the report was
true that he had been a witness of the
discovery of the remains of Columbus
under the altar of the San Domingo
Cathedral. Mr.. CASTILLO said that it
was true. He then said that, from a
passage in the will Of Columbus, it had
always been believed that the discOverer
was buried in the Cathedral, for he had
expressed the desire, and there were
accounts which strengthened the belief.
The exact spot in which to look for
the body or the bones was not indicated,
but there was a general impression
among antiquarians that the remains OF
some great man or great treasure lay
beneath the altar. On September 10,
1877, as some of the men under Mr..
Castello's charge were digging beneath
the altar, he came upon a leaden box,
AZ centimetres long, 20a broad, and 20
deep. This box was covered by large
stone, which had evidently been laid
upon it to discourage careless hunters
for treasure. The box was made with
great care, Of heavy sheet lead, and
without any iron except a small screw
that had been used in fastening plate
containing one of the most significant
inscriptions found in the inclosure. Mr..
Castillo says that the inscription on the
leaden box at once convinced him that
the traditions with which every body in
San Domingo was familiar, were based
upon good grounds. 1t bore the words:
Iltrey Esdo Varon
Du Cristobal Colon.
.................''...... ''''''''''.''''''
In the box were found number of
bones, yellow and wasted with age, and
in the bottom of it was handful of dry
mold. Mr.. CASTILLO said that he had
abundant opportunity to help himself
to the bones if he had chosen to do so,
but he did not. He satisfied himself by
selecting pinch or two of dust, which
he reverently carried away, and after:
wards deposited in a small vial. lie
showed this to the reporter, and taking
an envelope from his pocket-book he
produced sample of the dust, con-
tanned in bit of folded newspaper. He
held it out with admiration. 1t looked
for all the world like pinch of catarrh
snuff. The workmen, Mr.. CASTILLO
said, found in the box among the bones,
silver plate about two and a half
inches long and less than an inch wide,
on the face of which was the following
inscription:
Ua Pie. de los rios.
del prmr Alte ID.
Cristobal Colon DeS.
.............''''.'''.''
An inquiry was Immediately institute
ed. Right Rev. DR.. Coechia, Bishop of
Owpa, Apostolic Delegate of the Holy
See in San Domingo, Venezuela and
Hayti; Rev. Bernardino d'Emelia, the
Bishops Secretary; the Canon, Rector
and founder of the College of San Luis
| ooJ tho Ho1co of Charity.