The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-03-22


At four o'clock in the afternoon of the
10th of September, 1877. the "Most Illus
trious and Reverend Don Fray Rogue Coc-
CHA, of the Order of Capuchins, Bishop Of
Orope, Delegate Apostolic of the Holy See
in the Republics of Santo Domingo, vene-
zuela and Hayti, and Vicar Apostolic of
Santo Domingo" enacted in the cathedral
church of st. Domingo City the first act
Of solemn farce which will pass into his
tory as one of the cur:osities of modern
times. In the presence of about forty
persons, comprising the principal officers
Of the Dominican government and the whole
consular corps, among whom figured
mister Paul Jones, Consul of the Re-
public Of the United States of North
America" the Italian Delegate Apostolic,
assisted by several priests, chiefly Italians,
he proceeded to test the correctness of a
favorite theory which he had previously
made known to his distinguished visitors.
This was nothing less than the presence in
place designated by tradition underneath
the episcopal throne, on the right side Of
the presbytery," of the true remains Of the
discoverer of America, which the Spaniards
falsely claimed to have been removed to
Havana December 20, 1906, on the occasion
OF the surrender Of that colony to France by
virtue OF the Treaty OF Basic.
The farce had been we'll rehearsed and was
enacted in manner rejecting the highest
credit upon the histrionic talents OF the
four or five Italian priests who undertook its
management. Upon removing the pave
ment at the specified locality there was
found small leaden chest or box in
good preservation, forty-two centimetres
in length, within which were sundry
human bones. few handfuls OF dust, q
leaden bullet and an illegible inscription
After careful cleaning the latter was found
to read, GILL TIRE. Y Els do. VARoN Don
Girls lOBAL COLON" Above were the
cabalistic letters, I'D. de la A. Per. Ate"
and on the side &c. G. A." The overjoyed
Delegate Apostolic proved himself equal to
the emergency and promptly deciphered
the whole, making it read, "Illustrious and
Distinguished Hero Don Cristobal Colon,
Discoverer Of America, First Admiral" and
the three lateral initials ''Cris,obal Colon,
Admiral"
The joy of the good Delegate Apostolic
and OF the faithful Dominicans was ex-
treme, and is described in most pictorial
prose in pastoral letter promptly given to
the press. Bells pealed and cannon thun-
dered, and the happy event was at once
announced in circular letter addressed to
the presidents Of all the Hispanc- American
Republics soliciting national subscriptions
Tor "a monument worthy Of the Father of
the New World! T. Here at last we begin to
discover the ''true inwardness' of this re-
markable scene. No question of interpreted
ton or of historical evidences is permitted
to mar the satisfaction Of the Dominican
patriots. But alas! for the rarity of Chris
tian charity, the no less reverend clergy of
Cuba and of Spain promptly pronounce
the scene OF the 10Th OF September, 1877,
Migrant instance Of "pious fraud" and the
Royal Academy OF History at Madrid, ON nn
elaborate and careful review of the whole
history of the three removals OF the remains
of Columbus, has just demonstrated in
manner which admits not the slightest
doubt that the accepted account OF their
final sepulture in the Cathedral at HAVANA
is correct, and the pretended inscription
found at st. Domingo q stupid and diapha-
nous forgery. SO ends the farce Of the
'Most Illustrous and Reverend Don Fray
Rogue Cocchia."
PERSONAL INTELLIGENCE.