National Republican., 1883-04-04
CHR1sroPHER,s BONES.
The Real Remains OF Christopher Column
bus Discovered in San Domingo-A Cs'ri-
GUS story.

The Real Remains OF Christopher COlum-
bus Discovered i'm san Domingo-A Curi-
Gus story.
In the Pittsburg Commercial Gdsetto of Mon
day an article was published in reference to
glass tomb for the dust of Christopher Co
lumbus, for which Atterbury & Co. Of that
city were to make n design. Areporter met
Mr.. J. G. Jamison, q we'll known citizen, who
has travelled extensively and witnessed many
strange sights in queer climes. In conver-
sation that followed it appeared that Mr.. Jami-
son could tell an interesting story about the
great discoveror. He had been present at one
scene in the drama, and was conversant with
tho history and the tribulations through
which the corpse had passed, and upon solicit
tation gave tho following account of the dis
position of Columbus's remains. He said:
History tells us that the remains of CO.
lumbus are buried i'm Havana, Cuba. This fact
was mover disputed until few years ago, when
the discovery was made that they are still in
the island of San Domingo. | was on that
island about that time, and know the facts
bearing upon the subject, which / will state
as briefly as possible.
Christopher Columbus died and was
buried in Spain in 1906. His son, Don Diego,
died in 1926. In the year 1886 the remains
of Columbus and his son were removed TO the
island of San Domingo and inferred in the
principal cathedral oil that city.
During the past 300 years that island has
been one continual scene of revolution and
bloodshed. Few, if any, records of its gov
ernment have been preserved. All history or
written record of passing events these many
years have been lost or carried away. The
population had sunk into ignorance, poverty,
and superstition, and all knowledge of past
history became traditional, existing only in
the minds of the people. Yet they never
lost sight of the fact that San Domingo city
was the last resting place of Columbus
"They had forgotten that his son, Don
Diego, was also buried with him under the
altar of the cathedral. So when Spain relin-
quished control of the island and came to re-
move tho remains of Columbus TO Havana,
the fact had been forgotten that two bodies
were deposited there Columbus and his SOM,
so that when the disinterment was made by
the Spanish authorities, they, through mis-
take, took up the remains of the son, and
with great deal of pomp and ceremony
buried them at Havana rs the remains Of the
discoverer of America.
"The mistake was not discovered until
| 1878. IL became necessary to make some al
teratons in the old cathedral, and tho work.
men came upon lead box, which, being
opened and examined, was found to be the
| true remains of Christopher Columbus from
the inscriptions on the box and his name on
u silver plate on the inside of the lid. The
Dominican authorities at once summoned all
| the resident consuls to examine it, who gave
as their opinion that the box contained tho
remains of Christopher Columbus. The box
| was then closed, and each consul put his seal
upon it. 1t was then transferred to the bishop
of the cathedral for his safe keeping.
"ln January, 1879, an italian war vessel ar
rived in port with instructions from the Ital-
ian government to investigate the matter, as
Columbus was native of Italy. The several
Consuls were summoned TO break their seals
and open tho box toaflord opportunity for the
fullest investigation. BY invitation of the
United States consul l was present and made
a personal inspection of tho box and remains,
had the silver plate on which the name OF
of Christopher Columbus was ingraved
| lin Spanish) in my hands. The two
holes in it correspond with the two in
the lid of the box, the rivets having given
away. The box is about sixteen inches
long and about eight or ten inches square,
and made entirely of heavy sheet lead and
bore marks of greatage The remains had all
mouldered into dust. When we consider that
Columbus had been buried thirty years before
his remains were removed TO San Domingo,
box of that size would be sufficiently largo
to hold all that remained Of the body.
"The Italian naval officers were thoroughly
convinced that the remains were really those
of tho great navigator and so reported to the
government. AS for my own impressions L
have not the least doubt. Three months So
iourn on the island gave me every opportun-
ity to inquire into the matter. Tradition has
| il that when the Spaniards came to remove
| the remains to Cuba, q sly old monk pur-
posely pointed out the location that led them
to take up the remains of tho son instead of
those Of Christopher Columbus.