Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-08-13

passage to India. Tae council was
not favorably impressed with his
plan and it was rejected.
In the panel above that. Columbus
is seen departing hopefully for Spanish
court from the convent of La Rabida,
near Palos, where he I'D been staying
with the Prior, who was a friend and
admirer of his
The panel above that represents an
audience at the court of Ferdinand
and Isabells.
The uppermost panel Of the door
shows the departure of Columbus
from Palos on his first voyage of dis
covery.
In the large semicircular transom
above the door is a paHel showing
| Columbus landing ON the island Of
San Salvador and taking possession IN
| the name of his sovereign This is
the largest relief in the door, and
contains great many figures, the
sailors and followers of Columbus,
| with the three ships IN the distance,
and the natives shrinking, frightened,
| behind the trees and rocks, gazing
upon the strangers with mixed curt
osity and alarm.
The top panel on the right hand
wing of the door shows Columbus
negotiating with party of Indians.
The panel beneath shows his tri-
umphal entry into Barcelona after
returning to Spain. Columbus en-
tered Barcelona at the head of q pro
cessioH Of knights, squires and grand
ees, clad, as he was himself, in the
gorgeous fashion of the age, and gilt
tering with gold, silver, and precious
! stones. He was mounted upon
magnificent charger. Behind him
came many of the sailors of the ex-
petition, who carried animal, vegeta
Die and mineral curiosities from the
newly discovered land, and with them
marched three or four Indians, In all
the glory of their war paint, who had
accompanied the expedition to Spain.
The royal palace had been thrown
open to receive him, and he was given
a seat upon the throne beside Ferdi~
nand and Isabella, to whom ne relat-
ed his experiences and exhibited what
he brought back.
In the next panel below Columbus
is seen prisoner ia chains after re-
turning from his third voyage.
The bottom panel on the right hand
door shows the death bed of Column
bus. He died at Nallad0hd on Nav
&c, 1906, at the age OF 20 years. his
last words being, Into Thy hands.
O Lord, I commend my spirit"
| Thirty years after, his remains were
transferred to the Cathedral Of San
Domingo, on the Island of that name.
In 1878, VIXEN the Spaniards lost their
hold on the island, the remains were
transferred to Hayana.
In the broad border which SUR
rounds the panels are little inches six
teen in number, in which the follow
ing st&tuettes are placed:
Alexander v, R0dnrigo Lenzoli
Borgia, native Of spain, pope of
Rome, 1492s1503.
Pedro Gonzales de Mendoza, arch
bishop of Toledo and grand cardinal
of Spain. man of great influence at
court and an early patron of CoIum>
| bus.
Ferdinand, King of Spain, royal
patron of the undertaking of Column
bus.
Isabella, his wife, queen of Spain,
and royal patroness OF Columbus.
| Charles VIII, King of France, an
enlightened monarch and friend to
the cause of discovery.
Lady Beatriz de BUbadilla,
marchioness of Mayo and friend OF
Columbus. This is said to be the
| likeness of Mrs Rogers,
the wife of the sculp
John H., king of Portugal, the
monarch who rejected the proposal Of
| Columbus.
Henry VII, king of England. This
monarch was appealed to by Barthol-
omew Columbus on behalf of his
| brother; meantime the discovery was
accomplished under the auspices of
Spain.
Juan Perez de Marchena, prior Of
| the convent Of La Rabida, and friend
to Columbus
Martin Alopzo Pinzon, commander
Of the PInta, the second vessel in the
first voyage across the ocean.
fernando Cortez, early companion
| of Columbus and cOnqueror of Mexi-
CO.
| Bartholomew Columbus, brother of
Christopher, advocate of his theory at
the court of Henry VII of England,
and the hrSt AdelentadO or HeSpan-
| ola. This is said to be the likeness of
Mr. Rogers, the sculptor.
Alonzo de Ojeda, companion of Co
lumbus in his first voyage of discover
| les, and one of the most daring of his
| contemporaries.
Vasco Nunez de Balboa, who dis
covered the Pacific ocean from the Is
| thmus of Darien.
Amerigo Vesgucci, one of the early
discoveries of the mainland of Amer
lea, author Of the first account of the
Few world, and from whom the con-
| tiDent takes its name.
Francisco Pizarro, conqueror of
Peru.
Besides these figures the casing is
embellished with running border in
relief of ancient arnor. banner S, and
heraldic designs emblematic of navi>
CATION and conquest.