The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-01-07
OUR FRIEND COLUMBUS.
BARCELONA AND THE DiSCOVERER
OF AMERICA.

The City IL Building "a Monument to tine
Man-How VIII the 4OOth Anniversary
Of the Discovery be CeIebrated?-some
Ancient History RetoId.
On a certain night, the 40Oth anniversary
Of which will roll around Oct. II. 1892, a
little fleet OF vessels, under command Of
Christopher Columbus, was approaching the
coast of America. That day one of the YES
sei- had picked up a branch Of thorn, WIN
red berries on it. At 10 \. IN COLUMBUS,
while seated on the deck Of his vessel, though
he eaw a Light lie called - Pedro Cutler
. rec. who also saw it but Rodriguez Sanchez,
who booked for it, saw it not. No one slept
that night. II . O'Clock in the morning
Oct. l2-the sound Of a gun was heard on
the face Of the waters. 1t came from the
Piuta. and was a signal that land had been
fouud. Ii was more. 1t was the signal
for the beginning of centuries OF strug
gle with races OF people whose types
were a novelty TO Europeans. 1t was the
death signal 70 Peruyians, Aztecs, ard the
savages Of North America Ii announced
new governments. Oceans covered with
sails. aud afterward with steamers. 1t was
the signal for the beginning Of many ne"
nations. one of which is second in wealth
and power to none in the world today
Already the matter of celebrating tho
coming quadru-centennial of Columbus
landing is beginning 10 attract attention.
Nearly five years remain in which TO make
arrangements for it. But as the whole world
is interested-at least all Europe and America
perhaps the time is not too long. As seems
fitting. the first voice in the matter ONE
from that people whose ancestors fitted out
the expedition which resulted in the dis
covery. ana from the legislative halls of the
most numerous aud powerful nation of the
new continent
Don Emelio Cas1alar, a distinguished
Spanish statesman, proposes that all the
nations OF the earth unite-that the
initiative take place al Genoa, the
birth place Of Columbus-Spain, Portu-
gal. Italy. France. England and the United
States participating that each OF these
nations send a vessel to Palos in Grenada,
where. after celebrating the anniversary OF
the sailing Of the Spanish expedition III the
oil VI AAauNN. III ~ ~ NAAahAi
sail for the Island Of san Salvador, stopping
at the Canary islands. BY this plan a series
Of celebrations, at the different points Of Col
umbus' journey may he inauguratod, which
can be supplemented by local obseryances
all over the world.
ln the halls Of congress a committee of
five senators and five repre-. natives has
already been suggested TO take action, with n
view 20 commemorate the event By an inter
national exhibition OF the industries and pro
ducts Of all nations. The committee on
library, to which the question Of this com
mittee OF senators and representatives was
referred, has reported favorably, and what
ever other methods Of celebration the United
States may take part in with other nations,
1t is probable that the matter of this inter
national exhibition viii be pushed forward
by the government
While the world IS about commencing
preparations to commemorate the discovery
of America by Columbus, a new statue has
been set up in Boston TO one of the alleged
discoveries Of a period dating back more
than four centuries before Columbus was
born. Left Erickson, il is claimed, following
I'D the report Of one who had been blown
I near the coast of Greenland, but who had not
landed, sailed with a crew of thirty five men
and reached the country soon after, about
the year A. ID. 1900. These earlier discoveries,
however, are involved in obscurity; and
while it is not improbable that vessels at va
! rious times had been blown 50 far westward
as 10 have seen the land before Columbus, no
advantage was ever taken of the discovery
and the records, if any, ara extremely
doubtful