Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1889-03-01

OF Une eartn. VI modern nations une
Portuguese became the earliest discoveries
by water, sailing along the western coast
of Africa, until finally O4S6) they reach
ed and named the Cape of Good Hope.
In 1892 Columbus sailed from Gomera,
Spain, boldly to the west, believing that
in this course he would find new coun-
tries and shorter route to India in Asia.
October II he discovered and landed on
the island of San Salvador, one of the
Bahamas, situated above 5000 miles west
of Gomera, and only four degrees south
of it. Continuing his voyage he came to
a number of small islands and afterwards
to Cuba, and believing these to be islands
that the geographers had described as
situated in the great ocean adjacent to
India, he named them the West Indies,
and the inhabitants he found on them, In
dams. In later voyage Columbus dis
covered and landed upon the continent of
South America. The result of all this
was the beginning of the Spanish domin-
ion in America. Many expeditions fol-
lowed, some from Spain and some from
the colonies already settled. Among
these was that commanded by fernando
Cortez, in 1918, from the island of Cuba
This expedition was fitted out by Velas-
quez, governor of Cuba, and the command
of 1t given to Cortez, then "a years old.
: Cortez learning that Velasquez intended
to supersede him, took the bits in his
mouth and ran away with the expedition.
He refitted his fleet and increased his
force in the Cuban ports of Macaca, Trim
idad and San Cristobal de la Habana,
from which last he sailed February 10,
1919. His force consisted of IL sail, in
Guiding shallops, 100 mariners, l6 caval-
: rymen with their horses, 553 foot SOL
diers, 200 Cuban Indians, a battery of 10
howitzers and four falconets.
Probably in the whole history of the
: world no more daring or able expedition
was ever made than that which followed
by Cortez. He landed at the present site of
Vera Cruz, April 81. His first move was
1 to cast off all allegiance from the COVER
nor of Cuba and get himself appointed
commander-in-chief by his troops. He
then burnt his ships, so that there could
be no retreat, after first taking the pre-
caution of sending one of them to Spain
I to get his proceedings confirmed and for
: reinforcements. He next conquered the
q made of them allies. His march was con
Y tinued and without armed resistance he
4 entered Tenochtitlan, the present city Of
r Mexico, Nov 8, 1913. This was the cap
: nation at that time was the strongest il
: the two Americas. 1t included million:
;, Of population, more or less civilized, an(
e firmly established under Montezuma, thei
the city of Mexico peacefully and beef
r accorded certain quarter of the city TO
i his residence with his troops But per
y ceiying that if anything should rutile til,
: harmony he would be very much at tn
: mercy of the MeXicans, he made pris
It oner of Montezrma and his family, be
a fore Montezuma had time to make one o
It him, removed him to his own quarters
o and made him give out orders to suit
e and to pretend that he was much pleased
d with his visitors.
y Whilst here, in April, an expedition
e landed at San Juan de Uloa, sent out b,
II NelasqueZ, governor of Cuba, to depos
d Cortez from command. 1t consisted o
d Is ships with 500 foot soldiers and s
horsemen and II pieces of cannon. The,
p were under the command of Pamphilo d
lie Narvaez, and were under orders to seiz
he Cortez and his principal officers and sem
r, them prisoners to Velasquez. Cortez a
h first tried to treat with Narvaez, but find
re ing this impossible, he determined t.
ID fight him. For this purpose he left tn
= city of Mexico and Montezuma in care o
is $50 of his men under Pedro de Alvaradc
L. one of his best officers, and with the re
he mander of his troops, amounting all toll
1t after he had been reinforced by the gal
x rison left at Vera Cruz to but $50 mer
y he marched against Narvaez, whom by
Y, sudden night attack he succeeded in d,
Of feating, taking him and his men prison
to ers. Cortez then by his tact and manage
ment persuaded the men to join then
N selves to his own fortunes and reir
ic forced by them he returned to Mexico
d. He came not day too soon, for the MeI
is leans had risen against Alvarado an
is were on the point of totally destroyin
him and his men. They permitted, how
- ever. Cortez to enter the city and reocct
:, by his old quarters. Cortez had no.
~ over 900 Spaniards under his command
D. Emboldened by this strength he assume
N very much more naughty tone toward
q the Mexicans, speaking of them an
;, treating them with great contemp
IL Again hostilities broke forth. Corte
ne tried to quell these by paradng Mont
ly yuma before the Mexicans, but their al
he ger now was above restraint; flight
arrows was their answer. Pierced b
81 two of these, Montezuma fell, and refu