Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1890-05-23
DISCOVERING AmEanoA.
The Real Friends Of Columbus nc fh,
Court Of Spain.


The Real Friends Of Columbus at fhc
Court Of spain.
The statement is sometimes made that
Queen Isabella of Spain pavned her
Jewels in order 10 provide funds for fit
ting out the expedition for tho discovery
of America. This is very old story told
fret not long after the death Of Colum-
bus. aud though il is not true, It's origin
il NOT difficult TO discover. As every
fact about the great voyage Is Of inter-
est to Americans. especially now that
we aTe soon 10 celebrate its four hum
dredth anniversary, the facts about the
raising Of the money are Of special in-
tercst
Columbus went to the Spanish court
10 lay his ambitious project before the
hing and queen just as the last great
stronghold Of the Moors, Grenada. had
surrendered TO the forces OF Ferdinand
and Isabella
In some respects it was an inopportuno
time The country was exhausted By
the war which had just closed with this
splendid success, and the joint monarchs
we're not inclined 10 embark upon any
new and uncertain adventure; and,
what was more important. the treasures
Of both AraSon and CASTLE were nearly
empty. Queen Isabella, la fact, had
been compelled to pledge her jewels to
got money for the prosecution of the
war against the Moors
The Genoese navigator pleaded his
cause in vain. Both king and queen
listened coldly TO his enthusiasts plans.
in which the recovery OF the Holy Sep
ulchre from tie Turks was strangely
mingled. They refused to rsgist lis en-
terprLe. and Coluu.Lus, in despair. left
GreaaGa. intendIu, TO make final eff
fort for a,sistal.ce at the French court.
At his audience vita the Spanish
monarchs, howoycr, there were two per-
rons vi o were con, inced Of the truth of
his daring theories, or at least of the
wisdom Of attempting TO prove them to
be true. They were, singulariy, the
finance ministers Of the two crowns, ST.
Angel, for Aragon, and Quintan!lla. for
CASTLE.
St Angel obtained an audience as
soon as possible with the queen, and SO
warm was his advocacy of the theories
of the Genoese stranger, 80 convincing
his arguments for assisting him, that
Isabella, fired by enthusiasm, exclaimed,
II undertake tho enterprise for my own
crown Of CASTLE, and will pledge my
private jewels to raise tho necessary
funds.
The minister assured her that this gen.
erous measure would be unnecessary,
and FASTENED from tho royal presence
to send messenger after Columbus,
who speedily returned TO Grana Ia The
arrangements for the expedition were
speedily made. ST. Angel supplied
about II, 600 horins from the treasury of
Aragon.
The three Pinzon brothers, shipbuild-
eTs at Palos de Nc suer, leaned Colun-
bus one-eighth of the necessary money.
he having assumed this share of the ex-
penso In consideration of his receiving
one-eighlh Of the profits They also
furnished additional money and two Of
the vessels, and all three of the brothers
went upon the expedition, two as cap
tains OF the caravals La Nina and La
Pinta, the other as a pilot The third
vessel, la Pinta. was impressed, to the
great terror Of the owner and the crew.
It may DO well to add that Columbus
repaid the loan made by St Angel with
the gold which he brought back from
the New World on his first voyage. A
portion of this gold was employed in
gliding the vaults and ceilings Of the
royal saloon of King Ferdinand's grand
palace at Zaragoza, or Saragossa. the
Aljaferia, where possibly it may still be
visible to the American pilgrim.