Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-12-21

"and come right down to Columbus and his
time, to satisfy ourselves of the business of
his claims, as against those of even his own
contemporaries"
siderable length the most important points
only, are given below.
On his first and second VOYAGES, Columbus
made all Of his so-called North American
discoveries. Vespucci, his rival, but never
theless his close friend, honors him with the
title of "Discoverer of the Island OF An
tillia," as result, of these voyages. An
tillia is the island known to us as Cuba.
Now, the popularity of this discovery-if
such it is termed-is that the island of that
name had place on the globe of Martin
Behaim, which bears date 1892. However
indefinitely it is located on this chart, il is
yet the same that Columbus is given the
credit of discovering to the world. AT the
time this globe was made Columbus had not
returned from his first voyage. Here then
was an island which is at least supposed to
exist before our navigator brings tldings of
its discovery.
STILL EARLIER CHARTS.
Furthermore, this same island appears on
a chart of the year 1925. which is still pre-
served in the ducal library at Weimar. 1t
is also represented in the atlas of Andrea
BIanco, made in 1886. and now preserved in
the library of st. Mark, in Venice. Most
interestin. OF all, however, is the fact that
it was introduced by the celebrated FloreI-
tine philosopher, Toscanelli, in the chart
prepared by him at the request OF the King
of Portugal, a copy of which was sent to
Columbus before his voyage.
1t seems hard to believe that either Tos-
canelli or Behaim would introduce III their
maps bit of geography which they were
L,.t ~, f,,f
seems to have been the case il Columbus
really discovered the island. As authority
for its introduction, Behaim, who was con-
sidered one of the greatest map-makers that
ever had an existence, says: '1n the wear
7344, when all Spain was conquered by the
heathen from Africa, the above island was
settled by an archbishop from Oporto ac-
companied by six other bishops, as well as
other Christians, both men and women, who
ESCAPED from Spain by ships, with all their
possessions; and they built seven cities
whence the island was called the Island of
the Seven Cities"
THE STORY OF MIGRATION CONFIRMED.
Another ancient legend treats of practi-
cally the same story, 1t locates the period
of the migration above mentioned right
after the victory gained by the Arabs over
King Roderic at Xeres de la Frontera in
III. Portuguese historians go into the facts
OF the case, aud contend that such a migra-
tion did take place at the time mentioned, Ii
this story is accepted it is evident some
knowledge OF this outlying American point
had been given to the civilized world before
Columbus had done so; therefore in this
case, at least. he could lay no claim to dis
covery.
1t Is argued that the settlement of this ISL
and and its existence was largely Legendary.
Even if that is admitted, the very TACT that
it is placed OH the most reliable maps of the
time is evidence that the chart makers
really believed in its existence, and If, on
the other hand, it merely evolved from their
imaginations, it is certainly one Of the most
remarkable condolences of history. It has
| also been generally believed that Columbu 9