The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-11-21
CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS.
Criticism Of Winsor's Narrative and Grill
cal History of America.

Criticism OF WinsOr's Narrative ana Cr1tl-
cal History of America.
In looking over the first and second
volumes Of the above work find some
statements which would seem to demand
notice.
/. Mir. Winsor, alluding 10 the first
VOYAGE Of Columbus. says: at has been
pointed out how a westerly course from
Palas would have discouraged Columbus
with head and variable Winds And
again: "a westerly course from the Cana
rus would bring him within the continuous
easterly trade winds"
This Is true enough; hut Columbus,
though he may have had some knowledge
of the prevalence OF westerly winds (since
| he had visited the Azores and Iceland),
could not possibly have known anything
about the prevalence of easterly winds TO the
west of the Canary islands. In points Of fact
he discovered the northeast trade winds.
If Columbus had any knowledge Of the
discoveries Of the scandinayians (and
some suppose he had), he certainly did not
| intend 10 follow them up; otherwise be
would have steered to the Northwest. If he
| had followed TOscaueilir's directions and
maps he would have steered west from
Palas. Why he went TO the Canaries, m
| latitude 2S degrees north, and then steered
west, has never been explained. | myseli
| believe in the story OF AlOnzO Sanchez de
| IluelOa, but we can never know.
>. The remark about Columbus seeing a
light on the night of October IL, 1892, (this
night land was discovered,) though discred-
| tied in "A foot te, might well have b2Cn
| left out. Columbus saw no lights and did
not really believe he did. otherwise he
would have run for it if abeam, or would
[ H.. hon 10 oh IN
| he did do was 10 stand on for four hours,
making thirty-siX of our nautical miles,
when land was discovered by Juan ROdri-
guez BermejO, a sailor OF the Pinta.
3 Mr.. WinsOr says the number Of men
| left by Columbus in Fort Nayidad and not
| by Rodrigo de Trana as generally stated.
See Nayarrcte, vol. 81 is yariously stated.
The point is immaterial, but as Nayarrete
gives the names OF the forty-three officers
and men of that garrison, ii would seem to
be sufficiently explicit.
4. In volume l., article, 1.-The geographic
cal knowledge OF the ancienty considered
in relation TO the discovery Of America"
Mr.. William H. Tillinghast saws: "As
Columbus. in August, 1l9S, ran into the
mouth OF the OrinOcO river" &c. Columbus
never entered the OriuocO river; and, in
deed, cannot be said 10 have even seen il.
He saw this land, near some of the minor
mouths Ofthat river, where il empties into
the gulf OF Paria, and noticed the discOlOr-
alton Of the water, and that it was fresh.
But he anchored on the southwest side OF
Trinidad island, and kept close TO that
island until he crossed over TO the main
land. near the Dragons Mouth. The "roar-
ing Of the waters" and the tide rps he
speaks OF, were caused by the equatorial
current which runs through the Serpent's
Mouth into the Gulf Of paria. and passes
out through the Dragons Mouth into the
Caribbean sea. Ojeda discovered the
Oridoco in 1870, but did not enter il.
3. W. WinsOr in bis accounts of the
first voyage Of Columbus, intimates that
Martin Al0nzo Pinzon, in the Pinta, was
with the admiral at the time Of the wreck
OF his vessel, the SOuta Maria. The Pinta
parted company November 2lst, and did
not reiOin until January 9th. The Santa
was wrecked on the night OF December 25th,
and the absence of the Pinta caused Column
bus great anxiety, as he had lett only the
little Nina.
6. MIR. Winsor says Vol. ?, page 4D
Diego Cain discovered the Cape Of Good
Hope, This extraordinary statement might
be regarded as slip were il not for the
fact that the name Of Bartholomew Dias
1.-THE actual discOyerer) does not occur in the
index.
.. ND-lhiEE vi INT lhtlhhON OF UtitilulD-
ing the longitude, and the improvements
therein. Mr.. W insOr SAYS: "Ihe method for
discovering the longitude which modern ex
perlence has settled upon is the noting at
noon, when the weather permits a view Of
the sun, Of the difference Of a chronometer
set 10 a known meridian" Though this
Incorrect statement is made in some of our
school ASTRONOMERS, il is ineXcusable in
Mr.. WinsOr 10 adopt IL. n is not at al
The method by which aaDigdtOrS md the |
longitude. Mr. Wins0r further goes ON 10
say: Professor Rogers, Of the Harvard |
College Observatory, in examining 100 log |
books Of Atlantic steamships. has found an |
average error in the longitude Of three |
miles, and he reports as significant of the |
superior care of the Cunarder commanders. |
that the error ia the logs OF their ships /
was reduced 20 an average OF mile |
and half" All this is significantly absurd;
and one might almost think was written In
the interest OF the Cunard Company. In
p0in, OF fact Professor Rogers may examine
any number OF log books asd yet be unable 10
find the error he speaks Of. The log book
contains only the results OF the observations
There is no reason for supposing that the
Cunard steamships are Daylgated with any !