Sacramento daily record-union., 1890-04-12
At CARTHAGENIa.
SIXTEENTH CENTURY CELEBRITIES
AND THEIR D0INGs.
The Wild Career and Death of vasee
Nunez de Balboa. the Discoverer of
the Pacific Ocean.
CARTHAeESA. Colombia. is

an air of decayed gentility pitable to be-
hold. By consulting a map you will find
it near the Caribbean coast of Colombia, a
little way west from the mouth of the
Magdalena. In the days of Philip II. il
was the most strongly fortified city on the
continent, the headquarters of the Spanish
naval forces in the New World, the great
rendezvous of the galleons that came for
treasure, and until comparatively late
day it continued to be the principal COM
mercial metropolis of the vast region
known as New Granada"
Its prominence was partly due to the
celebrated mines Just back of the town,
from which many tons of gold were sent to
Spain. Some idea of the richness may be
imagined from reading the old records
that yet remain in the archives OF Cartha-
gena. These documents set forth the fact
that the Kings share was one-fifth part of
all the gold produced, while another fifth
went to the church ; and that, during
more than two centuries, the Kings por-
tion amounted to several millions of dol
lars every year. Since human nature has
been about the same through all the ages,
it is not entirely certain that the share to
which his Majesty considered himself en-
titled was always entirely up to the mark ;
but at any rate the galleons carried away
tons upon tons Of treasure. Hard and fast
after the galleons followed
THE PIRATES
For plunder and so much damage did the
latter commit that the Spanish sovereign
thought it worth his while to build wall
around Carthagena so wide and strong that
forty horses could walk abreast on it, at an
expense OF more than ninety millions of
dollars.
Though no longer occupied, the ancient
Notifications are still in tolerable' condition.
Their massive walls are to all appearance
impregnable, and the subterranean pas
sages leading from them may still be dis
tinctly traced. Through one of these pas
sages, which leads outward to the foot of
the mountains, communication used to be
maintained in time of siege. Another ran
between an ancient fortress on hill and
the dungeons of the Inquisition, and
through it prisoners were conducted from
prison TO punishment If you have read
Charles kingsley's delightful story called
"Westward Ho!' you viii remember that
in it he describes Carthagena minutelv.
and imprisons his hero and heroine Frank
and the Rose of Devon, in this same old
fortress on the hillside. Through the
underground passage we have mentioned,
so the tale goes, they were dragged to the
vaults of the Inquisition, where they en-
dured torments inconceivable and a ter
rible death by FIRE.
The Inquisition building still stands. but
since the power of Catholicism was broken
on this continent it has not been used for
the torment of heretics. II remained
empty for many years, but of late has
served for the ignoble purpose of a tobacco
factory. Some time ago party of United
States naval officers, finding time hang
heavy on their hands while waiting in the
harbor, attempted to explore Carthagena's
underground pathways, but they found
them so full of distractions and fallen de-
bris that not much progress could be
made.
Even the stately old castle, like every
thing else about the place, has fallen into
mournful condition of decay, and is now
used as a signal station, from which flag
is run up by man on guard as soon as a
vessel is seen to enter the harbor, thereby
notifying the Captain of the Port and the
merchants of the city of its approach.
There are several once fine but now diiapi-
dated churches in Carthagena and many
decrepit palaces, which, though partially
in ruins, indicate the magnifcence of the
old-time grandees. Many of the palaces
are now empty and others have degener-
ated into shabby tenement houses
THE CATHEDRAL,
Though architecturally one of the largest
to be found in the three Americas. is some
what shabby inside and contains nothing
worth mentioning except the big marble
pulpit. The latter is truly magnificent
affair, covered with. exquisite carvings,
and the good Carthagenians think, not
without reason, that there is nothing like
ii under the sun. The story Of its early
yicissitudes adds to its value and interest.
About 300 years ago the Pope of Rome,
wishing to show especial favor to his de-
yout subjects IN New Spain ordered the
construction of this marble pulpit for Car
thagenas cathedral. 1t was designed and
carved in Rome by the foremost artists OF
the day, and when properly consecrated it
was shipped with greal ceremony on board
Spanish galleon bound for the Western
World.
While on the way the vessel was over
hauled by pirates, who ripped open the
boxes containing the pulpit, and being
angered at discovering nothing therein for
which they could find any use they
dumped the whole thing overheard in
mid-ocean. But-wonder of wonders =
by direct interposition of the saints not
one o: the ponderous cakes of solid marble
could be made to sink The buccaneers
frightened out Of their wits by this mira.
Gle, fed from the ship, leaving all then
booty. With great difficulty the Spanish
sailors got their sacred cargo aboard
again and started on their way. But they
had not proceeded far before second lol
of sea-robbers overlook them and burnec
the galleon, having made way with all it.
valuables and murdered every one of the
crew.
However, the saints still preserved tht
precious pulpit, and, while everything else
was consumed or swallowed up by th,
greedy waves it hoated away Serenely
upon the surface Of the sea, and, guided b,
invisible hands, finally went ashore on an
unfrequented beach few mile ahoy,
Carthagena. In heretlcal minds the quer,
may arise why the saints aforesaid did no
save human life, time, trouble and ex
pense by guiding the pirate ships in som,
ether direction, or at least by landing th'
p,,lpit in the right spot while they wer,
about it; but it is not your business no
mine to question the miracles.
For many years the beautifully carve(
marble lay on the desolate beach unknown
and unnoticed, while sands drifted over j
and waves occasionally washed them away
until one day party of explorers stumble,
upon it, who recognized at once the yalu,
of the work and took it on board their shil
which was bound for Spain, Intending t
sell it there for what it would bring. Bl
1t seems that
THE SAINTS