Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1891-09-10
WOODBURY., N. j, THURSDAY, September 10, 1891
east to west, and on the third day no

east to west. and on the third day no
birds were to be seen
The crews now began to fear that they
had passed between islands, from one to
the other of which the birds had been
flying Columbus had also some doubts
of the kind, but refused to alter his vest
ward course. The people again uttered
murmurs and menaces, but on the fol-
lowing day they were visited by such
fights of birds, and the various indica-
tions of land became so numerous, that
from state of dependency they passed
to one of confident expectation.
Eager to obtain the promised pension,
the seamen were continually giving the
cry Of land on the least appearance Of
the kind. To put a stop to these false
alarms, which produced continual disap-
pointments, Columbus declared that
should any one give such notice, and
land not be discovered within three days
afterward, he should thenceforth forfeit
all claim to the reward.
On the evening of the 9th Of October
Martin Alonzo Pinzon began to lose con-
fidence in their present course and pro-
posed that they should stand more to the
| southwark. Columbus, however, still
persisted in steering directly west. OBJ
serving this difference of opinion in q
person SO important in his squadron as
Pinzon, and fearing that chance or de-
sign might scatter the ships, he ordered
that, should either Of the caravels be
separated from him, it should stand to
the west, and endeavor as soon as posi-
bic to join company again; he directed,
also, that the vessels should keep near to
him at sunrise and sunset, rs at these
times the state of the atmosphere is most
favorable to the discovery of distant
land.
On the morning Of the 7th of October,
at sunrise, several of the admiral's crew
thought they beheld land in the west,
but so indistinctly that no one ventured
to proclaim it, lest he should be mis-
taken and forfeit all chance of the re-
ward; the Nina, however, being q good
sailer, pressed forward to ascertain the
fact. In little while flag was hoisted
at her masthead, and a gun discharged,
being the preconcerted signal for land.
New Joy was awakened throughout the
little squadron. and every eye was turned
to the west. As they advanced, how
ever, their cloud built hopes faded away,
and before evening the fancied land had
again melted into air.
The crews now sank into degree OF
detection proportional to their recent
excitement, but new circumstances oc-
CURED to arouse them. Columbus, hay-
ing observed great flights of small field
birds going toward the southwest, con-
cluded they must be secure of some
neighboring land. where they could find
food and resting place. He knew the
Importance which the Portuguese voy-
ayers attached to the fight Of birds, by
following which they had discovered
most of their islands. He had now como
7j0 leagues, the distance at which he
had computed to find the island of Ci-
pango; as there was no appearance of
it, he might have missed it through
some mistake in the latitude. He deter
mined, therefore, on the evening of the
7th of October, to alter his course to the
west-southwest, the direction in which
the birds generally flew. and continue
that direction for at least two days.
After all it was no great deviation from
his main course. and would meet the
wishes Of the Pinzons, as well as be in
spiriting to his followers generally.
For three days they stood in this di-
rection, and the farther they went the
lnre frequent and encouraging were the
is Of land. Flights Of small birds Of
ms colors, some of them such as sing
fields. came flying about the ships
and then continued toward the south.
west, and others were heard also flying
by in the night. Tunny fish played
about the smooth sea, and q heron, 8
pelican and duck were seen, all bound
in the same direction The herbage
which foated by was fresh and green, as
ifrecently from land, and the air, Colum-
bus observes, was sweet and fragrant as
April breezes in Seville.
All these, however, were regarded BY
the crews as SO many delusions beguiling
them on to destruction, and when on the
evening of the third day they beheld the
sun go down upon shoreless horizon,
they broke forth into turbulent clamor
They exclaimed against this obstinacy in
tempting fate by continuing on into a
boundless sea. They insisted upon turn
ing homeward and abandoning the voy-
age as hopeless Columbus endeavored
to pacify them by gentle words and
promises of large rewards; but finding
that they only increased in clamor, he
assumed decided tone He told them
it was useless to murlnur, the expedition
had been sent by the sovereigns to seek
the Indies, and, happen what might. he
was determined to persevere. until. by
the blessing of God. he should accomplish
the enterprise.
Columbus was now at open defiance
with his crew, and his situation became
desperate. Fortunately the manifesto
tions of the vicinity of land were such
on the following day as no longer to ad-
NIT a doubt. Besides quantity of fresh
weeds, such as grow in rivers, they saw
green fish of kind which keeps about
rocks; then a branch of thorn with ber-
ries on it, and recently separated from
the tree, foated by them; then they
picked up a reed, small board, and
above all, staff artiicially carved. All
gloom and mutiny now gave way to
sanguine expectation; and throughout
the day each one was eagerly on the
watch, in hopes of being the first to dis
cover the long sought for land
In the evening when, according to in
variable custom on board Of the admir-
alsship, the mariners had sung the ''Salve
Regina" or vesper hymn to the Virgin, he
made an impressive address to his crew
He pointed out the goodness of God in
thus conducting them by soft and favor
ing breezes across tranquil ocean, cheer
ing their hopes continually with fresh
signs, increasing as their fears augment
ed, and thus leading and guiding them
to a promised land. He now reminded
them Of the orders he had given on Ieav-
ing the Canaries, that, after sailing west
ward 700 leagues. they should not make
sail after midnight. Present appearances
authorized such a precaution. He thought
it probable they would make land that
very night; he ordered, therefore, Wig
liant lookout to be kept from the fore
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