Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-07-04
A MONUMENT RAISED
On the Island Where Columbus Landed
Four Hundred Years Ago.
THE TRUE SAN SALVADOR FOUND
In Watlings Island by Newspaper Expedi-
tion From Chicago.
THE TRUE SAN SALVADOR Foul
A MEMORIAL TO STAND FOR CENTURIES

| ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DIsPATCH.1
CHICAGO, July 3.-The Herald will pub
lish tomorrow morning long article giving
the results of the expedition which it sent
out a month ago to find, and mark with a
monument, the spot at which Christopher
Columbus first landed on the shores of the
| New World, October II, 1892 The expedi-
| tion, of which Walter Wellman, Washing
ton correspondent of the Herald, and Charles
Lederer, the Herald artist, were the chief
members, met with fattering success. AT
Nassau, the capital of the Bahamas, Cover
nor Shea gave the expedition letter Of
authority, calling upon all local magistrates
to give every assistance in their power.
The steamer Nassau, the largest steamer
In the Bahamas, was chartered for the
cruise, and it left Nassau June 8, having on
board the members of the expedition, me-
chanics and laborers and large quantity of
cement and number of ornamental stones
for use in construction of the proposed
monument. The plan was to go first to
Watling's Island, the land which has great
est evidence in its favor, and if it was found
to meet all the requirements the monument
will be erected there.
The Claims of Five Islands.
Five islands have been suggested as the
scene Of the discovery-Cat Island, which
for many years was marked San Salvador
on the maps; Watling's, Samana, Mariguana
and Turks Island. ALI but two of these
(Watling and Samana) have been virtually
discarded by modern geographers and his
torians
The route of the expedition lay near the
shores of Cat Island, and the Nassau was
steamed along the coast, and an examina-
tion made of its features. This was sufficient
to show beyond all doubt that Columbus
could not have landed on Cat Island, as the
island lacks every one of the features which
Columbus saw in his San Salvador, or first
island, and described in his journal.
The journal or log-book of Columbus is
landing place, and any theory there is to
the identity of the island entitled to the
honor must correspond in all essential par
ticulars with the description given by
Columbus himself No such correspondence
was found between Cat Island and the jour
nal, nor does Samana, ON careful investiga-
tlon, meet the requirements any better.
Waiting the True San Salvador. .
At Watling's, however, different story
is to be told. The expedition arrived there
June IL, and spent the next day examining
the coast. From the first moment evidence
that this was the true San Salvador ap-
peared on every hand. None of the pre-
vious writers or investigators in the field
has taken the precaution to do that which
the Herald expedition did-visit the spot in
person and apply the historic evidence, that
of Columbus himself, to the physical feat
ures of the island.
In this way the Chicago explorers were
able to find new and convincing proofs of
the identity of Watling's Island with the
San Salvador of the great discoverer. In
fact, the evidence is so strong as to be in
disputable, and sufficient to dispel all fur
ther doubt and mystery concerning the spot
at which occurred the most tremendous
event in history.
1t is remarkable fact, not hitherto
known, that in so far as his description
went, Columbus accurately described Wat
ling's Island as it is to-day
The Same Luxurious Gardens.
To this day the trees and vegetation there
about are most luxurious; and it is easily
that the gardens of which
Columbus spoke 400 years ago were in this
fertile spot. There was ample room on the
headland fer the six cabins of the aborig-
ines which Columbus found there, and on
the side of the headland were seen the re-
mains of what appeared to have been long
time ago the entrance to caves. As the alb
origines were to some extent cave-dwellers |
1t would not be surprising if ruins of the |
rude entrance to their huts still exist.
There is but little doubt that it was here |
Christopher Columbus landed, and setting |
up his banners took possession in the |
names of Ferdinand and Isabella. This |
ceremony over, he and his companions |
probably assembled the hill, no more than
200 or 300 yards away, and there beheld |
much of the interior of the island. 1t is
highly improbable that Columbus travelled |
ar inland during his first day in San
Salvador. He makes no mention of a
Quincy to the interior, and it is more than
likely that all he saw was from near the
water edge.
The Evidence Is Conclusive.
Even if Waiting did not so closely
gree with Columbus description of his San
Salvador, it would be taken as such, almost
s mathematical certainty, from tracing
of his course alone. But with
10Th lines of evidence pointing unerringly
o Waiting, the conclusion is irresistible,
he case closed.
These and hundreds of other considera-
ions induced the Herald expedition to erect
is monument on the northeastern shore of
Vatling's Island on headland overlook
ng the little sandy beach bay in which
columbus landed. More than q score of
Torkmen were engaged night and day build
ng the monument and bringing forward ma
erials and supplies. Fortunately an ample
upply of coral limestone of beautiful colors
nd picturesque shapes was found on the
eadland.
The monument rises 16 feet from its
and is built with plenty of
ement and good workmanship, to stand for
,any centuries Six feet from the ground
D pretty grotto, built for the purpose, of
tone which the feet of Columbus himself
lay have touched, is marble globe nearly !
wo feet in diameter with the outline of the I
ontinents Clipped upon the surface. A
liver star marks the site of Chicago, and an
ther star marks the true San Salvador of
olumbus-Watling's Island. ]
The Monument and Inscription.
Below the globe is a marble tablet on
hich is carved:
,