The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1891-10-09


CHRISTOPHER COLUMBIA
Early in the morning Of the 9th Of
September Columbus set sail from the
island Of Gomera, and now might be
said first to strike into the region Of dis
covery. taking leave Of these frontier
islands Of the old world and steering
westward for the unknown parts Of the
Atlantic For three days, however. .
profound calm kept the vessels lettering
with tagging sails. within . abort dis
lance OF the land This was .tantaliz-
ing delay to Columbus. who was i'm
patient to find himself far out Of sight Of
either land or sail. which in the pure
arlnospheres Of these tatitudes may be
deserted at an immense distance. On
the following Sunday. the 9th Of Sep
tember. at daybreak. he beheld Ferro.
the last Of the Canary islands, about nine
leagues distant. This was the island
whence the Portuguese caravels had
been seen; be was therefore in the very
neighborhood Of danger. Fortunately :
breeze sprang up with the sun, their
sails were once more filled; and in the
course Of the day the heights Of Ferro
gradually faded from the horizon
On losing sight of this last trace Of
land the hearts Of thecrews failed them.
They literally to have taken leave
Of the world Behind them was every
thing dear to the heart Of man; country,
family, friends, life itself; before them
everything was chaos. mystery and
peril In tho perturbation Of tho
moment they despaired Of ever seeing
their homes. Many Of the rugged SEQ
men shed tears and some broke intoloud
lamentations The admiral tried In
every way to soothe their distress and
to inspire. them with bis own glorious
anticipations He described to them the
magnificent countries to which he was
about to conduct them; the Islands Of
the Indian sens teeming with gold and
precious stones the regions Of Mangi
and Cathay, with their cities Of unrivaled
wealth and splendor. He promised them
land and riches. and everything that
could arouse their cupidity or infams
their imaginations, nor were these
promises made for purposes Of mere
deception; be certainly believed that b
should realize them all.
He now issued orders to the command
err Of the other vessels that, In the event
Of separation BY any accident. they
should continue directly westward, but
after sailing 100 leagues they should
lay BY from midnight until daylight,
- - ~ts<>.~4 49, Is~<-~> - 80
IDENTITY expected 10 6nd land In the
meantime. a. be thought IL possible he
might not discover land within the dis
tance thus assigned. and a. he foresaw
that the vague terrors already awakened
among the seamen would increase with
the space which interviewed between
them and their homes. he commenced :
stratagem which he continued through
out the voyage. He kept two reckon
ings; one correct. in which the true way
Of the ship was noted and which was re-
tained in secret for his own government;
IN the other. which was open TO general
inspection. q numb Of leagues wa
daily subtracted fro the sailing Of the
ship. 80 that the crews were kept in ig.
norance Of the real distance they had
advanced.
On the 18th or September, when about
80 leagues west Of Ferro. they fell in
with part Of : mast. which from il
size appeared TO have belonged to vessel
Of about 100 tons burden. and which had
evidently been long time in the water
The crews. trenblingly alive to every
thing that could excite their hopes q
fears. looked with rueful eye upon THU
wreck Of some unfortunate voyager
drifting ominously q the entrance d
those unknown seas
On the 18th OF September, IN the even
ing being about 600 leagues from th
island Of Ferro. Columbus for the firs
time noticed tho variation Of the needle
= phenomenon which had never befor
been remarked. He perceived abou
nightfall that tho needle. instead 0
pointing TO the north star, varied abou
half point OF between i've and ok d
grecs. 70 the northwest, and still NOR
on the following morning. Struck Wit
this circumstances. he observed II after
lively for three days and found that Oh
variation increased a. be advanced n
It first made no mention Of this phenon
enon. knowing how ready his peopI
were to take alarm, but Il soon attracte
the attention 81 the pilots and filled ther
with CONSERVATION. II seemed as II th
very laws Of nature were changing q
they advanced, ard that they were er
tering another world. subject 70 "