The morning call., 1891-06-13
WHERE DID COLUMBUS LAND?

Eight years ago, the famous Spanish
statesman CASTELAR, proposed that the fourth
centenary Of the discovery of America
should be celebrated by an international
naval expedition from the port Of Pal0s in
Spain, whence Columbus set sail. 10 the
Island of San Salvador in the Bahamas,
which was the hrst land he sighted on the
western side of the Atlantic. Last winter
Congress took mp the idea, and provided for
a naval demonstration TO commemorate the
same event, though it did not define the
shape ii would take, and seemed 10 cOntem-
plate an exhibition in the Bay of New York.
SINGS then, the subject has been feTmen {
ing in the public mind, and it Is pretty gen.
orally felt, first. that some public notice
should be taken of the landing Of Columbus,
and second, that the subject of erecting a
statue 10 the disCOveTeT on the spot where
he first set foot in America should be con-
sidered.
a difficulty Of some seriousness has arisen
from the fact that no one knows where
Columbus did land. He kept diary, and
Of this Bishop Las Casas compiled al alb
stract, which is still in existence. The alb
straet statfs that at o'clock in the morn
ing of October y, 1902, land was sighted
from the Nina. Shortly after daybreak
Columbus effected a landing with some Of
bis officers. He described the island as
small and fat with a lagoon in the middle
With this brief description to guide them,
geographers came to the conclusion that the
island which the natives called Guanahani,
and Columbus christened San Salvador,
was the island that is marked on the maps
as Cat Island. lying a little south CT east Of
-
which led them TO this conclusion were
satisfactory to Humboldt and to Washington
Irving; they both took for granted that Cat
Island was the first spot trOdden by white
men in this hemisphere.
But since the beginning Of this century,
geographers have questioned this opinion.
The claims of four other small islands all
lying somewhat to the east of Cat Island,
to wit: Watkins Island, SANTANA, Mari
guiana and Grand Turk Island, have been
set forth with more or less learning and evil
dence Of research. The question has been
holly disputed, and good deal of ink has
been consumed in the controversy. Some
years ago. the Governor Of the Bahamas,
who took much interest in it. satisfied HIM
self that Watkins Island was the right spot,
and rebaptized it by the name OF San Sal
vadOr. On the other hand, a number of
respectable authorities concur in the opin-
ion that Columbus really landed at Atwoods
Key, in the Island of SANTANA. In the hope
Of settling the question, the Chicago Herald
has dispatched an exploring expedition TO
the Bahamas, with instructions to prepare
report that shall set the dispute 10 rest.
1t will be guided in its research by the
plain proposition that If Cat Island was the
true spot, it is remarkable that Columbus
fotilla should have sailed past Watkins
Island at very short distance without see
ing it. Columbus was certain to land on
the first island he found.
When the controversy is brought to close
by the unanimous verdict of geographers,
the question of the statue to Columbus will
come up in order. Here the promoters of
the project will be met by difficulty which
on its face seems insurmountable. The
Bahamas, which embrace all the islands
named, are a British colony. Neither the
United States Government nor the American
people can erect statues in British colonies
without going very much out of their way.
A proposal to honor Columbus by building
a monument to him on British territory
would not strike people fayorably.
When the time comes for the ceSsion OF
| the Bahamas to the United States, in ex-
| change for a sum of money, or other con-
siderations, the statue will naturally suggest
| Itself again. But until it does, Americans
have too keen recollection Of the mischief
| the Bahamas did US in the war 10 desire to
| decorate their territory even though the
! decoration would be a fitting memorial to
! the diScOveTer of America.