The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1891-11-13
lRVlNG'S COLUMBUS.
The Great DISCOVERIES First
Voyage to America.
CHAPTER vII.-continued.


The tempest still raging with unabated
violence, the admiral and all the mari
ners made vow, that if spared, wherever
they first landed they would so in pro-
cession barefooted and in their shirts to
offer up prayers and thanhsgivings in
some church dedicated to the Holy Vir-
gin. Besides these general acts of pro-
pitiation, each one made his private vow,
binding himself to some pilgrimage or
vigil or other rite of penitence and
Thanksgiving at his favorite shrine. The
heavens, however. seemed deaf to their
vows; the storm grew still more wild
and frightful, and each man gave him.
self up for lost. The danger of the ship
was augmented by the want of ballast,
the consumption of the water and pro-
visions having lightened her SO much
that she rolled and tossed about at the
mercy Of the waves. To remedy this,
and to render her more steady. the ad-
miral ordered that all the empty casks
should be filed with sea water, which in
some measure gave relief.
During this long and awful conflict of
the elements the mind of Columbus was
q prey to the most distressing anxiety.
He feared that the Pipta had foundered
in the storm. In such case the whole
history of his discovery, the secret of
the New World, depended upon his own
feeble bark, and one surge of the ocean
might bury it forever in oblivion. The
tumult of his thoughts may be judged
from his own letter to the sovereigns:
II could have supported this evil for
tune with less grief" said he, chad my
person alone been in jeopardy, since !
am a debtor for my life to the Supreme
Creator and have at other times been
within step of death, but it was a
cause of infinite sorrow and trouble to
think that after having been Illuminated
from on high with faith and certainty
to undertake this enterprise, after hav-
ing victoriously achieved it, and when
on the point of convincing my opponents
and securing to your highnesses great
glory and vast increase of dominions, it
should please the Divine Majesty to defeat
all by my death. 1t would have been
more supportable also had not been ac-
companied by others who had been
drawn on by my persuasions, and who,
in their distress, cursed not only the
hour of their coming, but the fear in
spired by my words which prevented
their turning back, as they had at vari-
GUS times determined. Above all, my
grief was doubled when l thought Of
my two sons, whom had left at school
in Cordova, destitute in strange land,
without any testimony Of the services
rendered by their father, which, if
known, might have inclined your high
nesses to befriend them. And although,
on the one hand, was comforted by
faith that the Deity would not permit
work Of such great exaltation to his
his church, wrought through SO many
troubles and contradictions, to remain
imperfect, yet, on the other hand, re-
aected on my sins, as a punishment for
which he might intend that should be
deprived of the glory which would re-
dound to me in this world"
In the midst of these gloomy appre-
tensions an expedient suggested itself,
by which, though he and his ships
should perish, the glory of his achieve
ment might survive to his name and its
advantages be secured to his sovereigns.
He wrote on parchment brief account
of his voyage and discovery, and of his
having taken possession Of the newly
found lands in the name Of their catho-
lie majesties. This he sealed and di-
rected to the king and queen, super
scribing a promise of a thousand ducats
to whomsoever should deliver the packet
unopened. He then wrapped 1t in a
waxed cloth, which he placed in the CEN
ter of cake of wax, and inclosing the
whole in large barrel threw it into the
sea, giving his men to suppose he was
performing some religious VOW. Lest
this memorial should never reach the
land, he inclosed copy in similar
manner and placed 1t upon the poop, SO
that, should the caravel be swallowed up
by the waves, the barrel might Aoat off
and survive.
These precautions in some measure
mitigated his anxiety, and he was still
more relieved when, after heavy show
ers, there appeared at sunset Q streak Of
clear sky in the west, giving hopes that
the wind was about to shift to that quar-
ter. These hopes were confirmed; p fa-
vorable breeze succeeded. but the sea
still ran SO high and tumultuously that
little sail could be carried during the
night.
On the morning Of the 18th, at day
break, the cry Of land was given by Rui
Garcia, a mariner in the main1op. The
transports of the crew at once more
gaining sight of the Old World were al
most equal to those experienced on HEgt
beholding the New. The land bore east
northeast, directly over the PROV of the
csvayel, and the usual diversity of opin-
ion concerning 1t arose among the pilots.
One thought it the island OF Madeira;
another the rock of Cintra, near Lisbon;
the most part, deceived by their ardent
wishes. placed it near Spain. Columbus.
however, from his private reckoninga
and observations, concluded it to be one
Of the Azores. A nearer approach proved
It to be an island; twas but FIVE leagues
distant, and the voyagers were congrat-
nlating themselves upon the assurance
Of speedily being in port when the wind
yeered again to the east-northeast, blow
ing directly from the land, while heavy
kea kept rolling from the west.
For two days they hoyered in sight of
the island, yainly striving to reach it, or
TO arrive at another island Of which they
caught glimpses occasionally Though the
mist and rack Of the tempest. On the
evening Of the 18th they approached 80