The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1892-01-22

mad sprung mp N the royal mind. oone
who had seen the natives brought In the
c~aravel declared hat their color. hair
ana manners agreed with the de<cnp-
ton Of the people Of that part Of India
which lay within the route Of the Portu-
cuese discoveries. and which had been
included IN the papal bull. Others 0 b
served that there was but little distance
between the Tercera islands and those
which Columbus had discovered. and
that the latter. therefore. clearly apper'
tanned 70 Portugal. Seeing the king
much ~perturbed in spirit. some even
went 50 far As 10 propose. ~ . means o.
impeding the prosecution Of these enter
prisss. that Columbus should be- assAs-
sinated, declaring that he deserved death
for attempting TO deceive and embrou
the two nations by his pretended discov'
cries. II was suggested that MS assassa-
nation might easily be accomplished
without mourning any odiun. advantage
might be taken Of his lofty department
70 pique has pride. provoke him into an
alteration. and then dispatch him a u
in casual and honorable encounter.
1t il difficult 70 believe that such
wicked and dastardly counsel could have
been proposed 70 = monarch 50 upright
q John II. bur the fact Is asserted BY
various historians. Portuguese ~ well -
Spanish. and it accoris with the perfdi-
Gus advice formerly given 70 the mon
arch in respect 70 Columbus. There isa
spurious loyalty about courts. which Is
often prone TO prove its zeal by its base
ness. and it is the weakness Of kings 70
tolerate the grossest faults when they ap
pear TO rise from personal devotion.
Happily the king had toe much mag
nanimity TO adopt the iniquitous meas
ure proposed. He did justice 70 the great
merit Of Columbus. and honored him a
. distinguished benefactor Of mankind.
and he felt it his duty IS . generous
prince to protect all strangers driven By
adverse fortune to his porta- Others Of
his council suggested a more bold and
martial line Of policy. They advised
that Columbus should be permitted 70
return TO Spain, but that before be could
st out a second expedition q powerful
armament should be dispatched, under
the guidance Of two Portuguese mari
ners who mad sailed with the admiral,
90 take possession Of the newly discov-
cred country. preseason being after all
the best title and an appeal to arms the
clearest mode Of settling 80 doubtful .
question.
This counsel. in which there was .
mixture Of courage and craft, va more
relished by the king, and he resolved
privately. but promptly. 70 put il in ex-
ecution. fixing upon Don Francisco dc
Almeida, one az the most distinguished
captains Of the age. 10 command the ex-
petition
In the meantime Columbus, after being
treated with distinguished attention,
was escorted back TO bis ship BY Don
Martin de Norona and q numerous train
Of cavaliers Of the court, . mule being
provided for himself and another for his
pilot. TO whom the king made . present
Of twenty espadinas. or ducats. Of gold.
On his way Columbus stopped at the
monastery Of San Antonio, at Wills
Franco, to visit the queen. who had ex'
pressed an earnest wish to zee this e.
traordinary and e~nterprising man. WHOSE
achievement was the theme Of every
tongue. He found her attended by . few
Of hes ia orite ladies. and experienced
the n. :. fattering reception Her maj
esty made him relate the principal event'
Of his voyage and describe the countries
be had found. and she and her ladies
hung with eager curiosity upon bis mar
ration.
That night be slept at Llandra, and
being on the point Of departing IN tn
morning. . servant Of the king arrived
to attend him to the frontier. II be pre-
ferred 10 return TO Spain by Land. and =
provide horses. lodgings and everything
be might stand in need Of At the roya
expense The weather. however, having
moderated. he preferred returning in hi
caravel Putting TO sea-, therefore, o.
the 18th Of March, be arrived safely .
the bar Of Saltes al sunrise Of the 18th
and at midday entered the harbor Q
Palos, whence be had sailed on the 3
Of August in the preceding year, havin
taken not quite seven months and . hal
to accomplish this most momentous 9
AL maritime enterprise.
ITO N CONTINUED