The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1892-11-04
Four Hundred Years Ago Columbus
Landed on the Shores Of the
New World

HISTORY GIVES but meager details of the
III landing; therefore we have taken pains to
gather Il few Evolutionary notes, thinking they
may be OF interest just at this time, when the
whole world is echoing salvos to his memory.
Tradition is the oral handing down, without
record, from father to son, from generation to
eheration All traditions must, after lapse
{ several hundred years, contain inaccura-
ties. Therefore, in a perusal OF the following,
due allowance should be made when the ira
ditional account differs from the historical.
When Columbus landed he found long CLAIMS,
Indians, and other large game in abundance
Having foreign rags and an immense amount
of homeSickness and sea sickness on board,
he was unable to present to the aboriginal
medicine men who boarded him IL clean bill
of health He was therefore ordered to lie 20
days in quarantine outside the bar else
come ashore and be fumigated after the GUS
toms OF the country. He chose the latter and
was firmly dashed to II stake driven in the
ground. Seven dollars worth of dry hickory
wood was piled about him, but before the
tumigator's torch was applied Columbus re-
considered and decided to go to quarantine.
The chiet Immediately sent tour Oars1nen and
a yawl to take him to his ship and at 4 o'clock
that afternoon they went TO quarantine three
miles off the harbor. Columbus passed II rest
less night and at day break the next morning
he diVested himself OF all his injected cloth
ing and SWAN ashore, where he was met
(seemingly according to appOintment) by the
CHIEFS daughter. A great pow-wow was raised
when his presence became known in the viii
lage, and but tor the earnest pleading OF his
tnir escort the fumigating PROCESS would have
gone promptly forward. In the absence OF
carbolic acid and other chemical disintect-
ants, half Il dozen gas mines were turned loose
ana 10 SIdlWdTL young BUCKS each dragged u
pole-cat to death ut the end OF long poles
through the principal avenues OF the village.
The AIR was tairly blue, no microbe could live
in it 10 minutes within 60 feet OF the earth's
surface, butColumDuS feared it meant death
TO human beings as well and he com promised
by drinking "a quart OF jet black herb Tea of
special bacteria destroy ing qualities prepar-
ed by the head chiefs head Mlfe aud two 9th
er old hags Columbus gasped franticallv tor
breath, and seeing ii tall pole standing III tho
center OF the plaza he made tor it, and amid
the plaudits OF the multitude he climbed quick
seat fastened there, his sole idea being to get
above the cloud of disentectants but in doing
it he had unconsciously performed a great
teat; he climbed with the strength OF despair
and not with the hope ofreward, but as il hap
pened, this was a CREASED pole that no young
buck OF the tribe had been able to climb during
games OF the previous days. This gave him
prestige over them at once. He then Civ
en- The freedom of the town and u halt yard of
red flannel and asked to sit down and make
himself at home. He WAS very weary from
his long swim and from the dearth of fresh
air about the village. But when he attempt
ed TO sit down he had to stand up, tor the
ground at that early morning hour was damp
single chair could be found between San Sal
vador and the backbone of the Rocky Noun
tains. Baker was not running the furniture
business at Hawleyville then). Columbus
stood around III the hot burning sun all the
forenoon and brushed flies, TO the great
amusement OF tine tougher skinned natives. |
He proposed sending OF to the ship tor Il full
dress suit and one OF his servants. But one |
clan OF the tribe came from the vicinity OF
II ii
clothing or any of his men We're landed they
would mob them and cast them into the sea, |
have AN injunction served on the whole crew,
and turn loose another dose OF disinfectautS.
The black herb tea WAS permeating Column |
bus's whole internal system with its naiIseat- |
ing bacteria destroying qurl1ties. The heat of
the sun was intense; he was swollen and dis |
figured with fly and insect bites ana one
solid blister from head to foot. When he |
came down from the creased pole he OF course |
took all the loose Slivers with him. These |
Commenced TO lester in the burning sun, yet
al W TN hI had
become SO Injured TO pain that when he mad
sat down on red hot stone just
rolled from the campfire tor cooking purpos- |
es he did not know that any thing Was wrong
until All Old hag rushed in from an adjoining
she had been awakened by the
smell OF burning meat-and pulled him OIL
Columbus was compelled to fast and give the
herb tea tull sway in his system until the third
day at the eleventh hour, when he was served
with bountifu repasI, the very best the
camp afforded. He was ofcourse very hungry
and he managed 10 get away with two young
erous smaller dishes, alter which he utterly
collapsed and lay down to the first
lci was then discovered and the victoIy won.
He could well drop care and anxiety and give
tory tells us how his men had mutined and
threatened time after time TO cast him into
the Every hour for weeks had been
fraught with anxiety and peril. This had
been indeed an eyentful voyage, full of hard
ships and long hope deferred. All honor 10
the name OF Columbus. Let the bands play,
the professions form and the eagle scream
the name is well worthy the salvos and the
homage being paid in this and foreign lands. |
We had intended 10 foil wv the stirring events
of his career tor 10 days longer, and also to
make IL few remarks concerning the furniture
business at Hawleyville, but space will not
admit, and even the u'niture business must
be dwarfed into insignificance and not men
toned in the same column nor the same
week that we ponder upon the illustrious
deeds OF that great man, who blistered his
back and slivered his limbs while discover
ing this great and glorious country. For fur
ther particulars Ancient History and No
vember issues OF The NEwTowN BEE, A. ID.
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