Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1892-10-02

! The plan of The Herald was easy
to understand. For centuries the iden-
tity of the island which Columbus first
landed upon had remained unknown.
The uuadricentennial Of the discovery
of the New World was about to be cell
ebrated In Chicago with a great exposi-
ton, and The Herald thought it proper
that the spot at which occurred the most
tremendous event In history should be
sought out and appropriately marked.
This was q queer task, but a fasct-
mating one. Invent atitin characteristic |
American fashion-that is, jumped at 1t.
I ransacked the Congressional library
and other libraries cabled to London
for book which was not to be found In
America. | procured from the hydro
graphic Office charts of the Bahamas
made by our government and the Brit
ish admiralty.
Night and day study of the mystery
of the discovery quickly showed these
facts: In all history there is nothing
that throws light upon the landfall save
the journal kept by Columbus himself.
Five islands had been put forward as
the real San Salvador, and hundreds OF
books and pamphlets written In support
Of these theories. The correct theory
must be based upon two conditions: The
island itself must have certain features
described by Columbus-lagoon, reefs,
harbor hard by a headland through
which the sea had cut its way, etc.
and II must lie at certain distances
and in certain directions from five
other islands visited and described by
Columbus. As to the latter condition,
inspection of the charts showed Wat
lings to be the only one that would fit
the geometrical lines of Columbus first
voyage through the Bahamas. II II
contained the physical features which
Columbus had found In his San Saliva
dor, then the mystery was solved.
Oddly enough, the learned historians
geographers and photographers who hao
supported the claims Of the rival islands
had not taken the trouble to visit the
region Of which they discoursed. HAD
they done 30 their controversy NIGH
have come to an end long ago.
Early in June our expedition sailet
from New York. We went by War;
line steamer Santiago to Nassau, tn
capital Of the Bahamas, having on boar
In addition to Charles Lederer, the ia
nous artist of the Chicago Herald,
stonemason, a marble globe, memo
rial tablet, thirty barrels of cement,
man servant, Photographic outfit an
sundry boxes, barrels, demijohns an
bottles containing the necessaries OF life
At Nassau we had q narrow escapt
The governor of the Bahamas was
leave for England within an hour or
after our arrival, and without hts a.
thority we could do nothing. An hor
of hustling, the assistance of the Amer
can consul and q letter which l ha
brought from Sir Julian Pauncefot
British minister at Washington, ar
Governor Shea gave Ms letter cor
mapding all the local officials Of the B
hanas to place themselves at our COZ
mand. Lucky for us that we caug
kindly Governor Shea. The heutena
governor, who came into power the md
ute the governor sailed, was against
'Impertinent, presumptuous Yankees
he exclaimed; ito think they can COZ
down here and In few weeks 8
tleone Of the great mysteries of histor,
If the lieutenant governor had had
way we should have been sent back
New York quicker.
watlings was 200 miles away.
had decided that II visit to Watlii
produced tho physical evidence nee
sary TO establish Its claims beyond dou
weil and good. II not, we we're TO str
the other islands In the order ct Il
theoretical probability. How to
TO watlings was the question. In
harbor were sloops, yachts and scho
ers galore. One smelled Of her
cargo, Jamaica rum; another of spon,
a third OF fish, fourth OF poultry.
cabins Of all were mere cells. An
was the season Of the year when ca
reianed for days at @ time. The
steam vessel In port was the steani
tender. a crude craft with q bottom
fat as a street car, keelless and
lovely. Besides she costa pretty pen
But we bothered the expense and
her. hove into her our cement and
plies, employed some more masons
their tools, bought halfa tonof prec