Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1892-04-07
COLUMBUS FLEET.
Recent Investigation Concerning
tho Diaooveror's Chips.
Interesting Particulars 81 tao Great
NoyhGur'a Equipment Clio ned from
Ancient Documents Found
In Spain.


Europe and America vic with each
other at the present time iu presenting
10 the world interesting facts. CLEANED
from researches in connection with
Christopher Columbus and the discovery
OF this country. the commamoration Of
which Is soon 10 be celebrated The
Austrian Maritime Review has recently
published q very interesting illustrated
article, the result Of Investigations that
have been made, particularly In Spain,
In order 10 ascertain beyond doubt the
exact type and maritime value Of the
three ships that brought the great ex-
plorcr to the boundarics Of new cont.
ncnt These ships. as we already know,
were called "caravcllcs," but only tho
latest researches have gained for us the
knowledge that this name did not apply
10 any particular class Of vessel.
The Spaniards used The word Cara
bella" which they borrowed from the
Frnnconiun tongue, and which has its
root in the Greek word "Karati," to
designate ships that bore not the slight
est resemblance TO each other, either in
construction or capacity
The investigators gathered all posi-
BILE proofs that could he furnished
either by the admiral's diary, particu-
larry the log book, and the sketches
which Columbus published through
Juan de la Cosa, his pilot, besides many
ancient documents pertaining TO this
subject. This thoroughncss on the
part Of the investigator, has enabled
them to furnish TO the marine painter
Rafael Manloon the means Tor cxecut-
ing an aquarcll, representing the fleet
of Columbus.
The three vessels were the Santa
Maria the Nina and the Pinta. The
dimensions Of the Santa Maria were as
follows; Length Of keel, iifty-eight
feet; between pcrpeudiculIrs, seventy
fect displacement Of tonnage, from
one hundred and twenty to one hun
drcd and thirty The crew numbered
no more than ninety men at any time,
and the ship was able To carry sufii-
cicnt water and provisions for them.
The admiral's diary speaks of the size
of his lifeboat, but treats the arma-
mcnt only superiicially 1t mentions,
for example, that Decent err 90 the adj
u
bardn y una Egpingurdn The latter
OF these arms Is very well known, while
the former Is cannon OF small caliber
used IN Lombnrdy. Tho taclSelage OF
the Santa Maria was Tat of n small
three master with five single sails. The
maiumast had scutl,, which the
Sketches show TO have been round, like
basket. The general form Of the hull
was that which was common to the
round vessels Of that age In the stern
the ship carried n large cabin-house,
with a small one In the bow
The scaworthincss Of the Santa
Maria was excellent Tho Gdmiral's
diary speaks thus Of il: "Thc vessel be-
havcd splcudidly in b d weather; It
travelled with the swi;ucss Of n good
flyer" II was the same with the other
ships, and the log records often fifteen
Italian miles an hour, which is equal to
eleven nautical miles, speed that was
very good for the vessels OF that age.
The dimensions Of the other two YES
sells are not recorded, but the sketches
and designs describe them as Of smaller
size. The Nina rcscmblcd tho Santa
Maria; the piuta carried triangular
sails, which were replaced with square
ones after the first stop at the Canarics.
Each vessel carried the Castillian flag
on its mninmust, aud the flag Of the nd
miral on its miazcumast. The Aragon
ian arms were excluded by order Of the
queen, because AruCunia refused to
participate in dofrayiuy the expenses Of
the expedition, The udmirars flag was
n white standard with green cross be-
tween two crowned letters, +. and l.,
the initials Of Ferdinand and Isabella.
A cross was also painted on every sail
Of the ships, II custom adopted by the
Spaniards and Portuguese TO distinguish
their fleets from those Of the inhdels.
A canvas, found In the museum OF
Madrid, representing the landing of the
admiral's fleet at San Salvador, and OK
ccutcd by the painter Brugada, corrc-
spends fully with the descriptions set
forth 10y the Australian Maritime Re-
view.