The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1892-09-02
EMBARKATiON OF COLUMBUS.
The Great Mariner and His Crew on the
Historic Eve.


Historic Eve.
On August 2, 1892, everything was
ready, and the crew were notified to
embark, to await the uncertain moment
when favorable wind should permit
the little feet to set sail. Nothing so
beftted that solemn hour as votive
procession from the caravels to the
monastery, to which the eyes of the
mariners turned as TO spiritual
beacon, brighter than any that fared
along the headlands. This pious duty
performed. the crew returned on board
the caravels, where they patiently
awaited the order 70 sail. while Column
bus retired to the monastery eagerly TO
watch for a favoring wind.
Columbus kept all sail on his caravels
during the night of August :. The old
salts of the crew looked for favoring
wind at starting. and Columbuss eager
watchfulness was not to pass unre-
warded. From the height on which La
Rabida stood. he scam ed sea and sky
with steadfast gaze, like one of those
sea-birds, presagers of changes of wind
and weather, clinging to the SCARED
and storm-beaten cliff. About three in
the morning, while the stars yet
twinkled in the skies and all earth
slumbered, the awaited breeze sprang
up, bringing new life to the discoverer's
veins and quickening the throbbing of
his heart. The pines murmured as
though hymning the dawn. and the
waters rippled as though heaving with
the breath of love and hope. Columbus
awakened Padre Juan. and he in turn
the child Diego, and the three
repaired to the chapel in guest OF
heavenly aid and religious solace
for the approaching pangs of
separation and for the fateful voy-
age AS in the boundles ether shine
the stars, so the lamps fickered in the
little church, lighting with their rays
alike the courses of the ocean and the
pathways of the soul. The monk put
on his priestly vestme nts and celebrated
the holy sacrament at the high altar,
before the taper-lighted virgin. The
hour was come, and Columbus resolute-
y descended to the shore, plucking
himself away from embraces that held
him to the land like some deep-rooted
oak, for the sail-wings were ready to
bear him to the realm of sea and sky.
He soon reached the wharf and as the
dawn broke in the east the flagship
majestically ran in shore to take the
new argonaut on board. The tiuttering
sails, the hurried maneuvers of the
crew, the boatswain's whistle, and the
cries of the sailors as the ships got
under way, announced a speedy depart
ure and attracted the early risen viii
layers to the shore in their natural
desire to witness the scene and to bid
farewell to departing friends and loved
ones. When Columbus sprang from
the skiff on board the caravel, and the
anchors were weighed, a shudder ran
alike through the departing sailors and
the leave-takers or the strand. Where
they were going they knew, but as
their westward course after leaving
Cadiz and the Canaries was to take
them far beyond those lately won
islands, none knew whittier they were
bound or the duration of the voyage
The cross foated above the flagship,
which bore seward toward the I'M
known. seeking mysteries perchance
impenetrable and inaccessible to the
human mind and unconquera bic by
human will.-Emilia CASTELAR,, in Cen