Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-09-11

were unlearned and superst1tlous; they be-
| lieyed all the strange stories that were told
| of the mysterious Western ocean and they
| felt certain that this expedition would
never be heard from after it had once got
out of their sight Men rose up and de-
| nounced the crazy adventurer who had be-
| witched their sovereigns and would lure
| poor men to their death. Women wept and
| tore their hair at the thought of being COM
PEELED to part with fathers, brothers and
| husbands.
1.-The man is in league with the evil one, 4"
| they declared. she will take the souls as
| well as the bodies of our men when be gets
| them out there In Satan's own waters"
1t is not easy for us in these days with
| our knowledge Of the world to understand
| how these poor people must have felt But
the dangers that they imagined, although
we can laugh at them now, were all very
real to them. Criminals were drafted from
the prisons OF spain to assist in the work of
preparation and to make up the crews of
the ships OF exploration. This added to the
prejudice against the enterprise. for re-
spectacle sailors did not relish the idea of
going to sea with Jail birds. 1t is not sur
prising that in their desperation they even
talked of killing Columbus in order to save
themselves.
In consequence the work progressed
obsiacl in the way of Columbus and would
do nothing except as they were compelled.
Another royal order, making it treasona-
bic offense to refuse assistance, was needed
before they would yield, and even then
they continued their mutterings of discon-
tent. The friar Juan Peraz used his inhu-
ence to good effect and the two Pinzon
brothers, Martin Alonzo and Vincente
Yanez mariners of Palos and men of some
wealth and social standing, helped to quiet
the fears of the common people. They had
been among the earliest converts to the
ideas OF Columbus, and now they came for
ward offering to pay one-eighth of the ex-
pense of the expedition. They gave time,
money and influence and announced their
intention to join the expedition in person.
But in spite Of their aid 1t was two months
instead of ten DAYS before the ships were
completed. By the end Of July all was in
readiness.
Three ships made up the little fleet They
were small vessels, none of them being over
100 tons burden. Only the largest, the
Santa Maria, was decked its entire length.
1t was IS feet long and 25 feet broad, smaller
than many of the pleasure yachts of to-day.
The Pinta and the Nina were built high at
the bow and the stern, and had decks &C the
ends, the section amidships being uncov-
cred. All the vessels were three-masted,
the Santa Maria with square rig at fore
mast and main mast and lateen sails at the
mizzen mast, and the Pinta and Nina with
lateen sails throughout Accommodations
for the sailors were of the most primitive
description. Columbus had private room,
but the common sailors had bundles of
straw thrown down on the deck upon which
to sleep. Only the commonest food was on
board and the cooking was done over bra
ziers OF charcoal. Stores Of goods, princi-
pally cheap trinkets with which to trade
with the natives of the new land, were
placed in the holds. For armament there
were lombards and falconets, rough, rude
cannon of iron from which balls of iron or
stone were thrown. The members of the
crew carried guns and swords. In all there
were 120 persons in the fleet Admiral
Columbus sailed in the Santa Maria, Mar
tin Pinzon commanded the Pinta and his
brother the Nina
1t was the second day of August, 1892,
that the three little vessels were finally rid
ing at anchor in the waters of the Tinto river
before the town of Palos, all equipped and
with the crews abroad. The next dsy was
fixed upon for departure. Up to the last
moment the opposition of the people OF
Palos had continued with rioting and loud
and angry protestations Attempts were
even made to damage the vessels so that
they might not sail And now when oppo-
sition was no longer of avail gloom and de-
spondeney settled upon the community.
Officers and men attended divine services
and implored the protection of heaven, al |
though they had little hope that even
Divine favor would ever bring them safely |
nome again. The community was stricken |
with grief and spent the day and night be- |
fore the sailing in tears and lamentations
Columbus rejoiced in hope, but was inn |