The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-07-24

ana nexf. and 1t IL impossible to avoid con-
Meeting with 1t tho name OF the navigator who.
whatever may have been his motives. or what
ever his Indebtedness to tradition. led the way
to the continuous exploration and settlement
OF the western hemisphere
Yet while We have no sympathy with the
primary purpose Of this book. We would not
deny that It contains much interesting and
suggestive matter. Tho story OF the discov-
cry Of Vineland by the Mortimer and oftheir
attempts to oolonize II cannot be too often
told. nor can its authenticity bs too strong
ly insisted upon In view Of Mr.. Bancrofts
inclination to dispute 1t. Tho references
to Vineland In tho Icelandic annals and
sagas arc oonoisely and clearly set forth
by the authors OF this volume. and they have
rendered . positive service to tho students
OF history by pointing out that the archives Of
the Vatican. now at last thrown open. proba-
bly, contain good deal Of additional Informal
ton on tho subject We are reminded that
there was long series OF Bishopsi in Greenland.
In whose diocese Vineland was included and We
know that 1t was the duty Of Catholic prelates
to send frequent and detailed reports Of all
events affecting tho interests Of religion. We
know that Bishop Jon OF Iceland visited
Greenland and vineland in the year 1850 and
was killed by the natives Of tho last-named
country. Nor Is he the only Catholic Bishop
who is known to have visited tho region
usually identified with the eastern coast Of
Massachusetts, and with Rhode Island. Inkhe
year 1121 Erik. Bishop Of Gardar. Greenland
went to Vinand. and like Bishop JON ended
his life IN that country. Who can say what
other visits By Bishops may not have taken
place. and what light may not be thrown on
Morse settlements in vineland II tho archives
Of the Vatican are subjected to minute scru.
tiny throughout the period between
1850 and 1887. when tho last Catho-
lilo Bishop Of Gardar was consecrated7 1t
is quite possible. as the author OF this book
suggests. that Columbus when at Rome may
have heard or read accounts OF Vineland con-
tanned in the reports Of Bishops to the Holy
See. 1t Is also possible that investigation
would verify the assertion OF Father Oswald
Moosm0ller. who asserts that the fact of
Coumbus's visit to Iceland in 1477 is proved
by the archives Of the island. and afflrms.
moreover. that Columbus conversed in Latin
with tho Benedictine Bishop Magnus the
former abbot OF the monastery OF Helcafell in
which were preserved the records OF the dis
covery OF Vineland. Father Moosmnller further
states that. according to tho Icelandic records.
there was in the months OF February and
March. In the year 1477. an entire absence OF
snow-a most unusual phenomenon. This
confirms tho statement attributed to CO.
lumbus. that in February. 1477. tho
sea about Iceland was free from Ice.
The fact that Columbus made o voyage
to Iceland is supposed to be proved by one
OF the letters quoted by his son in his biogra-
ply The passage In question runs as fol-
lows: In the year 1477. In February. navi-
gated ono hundred leagues beyond Thule.
l $500
tant from tho equator. and not 63. as some
pretend: neither Is it situated within the limo
which includes the west OF Ptolcmy. but Is
much moro westerly. The English. princi-
pally those OF Bristol. 60 with their merchan-
disc to this island. which Is as large as Eng
land. When I was there. the sea was not
frozen and the tides were so great as to rise
and fall twenty-six fathoms." 1t is true that
In this passage Columbus puts Iceland or
Thule ten degrees too far north OF the eQua-
tor. but this no would naturally do in view OF
the too low estimate which he had formed Of
the size Of the terrestrial globe.
Another suggestion made in this book which
is we'll worth examining relates to the extent
of the ind ebtsdness OF Columbus to his lieuten-
ant. pipzon, Who 1t will be remembered COM
mapded the Pinta in tho first voyage. Had
Pinzon already visited the American CONT
nent, and was this the secret ofhs chiefs abso-
lutte confidence In the success OF his own ex-
periment2 The answer to this question de-
pends upon the Identification OF Martin AIonzo
Pinzon with another Spaniard OF the Same
name who had accompanied French navi-
gator on q western voyage Tour years before
Columbus set sail from Palos An account
of the French voyage is given In this volume
Ion In ia
Dieppe. then the great commercial and
naval port OF France and bore out to sea to
avoid the storms prevalent in the Bay OF
Biscay. Arrived Mt tho latitude OF the Azores, he
was carried westward by n current and camo
to an unknown country near the mouth OF
an immense river He took possession OF the
continent. but as he had not suff1cient crew
or material resources adequate for founding q
| settlement. he re-embarked. Instead OF re-
turning directly to Dieppe he took q south
easterly direction. that is toward South Africa.
discovered Cape Agulhas. went north by the
Congo and Guinea. and returned to Dieppe in
1859. Cousins lieutenant was q Castilian.
| Pinzon by name. who. 1t is recorded was jeal-
| GUS OF his Captain and caused him copsidera-
| bio trouble on tho gold coast On Cousins
| complaint the French Admiralty declared him
| unft to servo In tho marine Of Dieppe. Pin
| Son then retired to Genoa. and afterward to
| CASTLE. Another Circumstance 10 brought for
| ward In this book as tending to indicate that
| this was the same Pinzon to whom Column
| bus afterward intrusted the command OF the
Pinta We must recollect that according to
| his biographer Columbus had lost all hope
when he was suddenly accosted by three mar
liners Of Palos. skilled prudent. and renowned.
who became his friends. These men were
three relatives Of tho name Of Pinzon one OF
them was Alonzo: was not this. it is asked. the
old lieutenant OF Cousln' 1t Is certain that the
| conduct OF Pinzon throughout the voyage can
be most easily explained on the hypothesis OF
some previous acquaintance with the Amsri-
| oan continent Columbus's son records that