The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-07-11

band2 The girl wife argued, and possibly
bugge, ted what che would do If she were q
man. especially a sailor man. II her cheer
ing words did not incite him to immediate
action they at least set him to thinking.
In the second year of their married life
dence in Porto SaEto, and it was there that
Diego, their only child, was born. Pedro
Correa da Cunha, q navigator of much re-
Nown in those days. who had married an
elder daughter of the Perestrello family,
had succeeded Don Bartholomew as cover
experiences to Columbus, showed him bits
of curiously carved wood and reeds of enor-
NOUS size that had drifted to. the island
from the west. and they conferred as to the
probability OF land in the direction from
whence these strange objects came. All
hl1 surroundings spoke OF voyages and dis
coveries, and by degrees Columbia became
thoroughly imbued with q desire for ad-
venture and renown.
During this time, by the exercise of his
skill as q photographer and from the PROFITS
of occasional short voyages, Columbus con-
t ived to maintain his family in comfort. in
which undertaking he was doubtless mate
rally aided by the good management of his
wife. He was not destined to enjoy such
comfort long, for while Diego WAS still q
little child, the family circle was broken by
the death of his mother. 1t was a sad loss
to both husband m son and for a while
they made a soriv failure Of exiRtsnce with
ont her. The wolf not only appeared at The
door; but drove them forth. Discouraged
and disheartened Columbus loft Portugal
in 1884, taking Diego with him. Dame
Rumor at the time circulated numerous re-
potts concerning unpaid bills and other de-
linqusncies, not creditsble to an honorable
NAME, that have never since been rsfuted
The subsequent marital relations of Co
lumbus, form the subject of much discus
sion, i not of doubt. After leaving Portu-
gal and while awaiting at Cordova, In 14S6,
the action of Ferdinand and Isabella rels-
tive to his proposed voyage Of discovery. he
birth. named Beatrix Enriquez. The his.
torians all agree in stating that he fell des-
perately in love with her. and that she was
the mother of his son Fernando. A num-
Der OF writer's affirm that she was his law-
full wife, but a careful searching of the rec
certificate in support OF their belief. The
will OF Columbus seems also to discredit
their views. In his last testament, no i'm
plores his son Diego ITO take care OF
Beatrix Enriquez, mother of Don Fernando,
my son; to supply her with all that can en-.
able her to live in an honorable manner.
she being a person to whom | am under
such grave obligations; and to do
this to relieve my conscience. because il
weighs heavily upon my soul. 1t 10 not law
full to state here the reason" A plausible
explanation of his failure to do justice to
this Indy Is given in a tumultuous letter
that Columbus wrote to Dona Juana do Ia
Tore, in 1900, in which he stated that he
had left in Portugal, when he fed into
Spain. a wife and children whom he had
never since seen. The souvenir of his de.
serted family does not seem to have sorely
afflicted his conscience. The uncertainty
concerning his relations with Beatrix En-
riquez has prevented his eanonization BY
the church Of Rome.
Notwithstanding that to Felips, his wife,
Columbus owed the Indictment to his
achievements. and to Queen Isabella the
accomplishment of them, he apparently
failed TO appreciate woman's Importance in
the world. In his last will he utterly IT,
nored possible female descendants. entail.
ing his honors and estates on the male line
of his family. At the time Of his death il
seemed a legacy of doubtful value. consist
ing mostly of claims against tho orown,
The present representative OF the house,
the duke Of V%eraguas, receives an income
OF $4,000 a year, derived from tho revenue
scent through Isabella, third daughter OF
Diego and Maria do Toledo, his wife. Theil
Ron. Luis, was q consoienceless scamp, who
at one time had three living wives. fol
wnicn excess of matrimonial zeal he wa,
exiiod from Spain. He died leaving nc
legitimate male heirs, and aftor considerable
diminishing on the part of the disqualified
male descendants, the title was given Il
Don Nuno Gelves. grandson Of Isabella ant
grent-Rreat-% grandson Of Christopher ant
Feiipa Columbus. In the end the "bottel
half" had triumphed.
IN the four centuries that Fslipa hsl
q - - .. VA aHE r