New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-05-15
WHENCE COLUMBUS SAILED.
THE ANCIENT PORT OF PALOS WILL CELE-
BRATE THE FOURTH CENTENARY
OF THE EVENT
Lisbon, April %.


brated this year in many places with elaborate
ce~monals. The eyes Of all the world are iiXed
upon Chicago, where all tie nations of the world
are to unite N honoring the rhemery Of the
famous mariner and his equally famous voyage.
II is understood also that on Christopher Column
bus Day there will be fitting observances in
every American city and town Spain, too, will
nav her national tribute of esteem 10 the name
Of him who found new world for Leon and
CASTLE" though little of that new world now
belongs TO her, save the ever fathful"and ever
troubled-isle. As for Italy, she remembers the
great Genoese, and will do her part to make the
anniversary memorable
Not one Of all these various celebrations, how
ever, will surpass in historic interest that when
IL TO occur at the little port of Palos, in the en-
IRENE southwestern corner of Spain. 1t was from
that plaee that. on August 3, 1892, Columbus set
sail OH his voyage of discovery, and tiat place
Was tho last land he saw far astcrn of his little
feet until after many weary weeks, he sigh'eu
the sandy shores of San Salvador. Palos was IN
+bess DAYS the chief city there. Now it has
allen into ,,ecav. and is altogether overshadowed
nv i,s peighbor uelva the capital of the province
Of that name At this historic port, the two Nttde
rivers Odel and TintO, come together ana empty
into a bay, which, a couple OF miles turther uoWh'
opens into the Atlantic Ocean. lluelVa stahds
on the point of land between the two rivers ao
the head of the bay. MOguer is opposite, on the
other side of the Unto, and Paos Is south oil
Meeuer. en- the eastern side of the bay, Just where
il epens into the ocean. PalOs has not more
than ten or twelve hundred inhabitants. all told
and is a squald and unattractive place. Not even
the runs of it's former greatness appear 10 interest
the visitor II is name, nothing more. but
Huelva is thriving city OF perhaps Z",ooo
people Its importance is OF recent dste' nav
ing arisen few years ago from the discovery
of rich copper mines near by. Since then us
growth has been rapid, and one sees there more
industry and enterprise than In most OF the other
towns of this sleepy peninsula.
The celebration at IIueva, for it will be more
at Huelva than at Palos, will begin on August
2. and continue until October 10. The National
Government is interested in it, and is giving IL
some aid But it is chiefly local affair Inc
people Of HueIva and Palos want it understood
that they are doing it, II is their tribute 70 the
memory of the great discoverer and to the memory
of his crews "a well. who were all men OF that
district and whose lineal descendants are living
there to-day The present Alcalde OF the vlilagc
of Palos hears the name of Prieto ana Is IN
disputably lineal descendant of that Prleto who
was Alcalde in 1892, and who saw Columbus
wciob anchor and set sail for the unknown west
And SO all about Palos and Huelva, one finds
people who say: "Our ancestors sailed win
Colon"
The celebration will begin on the evening OF
August 9 At that time formal announcement OF
the beginning Of the festivities will he made IN
the manner OF four centuries ago, by herald going
about the streets with trump IS and cymbals.
There is legend that thus, on August 2, l4S2, an
nouncement was made that on the next day Column
hs would set sail for the Indies. The second day,
August 3. will see Huelva. Palos and Moguer in
GALA attire great excursion will go. by wafer, 10
the neighboring convent Of Santa Maria de Ia
Rabda, led by three boats named the Santa NARA,
the Pinta, and the Nina. There will he. at La
Rabida a festival of banners. salutes OF artillery
brass band music in unlimited quantities. ana a
grand banquet hymn written for the OCCASION
and selected in public competition, will also be
sung. After these festivities at La Rabida' inc
eycnrsion will proceed, by wafer TO Palos, and
services will he held there III the
ancient church in which Columbus himself knet
in PRAYER before setting out on his voyage In the
evening there will be a grand parade of boats of
all kinds. illuminated with colored lanterns, on
the water about Tuelva.
Aupust and September, there will be Some unusual
The long catalogue comprises banquets,
balls concerts, horse-races, target shooting, boat
races. fireworks and-most interesting Of ALA
carnival at which the costumes and the dances OF
the fifteenth century will he exactly reproduced
There is also to be a naval display Of great in
tercst. at which reproductions Of Columbuss
three sbips will be seen. These three vessels are
new being built, one being furnished it is said.
by America one by Spain, and one by Hueva and
Paos They will he rugged and manned exactly
like the caraves with which Columbus made his
voyage special newspaper is TO he published
daily giving full accounts Of the progress of the
celebration.
or much interest, also, will be the literary and
artistic connection arranged by the Columbian
Society One Of the objects Of this competition
is an ode dedicated TO the union Of Spain with
Spanish America. For the successful competitor
the Infanta Maria Isabella offers as prize an eX-
quisite cane the gold head Of which is adorned
with amethysts and diamonds. Another object of
competition is an ode, or hymn, 70 be sung with
orchestral accompaniment, on the subject Of the
discovery of the New World The prize for this,
a bronze statue of Columbus is offered by the King
Of Spain; or perhaps it would be more correct to
say, by the Queen-Regcnt in the name Of the
King for His ajcsty is scarcely old enough yet to
have much practical interest in such things The
third object is epic poem on the discovery Of
America For this the Due de Montpnser offers
handsome scarf pin of diamonds and turquoiscs.
The Due also offers prize of a silver cabinet for
the winner of the fourth competition, for histor-
ical essay on the settlement and development of
America. The fifth prize is bronze statue, offered
by the ex-Queen isabella H., for the best bograph-
ical sketch of Fray Juan Perez de Marchcna the
friend Of Columbus and guardian Of the convent of
La Rabida. sixth competition will be for q
critical essay on the Spanish colonies in America,
and its prize. bronze bust is offered by the
Queen Regent. Finally, the city of IIuclva offers
a silver writing desk for the best chronological
photography Of Columbus and his fellow-dis-
covereB.
An International regatta AZ which a n,iyo will