Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-10-16
CHAPTER x,

THE LAST VOYAGE AND DEATH.
The sight of Columbus and his brothers
in chains at Cadiz caused public sentiment
| to take sudden turn in favor OF the Ad-
miral. For the moment his cause was as
warmly championed as he had before been re-
| viled. The people turned upon his enemies
with fury.
''Why do you seek thus to degrade one
who has done so much for Spain?" they de-
manded. rs this fair return for his work,
and is it thus that you expect to encourage
others to enter the service of Spain? Shame
upon those who have brought him to this
low estate"
The people welcomed Columbus with
much affection; they followed him as he
walked from the ship in irons aud cheered
him; they demanded Of the authorities that
he should be released and they threatened
to take the matter into their own hands ii
the wrong was not righted at once But
Columbus with dignity and sadness refused
all favor except at the hand of his SOW
sreigns That was soon forthcoming, how
ever
Alonzo de Villeio reported to them his
arrival and his version of affairs in the
colony and other information came to them
favorable to Columbus. They promptly re-
pudiated the tyranical action Of Bobatlilla,
ordered Columbus to be released and d.
rected that he be escorted with honor to
the court in Grenada. He was no longer in
disgrace, but more than ever in favor, but
the remembrance of his sufferings and the
indignities that had been inflicted upon him
could not be entirely effaced. When he ap-
peared before the King and Queen, !sa-
bella was moved to tears, while Columbus
gave way to his emotion in storm of tears
and sobs.
The charges against Columbus were dis
missed without investigation and he was as
sured of the complete confidence of his
sovereigns in him and his enterprises. His
desire to return to the New World was
readily granted, but the plan was not SO
readily carried out There was evident in
tention to repay him for what he had suf-
tered and to straighten out affairs in the
colony, but the time had passed when Col
umbus could be allowed to stand in full
possession of the New World Other ex-
petitions had been sent out from time 70
time and many had returned with gold and
other riches. Cabral TOR the Portuguese
and Cabot for the English had also made
discoveries in the Western Hemisphere.
The idea of great kingdom across the sea
was in the minds of all people by this and
Columbus and his ambitions were forced
into second place.
But great expedition was organized at
once. There were 35 ships and $500 mem
many of them with their families. The
fleet was in charge of Nicholas de Ovando,
who had orders to supersede Bobadilla and
send that officer home, and to see that the
property of Columbus was restored TO him,
and that he was pail for all that he lost BY
the outrageous cruelty Of the usurper Boba-
diIla.
The Admiral himself was detained at
Grenada for nearly nine months on one pre-
text or another The discovery by the Por-
tuguese of India, with its vast treasures Of
gold, silver, jewels and costly goods, bad
excited the Jealousy and avarice of Spain,
and Columbus plan to sail this time in
search of strait that should lead from the
Western to the Eastern side of the land
that he had found, and which was still be-
1ieved to be Asia, was listened to with re-
spect With squadron of only four small
caravels and $50 men he sailed away from
Cadiz May 8, 1902 on his fourth and last
voyage. With him were his brother Bar
given full powers of exploration, but he
was forbidden to touch at HIspaniola- His
sovereigns refused to allow him to 60 back
at all to the colony that he b ad left in irons,
even though they had not listened to the
charges against him.
That very prohibition brought upon him
much suffering, for no sooner had he reached
the New World than he was in need OF as