The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1892-10-14

WALTER wELLMAN.
The plan Of The Herald was easy
TO understand. For centuries the iden-
tity Of the island which Columbus first
landed upon had remained unknown.
The quadricentennal Of the discovery
of the New World was about to be cell
ebrated in Chicago with great exposi-
ton, and The Herald thought il proper
that tie spot at which occurred the most
tremendous event in history should be
sought ont and appropriately marked.
This was n queer task. bat fasci-
mating one. wentatitin characteristic
American tashioa-that is, jumped at 1t.
l ransacked the Congressional library
and other libraries. cabed to London
for book which was not to be found in
America | procured from the hydro
graphic Office charts Of the Bahamas
made by our government and the Brit
ish admiralty.
Night and day study Of the mystery
Of the discovery quickly showed these
\ facts: In all history there is nothing
that throws light upon the landfall save
the journal kept by Columbus himself
Five islands had been put forward rs
the real San Salvador. and hundreds If
books and pamphlets written in support
of these theories. The correct theory
must be based upon two conditions: The
island itself must have certain features
described by Columbus-lagoon, reefs.
harbor hard by headland through
which the sea had cut its way, etc
A and il must lie at certain distances
and in certain directions from five
other islands visited and described by
Columbus. As TO the latter condition,
inspection Of the charts showed Wat
lings TO be the only one that would fit
the geometrical lines Of Columbus first
voyage through the Bahamas. II II
contained the physical features which
Columbus had found in his san Saliva
dor, then the mystery was solved.
Oddly enough, the learned historians.
geographers and photographers who had
\ supported the claims Of the rival islands
had not taken the trouble 10 visit the
region Of which they discoursed. Had
they done so their controversy might
4 nave CDult W tfli lDilp aec.
Early in June our expedition sailed
K from New York. We went by Ward
\ line steamer Santiago TO Nassau the
n capital Of the Bahamas. having on board
n In addition to Charles Lederer. the ia
NOUS artist Of the Chicago Herald. a
stonemason. a marble globe, memo
N rial tablet. thirty barrels Of cement. q
man servant. Photographic outfit and
n sundry boxes. barrels. demijohns and
bottles containing the necessaries of life.
AT Nassau we had narrow escape.
The governor of the Bahamas was to
leave for England within an hour or so
after our arrival and without his au-
thority we could do nothing. An hour
of hustling. the assistance Of the Ameri-
can consul and a letter which | had
brought from Sir Julian Pauncefote,
British minister az Washington. and
Governor Shea gave us a letter COM
manding all the local officials Of the Ba-
hamas to place themselves at our COM
mand. Lucky for US that we caught
kindly Governor Shea. The lieutenant
governor, who came into power the min
ute the governor sailed. was against us.
9"lmpertinent, presumptuous Yankeesl'
he exclaimed Ito think they can come
down here and in few weeks set
tie one of the great mysteries OF history!
N II the lieutenant governor had had his
way we should have been sent back tc
liNew York quicker
VI Watlings was 200 miles away. WI
had decided that II a visit TO Watling'
produced the physical evidence neces
sary 20 establish its claims beyond doubt
well and good. II not. we We're TO stud'
the other islands in the order Of thei
Theoretical probability. How TO 81
to Watings was the question. In tn
harbor were sloops yachts and schoon
ara galore. One smellvd OF her las
cargo Jamaica rum; another OF sponges
4 third of fish. fourth OF poultry. TIL
l.abins of all were mere cells. And
was the season Of the year when calm
tcignod for days at time. The onl
steam vessel in port was the STEAMSHIP
lender, a crude craft with bottom Q
AT AS a street car, keelless and M
Iovely. Besides she cost pretty penn,
8ut we bothered the expense and too
her. hove into her our cement and SUI
1ies, employed some more masons wit
oir tools, bought half a ton Of precior