The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1892-01-01
IRyl'NG'S COLUMBUS
The Great Discoverer's First
Voyage 70 America.
A Far More Wonderful Story Than
the Nest Brilliant Imagination Has
Vet ConJnred Ioid "a the Words
OF One OF the Masters Of Lrsra-
turc.
Washington living,
EcsTrsrEnI
CHAPTER XIV.

CHAPTER XIV.
BUILDING or THE FORTRESS or IA xAvr-
DAD
The solicitude expressed by many Of
his people to be left behind. added to the
friendly and pacific character Of the M
lives, now suggested to Columbus the
idea Of forming the germ Of . future
colony The wreck Of the csravel would
afford materials 70 construct fortress.
which might De defended by her guns
and supplied with her ammunition: and
ne could spare provisions enough to
maintain q small garrison for = year.
The people who thus remained on the
island could explore II ard make them
selves acquainted with its mines aud
other sources Of wealth, they might at
the same time procure by traffic large
quantity Of gold from the natives. they
could learn their language and accustom
themselves 10 their habits aud manners
90 as 70 b. Of great use in future inter
course IN the meantime the admiral
could return 70 Spain. report the success
Of mis- enterprise and bring out re-en-
forcemenrs.
NO sooner did this idea break upon the
mind Of Columbus than ne set about
accomplishing il with his accustomed
promptuess and celerity. The wreck
was broken mp and brought piecesneal
70 shore. and site chosen and prepara-
lions made for the erections Of tower.
When Guacanzgari was informed Of the
intention Of tine admiral to leave . part
Of hss uen for the defense Of the island
from the Caribs. while he returned to
his country for more, he was greatly
overloyed His subjects manifested
equal de!lgbt at the idea Of retaining
these wonderful people among them,
and AZ the prospect Of the future arrival
u the admiral with ships freighted
with hawks bells and other precious
articles Tney eagerly lent their assist
ance 10 building the fortress, little
dreaming that they were assisting to
place on their necks the CALLING yoke of
perpetual aud tniisoue slavery.
The preparations for the fortress were
scarcely commenced when certain In
dians. arriving al the hArbor, brought .
report that great vessel. like those Of
the admiral. had anchored ia river az
the eastern end Of the island. These
tidings for time dispelled thousand
uneasy conjectures which had harassed
the mind Of Columbus. for Of course
this vessel could be no other than the
Pirta- lie Immediately procured .
canoe from Guacanagari, with several
Indians to navigate it, and dispatched .
Spaniard with letter 70 Pinzon. couched
in anicable terms, making no complaints
Of his desertlon. but urging him to Join
company Immediately
After three days absence the canoe re-
turned The Syaniard reported that he
had pursued the coast for twenty leagues
but had neither seen nor heard anything
Of the Pinta He considered the report.
therefore. as incorrect. Other rumors,
however. were Immediately afterward
circulated az the harbor Of this large
vessel to the eastward: but. on investi-
CATION. they appeared to Columbus 70 b
equally undeserving Of credit He re-
lapsed- therefore. into his doubts and
anxieties in respect to Pinxon. Since
the shipwreck Of his vessel. the desertion
Of that commander had become matter
Of still more serious moment and had
obliged him 10 alter all his plans Should
the Pinfa be lost. a. was very possible in
a voyage Of such extent and exposed to
% many uncommon perils. there would
then be but one ship surviving OF the
three which had set sail from Palos. and
that one an indifferent sailer
On the precarious return Of that crazy
bark. across an immense expanse of
ocean. would depend the ultimate sue
ress Of the expedition Should that one
likewise perish. every record Of this great
discovery would be swallowed up with
i. the name Of Columbus would only be
a. that Of mad adyenturer
who despising the opinions Of the
learned and the counsels OF the wise. had
departed into the wilds Of the ocean
never to return. the obscurity Of his
late. and it, imagined horrors might
letter ali future enterprise. and thus the
New World might remain. as heretofore.
unknown TO clyilzrd man These con-
determined Columbus to 4
abandon all further prosecution Of his
Toyage. 70 leave unrxplored the magnif-
sent regiom which were inviting him on
every hand 10 give up all hope for the
present Of finding ms way to the domin-
ons a the grand khan. aud to lose no
anne In returning 70 Spain and reporting
bis discovery
While the fortress was building be
continued to receive every day new