Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-09-11
COLUMBUS AS BOY AND MAN.
History of the Great Explorer and How He Found Am
ESPECIALLY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.
WRITTEN FOR THE DISPATCH
WRITTEN FOR THE DISPATCH
BY L. H. WEEKS AND PAUL LATZKE.
Copyrighted, he AuhorsI

1ty OF e1alting the power and adding to the
wealth of Spain. Devoutly he confessed
himself to the friaf of La Rabida and pub
licly vowed himself 10 God in the littls
church of Palos The night of August 2 he
| passed at the convent in the performance of
religious duties
just as darkness began to give way in the
early hours OF morning, Columbus, accom-
panied by Juan Perez and other fast
friends. went down to the shS whence he,
was 10 embark. Despite alk attempts at
cheerfulness 1t was a sad farewell The
stars had not yet disappeared before the
morning light and the three vessels were
dimly seen swinging at their moorings.
The populaee had assembled on the beach
still to weep and moan over the departure
of neighbors aud relatives. Embracing his
friends for the last time and reyerently
bowing his head to receive the benediction
Of the Friar Columbus stepped into his boat
and was rowed out to the Santa Maria.
1t was an hour before sunrise when the
sails were hoisted and the anchors lifted.
There we're fears that the feet might be
waylaid by Portuguese ships If discovered
before it had reached the open seas. The
King of Portugal had heard OF the ex-
pedition. He was provoked to think that
Spain should prof by what he had re-
fused and he would gladly have destroyed
the fleet had opportunity offered. So an
early start was made in order that the ships
could get away partly under cover of dark
ness. Columbus stood in the stern OF tho
vessel and gave the order to set sail 'tin the
name of Jesus Christ" The royal ensign
foated from the masthead and with fair
wind the vessels sped down the river The
convent bell was tolling for early mass, and
the farewells of those on shore broke the
silence OF morning. In few hours the
fleet had crossed the bar at the mouth of
the river below the town of Hsulva and
striking out into the ocean took south
westerly course for the Canary islands.
The voyage was thus begun most agree
ably and Columbus was exultaut. He had
already mapped out his route due westfrom
the Canaries and he expected to come first
to the Isle of St Brandon that was believed
to exist two hundred leagues distant, then
to discover Cipango or Japan and finally
Asia or India fifteen hundred leagues to the
west or Cipango. But treashery was still
around him. On the fourth day oct the
rudder of the Pinta became loose. 1t had
been tampered with by members of the
crew who more than ever wanted to turn
back from the perils before them. It was
the 18th of August before the fleet reached
the Canary Islands and then the necessity
of repairs to the Pinta which was discov cred
to be wholly uEseaworthy, kept them in
port until September 8, when the voyage
was resumed.
There were rumors of Portuguese cara
vels cruising in the vicinity in search Of
Columbus, but the fleet did not fall in with
them and slow but safe progress was made
westward in lace OF head winds. The yoy-
age would not be considered eventful in
these days, but the unlearned sailors of the
fifteenth century were in q constant state of
alarm over their stranf e experience A
daily record of the voyage was kept by
Columbus and from this we have the story
of tho expedition.
From the start the Admiral was distrust-
ful OF his crew, and he particularly states
in his journal that he deceived the sailors
every day SO that they should not know
how far the ships bad actually sailed lest
they should be terrified at the distance they
had come from home The little feet was
undisturbed by BAD weather,
but the winds blowing steadily day and
night from the east made the sailors fear
that never again would they find wind
that would take them home. 1t was not
until the wind had swung around to the
west . on the 21st of the month that their
fears on that point were al.ayed -
Meantime very soon after leaving their
last port they began to note evidences Of
land to the westward. They were, or
course, watching for these things which
Columbus considered of great Importance,
as Indicating the truth of his ideas. On
September IA they saw tropical bird
which they believed never went farther
than 75 miles from land. Two days later
thew saw large matches of weed that looked