The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-08-11
CARAvELs OF COLUMBUS.
Appearance of tho Glass of Vessels In Which
the Discoverer Of America Sailed.

TIC DhSCOSerer Ot fAtnSTtcst oShhous
fCcntury]
As We have elsewhere said. the caravel was
better fitted for the task of discovery than any
other bark Of that day. Stout and big enough
to Withstand the shock Of waves, it was at the
same time sufficiently light and shallow OF
draft to enter the mouths of rivers and to tack
with ease in narrow channels. According to
nautical authorities, the name Of caravel was
genercally given in Columbns's time to any
vessel Of burden, whatever its size and strength.
"A long and narrow single-decked vessel,
with beak at the prow," says our dictionary
Of Castilan authorities, to which we turn as to
an oracle, in the matter of National idloms.
This definition, in truth cannot bo bettered In
its first part if able nautical treatises are to be
trusted. But when that classical dictionary
adds that q caravel has three masts Of nearly
equal size, with three large lateen yards and
sails, some emendation seems needful; for
though the three ships Of Columbus were
called caravels only ono of them carried the
kind Of sail thus described, and that was the
smallest and the frailest of them, the Nina.
Our dictionary is also in conflict with the
classic texts OF seamanship when il asserts cara
walls to be dangerous because of their shallow
draft, being easily capsized unless their sails
were quickly trimmed, when unimpeachable
masters of maritime science aud experience
declare them to have been stanch aud stout
enough for the needs of those times.
Tho Columbia caravels were at most OF 90
tons burden and had square poop surmounted
by high castle, to match tho smaller castle at
the bow. Square sails were sometimes carried
but caraveis were generally lateen-rIgged
Nevertheless the definition of one versed in
those matters makes the csravels Of larger size
than is commonly supposed, and describes them
as stanch and feet. with high castles at stem
and stern, with three vertical masts and bow
spirit, the fofemast and mainmast being square
rugged and the mizzenmast carrying lateen
sail. Some assert that they could make but 2e
leagues in days run; others as high as Il
leagues
| With my own eyes have seen in the Colnm.
| bian Library at Seville the caravels of Colum.
bus admirably portrayed. The discovere,
| himself has sketched them faithfully, with the
steady hand long trained by his trade of map
drawing. They are found traced in the frs.
decade of Anglerias treatise. which is pre-
| served as one Of the priceless books OF Ferdi
nand, the second son of Columbus. The dis
| proportion Of size between the ships at once
strikes the eye, and therewithal the very
| great diversity Of rig.
| The Santa Maria had the advantage OF hel
consorts in build and size. Her rigging ap
| peared more complicated than the others
| Square sails were OH the fore and mainmasts
lateen yard on the mizzen. The contrast In
| the height of the prov and the poop wa
| startling. The Hnta was shown in the sketbf
as sort of compromise between the Sdnte
| Maria and the Nina, but spared and tackled
more like the former. The Nina looked very
| much like the modern fishing and trading lug
| gers, while her lateen sails recalled those MIN
| BILE skffs so common in the waters OF the Med
| iterranean, whose white sails, bathed in thu
| rays of the southern sun, show gaily between
blue sea and bluer sky like gulls skimming
over the softly ripping surface.