Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-08-28

new thing, and Columbus cannot be cred
tied with originating that or the other geo
graphical ideas that were the basis of his
plans for exploration. For centuries those
had been discussed and urged among all
learned men. But of Columbus it can be
said that he was not content merely to &C
cept what others had taught. He brought
many new facts and arguments to support
the old, and then he had the courage and
the energy to put them all to test.
He made several trading and exploring
voyages north and south from Lisbon and
went twice or three times to Genoa to look
after his father, who remained poor man.
In 1477 he tells US that he sailed beyond
Thule or Iceland but nothing came of this.
He also made voyages to Guinea and az
great part OF the business with that country
was making slaves OF the natives there is a
little doubt that he was engaged in that
traffic.
But his residence in Portugal did not adj
vance him as rapidly as he had hoped for.
In 1476 he had his plans for a western voy-
age fully completed and he began to seek
means for carrying them out He applied
to the King OF Portugal to give him ships
and money holding out the promise of much
wealth and glory Tor the enterprise and it is
said that he sought assistance from the cities
Of Genoa and Venice.
His proposals were not looked upon with
favor. His ideas were regarded as foolish,
and the rewards of riches and titles that he
demanded for himself in case he should be
successful were so extraYagant that he was
laughed at. That was not surprising He
was only q common seaman, of lowly
family, without reputation and without in
fuential friends. There were thousands Of
adyenturers then in Portugal pushing
schemes that seemed as promising as his,
and there was nothing in the man, his repu-
tation or his plan to give him advantage
over the others in the plea for support.
King Alfonso listened to him patiently,
but gave him no encouragement War
with Spain held the Kings attention, and
the native Portuguese admirals were doing
ali the exploring that he cared to under-
take. Year after year Columbus begged
and begged, but all in vain King John as
cended the throne of Portugal in 1451, and
the hopes of Columbus began to revive.
King John seriously considered the project.
He called a conference of his advisers to
listen to Columbus, and receiving full ex-
plantations with charts and other documents
took the matter under advisement
For several weeks Columbus believed that
his desires were to be realized. One day
news was brought to him OF q crew Of sailors
who bad just returned from a voyage with Q
strange story to tell. He sought them out
and they reviled him.
"Away with you and your crazy IDEAS"
they shouted, ''you would drive honest sea-
men to their death, would you? Go back to
sailing whence you will never come back
alive"
Explorations followed, and it was disclosed
that King John had taken mean advan-
.age of Columbus confidence. He had
secretly sent out vessel TO attempt the
course according to Columbus charts. in
order that he might secure the profits of the
discovery without paying for them. But the
,ailors, after sailing some distance west
ward, became frightened. They met with
storms that drove them out of their course,
md they returned home thankful to have
escaped with their lives and angry with the
nan whom they accused of being the author
If their misiortunes
Columbus was naturally ircensed at the
discovery of this attempt and refused to
rave anything more to do with the King.
'May God take him for what he has done
or me" he said sadly and began to make
preparations to leave Portugal.
Life had been hard with him during these
ears. He had earned scarcely enough to
upport himself and family and specula-
ions that he had engaged in had not been
ueeessfuL. He was deeply in debt and he
lad no money. Friends furnished him with
means, and taking his son Diego with him
Ie left Portugal never to return. He was
bliged to 60 away secretly under cover Of
light lest he might be detained by t,s
Kings officers or by his creditors. He even
bandoned his wife and children if we can
elieve his own statement. Years after,
Then seeking assistance from Ferdinand
nd Isabella in Spain, he wrote to a friend
rho was urging his cause at Courts:
II beg you to take into consideration all
have written, and how came from afar
0 serve these princes-abandoning wife and
hildren, whom for this reason l never after
Tard saw"
Thus he left Portugal in 1884 worse than
beggar and under circumstances thst
Iould have forever diseoneertsd . msn sf
,ss dstssHiHssier.
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