Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-10-27

ury was drained by the war. Her sus-
pense was but momentury." will assume
the whole burden of the cost" she said,
tas Queen Of CASTLE; and if il is be
lieved that further delay may ieopardize
the undertaking, | will pledge my
Jewels to raise the necessary funds
This WINS the proudest moment in the
life Of Isabella; it stamped her renown
forever MS the patroness Of the discovery
of the New World. Her generous offer
to pledge her jewels was not claimed;
Santangel romisng to advance the
money as 4 loan from his official
treasury.
The discovery Of the New World was
assured. A courier was dispatched to
to call back Columbus He was over
taken at the bridge Of Pinas, about two
leagues from Granada. Learning that
Isabella had pledged her royal word to
undertake the enterprise, every doubt
vanished, and he fastened ioyfully back
to concludcthe arrangements, his former
| demands being substantially granted in
| articles signed ut Santa Fe on the 18th
Of April, l402
The popular prejudice against the on
| terprise was 50 intense that great diff
Guilty was experienced in securing the
necessary ships and men AT length
Martin Al0nza Pin2on stepped forward
and made good the pledge he had given
| Columbus at the convent at La Rabida,
| years before. lie was Joined by his
| brother NinGentc Gane2 Pinzon. They
| supplied Columbus with funds to pay
| the eighth part of the expense, fur
nishcd two Of the required vessels, and
| engaged to sail in the expedition.
The place selected for the assembling
of the ships intended for the expedition
by strange coincidence, was the little
| port of l'alOs, close to the monastery Of
| La ltabida, where we first met Columbus
after his arrival in Spain, and where he
| received his first encouragement and aid
| in carrying his plans into effect. On the
18th of May Columbus took leave Of the
king and queen and went 10 Palos 70
prepare for Ills departure The monas-
| terry of La Rabida again extended hos
pitality 10 him, and his arrival was d
| great festival for all the religious there
who loved him us one of their own
members, and since the part their guar.
dlan had taken in his concerns, regarded
his triumph as their own.
Early in August the three vessels
were ready; but what vessels for such Il
voyngrl Only the Gallego had decl.
| with forccaSt.o and cahin the Others
| had only small bridge fGrC and aft and
the rest was open, while the Nina
carried only fore and aft sails. Column
bus hoistGd his admirans flag on the
Gallego, which he placed under the
special protection Of the Virgin, and
changing its named called the Santa
Maria. The banner displayed the image
Of Christ cruCited.
Everything being settled, he made his
confession 10 his friend, Father Perez
and strengthened his soul by holy com
munion for the fresh battles he was tt
engage in. All the officers and the men
followed his example, seeking strength
aud courage in religion for the ffigItlu
voyage they were undertaking, and III,
piOus ceremony filled all hearts viii
sorrow and anguish, for it seemed like
the preparation for the last Journey from
this world to the other life.
1t was early in the morning Of Friday
the Sd Of August, l402, that Columbus
received on the wharf the final blessing
of devoted Father Perez and sailed from
the harhnr After cruising for three
weeks among tbs Canary Islands in tht
hope Of finding n vessel 10 replace thu
Pinta, whose ruddcr had been broken
he put TO sea on the morning Of the 6tl
Of september, Owing TO prufounC
calm, il WAS three days before he los
sight of the islands. On the 7th of OctO
Der they lad sailed 700 leagues, 4 dis
lance at which Columbus had computes
| that he would encounter land. On The
| evening Of that day, he yielded to tht
| solicitations of the l'inzon brothers and
altered his course to the south west.
| There had been signs of land on the 18th
| but these vanished rs they proceeded
On the evening Of tho third day ON the
new course the seamrn Of the admiral's
| ship became clamorous and insisted
upon abandoning the voyage. The crews
Of the other ships joined in the cutlery
and Il dangerous mutiny was imminent
| Columbus, going among the mutt
neers, tried, by gentle words, to cain
their minds and raise their spirits, and
by the many signs of the nearncss o
land, TO renew their hope of soon secinl
| the end and reward Of their labors. Blu
his words and promises We're of noavail
they laughed ut both, and kept repeat
ing that they would 90 no further, bu
| would turn back. He was now IN the
most dangerous position Of his adventu
rous life. Many Of the crew secretly
clamored for his blood, and with draw
] swords and scowliug faces demanded