The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1892-01-15
CHAPTER XVIII.
TRANSACTIONS AT THE ISLAND or 81.
NARY'S.

TRANSACTIONS AT THE ISLAND or 81.
MARY's.
On aending the boat to land Columbus
ascertained the island to be st. Marys,
the most southern of the Azores. and .
possession OF the crown Of Portugal.
The inhabitants. when they beheld the
light carayel riding at anchor. were as
tonished that 1t had been able to live
through the gale which had ragged for
ffteen days with unexamped fury, but
when they heard from the boats crew
that this tempest tossed vessel brought
tidings Of a strange country beyond the
ocean they We're filled with wonder and
curiosity To the inquiries about .
place where the caravel might anchor So
curely they replied by pointing out .
harbor in the vicinity. but prevailed on
three Of the mariners to remain on shore
and crafty them with further particu-
lars Of this unparalleled voyage.
In the evening three men Of the island
hailed the caravel, and boat being sent
for them they brought on board fowls,
bread and various Refreshments from
Juan De Castaneda, governor Of the
island, who claimed an acquaintance
with Columbus. and sent him many
compliments and congratulations. He
apologized for not coming in person,
owing to the lateness Of the hour and
the distance Of his residence. but prom
ised to visit the caravel the next morn
ing. bringing further refreshments and
the three men, whom he still kept with
him to satisfy his extreme curiosity re-
specting the voyage. As there were no
houses on the neighboring shore the
/ messengers remained on board all night
On the following morning Columbus
reminded his people Of their vow 70 per-
1 form pious procession at the first place
where they should land On the neigh
1 boring shore. at no great distance from
! the sea. was a small hermitage or chapel
4 dedicated 10 the Virgin. and he made i'm
1 mediate arrangements for the perform
| ance OF the rite. The three messengers
on returning to the village sent priest
to perform mass. and one-half Of the
crew landing. walked in procession. bare
footed and in their shirts, to the chapel
while the admiral awaited their return
to perform the same ceremony with the
remainder.
An ungenerous reception, however,
awaited the poor tempest tossed mari
ners on their first return to the abode Of
civilized men. far different from the
sympathy and hospitality they had ex-
perienced among the savages of the New
World. Scarcely had they begun their
prayers and Thanksgiving, when the
rabble Of the village, horse and foot,
headed by the governor, surrounded the
hermitage and took them all prisoners.
As an intervening point Of land hid
the hermitage from the view Of the car
avel. the admiral remained In ignorance
or this transaction. When II o'clock
arrived without the return of the pill
grims, he began to fear that they were
detained by the Portuguese or that the
boat had been shattered upon the surf
beaten rocks which bordered the island.
Weighing anchor. therefore. he stood 10
q direction to command view Of the
chapel and the adjacent shore, whence
he beheld number Of armed horsemen,
who. dismounting. entered the boat and
made for the caravel. The admiralty
ancient suspicious OF Portuguese hostil
ity toward himself and his enterprises
were Immediately revived. and he or
dered his men to arm themselves. but x
keep ont OF sight. ready either to defend
} the vessel or surprise the boat.
The latter, however. approached IN
pacific manner; the governor Of th'
island was on board. and coming within
han demanded assurance Of persona
safety In case he should enter the caravel
This the admiral readily gave. but tn
| Portuguese still continued at wary dis
tance The Indignation Of Columbus nov
{ broke forth: he reproached the governo
{ with his perfdy and with the wrong b
: did, not merely to the Spanish monarcha
/. but to his own sovereign by such dir
! honorable outrage He informed him Q
| his own rank and dignity, displayed hi
} letters patent sealed with the royal ses
OF CASTLE. and threatened him With tn
!. vengeance Of his government. Castaned
4 replied in q vein Of contempt and d
! Rance. declaring that all be had don
! was in conformity to the commands Q
|. the king. his sovereign
4 After an Improbable alteration th
! boat returned to shore. leaving Coluu
: tus much perplexed by this unexpecte
|. hostility, and fearful that . war Nigh
|. have broken ont between Spain and Poi
|: tugal during his absence. The next ia
!: the weather became SO tempestuous ths
4 they were driven from their anchorao
! and Obliged 70 stand 70 sen toward u
= Island Of st. Michael. For twodays d
a zip continued beating about IN gree
a peril half Of her crew being detained 9
u ehore. and the greater part Of those q