The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-10-27
THE TOMB OF COLUMBUS.

of Column bus 1t is a large structure,
shaped like cross, and built in 1912.
The interior is imposing. On the right
of the high altar is a chapel, small and
dark. At its end, stretched out on a
tomb, is the ghostly figure in white
marble of some old arch bishop who
lived long years ago AT his feet, be-
hind dim lamp that always burns, is
low door which leads into a dark
vault lighted only by a small and
heavily barred window. In the center
of the vault is wooden box, and in
that box of glass, and in that cas-
left of Columbus, the renowned navi-
gator.
How this box was found, after hav-
ing been unknown for over three cen
turtles, is very curious story But
first let us see how it came to be in
Santo Domingo.
Columbus was sixty years of age
when he returned to Spain from his
last voyage, worn out. his spirit broS-
en- by his many disappointments, and
his great strength exhausted by the
hardships of his life. Poor, friendless,
and alone, he died at Valladolid, Spain,
MAY 20. 1906, and was buried in the
convent of st. Francis in that city. A
few years later his remains were re-
moved to Seville and in 1541 were
taken 10 Santo Domingo, and placed in
the vaults OF the cathedral: and in the
same church were buried later the re-
mains of his brother, his son, and his
grandson.
In 1895 Spain made treaty by which
Santo Domingo was given to France:
but it was understood that Spain was
to be allowed to remove her most
precious possessions, and among these
she included the remains of Columbus.
So, on December II, 1895, a Spanish
feet arrived off Santo Domingo city,
and it's admiral said that he had come
for the bones of the great discoverer.
All the arrangements were made, and
everything was done with much show
and ceremony, for which the Spaniards
are famous. Tradition said that Co.
lumbus rested in a vault on the right
of the high altar. There a vault was
opened in the great wall, and in it
had originally been a coffin, but which
had fallen to pieces There were no
marks nor inscriptions to tell that here
were the true tomb and casket of Co.
lumbus But tradition said that he
was buried in that spot, hence these
must be his bones. So they were put
in gilded box, and this was placed in
another box covered with black velvet,
and, with much ceremony, this was
borne out to the man-of-war 'San Lo-
renzo" The feet sailed away, and
these remnants of a coffin were placed
in the cathedral at Havana
One day. nearly century after these
sventa some repairs were being made
in the cathedral at Santo Domingo.
when, quite by accident, vault was
uncovered which proved to belong to
Don Luis the grandson of Columbus,
and which was found to contain a
small box that nobody knew anything
about. The vault was Immediately
sealed up A few days later the seals
were broken, and it was opened in the
presence of all the officers of the church
and of the state of Santo Domingo, and
of all the foreign consuls; and from it
was taken small box made of lead
which was found to contain some hui
man bones and dust, little slab of sill
YER. two screws and bullet.
The metal was dull and furnished
with age. AS one by one the inscrip-
tons were made out. it became certain
that it was the real coffin of Columbus.
The Inscriptions were all in Spanish.
But the silver plate was the most
curious of all. 1t had been fixed on
the inside of the box, for the holes
were found in which the small screws
fitted. They had rusted away, and the
plate had fallen on the inside. The in
scription
ia ptc de los rios
Gel pmer Ate On
Cr!stoval Colon Dr.
WAS engraved upon one side of the
plate; and filing out the abbreviated
words makes the full text read:
Ultima parte de los rcstos
de! Prinero Almirsnte Don
CriStoval Colon Descubridor.
These words mean: THE last part OF
the remains of the First Admiral. Don
Christopher Columbus, Discoverer."
On the other side of the plate were
found Spanish words meaning: The
urn OF Christopher Colum bus"
For a long time the bullet was a
mystery t6at could not be accounted
for: but in one OF his letters, written
in the last year of his life, Columbus
speaks of his wound having reopened.
There is no record of his having been
shot, but it is believed now that he
was struck by bullet during some OF
the wars in which he was engaged be-
fore the discovery of America.
The casket has been examined and
criticised, but not the least item OF
proof has ever been brought out to
show that it is not genuine.
So we are now almost certain that
the unmarked and broken slabs that
Were taken to Havana belonged &c
some one else probably to Diego. son
of Columbusl: and we are glad to be-
lieve that the bones of Column bus rest.
after ali these centuries, in the spot
where it is best that they should rest
in the great cathedral of his own little
city of Sauto Do.ningo-St Nicholas
"A Domestic Scare.-"Jarley GO
+ full the night his ICY was born. and
tell You he had scare" How" II,
thought it was twins when he went I,
kiss il good night. Truth.
Every man is the father of his ovr
| works. and pretty family of cripple.
some OF US are rearing. Thomas Add
son