Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1893-07-12
CARAVELS AT THE FAIR.
The Columbus Ships Receive Hearty VEL
come to the White City.

source of great interest to the visitors
and was the cause of attracting an I'M
usually large attendance at the fair to-
day. The weather was perfect ard
hours before the most sanguine could
reasonably have expected the caravels
to arrive, the vantage points on the
beach and piers were crowded with
spectators waiting to welcome the
strange messengers from over the sea.
AT the park elaborate arrangements had
been made to receive the caravals and
every person of Importance or interest,
from the highest official to the widest
denizen of Midway Plaisance, seemed
anxious to participate in the ceremonies.
The reports of the arrival of the YES
sells at Evanston and their progress
toward the park were given out from
time to time and allayed for the mo-
ment the impotence of the spectators.
When the vessels finally did appear in
sight the news flashed along the beach
instantly, and following the exultant
cheering came the din of multitude of
steam whistles that told everybody in
the park that the quaint craft that
sailed all the way from Spain were near
ing the palaces erected in honor
Oh t1A6 tIdA WHO udIGu W Sd1l lI6
unknown Atlantic four centuries ago.
Interest centered on the Santa Maria as
she lis not only the largest of the collec-
ton but she is the only one that is COM
pletely fitted up and finished to resem-
BILE inside as we'll as out the original type.
The rigging and masts are extremely
heavy and the general appearance OF
the boats is clumsy until the great
square sails are set. Then the caravels
looked like vessels from fairyland, SO
airly and gracefully were they set in the
water.
Capt. Concas and his officers on the
Santa Maria were brought in steam
launches to the landing in the great
tural building. AS soon as they passed
under the peristyle, the South Sea ISL
anders gave their war songs, at the
same time driving their canoes over the
water at full speed. The Vancouver
Island Indians in their salmon-fshing
dugouts, the Esquimaux ranged
alongside the launches on their
slim kyacks and every bell and steam
whistle in the grounds clamored.
Drawn up in line on the terrace back of
the boat landing was the escort which
accompanied the Spaniards to the
plaza between the administration
building and the terminal station. The
Midway Plaisance had sent it's strang-
est people to march in the caravel pro-
cession. Buffalo Bills Indians, Cos
sacks, Bedouins and other rough riders
were there and the English soldiers o.
the military tournament added their
scarlet coats to the picturesque assem-
blage.
The line of march was eastward from
the agricultural building across the peri
style west along the south front Of the
manufactures, electricity and mining
buildings to the grand stand east Of the
terminal station. Here Director-Gen-
eral Davis received Capt. Conchas and
his men and presented them to the pub
lie amid wild cheering. Senator John
Sherman then delivered the following
address Of welcome:
Mr.. PRESIDENT: You have before you men
and women of all races and chimes. They have
met to share In this great exposition of the in
dustries of all nations. To-day they celebrate
the discovery of America by Christopher Colum.
bus, and the arrival here of his mimic fleet, the
Santa Maria, Pinta and Nina, manned by the
countrymen Of those who made the discovery OF
the New World
The voyage of Columbus, 400 years ago, is
great event in the history of the human race.
Its wide reaching Importance can scarcely be
measured by other events. 1t marks an in
human progress. Battles have been fought
which involved the rise ana fall of nations. In
ventorS and architects have conferred untold
wealth and prosperity upon mankind. The
genius of poets, orators and statesmen has illum-
mated the world and emblaZoned their
names among the few that were not born to die.
Can any act of these-can any act Of heroism, in
Ventlon or genius compare in its beneficial re-
suits, 70 the discovery of America by COLUMBUS?
Fre ADDED e6p t. aT dd nRs REhfE sa9a
than the crusader; more fruitful in results f than
r. ys f Ss gsI e q R5Rpe IT Ts tS Of
ton Dark Ages 7 the sa9 S3y ana wohaef
T n PBee aTgeT n o {bs eon H. 1t
Sff Snd i7yehtion of the Sixteenth Century.
Columbus found what he did not seek. He
new world greater than this. He demonstrated
the form and dimensions of the earth, its order
and movement around the sum- and made it
possible for man to comprehend the infinite
grandeur of creation in the armament. When
we consider the difficulties he overcame, his
long beseeching at court, the slender means pro-
vided for him, and the fraI vessels that were to
bear him into unknown seas, we do not wonder
at the hesitation of princes, the doubts of priests
and laymen and the fear Of sailors.
We have before US the. reproduction of the
Santa Maria, the Pinta and the Nina the three
vessels that made this memorable voyage.
These are sent to us by the same chivalrous and
gallant people who built the original fcraft and
manned and sailed them under the command of
Columbus. They are striking object lessons
which speak more eloquently than voice or
words. We welcome them to this exposition of
the industries of the world, Here on the waters
of this inland sea, 1000 miles from the ocean
traversed by Columbus, in this city the most
marvellous result Of the industry and energy of
mankind, we place this mimic fleet side by
side with the monsters that have come
from the inventive genius of the American peo-
ple-not to eXtol our handiwork, but to extol the
men who 400 years ago, with such feeble means
and resources, opened the way to all the achieve
ments of succeeding generations. Look at them;
in such as these, 120 men sailed on an unknown
ocean, they knew not where, they lived where
for 1000 historic years the Pillars of Hercules
had marked the end of the world. They had
been taught to believe in the four corners of the
earth, and that all beyond was boundless
waste of waters, into which no one had ventured
beyond the Canary Islands and the coast of At
RIGA.
Is it any wonder that these sailors regarded
their leader as crazy enthusiast bent upon
desperate adventure in which their lives were
involved, and that their wives and children
Wept over them at parting over the dead they
would see no more. AND yet. Columbus main
tanned his influence over them. He soothed
their fears with his unwavering faith, and COM
PEELED their obedience with his firmness and
courage
MANY thought him an enthusiast