The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-05-15

lumbus says he lost In the harbor Of San
Domingo, and which was afterward recov-
cred from the ocean bed, II here. During
n of his first voyages Columbus founded
In the West Indies the first American city
and named it Isabella. TIE United States
government sent n commission to look up
the site of Isabella, restore as much OF ii
as might be possible, and reproduce the
whole at the fair. There wa little diff
Guilty In finding the site, but there were no
remains of sufficient form or interest to be
worth restoration or reproduction. Moth
ing was found but the foundations Of a few
rude stone walls, and these were in q sadly
scattered condition. Some Of these stones
were brought away and may be seen in
Rabida-mute witnesses of the first known
efforts of Europeans to construct q town in
the western world.
There are many other relics of Column
bus, among them q bell which he brought
from Spain to hang In q chapel he pro-
posed building at Isabella, a stone anchor
of the sort used in boats, autograph letters
written by the discoverer, armor, equip
ments and articles of personal use. An
assortment of the trinkets used by him in
his barter with the Indians Is not without
interest. These are beads, knives, nails,
mirrors, cloths and coins. There are
models Of the house in which he died, and
Of the coffin in which his remains are
now believed to repose in the cathedral at
Santo Domingo. A report was published
q few days ago that Al attempt had been
made to steal the remains of Columbus
from Rabida, but this was an obvious
error, for the remains of Columbus are not
at the exposition and no pretense has ever
been made that they are here.
There is a model of the house in which
Columbus was born, and a series of pic
lures representing every important Incl
dent OF his career. Among these, in strik-
ing contrast, are the scene of Columbus
appearance before the royal court on his
triumphant return from the discovery,
and the same Columbus returning from a
later voyage In chains.
In another part of the convent is shown
a fac smile Of the room in which Column
bus and his son rested on the occasion of
their memorable visit in 1886. Near by are
the cells which the monks occupied, their
walls artfully discolored In imitation Of
the stains Of antiquity. The illusion is
somewhat marred by the use to which the
for the soldiers who stand guard over these
precious relics.
II any one wishes to select for himself
the portrait Of Columbus which in his
Judgment is most likely to be the true one,
he may do 50 from an array of half a hun
dred aspirants. AS is we'll known, no au-
thenticated portrait of Columbus exists,
though in favor Of one or two paintings
there Is strong circumstantial evidence.
II one could discover in some Spanish ruin
a portrait Of Columbus about whose au-
thenticity there was no lingering doubt,
he could consider his fortune made, for
probably he could sell It for half a million
dollars. The chances are that II such q
discovery were made and the painting
brought to Chicago it would never be sui.
fered to leave. II money could buy IL, in
Chicago it would remain.
Even now there Is discussion of q pro-
posed temple to the memory Of Columbus
to be erected in Chicago, either on the site
Of the present exposition or elsewhere in
the city. The designs for the temple have
been prepared in italy, and photographs
Of them are o In Chicago. II erected it
will at once take rank as m Of the most
beautiful structures In the world. It will
be a marble colonnade of chaste design,
and in and about 1t the progressive story
Of Columbus great career will be told In a
series Of sculptured figures. This temple
will not be erected till after the exposition
shall have closed. While not much is
known as yet as 10 the plans Of its projec-
tor, 1t Is believed the beautiful memorial
will be presented to Chicago by King
Humbert Of Italy as O mark of the pride
felt in the discoveries fame by the land Of
which he was q native.
ROBERT GRAVES