The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1893-02-04
AT THE WORLDS FAIR.
Rare and Priceless Memcntoes of Colum
bus, Loaned by Foreign Gov

Through the State department at Washing
ton, Director General Davis has received de-
tailed information as to the Columbus relics
loaned the government for exhibition, saws
the Chicago Ne,cs- Record. Most of these are
documents bearing the great dlscoyeror's
of Berwick and Alba, whose ancestors sue
ceeded to the estates granted Columbus by
the rulers OF Spain. The United States gov
eminent secured the loan of the treasures by
sending w. K. Curtis TO Europe as special
envoy. He was authorized TO guarantee the
safe transmission, custody and return of the
historic collections. The invitation to ex-
hiblt under these conditions was accepted,
and battle-ship of the United States navy IS
now gathering the relies 10 bring them to
this country
Consent TO the departure OF the Columbiana
from the custody of the owners is regarded as
an extraordinary mark OF favor to the Expo
sltion and to the United States government.
So valuable are the documents that govern
mcnt guards will be in charge of them night
and day from the time they leave their owners
until they are returned ut the close of the
Fair. Special steel vaults have been con
structed for them in the convent of La Rabida
at Jackson Park, and armed troops will be
stationed there by the state department for
safeguard.
Among the invaluable manuscripts is an ac-
count in Columbus writing, Of the amount of
gold he obtained in Santo Domingo and the
names of the men TO whom It was aftcrward
sold Another is a DRAFT payable to Diego
Tristan. major-domo to The admiral. for 100
gold castellanos. The body OF the draft eN-
plains that the coin is needed to pay the ex-
penses OF trip To Seville. An annexation on
the draft. evidently OF 4 later date, In the
handwriting OF Columbus, says;
The above amount was deducted from the
10000 which aftcrwari we're giveu to me ut
Seville, by order of her hlghness, to aid me in
dcfraying the expenses, and the receipt of
which l acknowledged
One of the pathetic stories of the naviga-
tors life is outlined In the manuscript of an
argument addressed to Ferdinand and lsa-
bella in the year 1900, in which he demands
the privileges bestowed upon him as a CON
dit!on of success in his expeditions. 1t re-
cites in detail the value to the crown of his
achievements, relates the rights TO which he
was entitled by the sovereign grants, and
asks to be placed in possession of the legal
fruits of his peaceful conquest,
Valuable auxiliarlcs to the Spanish docu-
mcnts arc furnished by Pope Leo from the
archives of the Vatican. Among these is the
bull of Alexander ", giving TO the Spanish
sovereigns the same privileges in America
that had been granted Portugal on the west
coast of Africa. Following this Is II docu-
mcntary confirmation Of these privileges,
praising Columbus for his discovery and di.
vlllng the Jurisdiction of Spain and Portugal
In their conqUests of discovery by an imagin-
AIRY line from the north 10 the south pole, run
ming 100 miles west of the Azores.
In addition are papal letters granting per.
mission to various priests to carry the gospel
to the heather OF the ncw-found lands. One
OF these, dated June %, 1893, and addressed
10 Father Boyle, who went with Columbus on
his second voyage, shows that the church
authorities were quick 10 realize the import
anec of the discovery. famous map, Diego
Rlbcra's Chart OF the Universe dated 1920,
Is also in the collection. In this map the
outlines of the east coast OF the western
hemisphere are shown with reasonable accu-
racy, emitting the territory north OF the Gull
of Mexico. Brazil Is shown within easy sail
ing distance of Africa, and nothing Is drawn
Of the western shores of the continents except
Central Americas coast. The Pacific ocean
IL called the Southern sea