New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-06-25
RELICS OF COLUMBUS.
Ia
SENT by THE DUKE OF vERAGUA, THE
DUCHESS OF BERWICK AND ALBA, AND
THE VATICAN. ?,
IRON A STAFF CORRESPONDENT OF THE rRInrxrl


and daring; the object OF CALLING pity on tho
part of friends and acquaintance. the future dis
cOverer of world stood before the doors
Of the Monastery of La Rabida in 1885 asking
| food and drink for himself and his little
| son Diego. The good monks invited him to
] rest within their humble abode gave him re-
| freshmcnts and detained him for several months.
| They did more: they listened with sympathetic
interest to his plans his hopes and aspirations.
| Everybody else had regarded him as an ehthu-
siast. visionary, crank They believed IN him.
| They infused him with new courage, and they
gave him the means to visit the court Of Ferdi-
nand and Isabella. Here. on the morning of
August 3. 1902, Columbus attended mass, and
within sight of the walls Of the monastery
set sail for unknown countries Here. again, he
returned. after seven months absence on March
Is, 1893, bringing with him the trophies Of
his voyage and impcrishable renown Surely, it
! can be no exaggeration to call the Monastery OF
La Rabida the cornerstone Of American history"
II was happy idea on the part Of William
Eeroy Curtis. late Director Of the Bureau of
the American Republics in Washington, and
chief of the Latin-American Department Of the
Exposition. to suggest the reproduction Of that
ancient and famous structure as shelter for
tho relics Of Columbus that have been secured
for the exhibition. The plans were drawn from
| sketches and photographs secured by Mr. Curtis
In Spain, and the building erected at the
expense Of the Worlds Columbian Exposition
The pictures ard relics it contains were paid
for from the allotment Of the Department OF
State Of the appropriation made by Congress for
the Government Board OF Management. Inc
building as you see it to-day on the shores
of Lake Michigan, is almost an exact fac-simile
of the original monastery which stands on the
summit OF low headland between the Odiel
and Tinto rivers near the town OF Palos, Span
three miles from the Atlantic Ocean. and about
half way between the Strait Of Gibraltar ana IN"
southern boundary OF Portugal. Tradition says
that the monastery was originally erected In
the reign OF the Roman Emperor TraJan, IN the
second century. and there are historical records
10 show that il reconstructed in the eleventh
century by the Knights Templar. who occupied
r. many ycars 1t was called =" La Rabida,
which, according to the best authorities, signl-
Hes, in the Moorish language, an outpost on tho
frontier When the Moors were driven from
Andausia the building rassed into the possession
OF the Franciscan monks. who remo1clcd ~ ana
rcchrstcrcd IL Santa Maria tic la Rabida,' or
"The Monastery of ST. Mary on the Frontier
after tho time OF Columbus it was greatly en-
larccd. but within the last two years the str"c'-
IRE has been restored by the Spanish Government
10 the condition in whi'h it stood when ne
found an asylum there.
Az rpIrOME or TIE LIFE OF COLUMBUS
The original idea of Mr.. Curtis in collecting the
various objects of interest, such as docu''eh's'
books. implements, charts and pictures was 10
arrange them in a manner so as I" ILLUSTRATE o''-
secu,iycy the life Of Columbus ana his voyages
and discoveries. The excellent catalogue prepared
bv him is. in fact not only an cpitome OF the lie
NJ the GREAT discovercr and his Work. hut gives
in addition some interesting and valuable aala'
showing the present condition OF tn" countries nc
visited In the arrangement OF the eXhiol'' nov"
ever. Mr. Curtis was greatly hamper'd oy TIE
limitations which the structure imposed. and the
idea therefore. Of arranging the objects OF inter
est in chronological order like the catalogue had
O., Ia abandoned There was moreover. the ne |
ccssi,v Of kccping original records. such as thoS'
Siceless manuscripts loaned by the Duke or We
rocuot the Duchess of Berwick and Alva, ana Tile
Vatican. together for safe keeping In place
whore they could easily be guarded by me de- |
,,chmcnt Of United States troops constantly on |
duty Firrproof the building is not, but rs IL
stands detached AID no fires Of any KIND are al
lowed within its walls il is supposed to be reason
ably safe. =,
The caravels. now on their way TO Chicago, VIII
ho ANCHORED in little inlet of the lake lmme-
dia,.lv behind the monastery. The whole will he
an interesting and instructive picture IL Is u
mir. that il could not have been given moro
prominent place in the grounds Mr.. curtis had
intended 10 locate the monastery whcr" the Ems
lish Government building stands now, ana 10 an
chor the caravels alongside the lilihoi- '""'
presenting a striking contrast between IN" naval
architecture of 800 years ago ana that oil I'll"
rrc.cn, day. But that site. it appears, had al
tl,. EpO1 Sh
who were unwilling TO yield it, and who after
securing il proceeded to erect upon it on" OF the
eho.n.s, and least attractive buildings OF any
built By foreign governments
MANUSCRIPT. OF THE DUKE OF vERAaUA.
Most visitors approaching the rockbound LITTLE
promoptory on which La Rabda stands enter IL
BIZ the rortals Of the sanctuary, which is as
nearly "A uossibe like that underneath the
,,of ~ which the monks sang the "Te Dcum
apon Columbus's return II is a long room not
very high, roueh lily plastcrcd, with great. p'acK
beam, that sand out conspcuously in contrast
with the universal whitencss. The altar, when
j. in charge of the Franciscan monks. has Dcch
fitted up TO reproduce the altar OF the original
monastery Two OF the most conspicuous oD-
iects in il are a battered wooden cross, copy OF
one said TO have been erected by Columbus upon |
landing on Watling's Island, and a little worm
eaten door taken from the convent near faios
In cases arranged along the sides are the ColuDui
the greater part OF the property ot
his eseendent, the Duke Of Veragua. Among |
thcm i, the original commission given to Columbus
BY Ferdinand and Isabella upon his departure for
the first voyage the royal letters patent from the
scveregns of Spain cxcmpting from taxes sup
plics needed for the fleet of Columbus; IA bull Of
Pore Alexander giving to the. sovereicns OF Spain
all lands discovered by Columbus; letter from
Queen Isabella to Columbus incosng Il copy OF
n book which he had left with her, asking him
20 send her "A certain sailing chart and urging him
not to delay his departure; decree OF Ming
Ferdinand and Queen Isabella granting to Colum,
bus an annuity of 10000 maraycdis, to be paid |
from the tax upon the butcher shops of Cordova
lln AurIff nn