The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-05-02
CONVENT AND BATTLE-sHlP.,
Two Features of the Fair that are Attract
ing General Attention.

CHICAGO, May 1.-Two of the most
popular sights on the grounds today were
the reproduction of the convent of La
RabidS which stands just east of the
agricultural building, near the south in
let, and the battle-ship model which lies
off the mouth of the north inlet The
former is fac simile, as nearly as NAV
be, of the historic structure in which
Columbus sought ref uge after being re-
pulsed in his efforts to gain the assist
ance of the Portuguese court. In the
original structure, the walls are almost
bare of ornament, but in the model raised
to commemorate the discoveries of the
great navigator, every available spot is
decked out with mementos culled from
every corner of the earth to which his
fame has travelled. Here the famous
picture of the prior of La Rabida is hung
in the place of honor. Beside it is the
curious anchor said to be the one first
cast into the sands of the New World by
Columbus on his first voyage.
An old bell from the church of Sante
Cerro, in San DOMINGO. the spot where
Columbus fought his first battle with the
Indians, is one of number of interest
ing relics from that island. There are
over seven hundred portraits in the
building, including full length paintings
of Ferdinand and Isabella. The Coluin-
bus relics proper include the great COL
lection of documents loaned by the
Spanish government, among which are
the letters patent from Ferdinand and
Isabella granted to Columbus when he
sailed on his first voyage making him
admiral of the western seas. There are
also the breviary carried by Columbus on
his voyages and large number of valua-
BILE objects from the Vatican collection
OF Columbus curiosities. These relics
OF the great navigator were all day sur
rounded by curious crowds, who seemed
to lind in the presence of the articles
which he had used a fascination not ex-
ercised by any other attraction. The
building itself is unattractive, being a
faithful replica of the old stone struc-
ture which has with stood the storms of
centuries in the Iberian peninsula.
Although the Worlds Fair battleship
is built of brick and rests securely on
the bottom of the lake instead of breast
ing the waves, it is none the less an at
traction to the visitors, many of whom
have never seen the genuine article The
Illinois, moreover, is not altogether a
sham. She is a faithful reproduction of
the battleship Indiana, now afloat, in
every detail above the berth deck. She
is fully manned, and all the details of
man-of-war life are faithfully carried out
on board of her. She is 34S feet long at
the water line and SO feet wide at her
extreme breadth. She is of 10000 tons
burden, or would be if she were afioat
instead of resting on piles as she does.
Every detail in the hull has been faith
fully followed and in form at least. the
''ship'' has every appearance of a float
ing vessel of her class. She has on
board, beside her equipment, naval ex-
hibit, composed of lifeboats, torpedoes,
charts, instruments, marine engines. and
models of American warships. She is
commanded by Lieutenant Commander
Taussig, and is manned by blue jackets
detailed by the navy department, their
assignment being the reward for good
conduct.