Asheville daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1890-1900, 1893-03-31

Preserve
INJURY.
WASHINGTON. ID. c., March 2S.-The
most interesting and precious historical
documents that are to be exhibited at
the Worlds Fair arrived here today.
They include the original manuscripts,
maps, charts, etc. of Christopher Colum-
bus. which are owned by the Vatican.
and loaned by Pope Leo. There are also
the many valus BILE autograph letters of
Columbus sent to this country by his
lineal descendants. The documents in
clude he original contract made by Col
umbus with Ferdinand and Isabella by
which he undertook to, discover the new
world, and also the original comnission
issued to hi I before he undertook his
voyage.
The papers were of such value that
S. eretary of the Navy Tracy sent the
United States gunboat Newark to Italy
and Spain to- bring them here. The
Newark arrived Al Newport the other
day, and word was sent to the Worlds
Fair authorities to come and take pos
session of the papers. Last night VIM.
e. Curtis and Lieutenant Cro~vell of the
navy, boarded the Newark and received
the Eve big boxes. They were carefully
loaded in a steam launch and transferred
to one of the Potomac river boats run
| ming to Washington. Messrs- Curtis
and Crowell would not trust the boxes
out of their sight, SO they were placed in
a stateroom w here the two officials slept
with them over night. On arriving here
of the Gagged wagons of the express com
| pany and carefully transferred to the
safe deposit vaults. On Saturday morn
| ing Mr.. Gu tbs will start for Chicago
| with the documents. He will occupy one
| of the paycars of the Pennsylvania rail-
| road, and Secretary Lamont will detail
a guard Of United States Soldiers to ac
| company the car.
Were 0Ikillful1S Packed.
| Three of the five boxes are Of cedar and
| the other two pine. They arc
| smoothly finished, with the lids and
| sides screwed together and the corners
| and edges bound with sheet iron. Each
| box has been wrapped in glazed leather
to protect the contents from moisture
| The leather was removed today, and
| several of he lids were removed. The
papers have been packed with the ut
most care in cotton batting and tissue
paper.
The documents are over 100 in number
and include most and, in tact, all of the
fully authenticated original documents
of Christ opher Columbus. There is the
| original commission from Ferdinand anc
| Isabella dated Grenada. April 80. 1892
appointing Colum bus Grand Admiral o
the ocean, sea aud Vice-king and Gov
lernor-Gcncra1 of all the lands that h.
should discover. There are also the va
rious royal letters patent granting Ii
censc to the Seamen who accompanied
Columbus, and directing the inhabitant
of Palos to furnish Columbus with two
caravels and all the NJ cessary equip
ments and provisions for the voyage
There is the bull of Pope Alex ander vi.
granting to the sovereiRns of Spain al
lands disco overed by ColurnbuS dated a
Rome in 1893. There are the decree
from King Ferdinand granting Il coat O
arms to Co1um bus, and letters from tn
King and Queen congratulating hin
upon his discovery.
VIII Of Columbus.
One of the quaintest documents is th
original will of Columbus. in which h
confers the right of succession to his so
Diego There are from twenty to thrt
Autograph letters of Columbus write
in full by him and signed with his quain
and almost unintelligible signature.
The papers are ye1lowed with thei
400 years of age and their edges al
worn and Jagged. In some of them tt
creases have made abrasures and hav
broken the paper. The writing ha
faded on some of the documents, but o
the others it is well preserved, and on
it had been made within recent years.
Altogether. these documents will forl
the most valuable historical coliectio
at the Worlds Fair.-Cincinnati Tri
unc.