The Olneyville tribune. (Providence, R.I.) 1893-189?, 1893-09-09
HISTORIC VESSELS.
COLUMBUS CARAVELS AND VIK-
ING SHIP AT THE FAIR.
Exact Reproductions Of the Three Ves-
sells I'm Which Columbus Found New
Craft.


Craft
Writing from Chicago, Worlds Fair
correspondent OF the New York Tablet
says:
The first OF objects Of interest TO
which | was attracted were the Caravels
of Columbus Ii is needless TO say that
these three Fifteenth century ships were
built and fitted out at the expense Of the
Spanish Government. They are stationed
in the little stretch OF water that lies be-
tween the Convent Of La Rabida and the
Casino Hall. They were built in accord
ance with all the data regarding the
original craft ii was possible TO obtain.
The largest, the Santa Maria. is the one
open to inspection. Upon her mast is
tackled card from which obtained her
dimensions. At the water line she is n
little more than II English feet, her
beam not quite 26 feet, and the hold is
22t feet deep. The rear and forward
ends of this hull are, as it were, boarded
over. At the forward end the bow and
sides rise well up, over this flooring on
which her sailors had little free space.
At the rear is the cabin of the admiral,
over which smaller deck hangs, out and
back of the rudder, a regular poop. If
this tiny vessel be contrasted with some
Of our modern Atlantic steamers
the grandeur Of Columbus deed
assumes proportions that are simply be-
yond the power OF words to say. When
| looked at the narrow space where !
suppose those hardy men came TO their
chief n few days before the voyage end
ed and forced from him the promise to
return if land came not TO view within
three days, in very truth my heart went
out to them. Surely, that those fifty
odd men should have been cooped up in
that little ship for two long months was
n species OF confinement whose wcariness
is almost beyond the compass of imag-
ination. You may somewhat fancy the
WEAKNESS of such imprisonment when
you recall the historical fact that they
did not encounter even storm TO break
the monotony OF their checrless voyage.
1t was sky above and sea below, and
ever an east wind filling their sails. Yet
they were cooped up in "A narrow little
space, hemmed in by the bulwarks Of
their tiny ship. No wonder the varying
Of the needle awakened such fears in
minds already filled with fears! The
caravel Santa Maria has come TO the
Worlds Fair after having taken part in
the ceremonies and festivities which
were held at Paos on the I'd of August
and the l2th OF October, 1892.
Built in Cudiz her keel was
laid on the 2lst OF April. She was
launched on Jun, Goth, and on the Goth
of July went to sea bound for the port Of
Palos TO take part in the festivities re.
ferred TO above. Some ancient relics are
displayed on her deck. Some Of those
old time lombards with small stout iron
hoops around the barrel are to be seen,
and hanging in nets near them the round
stone shot with which they were loaded.
The sides of the vessel are hung with the
arms of the soldiers and sailors--pikes.
battle-axes, arquebuscs, shields, bows aud
arrows. Before the pilots wheel Is II
compass, which n card informed me was
an exact reproduction Of those drawn on
the charts of Juan dc la Costa, pilot of
he Santa Maria. On the half deck
is the cabin of the Admiral.
A little room-in truth the only part
of the caravel that has any sembancc
to room-about 10 feet deep and ~
feet wide its front boarded up and orna-
mented with gothic arches, one door and
three windows--this is the place where,
undoubtedly, the World finder spent
many an hour in anxiousness and many
an hour in prayer. l approached with
a feeling of reverence. No one is al
lowed to enter | stood Mt the door and
carefully studied the interior a heavy
table is in the center. on il are an hour
glass. an ancient chart. a clumsy and
rude looking ink stand, white candle
stick, an astrolabe and n forestalf, instru-
ments the old-timo mariners used for
measuring the height of the stars.
Around the walls are hung the arms of
the officers. On the side of the room
and Immediately against its boarded
front stands an old cupboard. Next to
the cupboard is wooden bcdstead.
Four chairs are set about the room and
these are peculiarly shaped. They have
no backs and resemble the letter GUS"
Joined at the curve. On the right wall Of
the cabin hangs an exact copy of the pen
naut taken by Columbus on the voyage
Of discovery. 1t is precisely similar to
the one borne 10y John, Of Austria, at the
Battle of Lepanto and in fact by all great
Spanish Leaders rs the symbol of com
mand. On the rear wall hangs picture
of Our Lady of Perpetual Succor. One
fight of stairs more and had mounted the
highest deck Doubtless this was the
watchers stand as it is the highest
part of the ship An octagonal lantern
with ornamental iron work graces the
railing that forms the rear guard of the
deck. So carefully exact have those been
who supervised the building Of this cara
vel that in this lantern is placed par.
tally burnt candle. On either side OF
this deck on the top of the railing is {
falconet. This is n small cannon, in
shape very ouch like to a lombard; but
only two feet long, and while securely
fastened is yet capable of being tureut
around on pivotal attachment. BeyonC
these objects there is little Of ipteres
on shipboard A crew of Spanish sailor
mar the caravel and all is rs it were 40I
wears ooo- all eycept Columbus and luat