The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-06-29
COLUMBUS AT Ia RABiDA.
The Great DISCOVERIES Refuge Before Ills
Eap

Inc Great DIScONererS EPfnge Before ttlA
Famous Voyage.
Near a small town on the coast of
Spain, at the junction of two little
rivers. on a high bluff close to- the sea,
there stood four hundred years ago a
low irregular building with plastered
walls and red-tiled roof surmounted by
an iron cross, IT was the convent of
La Rabida, and on the night of August
,, i92, there slept in one Of its little
upper rooms a stranger, gaunt and sol
emn, guest of the monks. He was
man who had become known all
through southern Europe as "A crank
Yet his theories were so faScina ting
that he was listened to with interest
even by kings but always dismissed
with smile o. pity for his foolishness,
and sigh of regret that his route to
untold wealth and an undiscovered
country should be impossible. At last,
however. this man Columbus. a Genoese
mariner. had gained audience in Spain
with Isabella of CASTLE, wife of Ferdi
nand Of Aragon, and her womans i'm
aginatiOn had been fred with enthusi-
asm. and her womans heart filed with
a generous desire 10 aid the bold eX
plOrer in making his search into the
terrible western ocean Even with the
necessary money the determined man
was driven almost to despair in his m
successful efforts to induce others 10
Join in his enterprise; but destiny fin
ally guided him to the little town of
Palos, and there he found another mar
iner adventurous like himself. who was
besides man of wealth and action ami
an owner of ships Thus il happened
that by August l, t492, three little ships
were ready 10 set sail from Palos upon
the dangerous voyage.
The guest of the monks had passed
a restless, anxious night; and several
times before the first golden streaks of
dawn lighted up the little square win
dow cut through the thick wall. be had
arisen and climbed 20 the roof Of the
convent to look for the favoring breeze
which would watt him westward At
last such visit brought him exnltant
Joy, for across the plains Of southern
Spain. still wrcathed in the mfsts OF
the morning straight from the blue
hills outlined against the golden sun
rise there came the fav0ring easterlv
breeze, all fragrant with the odor Of
herbs and blossoms. Then BE- turned
To look down upon his little feet an
chOred IN the river al the foot ~ the
blnff: one of them fairly large, bat the
other two tiny craft in which even the
boldest might hesitate 10 venture far
from land
The opportunity for which be had
Prepared himself since childhood rad
AT last come, What solemn thoughts
must have filed the mind NJ that deep
thinking man a. nc stpod on the root
81 la Ia bida in the early daylight and
gazeG from his 'lttle feet Cat across |
that great ocean into which no huns
heing had dared 20 lead t3e v~sy--VThiCh |
even intelligent men Of hss time be |
lieved 10 D. flied wish strange. fierce
monsters and - be- frequently visited |
bv most terrible storms
There was 40 time then. however - !
harbor such disturbing tboug5sls The /
time for action had c5Eae, and ColaE
bus descended from tfe rrspf - jgin The /
monks already aztir Sith :aers he 1
went down into the little chapel for
LIST solemn communion with God 1
within it~ walls. Then the monks -
oorted h5m and his foiIosvers - tsa
beach, and he was rogxea 20 the ship.s
with bis head bowed ~ rceei~e fnai
blessing. The sails. upon which ~ssrs
BIZ red crosses. were spread ~ tas
'Ts1d. and breathless. wondering
crowd watched iise ships - thev gllGe1
Gown the river. and slosvly aTar. za.s4