The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-05-24
WORLDS FAIR LETTER.


"PoIIock' on the Ground and What He Has
Seen Up to Date.
To THE CLUB-Well. we are at last set
tied here, midway between the Krupp
gun exhibit and the Casino restaurant on
the lake 'front.' We constitute part of
the U. s. detachment of the Fifteenth in
fantry, stationed at It. Sheridan, and are
guarding the "relics of Columbus" kept in
la Rsbida convent" This convent is a
reproduction OF Spanish monastery, sit
uatsd on the summit of low headland
between the Odiel and Tinto rivers, near
the town of Palos. Spain, three miles from
the Atlantic ocean, and about hallway
between the strait of Gibraltar and the
Iouthern boundry of Portugal.
This Justly famous structure has been
denominated the corner stone Of Ameri-
can history, and therefore the Worlds
Columbian exposition deemed the idea
suggested by William Elroy Curtis, d.
rector of the bureau of the American re-
public and chief OF the Latin-American
department of the exposition, to have a
reproduction of thin convent, to serve as a
shelter for all the priceless treasures, of
paintings. documentary evidences and
relics pertaining either directly or indi-
rectly to the birth, life and experience
Of the great navigator, Christopher Co
lumbus.
The building OF which the one here is
almost an exact fac simile, tradition says
was originally e. ected during the reign Of
The Roman emp ror, Traian, in the second
century, and Historical records show it
sas reconstruetBd in the eleventh century
by Knight TIE nplars. who occupied it
many years. IS name, La Rabida, means
outpost on the frontier. Ii is Moorish
When the Moo we're driven from Adalu-
bis the building passedinto the possession
Of Franciscan monks. After the time Of
Columbus 1t Ws.s considerably enlarged,
but during tn, last two years it was re-
stored to the addition in which it stood
DIV the Spanish .Dvernment when Column
bus first found 90 asylum there. Column
bus is sald to hsve visited the convent
Yeveral times; first in 1854, when on his
way 20 the court of Ferdinand and Isa-
bella to ask their aid in discovering
passage 70 the Indies. Weary, hungry
and pennlless, il is said, he approached
the monastery and asked for food and
drink for himself and child The good
mOks received him with open arms, re-
lieved his distress, kept him with them
for several months. and becoming inter-
ested in his plans, gave him letters 10 in
fuence persons ct court. His second visit
was several years later when, disheart-
ened by the indifference shown toward
bis propositions by the sovereiens, he was
about to leave Spain TO seek aid from the
king of France or the republics of Genoa
or Venice.
Again the monks came to his assistance;
he was detained and, through their inhu-
ence. was invited to return to court His
third visit took place In May. 1894. and on
that memorable occasion he brought with
him a commits sion appointing him grand
admiral OF the ocean seas, in which the peo-
pie of Palos were requested TO furnish
him vessels and supplies for his anxious
but long postponed voyage across the
''Sunset Sea-" The greatest event, how
ever, which marks an eventful turning
point in his career Is when he returned
with trophies and triumph from the new
world q guest OF La kablida, and the
monks sang a to denim in the chapel with
q fervor seldom felt in human worship.
The arrangement of the pictures in the
building here is very appropriate and ar
fistic, and Mr.. Reinhart deserves great
credits for his work. They are of all ages,
kinds and sizes.
One OF the special features for the sc-
commodation Of visitors at the fair is the
worlds fair station of the Chicago post
Office. Visitors leaving home and not