Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1896-04-30


santo Domingo, Hayti, announcing his
discovery of new evidence, direct and
ircumstantial, that The bones of
christopher Columbus are still resting
n the cathedral OF the negro republics
eapital. They were first unearthed in
lS77. and ever since historians and
patriotic Spanial dr. have been at war,
asserting and denying the facts and
circumstances Of this historical discov-
cry Professor Cronau's recent inves-
tigation appears to settle the case for
afl time. Here follows his essay:
The question opened up by the dis
eoveries of Sept. 10, 1877, whether the
IN the cathedral of Havana or are still
IA their ancient burial place, the sane
narum of the Santo Domingo cathe-
dral. had never been investigated by an
impartial historian until / undertook
ID examine into its merits. Hereto
lore the decision lay between Spanish
authorities, who had an interest in
maintaining that the casket and bones,
transferred with great state and
solemnity, to Havana toward the end
III the last century, were the genuine
relics. and the ecclesiastical and gov
ernmental Hayti officers, whose state
ments were also not above suspicion.
Being anxious to give the true facts in
mn forthcoming book America the
History OF Her Discovery, went to the
island to see for myself. Before en-
tering into discussion of my investi-
CATION. let me briefly recapitulate the
historical data appertaining 10 the
case.
In May 1906, Columbus was buried
at Valladolid, but soon afterWard the
remains were tral sferred to the Car
rhusian monastery of Las Cuevas, Sc
lille. Some time between tine years
l54l and 1919 not in 1886, the admiral's
body vas disinterred and taken over
ne sea to Hispaniola, to be buried i'll
The Santo Domingo cathedral. This
was dcre upon the earnest solicitation
u Columbus daughter-in-law, TO whom
HE diseoyerer had expressed his last
wish TO rest in the island, the scene If
The date of 1886. found in many books,
Il incorrect, for | found, during my
stay in Santo Domingo, that the cathe-
Gral of that city was not finished until
$40 On the cession OF Hayti to the
rench, in 1855, the relics, OF what
uassed for them. we're exhumed AMI
taken to Havana that they might be
buried in Spanish soil
have this authority for saying thar
the transfer OF the body to Santo Do
mingo took place within the period Of
ll+l f549 My investigations on the
spot showed that in the latter year the
remains were known to lie in the
cathedral Some time later the En-
peror Charles V. ordered that the
sanctuarium of the Santo Domingo
cathedral be reserved as the hereditary
burial place of the Colon family, ana
IN consequence the bodies OF Column
bus eldesl son. Diego, VINO died IN
1925 and Of his second son, Luis, who
died in 1921, were also brought there
tor nterment, though both died in
Spain. could discover nothing 10
Show when these bodies were trans
!eTed to Hayti. The transfer to Ha-
ana chat Is the preliminary labors,
began Dec. 20. 1895. Perhaps it is Just
az Well that the Spaniards are not in
position to celebrate the centennial OF
ihs event few weeks hence
As to she finding of the burial place
vi Columbus Sept. 10, 1877 and the
subsequent doubt as to the genuine
NESS of tie relics reposing in the cathe-
1fa Of Havana, | have this authentic
enott on the subject: Laborers en-
gagged iii relaying the flagstones OF the
Saut1 Domingo cathedral discovered on
ne daie mentioned a small burial
atili next To the one whose contents
had Deen carried away by the Span
lafas aighty-two years previous. Stop
p'ag work, they informed the authori-
IT, Who invited the resident foreign
'oHsus and the archbishop to be pres
III NJ the opening of the vault. II
as found to contain leaden casket.
iEe hd contained the following in
seHtpton IN abbreviated form "Descu-
tt9r ae la America, Primer Amir
eats l1iscoNerer OF America the tlrst
eA.aIfail and "ll,ustre Esciarecido
ATsa Don christoyal Colon tthe re-
owned and excellent man. boa
ts'oNal Colon1.
e side walls of the casket con-
aHad .dese initials:
G. c. A.,
stands undoubtedly for Christie
oiou Almirante
7Aong the remains of bones and
's5hsnls we're found a musket ball
.iftle silver shield, originally
on 10 the top Of the head piece.
'9a had an abbreviated inscrip.
geading as follows ultimate
os restos del Primero Amir
5Ftstogal Colon, deseubridor
remains Of the first admiral,
Colon, the discoverer1. This
lutte clear that the easket,
ontents is the original one
a tha cathedral but. as int
ae Snaniafds would not accept
tJs Il OF fhfs sim nia mt