The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1896-03-07
Columbus vs.. Cousin.

true discovery u America, VI d toil-
versa,ion had, with the late Judge
Goodrich Of st. Paul, few months
prior to bis decease, about his book
concerning The so called Christopher
CoIumbus''.
As had not at that time, seen his
book, published by the Appletons, and
which he frankly told me had fallen
stil-born from the press, because its
truths ran counter to long established
beliefs, became very much interest
ed in listening to his explanation Of its
contents.
Summing it up. as he finished the
pleasant evening chat, he said; ''In my
life, Holley, snail never see the world
recognize az truth, what | have in this
book written, but my Young daughter
| think will live to see it, or at any rate
sooner or later the world will know
and believe it to he true.
And so with CHEEKY good night we
parted for the last time. And now all
this and more is recalled to my mind
by this article in the FortnightIv. writ
ten by Capt J. W Gambler r. y. on
the True Discovery of America"
Would that my old friend, before his
death, could have but known that so
soon as this, would a prominent Eng
lish writer, in one of the most promin
ent magazines, be found supporting the
same theory by facts and figures that
seem to be indisputable.
To Jean Cousin, sea captain of
Dieppe, France, Gambler claims be-
longs the glory Of the discovery of the
new world, but he was robbed of i'm
mortal fame by one Of the most I'M
Dlushing conspiracies recorded. Spain,
Portugal, and the States of the Church,
az nat ons were concerned in the plot,
while Ferdinand and Isabella, Pope VI,
and Columbus were the principal per
sonal conspirators.
Here is the story condensed from the
Gambler article.
Jean Cousin discovered the Amazon
river, which he named Maragnon, in
the year 14S5 or four years before Col
umbus discovered san Salvador Cou-
sin sailed from Dieppe in January liSS
and sailing westward fell in with the
trade winds and borne by them and a
westerly current entered TIE mouth of
the Amazon whose size denoted that it
drained continent.
Having fixed the position OF the river
and naming it he sail back homeward
via the coast Of Africa, sighting the
Cape of Good Hope which be named
Les Trois Aiguiiles.
His second in command, or mate on
this voyage, was Vincent Pincon, who
four years later commanded the Nina
one of the three vessels of Columbus.
Dicppe, at that day, was carrying on
profitable trade at certain points on
the African coast, and Cousins voyage
was more in that interest than in that
OF new discoveries
While off the African coast, PincOn
going ashore on some trihlng pretext
stirred up quarrel with the natives,
and seized some Of their goods. A fight
followed, and Cousins who had remain
ed on board, in order TO save his own
men, had to fire on the natives. They
flew tC the wilderness and in conse-
quenCe of this trouble the ship return
ed to Dicppe without the expected val
liable cargo. This disappointment made
row IN DIeppe, more interested as it
was in the loss of its trade, than It was
in the mere report Of the discovery of
the mouth of the Amazon.
The wrath of the ship-owncrs fell on
Pincous head and he was tried bv court
martial and bauished from the soil of
France, and declared to be forever de
barred tom serving on French ship
Pincon furious at MS treatment be-
took himself TO Genoa angry at Cousin
and thiristlng Tor revenge.
From Genoa he went to Palos in
spain where he had two brothers AIon-
70 and Martin, who were shipowners
and shiphuiiders. To them he told the
story of lis wrongs, and the other
greater story of Cousins discovery of
the Amazon. The possibilities Of the
discovery that had fallen fiat in 9icppe,
for the reasons stated, were discussed
by the brothers and their momentous
significance considered.
At this stage, and at this very mo-
mcnt, whether by chance or design
matters not Columbus appears upon
the scene.
lie had thought Of going to France TO
solicit aid in fitting out an expedition
Possibly rumors of Cousins expedition
had reached his ears. No matter as to
this. On his way he Is met and turned
aside by an intimate friend of the Pin
cons and Juan Perez de la Marchena.
eN-coniessor to Queen Isabella. and is
brought into connection with the
brothers. Juan Perez the ex-confessor
Of the Queen and the friend of the Pin
cons, thcn goes TO the Queen and urges
her To furnish money TO fit out Column
bus for the proposed voyage At last
me negotiations are completed and
Columbus returns to Pdlos to organize
the expedition.
rs discreet shipowners and from the
knowlcd@e they have acquired from
their brother, who was mate to Cousins,
the PinconS all three decide that TIE
voyage is worth undertaking. All three
go into the scheme with ardor, Vincent
Pincon the eX-mate furnishing a ship
Of his own TO accompany the expc-
dtion.
The three Pincons all enlist in the
enterprise and on the Sd day of August
1882 san from Palos, Columbus in the
Santa Maria, Martin Pincon in the
Pinta and Vincent Pincon in the Nina
the latter officer knowing when he
sailed into the Atlantic that if they took
certain direction, two months sail