Evening star., 1896-07-18
REMARKABLE ANCHOR.

Once Belonged to Columbus, hut is
Now I'm . Museum in Chicago.
From the Galveston News.
Some years ago I was commissioned to
investigate all the places connected with
the advent OF Columbus into the history
or America. in order to procure a series OF
photographs for exhibition in the great
Columbian exposition: and In pursuance OF
this Idea I visited not only all the scenes
OF his adventurous voyages, but also those
OF his earlier life In Spain. The discovery
however. which gave me greatest pleasure,
and which consider the most important,
consists in the old anchor-now In the Field
Museum at Chicago-which, 1 have every
reason to believe, was once carried at the
bow OF Columbus flagship. the Santa Maria
III had been conveyed to me by a learned
Spanish physician Of Santo Domingo that
there was an anchor extant on the coast
of Haiti, which came across the Atlantic
with Columbus when he made his first voy-
age In America. 1 was at first skeptlcal
put upon investigation became convinced
OF the truth or the physicien's statement.
10 snow how we reasoned. from an old
anchor which had lain hundreds of years
IN the woods. back to the time of Column
bus and his caravels, IL is necessary briefly
to review the course of that first voyage
along the coast of Haiti.
After Columbus had discovered the first
land In the Bahamas. and had coasted a
portion of the north shore OF Cuba ne
made bold push across the wide channel
and sighted the mountains of Haiti.
The natives who thronged to the shore
In great numbers, were still living in a
state of primcval sayagery but were-if
we may believe the statement of Columbus
hlmself-simple and good-hearted, and ac-
Goroea 10 the strangers hearty welcome.
ne TN ee vessels OF Columbus sailed slowly
from port to port, everywhere Joy ously
entertained by the happy Indians until on
.h the eve OF Christmas. 1i92, they approached
ayft,er
olan chieftain of Cacique. called Guaca-
nagarL His territory embraced what is
@ no" known as Cape Haitian. on the north
cost OF Haiti. and extended for a long dis
lance inland. He had sent messengers Of
welcome to the Spaniards, and was await
ing their arrival But unfortuna telv inst
as the nagship, the Santa Maria, was
rounding the point into the harbor she
struck on reef and began to sink
one went TO the bottom. but, owing to
the active cooperation of the Indian chief
VINO sent out large feet of canoes every
thihs on board was saved, even TO the last
Dlt or IRON Among these things, as is re-
coroed IN the journal Of Columbus was
me snip anchor The wreckage was all
taken 10 the village of Guarico belonging
10 Huacanagarf, where 1t was stored and
over II a guard was placed
Columbus then had but two vessels left
Two small carayels in which to perform
the return voyage to Spain AS tbes. yes
seis would be overcrowded if all the crews
returned, he called for volunteers 10 remain
year A fort called Navidad was Quilt
ana the volunteers were established there
IN and, after cautioning them to remain
al peace with the natives. Columbus sailed
on the homeward voyage. He returned The
iouoWlng year, but found the fort in ruins
ana the men all massacred. Thus II carne
10 pass that the anchor was left with he
Indians. ~ '
With this historic data in my nossassia,
ana guided by a map OF the locality /
Meut In search OF the anchor, finding II
wltnin mile or so Of the site of Guarica.
Iuacanagarfs village. The Indians of
manu-, as history tells us, were long ago cx-
terminated not even one descendant re-
manning OF those found here by the first
olscoverers. In their place the negroes
wnoSe ancestors were first imported from
AFRICA as slaves, now possess the fair
Island, one of the most beautiful on the
globe. ~ e
Dlack man on whose estate il then Law
ana 1T was only after long negotiation ana
with exceeding difficulty that | secured IT.
VI It's identity there is no reasonable doubt
Inc TACT that il mad the shape of the an
chors carried by vessels in the sixteenth
century, that 1t was forged by hand being
OF hammered iron, with the circumstances
OF ITS location, proved ii to be the same
anchor brought ashore on that Christmas
morning, 1892. Lit had been carried A short
distance from the original place of deposit,
Su. was sun not Tar from the site OF
Guarico where the Indian chieftain enter
tanned Columbus with profrse hospitality
NO trace remains Of the town nor of the
Tort erected by Columbus, but their sites
have been identified.
After L had purchased the anchor from
the negro owner. / had it shipped on board
q steamer for New York, whence IL was
sent to Chicago and exhibited in the Con-
vent OF La Rabida, along with other relics
OF Columbus and his time Perhaps some
OF my readers may have seen il there. at
an events, those curious to examine il have
only to visit the Columbian Museum at
Chicago. where it now reposes.