The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1897-08-20
LOW colunsOs KNEW

HOW COLUMBUS
..,,os, predecessors Of Co
among the w. ....se Of discovery 70
ismou bus. ~ no N, Lei the son Of Erie a y.
~, the, new y nroeably the best know , .al,-
hea' - pS I, him erected BY ae', emu
ants % Of s 'uV ,bs memory Of hia daring
l ,,a,., N green. That frenenlns ~.
e ,,, o,'. nave beaten Columbus py
landing on the American shore '',. nv ~ :,
'rH1 ,ha, y lass Is deyoutly believed ~
Tr,ncs More than that, the pa, .
lam aver hat h vas from the span
lard who served under the f ,. a'. so,
mar on that occasion that Column
sns obtained the knowledge wnlsn
made MAJ him 40 positive when all tho
world was doubtful
This a the story. as told BY NJ. ho-
oond Nsntomm In hls recently trans
lated work. 'Tho Rulers OF the sea.
For more than a century the hardy NOI-
man sailors had been trading LIN
Rouen and DIeppc 10 the westerns
shores OF Africa. accumulating wealth
and experience along the grain, tho
IVORY and the gold coasts. In lass those
regions having been pretty thoroughly
explored and exploited. Il was deter
mined By the leading traders Of tho
two cities 10 undertake a more preten-
tlous voyage. The choice for the con-
mand fell upon Jehan Cousin, bold
and well trained mariner Of the ripesi
experience. though only - years old.
The second IN power, hls Lieutenant.
was named Vincent Plncon. or Pinzon.
a good sailor. but no friend TO cousin.
and placed in bic position through out
side influence. not by hls eaptaina
choice
The single ship. whose name has not
been preserved. ael sail under orders
TO run out the African coasts coming
after those Of Adra and the Congo" Cor
which she was laden by the advice
Of Able Descallers. the most learned
geographer Of Normandy. Capt. Cousin
set his course for mldocean. intending
10 sail west and southwest until he
came upon a current which. % 4 vas
believed. ran strongly toward some
point In southern Africa.
Pinton. an older and more conserve
tive sailor. dlsapproved Of this plan
from the outset. when the Azores had
been passed and the ship was permitted
10 drlft with a souiherly current which
was popularity supposed 10 head
straight Cor the Internal regions. the
spanlard began 10 inclte the crew 10
mutlny. This coming 10 the captains
cam. be administered a severe rebuke
In public. pui 10 the surprise Of ever
one on board a iev days later iandWasf
sighted 10 the Westwafd-and this vas
the hrsi glimpse ever caught Of Ameri.
ca by southern European eyes. ~ the
I French maintain.
On nearing the coast canoes padded
by. strange looking. unahaahed. yellow.
skinned men came out 10 greet the ves.
sci with offerings OF neW and delicious
fruits Cousin embarked amid hrina
of guns and the shouts Of the natives.
and nailed lilies Of France 10 the tailesi
Of the nelghborlne trees. taking posses.
sion o. Az those rasialn tha.-aslne -,
the most Christian king. Charles Ni1
Nov the country thus unexpectedly
come upon Il sioutly 81 forth By cou.
sins countgmen TO b. BRAZIL The
current BY which he was carried. thef
say.is that which leads from the AHorc
almos, 10 the mouth oi the Amazon
The tradition Of the Voyage. which l.
preserved. mentions the partial erplor.
alton BY the ship Of what was believed
10 be an arm Of the sea. 20 which the
name ~MarAEnon" vas siFen. and this
Il Identified with the Amazon Itself
There. too. we're 20 BE- found the most
valuable woods. gums the most pr
eioua. iurs exceeding IN value anything
known. while the ornaments % the
aboriglnes attesied the abundance q
gold. but a. an this was not running
out the African coasts. the voyage vas
continued 10 lu proper destination.
Cousin returning 10 Dieppe early IN the
year iiss, after the man PlnIon had
given renewed trouble. y
According to the French authorities.
a sealed paeks, containing q full ac.
count Of the extraordinary Journey vas
deposited With the proper Officers IN the
city hall. They further believe that
the vlucen, Pinton Of this expeditlon
degraded and disgraced for hla mutln.
Gus conduct, returned 10 hls nAliul
land. Here he tell In with chrlsiopha
Columbus, becoming soon after ne
commander Of the Nina. In that mosl
memorable Of all voyages In ltaa \
only remains Tor the French 20 accour
tor the los Of the paprs left BY Jehaa
Cousin a, the Hotel Dc VILE IN Dlepps
and what may be called the 'plagiarlsm
nom the French" Of Columbus h e.
tabllahed-ln their estimation. Ani
this u not dlflcult 10 DO: for-on INV
a. iss, IA Ecod while Aftervard. 70 b
surel. the British under Admiral Befke.
ley bombarded pleppe. and By the aid
Of a skillfully constructed nreahlp
wiped u from the face Of the earth
| MhL.A .nI.I -. 49, -.