The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-08-15

it is 400 years later before the island be-
comes independent of the Spanish masters
Columbus gave her.
1t was not until his second voyage TO the
new world that Columbus explored that
part of Cuba that is playing such an i'm
portant part IN current historys 1t was on
April a. l494. that he arrived again at
cape Alpha and Omega. coming from the
Mole St Nicholas. from this point he
ran for 20 leagues along the south coast
of Cuba and then anchored in a noble har-
Dor TO which he gave the sounding name
OF Puerto Grande. This was the Guanta-
namo bay, on whose shores the Star Span
gied Banner was tlrst unfurled on Cuban
soil. The ancient chronicle says: The
entrance to this harbor is narrow and
deep but II expands within like a bsauti-
ful lake IN the bosom OF wild and noun
famous country. covered with trees, some
in blossom. others bearing fruit
Several fires blazing on the beach gave
signs or inhabitants Here Columbus and
his crews enjoyed bountiful repast of
fish and fruits, served by the peaceful ma
tives, for which the admiral scrupulousiy
paid. Coming out of Guantanamo bay
Columbus continued westward along
mountainous coast adorned by beautiful
rivers and indente6 by conmodious har-
bors. As he advanced the <,untry grew
more fertile and populous. The natives
crowded 10 the shores. men, women and
children gazing in aStoniShment at the
ships which glided by at no great dis
lance. phey held up fruits and provi-
sions, inviting the Spaniards TO land
Others came off in canoes bringing cas-
sava bread, fish and calabashes of water
as offerings 10 the strangers. whom they
considered celestial beings descended
from the skies. Columbus distributed
presents. which were received with graf
itude.
1t is upon this same coast that the
American warships have kept their long
vigil in the Spanish war. After continu
ing along the coast some time. Columbus
came to another gulf or deep DAY. 1T
was narrow at the entrance and expand
ing within. surrounded by rich and
beautiful country" says Irving. There
were lofty mountains sweeping up from
the sea. but the shores were enliyened By
numerous villages and cultivated to such
a degrees as to resemble gardens and or
chards.'
This was the now famous harbor of San
tiagc. Here the admiral anchored and
passed the night, overwhelmed, as usual,
with the simple hostility of the natives.
The next day, coming out of the harbor,
he turned TO the westward. and contin-
uing, he approached a high cape. Here.
lies wrecked, he abandoned his westward
journey and turned south to explore the
island of Jamaica which he named San
tiago.
all that part of Cuba between Manzanillo
bay and Batabano. He had many inter
esting experiences in the fringe of small
islands off the coast and in the shallow
waters of this part of the Caribbean.
which he called the White Sea. After sail
ing for about six weeks and when nearly
opposite the present 6dlaDdHO. the port
now most noted for blockade running op-
erations. he abandoned the exploration of
the island and returned TO Hispanola. But
not until he and his men had prepared
document which was a remarkable dem
onstration of the fallibility of man. Con-
WINGED that he had been following the
southern shore Of Asia, he caused the
masters. mariners and seamen of his yes
sells to join in a formally signed document
declaring this to be the coast of Asia.
This. too, although a journey of less than
two days to the westward would have
taken him through the Yucatan channel
which separates the Cuban province or
Pinar del Rio from MEMO. Although he
twice afterwards visit: Cubar waters,
he never proceeded fu-.aer to the west
ward. and died still hugging thu delusion
that Cuba was part of Asia.
The great admirars weary soul departed
at Valladolid in that Spain which so poor
~ requited his great deeds. but ~ sleeps
in the beleagured city of Havana on the
soil of the island that was to him the
best beloved of all lands he gave to Cas-
tile and Leon. HOSFORD.