The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-07-16

preservation, on the lid of which was an
inscription: ID. de la A, per Ate.-Dis- /
coverer of America; first admiral" On
the inside of the lid: "Illre y Els do Va
ron, On. Cristoval Volon" The right end
of the case bore the latter A" and the
left &C. while a silver plate was later
found inside with name and titles of Co
lumbus A critical examination showed
human bones, several very we'll preserved, |
though the skull was gone, the silver plate
mentioned and a large bullet. This is
supposed TO be the bullet he received in his
body when in Africa, the wound from
which caused him much pain throughout
his life.
This great discovery threw thessavants. !
of San Domingo into spasms of delight,
and those Of Spain into corresponding rage. |
When the news of it reached Madrid the
Royal Academy instituted a searching in
quiry, which resulted, of course, in sus-
tanning the Havana theory; but the "sa-
bios" of San Domingo are still firm in
their belief that they have the only and
original "bOnes"-the true and authenu-
Gated "restos" of the Immortal Colon"
AS the writer has sent to San Domingo
for the express purpose of sitting the ,.x-
isting evidence and making personal ex-
animation and bore letters of recommended
ton from the then Secretary of State, Mr..
Blaine, to the president of the Dominican
him for rigid investigation. The minis
Ter of fomento, or public affairs, himself
accompanied him to the cathedral, and by
his command the revered relics were
brought from their place of deposit, in an
ancient cedar chest within dark cell near
the presbytery, and exposed TO the light of
day. Photographs were then taken of the
vault (the original place of sepulture being
pointed out, the two vaults opened and
their relative position shown, and also of
the casket a present holding the bones,
and of the "urna' or case of crystal and
satinwood, in which this is contained.
This last is bound about with ribbons,
secured by the great seal of the republic,
and to obtain even a glimpse of the re-
mains it is first necessary to get the sane
ton of the ecclesiastical, the municipal
and the national authorities, the three keys
to the cell in which they are guarded being
held by the archbishop, the president of
the 'ayuntamiento." or municipality, and
the secretary of foreign affairs. This is in
order TO guard against fraud and to pre-
vent Unauthorized access 20 the priceless
treasure.
In the writer's report to this government
he said in substance: The con-
clusion reached by the Spanish academy
is that the remains of Cristoval Colon are
in the Cathedral of Havana. in the shad-
ow of the glorious banner of CASTLE. -
: tt is most fitting that. over his sepulcner
waves the same flag that sailed with him
from Palos in the Santa Maria.
There rest the bones of the first admiral
of the Indies; there is his last abode.
Il sincerely desire to assent to this opln-
ion. feeling it were indeed most fitting that
the ashes of Columbus should repose I'M
der the flag he carried to the new world;
Int after having sifted all the evidence
carefully; after having seen the spot Sc
lected by the admiral for his last abode;
lr.risr -xx-t7,s x1TfaTo
present at the discovery of the casket;
after reading the inscription and inspect
ing the relics themselves, l am forced to
admit that the Dominicans have much
stronger case than the Havanese.
s.The error of the Spaniards, In 1875, lay
in their ignorance of the fact that there
were two vaults closely contiguous; that
only a few inches from the one they were
seeking Both vaults were under the chan
eel both were on the Gospel side but
that ALLEGED by the Dominicans to have
contained the remains Of Columbus was
nearer the wall, Immediately against its
foundations. Concerning then, the ques-
ton of the present resting place OF the
homes of Columbus, I may be permitted
10 add that 1 declare in favor of San Do
mingo"
stul. the Spanish admiral. in 1875. took
somebody's remains TO Havana, ana II
not those of Columbus, then to whom did
they pertain IL was az uISA lHOuSul, al
ter the finding of the second tomb, they
may have been the remains of Don Barth-
olomew. the fighting adelantado, who died
in San Domingo in 1914; but 1t is known
almost to a certainty that he was inter-
red in front of the altar of the ruined
! Trranciscan convent. There is little room
for doubt that they belong 10 some mem
her of the Columbus family. and il was
| finally concluded that they were the last
relics Of Don Diego, son Of Columbus and
! frst viceroy TO the island. who died in
! 100 and who was. at the expressed wish
/ ~ his wife and according to the chron-
! ;cles Of the time, inferred in the cathedral
| chancel.
We shall. by the capture OF Havana,
/ ocorire the remains Of a ColumbuS
| whether of Christopher or Diego il mat
| ters not. lit Is all in the family" And
! shall We not accept it as presage prece-
/ dent 10 victory that another "Cristobal
! colon" became ours last week on the
| south coast Of Cuba, ingloriously chased
ashore by our heet2
As Don Diego was the only legitimate
| son and heir Of the great Christopher,
! succeeding 50 far as possible TO his titles
| ana official omolumcnts, we should be
| content with the son II we cannot get the
! father. And. after all, 1t is by no means
| certain that the Dominican relies cannot
| be obtained for a consideration IN
| view Of the well known prociiyities OF