The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-06-12


lumbus was at last sepultured on the Island
of Cuba. This happened in 1895. 1t was on
the 10Th day of December OF that year that
a party of distinguished gentlemen, If
whom the Duke of Veragua was one-he to
whom one of the titles given columbus ny
the Spanish crown had descended. opened
the vault in the cathedral of San Domingo.
which had always been said to contain the
remains of Columbus, and finding there
pieces of a leaden box and some fragments
of bones and dust, gathered them all on a
plate, and in solemn silence carried them
on board the San Lorenzo on which they
were taken to Cuba.
NATIONS TARDY GRATITUDE.
In the cathedral at Havana niche in the
wall was opened on the evangelist side and
the relics were deposited. The spot is
marked by tablet, on which is written:
0 grand Columbus!
In this urn enshrined
A thousand centuries thy bones shall guard
A thousand ages keep thine image 1resh,
In token of a nations gratitude
A bust of Columbus also marks the spot
It is noted chiefly for not resembling any
picture of him now in existence
1t is disputed now that the remains re-
moved to Havana are those of Columbus.
and much documentary evidence is fur
nished to show that it was his grandson
Don Luis who was honored. Spain, now
ever, in solemn Cortes assembled, debated
the matter for a long period, and then OIL
cialIy promulgated the fact that Columbus
had been moved for the third and last time
from Santo Domingo 70 Havana, cuba, A
Duke of Veragua. who claims descent from
Columbus in a-l1ind of cross-bar style, Of
fered to sell the reVered relic to the world 5
fair commissioners and despoil the tomb IN
Havana for the paltry sum or $50GOU caSh
in hand, in 1892. but the Amer rFSn1, pig
the signs of the times. and felt that in the
not far distant future Columbus would come
to his own again. Veragua, the pun raiser,
was much Disguised. but he had to go back
to Spain as pennilesS as he came.
A year later there, echoed across the ocean
for hal0 anA IA,
the man who as the descendant of Column
bus, accepted the hospitality of the Amer-
he had to be quietly informed that me
country was tired of him, asked the UnlteQ
States to pension him, or make nm a gl IL
the fact that he comes of the same blood
as Columbus. Failing to get the United
States to make a fool of itself he proceeTd ,,l
titled pocket edition of a man Will now
have further cause TO aDo oa air t tIe
American acquisition of Cuba and Porto
Rico. the bull raising scion of the bar SIN
lister line of Columbus will find his reVellueS
reduced to nil from this side of the water
That is another reason for Spanish hatred
DUST OF PONCE DE LEON.
In like manner as we get the dust of CO.
lumbus, we will get that of old Ponce de.
Leon who was in all probability as goou
a representative of his people as Spain ever
sent DeyOHO HeT OWU DOIQSIS. Iilo 4iAN "'-~'
on the down-hill slope when he came over
with Columbus on his second voyage. They
discovered Porto Rico in November l4S1,
and Ponce de Leon eventually became its
Governor, in 1908. He was one of the ia
nous "Conquistadors. or conquerors or
Spain. In the city of Seville, on the beat"
tiful Guadalquivir, is the cathedral where
Columbus. more valuable dead than living,
was pompously entombed by the crown
after public opinion, even in that day.
would no longer brook delay. On the pave
ment, above the spot where the discoVerer'
once rested. IS tablet with the world
famed inscription, quoted before. On the
wall of the cathedral hangs a framed letter
from Ponce de Leon, dated Porto Rico
Feb. TO- 1921" AS Governor of the island
the poor old roue seems to have been about
as vicious as any of the invaders of these
peaceful islands. He lived there like kins-
had his palace and his slaves, his will was
his purpose and no one said him nay. he
had big bloodhound named "Bervlla," so
ferocious that his name is preserved among
the archives of Porto Rico. and so powerful
was the brute at tearing and rendlnS me
unhappy slave Indians that ne drew sal
airy equal to that of a cross-bowman from
the Spanish government.
Among the show places In Porto Rico IS
Casa Blanco, the home of Ponce de Leon.
built to his taste when he was governor of
hence above the sea wall, turreted with bat
Elements, defended by odd old guns and
surrounded on two sides by beautiful
grounds filled with tropical Verdure. I'm
touched by age it endures, a picturesque
monument to the first governor of the isl
and, its queer windows commanding a view
of the harbor of San Juan, the scene Of the
recent naval battle.
DISCOVERY OF FLORIDA.
From Casa Blanco, Ponce de Leon. having
heard that in another island not far away
there was a fountain of perpetual youth
sailed away in search of it. He did not find
the fountain, but he found a fiowery para
disc where nature knows only fragrant
summer, and he named it Florida" and so
it remains to-day. He was wounded in bat
tie with the Indians a few years later. and
died in Cuba. His body was carried to Porto
Rico. and there inferred with great pomp
in the cathedral, known as the Dominican
Church of San Juan" and there his body
rests to-day, in big leaden case, bearing
the legend:
This narrow grave contains the remains
OF man who lion by name ana
much more by his deeds.
This queer old town Is full of relics OF the
days of Cofambus and Ponce de Leon. The
claim of direct descent from Columbus is
simply preposterous The male line of CO.
lumbus became extinct seventy years after
his death. The present claimant is descend
ed from the daughter of Columbus's brother,
Diego, second Duke of Veragua.
there t Is an empty 1 frypt 9naef t aee eo no
intend to confiscate Cuba nor does she eX-
pect to hold Porto Rico after she has given
Spain the punishment that four hundred
years of misrule seem TO have entailed, but
the cruel and inhuman nation which sent
Christopher Columbus, the great discoverer;
to dishonored grave ought TO be despoied
of his sacred dust, and that OF the discoverer
of Florida. America knows how to- honor
the worlds heroes, and under the dome OF
her great white Capitol he who discovered
half q hemisphere would find sepulchre
betting his superb achievements. -.
Columbus belongs to Columbia. and his
sacred dust should rest from now TIN the
resurrection under the folds of freedoms
starry emblem