The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-11-02

contained in its latest laanc the fol-
lowing remarkable letter, which is
here printed with the Italian editor y
predatory note:
Christopher Columbus, destitute,
sick and starving at the place where
now is Kingston, Jamaica, wrote to
his king and queen that the new world
by him gained to Spain would bring
ruin to the latter and thus average
che wrongs and cruel treatment that
che nation had caused him. Ills
words came true. Cuba is the last
nail in the coffin Of dead Spain. That
letter never reached Spain. 1t is in
the records Of the council house of
Jamaica, and it follows
Jamaica, 1904 Diego Mcndez and
the papers that send through him
will show your highncss that dis
covered in Vcragua some rich gold
mines, and as intended to leave my
brother at the River Bclin. had not
heaven decree and the greatest mis-
fortune of the world prevented me
FROM carrying out my plan. However,
it is enough that your highncss, as
we'll as your successors, should have
the glory and advantage of ALL and
that the completion Of discovery and
the colonization should be reserved to
more fortunate people ,lan the un-
lucky Columbus.
If God grants me to have Mandcz
reach Spain, have no doubt that he
will convince your highness, my nigh
lady, that this will not be only a
Castillo and Leon, but the discovery
Of a world Of people. of lands of
wealth, greater than the most bound
less human fancy could desire, but
not by me, nor by this paper, nor by
any mortal tongue could be described
the anxiety and the sorrows Of nv
body anu mind, and the destitution
and dangers of my son, of my brother
and Of my friends.
Ten years already we are bound to
this place, lodged on the uncovered
decks of our ships thrown ashore, one
against the other; those of my men
who were healthy have deserted me
under the Porrasi of Scvilla; my
friends, who remained true to me, are
mostly sick or dying; We have con-
sumed all food supplies of the In
dians, and these have left us now.
So we are all exposed to starve, and
there misfortunes arc accompanied by
the worst circumstances, that make
me the most unfortunate victim of
fate that this world have ever seen.
1t seems like Cog anger has favored
the envy of Satan, that would punish,
as criminal deeds, the undertakings
and discoveries that the past ages
would have recognized as grand and
verify.
1T is evident that one resorts to
every means to cut the thread which
is about to break, since am in my
old age, oppressed and afflicted with
unbcarablc pains of .gout, and am
now languishing and dying of this and
other sickness among the savagcs,
where cannot find any medicines,
nor proper food for the body, nor q
priest, nor sacraments for the soul.
my men are rebelling against me;
my brother, my son and those who
remained faithful to me are sick ,
hungry, dying; the Indians have for
saken us. Thc governor Of San Do
mlngo sent to see whether / was dead
rather than help US, or to bring me
away alive from here, for his boat did
not bring us any letter, nor has com
allioatsd With &c, &c. did :hey waa:
to receive anything from US. con
clude, therefore, that the officers Of
your highness intend that here must
end my travels and my life.
"Oh, holy Mother of God, who has
pity on the oppressed, why did not
Bobadillas $ knife kill me when he de-
privcd me and my brother of the gold
earned in such hard manner. and sen,
us back to Spain without any trial
without any crime, without even q
shadow of bad conduct?
Let the whole world and every
justice and mercy-loving soul weep for
me. And you, glorious saints OF
God, you who know of my innocence,
and who see all my sufferings, have
mercy on me. Because, although the
present generation is envious and
hsrd-hearted, surely the future ages
will pity poor Christopher Columbus
when they will learn that he, riskine
his own life and that Of his brother
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