The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-12-18

u the new dsYesopnientS in the ease
Was & simply fortuitous that the gallant
ship named after Spanish infanta Of the
seventeenth century should seek OF her
own vohrion-aided by the wind and waves
Il landing place en- the very point where,
more than 100 years ago, the great hero
or the fifteenth century is said TO have
made his first landfallI
But at all events X was most singular
coincidence that the leading vessel in Ger
VeTa's aimless voyage across the Atlantic,
after being shot TO death by Yankee shells
and terminated by American pluck and
genius. should retrace the course taken by
Columbus in his first voyage hitherward.
and, safely rounding Cape Maisi, penetrat-
AnS the intricate channels among the Ba-
hamas through which the great admiral
sailed southwark. should he abandoned
near the very spot where hrs. land was
sighted in October, i492
Cat island, where the Maria Teresa went
ashore, lies about midway OF the Bahama
chain and thousand miles from New
York. In general outline it closely re-
semoles Italy, being shaped like n boot
furty-two miles in lengtb. and from three
10 four miles in breadth. Columbus point
which has been given 70 the world as
the first American landau of the sailor
after whom il was named. lies at the head
or the boot. and az its southeastern ex-
tremity. The eastern coast is described by
seafarers as rocky. bold and steep but
foul and reef-incloSed on the west. shelter
for small craft being found In two or three
fathoms OF water. with infrequent OPEN
ings through the barrier reefs. The south
ern extremity OF the island. which is i'm
some places from 2o0 to 4b0 feet In height
shows some great white cliffs which form
conspicuous landmarks The island itself
is fairly fertile-that is. for the Bahamas.
where IL is said that the soil is cuti-
waited with a Crowbar AMI seed planted
with 4 shotgun. and the poverty-stricken
inhabitants send hence some very fine
pineapp.es 10 the northern markets 1t Is
distant from Nassau, the chief settlement
Of the chain. on the island OF New provi-
dence. about Us miles. means Of commune
cation being infrequent.
When, on that memorable morning OF
the 18th OF October, 1852. boats from CO.
lumbus caravels landed on the reef-in-
closed shore. the natives came swarming
To the sands. II gave them" he says in
his journal. red caps and strings OF beads
and other tritles. by which We have got a
wonderful hold on their affections. They
aftorward came to the boats OF the YES
sells. swimming. bringing us parrots cot
ton threads in balls and such trifles, which
they bartered for glass beads and little
bells All OF them go naked as they
came INTO the Woiiu' tneit IoillS axe grace
fu, their features good. their hair Is
coarse and worn long behind. They paint
themselves. like the Canary islanders. and
paint themselves in various Colors. They
do not carry arms. and have no knowledge
of them, for when | showed them our
swords they took them by the edges. and
through ignorance. cut themselves"
4 few years later II was q favoTite pas
time OF the Spanish conquerors and set
tiers to see who OF them could most neatly
decapitate those same Indians with their