Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1899-01-19
YOUTHS DEPARTMENT.
The First Christmas Celebration In
America-Treated Like Pet Mon
keys-Tadpole and Frog.

On Saturday, Dec. 22, 1892, Christie
pher Columbus received visit from
large number OF the natives Of Cuba.
These peopla were sent as the messen-
gers of the grand chief Guacanagari,
who lived I'm a large town OF native
built houses. The town Is now called
Grand Riviere These messengers
brought gifts and an invitation to the
white men of heaven TO enter their vii
lage. The gifts were broad belt, made
of beads and bones. and wooden mask
with eyes, nose and tongue OF gold.
The lack Of a good wind prevented
the ship sailing to the village, but Co.
lumbus sent many men in small boats
to return to the village with the ma
tives. The glowing accounts OF their
reception, of the kindness OF the natives
and of their wealth caused Columbus
to have the ship thoroughly cleaned on
Monday, ready to sail on Tuesday,
Christmas day, 1892, to celebrate with
becoming splendor the first Christmas
day in America and show the natives
some Of the Christian rites and cere.
monies There was also TO be made
large distribution of gifts by Columbus.
The weather was like April in the
north. The birds sang all day, and some
were heard at night. The kind DISPOSE
ton Of the natives, the tropical verdure
and the balmy skies all seemed auspi-
cious Of wonderful first Christmas
celebration.
On Christmas eve, 1892, the brave
Admiral Christopher Columbus. wea-
ried with the extra cares OF the day and
the loss of all rest for two days and a
night, left his ship in the care OF the
steersman and went to sleep The per-
feet calm of the sea and the knowledge
Of the friendship Of the natives gave
him his first real freedom from care for
months.
But. like Ulysses of old, Columbus
had a rude awakening. The steersman
who was left in charge was also weary
and went to sleep, leaving the helm in
charge of an apprentice, who was only
a lad This was in direct disobedience
of Columbus orders.
In short time the whole crew was
asleep, leaving the ship Santa Maria,
with her precious freight of lives,
wholly in the charge of a young boy.
The treacherous undercurrents which
run swiftly along the coast carried the
vessel quietly but with terrific force
upon a sand bank. The breakers roared,
but the needless boy did not know their
warming When the rudder struck, he
g. k,,. . LOT
Columbus was the first to waken. He
ordered the master and his crew TO car
~ an anchor out astern. The men and
their master sprang into the boat and
rowed for the Nina. II mile and half
away The commander of the Nina
made the men return. but it was too
late.
Christmas morning saw the Santa
Maria "A wreck upon a sand bar The
perfect calm of the sea permitted the
removal of the men with no loss Of life
The grand chief Guacanagari came
with his people and assisted in the re-
moval of all articles from the ship and
had them placed near his own house. A
guard kept them safe Not the most tri-
fling thing was stolen. The chief and
natives expressed their sympathy by
signs and deeds and showed the Span
iards their humanity and love.
Thus the first Christmas day was
spent in far different manner from
what Columbus intended, but still in
union with the kindly natives of Cuba
Mary Catherine Judd in School Edu.
Gator