The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-06-11
THE DIscovEnER or NEW MExIoo.
some Facts Showing That lie Was
a Negro.


all The Spanish conquistadors and dis
coverers including Columbus. At the time
Of the latter's departure from Spain ne
groes were very numerous and prominent
in that country. and it may not be I'M
reasonable to suppose that they may have
been thought useful TO him on some of
his voyages. In the discussions which
were INDUCED in with reference to the
charge that the Spanish monk, Las Casas
who accompanied Columbus on his fourth
voyage, introduced slavery into this coun-
try, 1t was shown that negroes were in
Hayti and san Domingo as early as 1900,
II not earlier.
Under these conditions, is it at all i'm
probable that a negro should have taken
some prominent part in the early discov-
cries of this country?
Historically, this question would prove
a most interesting one. II any negro did
take part in the early discovery and ex-
ploration of America, that fact should be
known. The current histories do not cred
it the negro with barely incidental con-
nection with the discovery and exploration
of this country or any part of the new
world.
When questioned with reference to this
matter, the eminent Massac husetts histo-
rian. the late Justin Winsor, stated that
he was not aware that the facts referring
to negroes in the American explorations
had been brought together, and he added
that Historians had not searched history
with an eye to the information relating
to the negro in the early part of Amerl-
can history" DIR. Winsor did not. how
ever deny the probability of the exist
ence Of such documents as may yet show
INN
the discovery and exploration of portions
of America.
Now, has the negro, or any negro, any
right to be mentioned as having aided In
the discovery and exploration of any part
of this country2
In order to settle this question the writer
made personal researches in the Congress
sional library at Washington, d. C., IN
The Lenox library at New York and IN
England in the Bodlean library (OxfordD,
the Cambridge University library Cam
BRIDGE, and the British Museum Qlon-
dom and corresponded with numerous his
torians in this country and various parts
of Europe Although the search has been
neither thorough nor satisfactory II has
vet been sufficient TO reveal the fact that
negroes are entitled to some consideration
as discoveries and explorers of certain
portions Of this country; and that II Is not
dificult to find numerous references to ne
groes connected with the early Spanish
conouistadors in the writings of Gomera,
Peter Martyr, Antonio Herrera, Navar-
rete. and other writers on American mat
ters. The only difficulty is that this par
ticular matter of the negro as a history
maker, so far as explorations and discov-
cries are concerned has not been properly
investigated.
The best authenticated case at hand,
however, of a negro taking an important
part in exploring this continent was that
of Estevan, the negro who accompanied
Narvaez from Spain on his Inflated ex-
oedition of 1877. That he was the discov-
erer of the zuni Indians and of New Mex
leo is. think, a fact easy TO be establish
ed. Ii is claimed that Alvar NuneZ Ca
beza de Vaca the treasurer of the III
starred expedition of Pamphiio de Mar
vaez. was the discoverer of that country,
but Mr. A. T. Bandelier. in his "Contri-
buttons to the History OF the Southwest
ern Portion of the United States" proves
conclusivey that Cabeza de Vaca never
saw New Mexico, and that he was absent
from the country at the time Of the ex-
ploration into New Mexican territory The
evidence which Mr.. Bandelier adduces 10
show that the Zuni Indians and New Mex
leo were not discovered by De Naca is.
in my opinion. equally conclusive against
the claim of discovery by any other man
than the negro Estevan. Bandeher's his
torieal researches show beyond doubt
that only one of two men can possibly
be credited with the discoyery--F'ray Mar
COS de Nzza or his faithful guide and in
terpreter, the negro, Estevan; for a care
ful reading of his own narratives does not
seem TO reveal any evidence upon which
Alvar Nunez CabeZa de Vaca can base
his claim of discovery.
The only other claimant worthy Of con-
sideration against the negro, Estevan, Is
the monk, Marcos de NizZa. Mr.. Bande
Her ably supports Marcos de Nizza's claim,
but his claim for the honor Of the dlscov-
ery can have no foundation, except as Il
is certainly based upon the fact OF the
guidance and information which he re-
ceiyed from the negro, Estevan, or Ste
phen Dorantes. In accordance with all
authorities it Is absolutely certain that
Estevan or Stephen Dorantes saw the
country some days before the arrival Of
Marcos de Nizzs; and. further, II is equal
ly certain that De Nizzo would not on
that particular expedition have visited
New Mexico at all had he not been under
the guidance of his devoted negro com
panion. The information shows. in addi-
zion, that Fray Marcos de Nizza followed
DAYS II not weeks, in the rear of his faith
full guide, who was to him very John
the Baptist. The timid monk at no time
went forward until the negro, EsteVan,
had made ample preparations for his prog
ress If there were a discovery, who IN
the name of historical truth was the dis
coverer7 The writer is unable to find evil
dence that the dscoverer of New Mexico
was other than the negro, Estevan, Ste
phen Dorsntes. The evidence also shows
that when the negros zeal and faithful
ness had cost him his life. the monk, Mar
cos, straightway returned home with tho
claim that he had discovered a great
country known as New Mexico His as
sertion under the circumstances may have
been natural, but his claim must certain
4 ~ be disallowed when accuracy Is consid-
cred an indispensable element of history.
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