Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-08
Where Columbus Was Recalled.

Near the estate known as Sofa de Roma,
which was presented to the Duke of Well
ington by the government Of Spain after he
drove out the French intruders in 1908, is
the famous Bridge of Pines, where Column
bus was stopped by messenger sent by
Queen Isabella, who begged him to come
back to Santa Fe and renew negotiations
which had been terminated by the rejection
of his schemes. Hence that bridge has al
ways had particular interest and has been
painted by hundred artists The disap-
pointed old sailor was riding donkey and
his faithful brother Bartholomew walked
by his side. His offer had been rejected by
the sovereigns of Spain because they were
engaged in the siege OF Granada and had
no time or money to waste on exploring
expeditions. Disappointed and indignant,
Columbus left the court and started for
England. where he intended to lay his
scheme before the British government.
Queen Isabella had treated him so kindly,
however. that he obeyed her summons. and
in turning back to enter contract with
the Spanish government he perhaps chang
ed the entire history Of the American con.
tinent. That vas one OF the most critical
incidents in human experience.
The contract with Columbus was made
and signed at the little town Of Santa Fe,
which had sprung up around the heau-
quarters Of Ferdinand and Isabella during
angel the royal treasurer. undertaking to
find money to pay the expenses. so that the
queens Jewels, which were generously Of
fered, were not sacrificed.
Contract With Columbus.
Under this contract Columbus and his
heirs forever were to enjoy one-fifth Of all
the revenues that might come from the
lands he discovered; he and his descendants
were to own one-fifth Of them, and were
to be perpetual governors or rulers. sub
1ect to the crown OF Spain. II this con-
tract had been kept to the letter all these
centuries, the Duke Of Veragua would now
be viceroy of all America and would own
one-fifth Of the United States.
After the death of Isabella, King Ferdi-
nand refused to recognize the claims or Co.
lumbus. So many explorers had visited the
new world and had claimed similar rights
and titles to the territory they had visited,
that the king could not make a precedent
so that for seven years Columbus was fol-
lowing the court from place to place plead
ing for his rights and reward. AFTER ne
died his son Diego was permitted to take
the case into court, where 1t was decided
in his favor and he was finally made gov
ernor Of the island now known as Haiti and
Santo Domingo. He proved a failure and
after few years was recalled to Spain
and spent the rest of his life demanding
restoration. The family claims upon the
crown were inherited by his son Louis. who
early developed all the vices of his father.
During his minority San Domingo was
governed by council and when he became
of age he surrendered all his claims upon
the crown for an annual pension of ten
thousand ducats. an estate In Honduras
twenty-five leagues square, and group or
titles making him the Duke of Veragua
Honduras), Marquis Of Jamaica, Grand
Admiral of the ILdies. and a grandee Of
Spain of the first class. These titles were
conferrt upon him by Charles v, but he
never attempted to exercise the duties of
his Office. His life was a continuous
scsr dal, and in 1858 he was convicted of
bigamy, spent five years in prison, and was
then banished to Africa, where he died in
1872, leaving SO many legitimate and ille-
Ultimate children that the titles and es-
tates were the subject Of litigation for five
generations. 1t was not until 1870 that the
case was finally settled in favor of the
ancestors of the present Duke of Veragua.
Scene Of Stirring Events.
Santa Fe was the scene Of other stirring
and important historical events. but is now
a sleepy little town without much business
and nothing to interest a traveller. Its
greatest fame Is represented in a splendid
picture hanging in one of the galleries of
Madrid and portraying in vivid colors the
surrender of Granada by Boabdil, the last
king OF the Moors. Another picture of the
same scene is in the Escorial, and a third
is in the cathedral at Granada. These pic
lures have become familiar to all the world
graphs, for the surrender of the Alhambra
is perhaps the most important event in the
history of Spain.