Durango semi-weekly herald., 1904-01-14
$3.50 Per Aanum.

several months. The old inn remains
Just as itswas then. across one OF tho
streets that surround the cathedral,
aud is now used for the same purpose.
As We looked In there this morning
we saw lot OF men, evidently farm
ers and tcamsters. sitting around tab
| les drinking wine and chatting, while
their carts were arranged in rows in
the courtyard and their horses were
munching hay in the stable beyond.
According to the usual rule the living
rooms are on the second floor and are
| reached by broad stone stairway,
which IL worn into grooves by roughly
shod soles OF generations. There Is a
balcony around the interior, upon
which the living rooms open, and 1t
does not require much effort of the
Imagination to see the solemn old sail
or sitting around waiting for his din
ner and making love In digniiied
| manner to the landlords daughter.
The relations between Beatrice En-
rlques and Columbus have been the
subject Of controversy for 300 years
and were such that the College or Car
dlnals refused to make saint of Co
lumbus when petition signed by sew
eral millions Of people requested 1t
In 1892. book has been written to
prove that they were lawfully married,
but unfortunately for their regulations
Columbus himself gave direct evidence
to the contrary. In his will he dlrecls
his son Diego, who was his heirat-
law, to take care OF Beatrice Enri-
qnes. mother of Don Fernando, my
son; supply her with all that can en-
able her to live in an honorable man
ner, she being a person to whom | am
under grave obligations. and do this
TO relieve my conscience, because 1t
weighs heavily on my soul"
That the family OF Beatrice found
no fault with her relations to Column
bus Is inferred from the fact that her
brother commanded one OF the ships
during his third voyage. Hence he
must have kept in communication with
them, but nothing Is known of the
woman's whereabouts during the time
Df his attendance at the court OF Spain
and while he was absent upon his voy-
ages. Her son, Fernando, was man
seen the place where he lived in Sew
ille. He left a magnificent library,
which was presented To the chapter
Of the Seville cathedral, and is buried
in front of the altar OF that wonderful
church.
Fernando accompanied his father on
mis- last voyage in 1909, being then a
years old. Subsequently he was ap-
pointed page at court and became n
lavorite of the Emperor Charles ",
who gave him a pension of $4,000
year. Fernando Travelled extensively
ana we know from his library Of 20.-
900 volumes that he was not only q
man OF education and taste, but stu
ilons reader and a cultured scholar
Nearly every volume In his collection
contains memoranda giving the date,
place and price OF purchase, which ar
lord clew 20 the extent and direction
ol his travels, and marginal notes In
many OF the books demonstrate his
earning and ability. Oviedo. one OF
me historians OF that day, refers to
aim in his sketches oil court life at To-
,edo during the reign OF Charles '.
and describes him as "a person OF
sweet disposition. affable manners and
nobility oil character"
Don Diego Columbus, the legitimate
son OF the great admiral, was very
inherent person His mother was
native oI Ma0elra. and he was born
IN 1915. Mnen Columbus was about
20 san on MS frst voyage Queen Isa-
ears oil age, a page at court His
,dtner intenued him Tor the priest
.ioou, but nis nciinations we're entire
y IN the o,ner direction. and he led
useless anu dissoiute iiie. His de-
scendantt, the Duke Oh yeragua has
number OF letters written To MN by
Columbus while the latter was absent
on his several voyages. They were
full OF affection and solicitude, but
complaining OF Diego's lack Of love
| and respect for him, as well as for his
brother Fernando. Although he knew
that Diego was a worthless fellow he
made him his sole heir.
Within hye days after the death OF
Columbus we find Diego lmportuning
the king for official recognition and
the pecuniary reward for which Co
lumbus had appealed In vain 70 long.
King Ferdinand permitted him to bring
a suit at law against the crown to test
The contract made with his father,
which WAS decided in his favor, but 1t
was not until alter his marriage with
| Dona Maria de Toledo, a cousin Of the
King and a member of one OF the most
influential families at court. that the
verdict was recognized. Don Diego
was hnaily made governor Of the West
| indies and awarded one-eighth Of all
| the royal revenues from that source.
His income was thus very large He
erected magnificent palace. Of which
the ruins still stand, on the banks OF
the ozarha river, opposite the City OF
oanto Domingo, and lived there In
great state. becoming very vain and
tyrannical. He was accused Of q con-
spiracy to set up an independent gov
ernment, and at the first sign Of In
subordination was recalled to Spain,
mis- reyenues were cut OF. and he was
kept busy explaining things for the
next fourteen years, when death end