The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1905-12-16
Columbus,


Columbus,
Columbus was born in Genoa Italy. about 1885,
and was the son of wool-comber. He doubtless
Joined the sports with the other boys. going with
them to see the many vessels that sailed in and out
OF that famous seaport, or listening for hours to
the stories told by the sailors about other lands.
His education mainly fitted for the sea.
He learned reading, writing, grammer and arith-
metic, and was instructed in the Latin tongue He
was very skillful in drawing and designing. Very
likely much of his life was spent the sea. sailing
on the Mediterranean and along the west coast
of Africa.
Columbus tall and large, with ruddy COM
pleXion and piercing blue eyes. Whenhe was thir-
ty his hair had turned white and hung IN wavy
locks about his shoulders.
In 1873 he married Portuguese woman whose
father had been one of the King of Portugals fam
Gus navigators and who had left behind him at
his death a number of charts. Meanwhile Column
bus was fixing in his mind for a future voyage
TO the countries of the far east. Genoa had be-
come rich in trading in silks Spices and precious
stones of the East Indies. --'.'-''-
About 1881 Columbus laid his plan before King
John of Portugal The king did not promise to
give him aid but borrowed hints from Columbus
charts and sent some OF his men out to see if they
could reach land by sailing west, but the weather
was so stormy that they turned toward home.
When Columbus heard what the king had done
he was very angry and decided to go to Spain.
Hand in hand with his little son Diego he trudged
YEARLY on his Quincy.
When they arrived in Palos he left Diego in
the care of his aunt and went to find Ferdinand
and Isabella AT first they thought he was crazy
and when he passed through the streets the boys
tapped their foreheads he passed and laughed at
him.
In 1871 Columbus made up his mind to leave
Spain and go to FranceSo taking his Diego
started out on foot once more. When they came
TO the convent of St. Marys he asked for some
bread and water for his son Diego. While Diego
was eating Columbus was conversing with the
prior of the convent. He was greatly interested
in Columbus story and told we'll known sea cap
tain named Martin Pinzou. The sea captain
thought Columbus plan very good and he promised
not only to furnish money for expedition but
to go with Columbus.
The queen felt now that she should help Column
bus so she sent swift courier and brought Column
bus back.An agreement soon reached and Col
mnbus accented it with tears in of joy
tie got the vessels, namely: the Santa Maria,
the Pinta, and the Nina, but there were no men
that would CO. so they had to release prisoners who
were glad to be free.
Columbus started August 3, 1892. with 100 men.
The poor sailors sobbed like children. they were
so overcome with fear. They sailed and sailed but
no signs of land were sen. After many days all
hearts were gladdened by seeing a flock of birds,
that indicated that land was near.
On the night OF October ii Columbus saw
light moving in the distance which was one of
the natives going from hut to hut. Friday, Octo
Der y, they set foot on dry land. Columbus threw
himself on the ground and wept, and planted
cross in the name of Ferdinand and Isabella He
called the island San Salvador which means Holy
Savior, because October - the day on which it
was discovered was 50 called in the Spanish cal
cndar.
At first the natives, whom Columbus called
Indians" fed into the woods in fear of the Span
iards, but returned and worshiped the crew. They
thought the vessels were birds from heaven and the
crew were supernatural beings.
Columbus soon became friends with the Indians
and traded red caps and trinkets for few orna-
nlents of gold
Columbus sailed along the coast of Cuba and
Hayti and landed here and there to see the peaple
of the different islands.
On Christmas morning when it was still dark
Columbus was cruising along the shores of Hispan-
lola when the Santa Maria went aground on
shoal and the waves soon knocked it to pieces.
A number of men were left at Hispanioa, which
was the first Spanish settlement on this continent
January the Nina set sail for Spain as the
Pinta had deserted. When Columbus arrived in
Palos the king and queen received him with trium-
phal honors. A great procession went through the
streets Of Barcelona and leading the parade we're
six Indians
Columbus made three other voyages. the third
he landed on island which he named Trinidad.
In 1862 he started fourth voyage and sailed
along the coast of Central America. At last he
set out for Spain, arriving there only short time
before Queen Isabella, his only friend, died
Poor sick and discouraged Columbus lived
weary life for eighteen months longer He died of