The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-12-05
Columbus Is Muckraked

Christopher Columbus was the great
est dlscoyerer OF real estate the world
has ever known AS near as we can
learn, from his folks, he was born in
Genoa in l446 His father who was a
poor Woolcomber, saved his combines
He stood at the head of the geography
class and was always called on by the
teacher to answer difficult questions
when the trustees visited the school
He had an irresistible inclination for
the sea and drank salt and water for
breakfast instead of coffee, CLAIMING
It stimulated his thirst for navigation,
III me details OF his early life are some
What confused and unsatisfactory;
even his married sisters could not Keen
track. OF him, but it appears that he.
spent most of his time working at his
trade as a discoverer, looking around
on on the Mediterranean sea, hoping to
md something that had been mislaid
OF strayed away from home. In l47O
he marred the daughter of Bartholo-
meo &c ,Palestrello, who left a wood
tlcal Instruments, and Columbus fused
around with them until he became con-
vlnced that it was time for him to
push out and land something big.
| lie did not have money enough to
| go on his own hook, and he finally in
| duced Ferdinand and Isabella, being
at this time sovereigns Of Spain, to
g Si,un' axe = HIM. lie promised. to give
them some town lots and a site for a
new throne, and they fitted him out
with three small vessels and crew
OF men, and on Friday, Aug. 3, 1892,
columbus set sail from the Port of
P:alos with the words "high admiral''
PINNED to his hunting coat by the king,
and with "'Tom Moore ',cigar in his
mouth walked the deck of the head
snip with profound tread. But when
tWenty-one days had elapsed without
the sight Of land, the courage of his
men began TO sink and they offered to
throw him overboard; the offer was
not accepted-which saved Columbus
| life. ... 49,. = -..-
Columbus did his best to keep his
men in good spirit. He passed the
cigars around and promised them that
II they did not discover anything be-
fore the end of the month he would
turn around and try and find his wav
home. He offered frst-class prize to
the man who should first discover land,
and on the 18th Of October, the same
year, man IN the head boat won the
prize, dainty piece of hand painted
china filled with a IL o'clock dinner.
1T was the island of Guanahani,
which Columbus thought belonged to
Eastern Asia, and with this idea in his
mind he threw himself upon his knees
around him in establishment, and his
men,. heartily ashamed of their dis
Obedience, began begging his pardon
and promised to stick by him in the
future like poor relations. Columbus
planted the royal standard two feet
deep and cautioned the natives to
water it and to be careful about pick
ing the little standards until they were
grown up. 49,. ,..,.
| After sailing around fol; while he
| discovered Cuba, and after establishing
i a few post offices and rural routes went
pack to Spain with a quit claim deed
In his pocket for several sections of
good farming land. Court was in ses-
sion when he arrived home, and as a
good many people were in from the
country the day was made legal holt
day; some Of the merchants decorated
their stores and did a good business.
Columbus went direct to the courthouse
with the returns and chair was set
for him next to the king, who was
pleased to see him and made a grandee
out of him, which is equal to a section
boss in our country.
But his enemies, who were Jealous,
began undertaking and Columbus was
thrown into jail and bis relatives were
thrown in after him as fast as thev
could be found, but as soon as he got
1 squared away he wrote a long likely
letter to high up court lady explain
ing matters SO satisfactorily that the
king, who was shown, FASTENED around
and apologized. In the vigor of his
manhood Columbus was Of an engaging
presence, tall and we'll formed and mus
cular; he was the strong man at all the
fairs in his county for years and quick
and active at mealtime. He never took
patent medicine and died from some
other cause on May 2l, l506.-Tribune
Record, -".. l>.-. .. :. .-,