Los Angeles herald., 1908-01-19
Rare Stories ST Great Men
Continued from page 81


they would bring him to visit them the next day.
So the explorers remained consoled on that night.
Next day. however, events were less reassuring.
None of last nights party came back and nothing
was seen of the chief cacique he called.
The Spaniards however, thought that the Indians
might have been accidentally overturned in their
canoe, as it small one, and wine had
been given them several times during their visit.
While he waiting for them, the Admiral
sent some of his men to the place where La
Navidad had stood. They found that the strong
fort with paisade was burned down and de-
molished. They also found some cloaks and other
clothes which had been carried off by the Indians,
who seemed uneasy and at first would not come
near the party. This did not appear well to the
Spaniards as the Admiral had told them how many
canoes had come out to visit him in that very
place on the other voyage. They tried to make
friends, however, threw out to them some bills
beads and other presents and finally relation of
the cacique and three others ventured to the boat
and were taken on board ship. These men frankly
admitted that the Christians all dead. The
Spaniards had been told the night before by
their Indian interpreter, but they had refused to
believe him They were now told that the two
hostile chiefs had killed them and burned the
village. They said as the others had done, that
Guacanagari was wounded in the thigh and they,
like the others, said they would go and summon
him. The Spaniards made them some presents,
and they, too, disappeared
Early the next morning, the Admiral himself,
with party, went ashore. According to the ply
scians, DR.. Chancas account "And went
where the town used to be- when saw all
burnt and the clothes of the Christians were
found the grass there. At that time we saw
no dead body. There among many diff
ferent opinions, suspecting that Guacanagar
himself concerned in the betrayal or death of
the Christians, and to others it did not appear
as his town was burnt, so that the thing was
very doubtful"
The Admiral directed the whole place to be
searched for gold, he had left orders that if
any quantity of it were found, it should be buried.
While this search being made, he and few
others went to look for suitable place for
settlement. They arrived at village of seven
Aie hons hnh fhn inhn antc cd
Here they found many things belonging to
the Christians, such stockings, pieces of CLOTH
and a very pretty mantle which had not been
unfolded since it was brought from CASTLE These,
the Spaniards thought, could not have been OBJ
tanned by barter. There was also one of the
anchors of the ship which had gone ashore the
first voyage
When they returned to the site of La Navidad
they found many Indians, who had become bold
enough to come to barter gold. They had shown
the place where the bodies of eleven Spaniards
lay covered already by the grass which had grown
over them They all with one voice said that the
two hostile chiefs, Canoaboa and Mayreni, had
killed them. But as, at the same time, they
planned that some of the Christians had taken
three Indian wives, and some four, it seemed
likely that just resentment on the part of the
islanders had something to do with their death.
The next day the Admiral sent out caravel to
seek for suitable place for town. and he him.
self went out to look for one in different di-
recton. He found a secure harbor and good
place for settlement. But he thought it too far
from the place where he expected to find gold
mine. On his return, he found the carave he
had sent out. AS it was coastng along the island
canoe had come out to it, with two Indians
board, of whom brother of Guacanagar
This man begged the party to come and visit the
cacque The principal men" accordingly went
on shore, and found him in bed, apparently suf
fering from his wounded thigh, which he showed
them in bandages. They judged from appearances
that he was telling them the truth.
He said to them by signs as best he could, that