Los Angeles herald., 1908-09-27

the boldest navigators of the seas,
and about the fate Of some of these
hangs a mystery which subsequent centuries
have not solved.
In 1895 the unambitious John II, of Portu-
gal, was succeeded on the throne by his
Cousin Manuel. who resolved that the king
dom should have a portion of the glory
which was being reaped by other realms
through their explorers. Columbus had dis
covered new world across the deep, and
later adventurers had sailed their caravels
into hitherto unknown seas.
Portugal had for ages been jealous OF
Spain, and Manuel had never forgiven his
predecessor for allowing that country to reap
the benefits arising from the voyages OF 20
hlmbus.
He therefore fitted out an expedition which
he placed under the command of Casper cor
teieal the member of famous Portuguese
family.
Cortereal was expected to explore the coast
of America, to discover new lands for his
royal master and to bring back slaves ana
gold.
The expedition sailed in 1901, reached the
shores of America and explored the notherr
coasts, sailing along the numerous lniets oi
Maine and gaining a point very Tar nortn.
Cortereal seized some of the natives and
carried them to Portugal. The success OF
this voyage SO elated the king that Cortereal
was sent back.
A year passed, and no news came to Man
uel from the expedition. Every ship. that
came into other ports from the New World
was eagerly sought for tidings from the Por-
tuguese admiral; but CortereaPs flag had not
been seen. 80
After few more months had passed with
nothing from the lost, brother of the miss
ing dstoverer started out to find him.
He, too. is supposed to have reached our
shores; but there all traces Of him are lost.
| This new mystery OF the sea caused conster-
nation in Europe.
| Some said that the brothers had been over
powered by the natives whom they sought to
enslave, and others declared that storm
had engulfed the two expeditions hing
Manuel grieved over the loss of his vessels,
| for good sailors were not numerous those
days, and men like the Cortereals rare.
Time passed, and it was believed by every
one that the brothers were irretr1evably lost,
and when third member of the family of
moi" afSei y - W
The fate of the Cortereals is today as deep
a mystery as when Manuel gave up all hopes
OF seeing again the beaks of his longiost
caravels. -
| It is probable that both expeditions were
struck by a storm on the then partly-expiored
coasts, and that all on board perished.
The Cortereals commanded the first vessels
lit is singular that fate like theirs should
attend the expeditions, while the ships OF
other nations came and went, carrying the
flags of their sovereigns up and down our
coasts.
A good many years passed before another
discoverer, whose name is associated with
the early history of this country, was lost,
never to be heard of again.
Sir Humphrey Gilbert was an admiral of
England and a step-brother of Sir Walter
Raieigh's. Sir Humphreys hobby was the
establishment on our shores of an agricultu-
raj and commercial colony, and Queen Eliza
beth looked with favor on the scheme
of five vessels. Gilbert sailed from the West,
and, in course Of time. the. admiral reached
and took possession of Newfoundland. in the
4, name of his queen.
The sailors, Of those days were, for the
most part, a lot of adventurers and Gilbert's
crews crew, were largely made up from this class.
He had trouble With, the men, soon after
reaching. Newfoundland, and at last left the
coast with three vessels, the others having
become unfit for sea.
The ship. commanded by the admiral was
the Squirrel, and, after the wrecking of one
| of his ships of the Massachusetts coast.