Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-05-06

Upon the other side the following lines
are carved: "This monument is erected
and the ground on which 1t stands is
purchased in perpetuity by Henry Hun
gerford, esq.,, the ydeceased's nephew, IN
token Of gratitude to z generous benefac-
tor and as a tribute to departed worth"
Genoa has many fine monuments In Its
streets and parks. as well as in the ceme-
terry. The monument erected In honor of
Columbus in one of the principal squares
is ranked among the finest In the world.
and is intended to express the pride of
the citizens In the fame OF their fellow
townsman, for while 1t is not absolutely
known, it Is reasonably certain that the
man who discovered America was born
at 81 Via Dritto del Ponticelle. one of
the narrow and picturesque streets in the
is not certain that Columbus was born in
this house, there is positive evidence that
his father and mother owned 1t, and
lived there while he was an infant. In
Baldi Of this city. the property was pur-
chased and Latin inscription was placed
over the door, which, being translated,
reads:
mo house better deserves an inscription
This Is the paternal home of
Christopher Columbus,
Wherein he passed his infancy and
youth"
The little town Of Cogoleto. on the Gulf
Of Genoa, about fifteen miles from the
city, also claims to be the birthplace Of
the great disc0verer. and an ancient tene-
ment bears the following pretentious in
scription:
Travellers. stop at this place
1t Was , here . that tina! Christopher Columbus.
First saw the lights
Here in this humble house.
There only world;
This man spoke and there were two.
Columbus Left Record.
Columbus. In his will, says: II was
born in Genoa" and again. II came from
there and there was born: which ought
to settle the question. His grandfather
lived at the village of Terrarossa, about
twenty miles northeast. and there DOM
ineco. his father was born, and in 1896
married Susanna Fontanarossa. with
whom he moved to Genoa, and in that
year qualified as citizen. as appears
upon the municipal records. The mother
Of Columbus died in 1471. The home in
which 1t is claimed that Columbus was
born. or spent his childhood. was mort
gagged in 1472, and when Columbus left
Genoa in 1473 he signed a deed relinquish-
ing all his claims upon the property in
favor Of his brothers. This is q matter
archives of the city by Henry Harisse,
the American historian. It Is q natural
inference that when Columbus started out
upon his career he obtained from his
father his share Of the estate and signed
the necessary papers.
Before starting upon his last voyage.
in the spring Of 1902. infirm in health
and with impaired confidence in the hon.
esty of his sovereigns and the council
Of the Indies, who had treated him
SO shamefully. Columbus intrusted all his
contracts with Ferdinand and Isabella,
his privileges, his commissions and other
important papers to Nicolo de Oderigo.
the ambassador from Genoa to the Span
ish court. to DE deposited In trust with
the Bank Of St. George, which was to
the commercial world in those days what
the Bank Of England is today He ap-
pointed that bank trustee OF his wealth,
which he believed to be very large. for
under his contracts with Ferdinand and
Isabella he was entitled to one-fifth of
all the lands he should discover and one
fifth Of all the revenues they should pro-
duce forever. Blu his will he intrusted
one-tenth of his income perpetually to
the bank for the purpose OF paying the
taxes upon corn. wine ard other food for
the poor people Of his native oity. IF
that tenth amounts to something collect