The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-08-03
TODAY IN HISTORY
Columbus Starts on First Voyage Of

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 3. 1910.

Columbus Starts on First Voyage Of
Discovery.
II was on August 3. 1492, that Chris
topher Columbus, with his little fleet
OF three vessels, the Santa Maria, the
Pinta and the Nina. only one of which
was a decked vessel started on his
famous trip OF discovery, with the en-
pectation OF finding a westward passage
TO India. but instead discovered America.
For eighteen years he had awaited this
opportunity, He had presented his
ways unsuccessfuly. Finally he appealed
TO the King and Queen OF Spain, They
kept him waiting for d decision for a
long time, and. discouraged he turneG
| from their court 10 seek aid in foreign
land. He mounted his mule and started
toward France. Scarcely had he gone
rushed into the presence of the queen
and implored her, with impassioned elo-
duence. not 10 let the golden oppor.
tunIty slip away.
He spoke OF the incalculable gain ii
columbus dream should become a reality,
and how deep would be their regret
should some rival nation obtain the
treasure that Spain had thrown away
The Marchioness de Moya. who had Ions
been friend OF Columbus, added her
eloquence. and Isabella was converted.
she despatched messenger TO inform
Columbus that his terms would he ac-
cepted. The messenger overlook him
when six miles on his way and told him
the great news, Columbus quickly turned
around and rode back into the city.
When II was learned what the deStlna-
ton OF the voyage was, the motley crowd
composing his crew. rebelled. The gov
ernment was obliged TO use force. Men
were pressed into the service. some OF
whom were prisoners released for this
purpose. At length ninety mariners. with
physician, surgeon an interpreter OF
ASiatic languages. mctalurgist and
. n g.s-sls lao IL
were got together and the voyage be-
gun.
The first night on the ocean occaslcncd
his seamen the most violent despair. They
saw nothing before them but the dark
est terrors, ending in some horrible form
OF death. Columbus. firm In his faith,
represented TO them the infinite wisdom
and protection of the Deity, and com
fovted their material sense OF advan-
tage with golden vision of the prom
ised land.
Day after day the three caravals glided
through the waters. The weather was
fine almost throughout the voyage SAYS
Columbus in his journal The sailors.
however were always on the watch for
some dreadful happening. Early in the
voyage they noticed fragments Of mast
floating in the water, and decided II must
be the remains OF some hapless wander
ers as foolhardy as themselves. One of
the most alarming incidents OF the trip
was the detection OF the needle They
feared the very laws OF nature were
changing. Again the Saragossa Sea un-
known 10 them before. awakened all
sorts OF Wild conjectures and presageS
OF evil. The constant blowing OF the
trade winds in the same direction led
them to believe that il would never
change, and they would. therefore. never
be able 10 return home
Toward the middle OF September Co
lumhus pointed out TO his men various
signs that land could not be far off.
Tropical birds that are not supposed 10
ia ~ RI IL, sl..l, Ii.yl,1
seen from time to time. On September
% Pinzon, who commanded the Pmta.
shouted from the stern Of his vessel,
Land, land, Senior They all looked to
the westward, the direction In which he
pointed, and. indeed, there seemed to
he land. But when the morning arose
the dream was dissolved,
Finally, on the morning of October II.
the signs Of land were so unmIStak kable
that the most reluctant could doubt no
longer About 10 o'clock that night Co
lumbus saw the dim flicker OF a light
at a great distance. as If n torch in Tie
hands OF some one walking. When day
light broke on the morning of October
~, a wild shout OF JOY arose from the
deck OF the Pinta, 1t was followed By
the firing of a gun as the joyful signal
Of land, At a distance OF not six miles
away verdant shore covered with trees
was 10 be seen II was one of .he Ba-
hama Islands. which Columbus named
San Salvador, or Holy Saviour,
Columbus fingered among the islands
until January a. 1893. when he set sail
for home, which he reached on March 10
at daybreak.
On August 3 the Stars and Stripes were
first hoisted as a national flag at Fl.
Schuyler, n. Y. In I777. II Is the date
OF the first bombardment Of Tripoli by
the Americans In 1904 and the capture
OF Gibraltar by the English in 1T0i. II is
the birthday of Richard Caswen. North
Carolina patriot G729): Nicholas Gilman
one Of the trainers OF the constitution
GI55); Charles. Earl Stauhope GT53)
Frederick William III OF Prussia U770) :.
Hamilton Fish, secretary OF state under