The Washington herald., 1912-06-02
|EVENTFUL CAREER OF
COLUMBUS Is RECALLED
Coming Unveilng of Memorial Awakens Human In
terest Which Must Ever Attachto Great Explorer
Whose Restless Spirit Gave a New World.

himself-Hayti, that unfortunate island
upon whose fair shores civilization
brought desolation and determination,
and amid whose mountain solitudes this
friendly old Cacique finally perished like
a starved and hunted animal rather than
endure the misery entailed By this Span
lsh horde.
Meets with Disaster.
Returning to Spain few months later,
Columbus astounding stories Of the new
/ world and its wondrous mines Of gold
and seas OF pearl easily resulted In 8
larger feet for second voyage. and
two months later Hayti was again
reached-only 20 md the garrison de-
| stroyed, the men nutinous or murdered
by the Jealous caribS. New and dificult
problems confronted Columbus. Twelve
OF his seventeen ships stood idle in
the harbor at great expense. II these
vessels returned with only the story OF
the great disaster at Hayti, further as
sistance could not be expected. At this
desperate moment a memorial dated
January 90. 1854. was prepared by Colum-
bus, clearly an open proposition to en-
slave the Caribbean cannibals for WHOM
the advantages Of civilization and
Christianity in Spain would OFFSET the
personal freedom TO man-eating
savage"
To divert his men, grown mutinous In
wilderness Of savages, and anxious
TO return with the returning feet. Co
lumbus planned another expedition
around Southern Cuba-in search Of that
gold for which all Spain was clamor-
ing. Led on by false hopes and falser
guides, with damaged ships, falling food,
| and tropical storms this voyage Of i've
months was a bitter Disappointment
For thirty-three days without. rest or
sleep, Columbus at length yielded to the
| overpowering lethargy. For hve months,
helpless. nearly blind, and memory gone,
the commander Of the feet was scarcely
more than dead man. With slowly re-
turning health came impatient demands
for proof Of the real value Of his dis
coverles All his gold and fruits. and
spices made but sorry lading. But
|, one resource was left. and into the
caravels he packed 500 natives, TO be
sold as slaves, despite the royal message
ito seek some other way than by sIav-
cry to ChristianiEe these people"
Powers CurtaIled.
By order OF King Ferdinand-groWn
suspicious OF Columbus-an agent was
sent to investigate the colony at ISa-
bella, resulting in the greatly impaired
exclusive powers Of the admiral, whose
character was becoming more marked
by tTeachery, oppression and greater
greed To refute In person the charges
against him Columbus resolved to re-
turn to Spain, where the old hypnotic
power over the Spanish sovereign again
resulted in the outfit Of yet another
fleet to explore the Opir mines, whose
richness he told them he had learned
just prior to leaving the colony
Not until two years later was the
expedition ready On August 70. 1898,
Columbus landed at the island Of Isa-
bella almost helpless from gout. and
again nearly blind, only TO fnd a most
disastrous condition - riot. dissolution,
rapine and intrigue were everywhere.
The wrecked fortunes. wasted labor and
loss Of life struck the Spanish sovereign
as a pitiful compensation for a few
caravels OF wretched slaves, and a com
mission was sent 70 investigate. The
public and private papers OF the admiral
were seized and he recalled 10 Santo
Domingo. Here he found his brother IN
arms and preparations for his own cap
tire. Without resistance he was thrown
into prison August ., 1900. Two months
later. amid the hootings OF the crowd.
the manaCled admiral was taken on
board the ship which was to carry him
back to Spain. refusing to have the
chsins removed, thinking perhaps thus
to magnify his martyrdom. In October
he reached his home port. met by q
storm OF indignation at this degradation.
Released by SovereIEns.
His prompt release by the sovereIgns.
their letter OF sympathy. and 2O0O ducats
to make him presentable at court are
matters Of history. Two years later Co
lumbus had again convinced the Spanish
powers that n direct pass to the heart
Of India really existed. near the IsthmUs
OF Panama-as now known-and with
squadron OF four ships and a crew Of 40
men, In May, 1902, the old mariner started
on his last voyage OF discovery. Again
reaching the Cuban shores. instead Of
the nortnerly direction which would have
opened to him the wondrous world Of
Yucatan and Mexico, the admiral still
pursued that fatal southern course
against a wild waste OF waters that
threatened TO engulf. Wrenched with
gout, his ships aleak, men worn out and
mutinous, Columbus was induced to re-
trace his course. Lightning flashed con-
tinually. and the thunder appalled,. For
nine days the little ships writhed in a
struggle Of death. Famine impended. and
for three months It Tained without ceas-
ing.
Reaching the coast Of Veragua, a Dor
Spain and forget the horrors Of the
new world. seized ten canoes and padded
out from that fateful harbor. A terrific
storm arose and. to tighten the boats. one
by one OF the Indians secured to paddle
the canoes were thrown over board Re-
sistance was met by the sword. Mean
time, Columbus averted impending fam
Inc by a ruse worthy his ingeniUs mind.
His astronomical tables showing the ap-
proach OF the lunar eclipse, he told the
assembled natives how sorely displeased
was the God OF the Spaniards at their
neglect TO feed his people. And that He
would soon Withdraw the moon" as a
punishment. When the shadow stole
across the face Of fair Luna, a prolonged
howl OF horror arose, and promises Of
food made by the stricken Caciques.
Given Abundant Food.
Columbus assurance OF Divine for
giveness-as the shadow left the moon
resulted in an abundant supply so long
as he remained in Jamaica.
The sufferines Of the natives in Santo
Domingo under ovando the man
sent by Spain to correct the faults
of Columbus-savoT only, of the Spanish
inquisition. In twelve years many thou
sands Of these once care-free people
Perished under the relentless hand Of
these cruel and licentious invaders OF
land and home. Dark as was the record
Of Columbus, It will not suffer when
compared with the awful reign Of his
ccessors-Bobadilla and Ovando. The
strong will and courage which knew no
defeat at length succumbed. Discour-
aged and disheartened, with his son