Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-02
Were Patrons of Columbus.

He and his kinsman. Gabriel Sanchez.
| were jealous patrons OF the great Genoese
explorer, and they were largely instru-
| mental in having him summoned back.
There Is now but little doubt that SAINT
aneeI supplied tie funds out of his own
pocket for the expedition. In his original
account books, extending from 1891 to
1893, preserved in the Archivo de 1ndias
in Seville, Santangel is credited with an
item of 1.140.OOO maravedis, which were
given by him TO the Bishop of Avila. who
subsequently became the Archbishop of
Granada, for Columbus expedition. In
another account book is an entry to show
that this sum was later on repaid to
Santangel for money which he advanced
to equip the caravels ordered by their
majesties for the expedition to the Indies.
and to pay Christopher Columbus. the adj
miral of that fleet Columbus. In CRATE
full remembrance of the man VINO had
furnished the funds for the voyage, wrote
a letter to Santangel from near the Azores
or Canaries on February Is. 1893. detail
ing the result of this first expedition. And
this Luis de Santangel was converted
Jew.
Nor was he the only one of the Jewish
faith who was identified with the ex-
peditiOn. The complete list OF those who
accompanied the admiral on his first
voyage has been lost. but among the
names that have come down to US Is
converted Jew, or Marano. and. being
familiar with the Hebrew. Chaldaic and
Arabic languages, was seiected 10 ACT
as interpreter between Columbus ana
the monarchs OF lndia' TOT oolunous' 20
the day Of his death. was ignorant OF
the fact that he had discovered a new
world. and believed only that ne had
discovered a new route to India. 1t was
this Luis de Torres who was Sent py
columbus into the interior OF Cuba on
an exploring exhibition. and who hrst
saw tobacco used by the indians.
Other Jews on Ship.
THE ship physician, Maestro Bernal.
and the surgeon, Marco, were likewise OF
Jewish ancestry. The latter had under
gone public penance in October. 1890. at
Valencia. at the same time that Solomon
Adret and Isabel. his wife. were burned
in an auto-da-fe.
las the years rolled on and settlers
began to populate the shores OF America,
the first Jewish colonists arrived at New
Amsterdam, in the year 1854, 257 years
ago. They had to give assurances that
the poor among them shall not become
burden to the company. nor to the COM
munity. but be supported by their own
New York generously take care of the
poor among them.
Eat the outbreak Of the American revo-
luton there were several thousand Jews
lin the colonies. They contributed literally
toward the cause Of independence
Among the signers Of the bills Of credit
for the Continental Congress In 1776 were
Benjamin Levy Of Philadelphia and Ben
jamin Jacobs OF New York, Samuel Lyon
of New York performed q similar service
in 1910. Isaac Moses Of Philadelphia was
a contributor to the colonial treasury
to the extent of $4,000. while Herman
Levy. Of the same city, repeatedly ad-
vanced large sums for the support of
the continental army in the field
Manuel Mordecai Noah Of South
Carolina served on the STATS of Gems.
Washington and Marion as an officer
Of the army and gave 100000 for the
cause of the colonists. Mordecai Shef
tall of Savannah. Ca, was another
prominent Jew of that epoch who rem
dered most valiant services to the
struggling patriots. Charleston, s. g
at that period had among its inhabi
tants GOO Jews, and it il 4 historic