, 1913-07-16

NRlbbilbh7b L II AACh' '1O $3.50 49,
Vasco la CANA, of the CHbotS, Of our FL
zabethan nav gators general y, and nt Frank
lin and his lost companions. Such "omme-
moratinns were intended to arouse and
m1intuiu an interest in historical geography,
which is an essential part of our science,
and | believe they have had that effect,
now propose to ask the attention Of the
meeting to n very great and most lmpor-
tant discovery, that Of the Pacific ocean,
and to its results. It's diScovorer was one
of the best of the Spanish ConqnrrorS, one
who overcume by far the greatest difficult
ties by the most ptaiSeworthy methods,
whose life was as romantic as his denth was
dePlorable md sad.
The actual anniversary will be next Sep
tenber, but, as the session will then he
over, we keep it now instead-anniversary
of the time Of preparation. Oar hero to-
night is Vasco Nunez de Balboa, his achieve
meut, the discovery of the Plcifc ocean
400 years ago. 1t is impossible for any
nun who achieved greatness to have COM
mencet under more depressing and appar~
emily hopeless circumstances
Two great expeditions had been sent
fir IN Spain and St. Domingo to form colo
II as on the coasts from Carthagena to Vera.
< Bottl were mlsmanageI, heir leaders
were dead, survivors were scattered alOag
the coast, dying OF feyeis ana starvatlon,
the miserable remnant in the fort ut the
Gulf of Darien ctme ava in II rIcEety, leak
ing craft, but were sent back, The prob
lem was to turn this disastrous mass into II
thriving colony without outside help Few
would attempt it. Much fewer could sue
coed. Aud who was the coming man? A
penniless fugitive, with no nuthofl y, no
official appointment of any kind, one who
,.,., -, Ln.,o'. .,i,, boo1ol ~ -, ~ OaSE
to escap from his creditors. Thus we first
hear Of V,sco Nun z de Balboa.
The name Of Euciso induces ne to ask
the meeting to bear with me III a very brief
digressiou. W. should cherish the memo
lies of the ~geographers per Sc Of olden
times. Martin Fernandez de Encisco knew
oil the geography Of his day. He was a
photographer aud a surveyor. He was a
good observer. His latitude Of Cabo lie la
Vela is absolutely correct. He was so far
a physiographer that he was able to describe
what he saw accurately and i'll some detail.
His 'Suma de Geogrnta," consisting of
eighty leaves (Sevllie, 1870 is excessively
rare a copy was sold lately for ESQ. We
may revere The memory of this geograpler
per- Sc, though declared from giving the
tide to ourselves
10 return to our hero. Enciso landed
hlIu allOhS uLe IOflOtu p6Ople Ut TIE IOG,
III the Gulf of Darlen, and then departed.
He was recognized at once Us a born leader.
He had a magnetic influence over men, who
were led to feel confidence in hlm. lEyru
the fierce Francisco Plzurro, who Wa Older
and actually in charge, at once became his
follower. The first care of V ,scO Num-
was TO gather together the ~otttere re II
nants of the former expeditions, some at tbs
Uruba fort, others in refugees dong the
coasts living with Indians. This was Il
most difficult SOL vice, but hanks TO the en-
ergy OF one man it was done. He fel the
hungry, nursed the SICK, nIlo' ted land, and
helped to build hut5 for the able-bodied,
and things began to improve. But the sup
ply of food was the great ditfi :ulty.
H re the misconduct Of predecessors in
the robbery and cruel treatment Of thu nl-
tives formed the main obstacle. V1sco
Nun z had to gain their confidence aud to
overcome their susp!cion5 aruu ed by the
crueltles of Ojeda and others WHO had gone
before him. He succeeded with the natives
just as he had succeeded with his own
countrymen. His concilittory address won
over wallike tribes who had been burning
under u sense of cruel Injuries uuavenged.
Yet he had to wander far to gather III pro-
visions. Often be and his men hal to wade