The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-10-12
OVER THE WORLDS TOP.
The Night That Rodrigo de Triana
Won n SILK Jacket.

To TIL n EDITOR OF TIE SUN--Sir: Here
are a few paragraphs from the log OF
Columbus. They are tho entries made
the day before the discovery of new
world and also the formal taking pos
session thereof on the following Friday.
october IL:
Thursday, October II.
Sailed west.southwest, encountered high
seas, higher than hitherto. Saw seagulls
(pardelas) and, floating near the vessel
a green rush. The crew Of the Pinta saw
a reed and a tree trunk; they also got a
small stick apparently cut with an Iron
tool. a shrub. some grass which grows on
the land. and q small plank. The crew
Of the Nina saw other signs Of land and
also q bush covered with dos. roses. on
account Of these signs they were encour-
aged and grew cheerful They ran. up
to sunset. twenty-seven leagues.
After sunset. kept on the hrst course
westward; made twelve miles an hour;
two hours after midnight had made
ninety miles. that is twenty-five and
a half leagues Because the caraval
Pinta was a better sailer. and had the
lead, she sighted land and new the sig
mails ordered by the Admiral. The land
was nrst sighted by Rodrigo de Triana.
Admiral, standing on the castle OF the
poop. had seen light. but 30 indistinct
that hs did not dare to declare 1t to be
land. Yet he called the attention Of Pero
Gutierrez. n kings butler, thereto, telling
him that II seemed to be light, and
babe him to look: he did so, and saw IL.
He did the same with Rodrigo Sanchez
do sesovia, whom the King and Queen
had sent with the squadron as supercarso
and purveyor, but he, not being in
good position for seeing It, saw nothing.
After the Admiral called attention TO
this, It was seen once or twice. appearing
like a small wax candle that was being
raised and lowered. all of which would
seem to be an indication of land. The
Admiral. however. was quite sure of the
proximity Of land. In consequence OF that,
when they said tho Salve. which they
used to say and chant in their own way,
the crew and all being present. the Ad-
miral requested and urged them to keep
sharp lookout at the castle OF the bow,
and to look well for land; and said that
he would give to him who first saw
land a silk Jacket besides the other re-
wards that the King and Queen had
promised. namely, an annual pension of
ten thousand maravedis to him who
should see land flrst
Two hours after midnight the land ap-
peared about two leagues of. Sails
were lowered, leaving only the storm
square sail, which Is the mainsail with
out bonnets. The ships lay to until FRI
day, when they reached a small Island of
the Lucayos. called Guanahani by the
natives They soon saw people naked. and
the Admiral went ashore in the armed
boat, also Martin Alfonso Pinzon and
Vicente Yanez. his brother, who was
ron M nf he ba drnir
took the royal standard. and the cap
tains with two banners of the Green
Cross. which tho Admiral carried on all
the ships as distinguishing flag, having
an and a Y. each letter being sur
mounted by crown. tThey carried
these1 one at ono arm OF the cross, and
the other at the other arm. AS soon
as they had landed they saw trees OF
brilliant green. an abundance OF water,
and fruits of various kinds. The Admiral
called the two captains and the rest who
came ashore. and Rodrigo Descovedo. the
Notary OF all the squadrons. and Rod
rigo Sanchez de Segovia to bear witness
that. In the presence of all. he was taking
and did take possession of said island for
the King and Queen his masters
by the sailing master. and not by
Columbus himself. The construction is
loose and evidently 1t was written by
one not accustomed to writing. That
part which follows seems to be in the
words of Columbus.
The log itself probably Is lost. That
grand old soldier-priest Las Casas I'M
doubleday was possessed of the original.
and his abridgment OF the log exists.
From October IL, however. he gives the
log in full.
Investigations made by Captain Gus
tavus V. Fox, at one time Assistant
Secretary of the Navy, show pretty
conclusively that the first landing place
was on Samaria Island, and not on
Waiting Island.
J. w. REDwAY, F. r. G. S.
MOUNT VERNON, October II.