Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1920-10-21
SGx7N w LAzy2Z4 90

recorded. He had the advantage of having taken
with him very capable reporter, an Italian gen.
tleman from the city of Vicenza, one Antonio
Pigafetta. who completed the whole tour of the
world and wrote an account of it. 1t was soon
translated into English of the sixteenth century,
and Shakespeare, there is good reason to believe,
read 1T, for in "The Tempest" Caliban's Setebos
is none other than the devl-god of the Patagon-
ans as reported by the faithful Pigafetta, says the
New York Times Book Review The journal has
been more recently translated by Lord Stanley Of
Alderly In his "First Voyage Around the World"
while T. 81. 81 Guillemard of Cambridge has sup
piled an excellent biography of Magellan and nc
count of the voyage.
In recounting Magelan's momentous voyage
1t is necessary to go back to the famous bull Of
Pope Alexander VI which divided the world be-
tween the Spanish and the Portuguese. The
Spaniards were forbidden to sail to the Indies by
the way of the Cape of Good Hope, and their
only hope Of reaching this most desired of all
lands was by finding way to the west through
the Mundus Novus At this time belief that
such passage existed far to the south was we'll
fixed In many minds.
Having proposed to his king, Manuel of Portu-
gal, that he make this voyage through the strait
he presumed to be there, and having met with a
refusal, the Portuguese asked permission to offer
his services elsewhere. The king said "he might
do as he pleased" and did not offer his hand to
be kissed at parting.
In October, 1917, therefore, Magellan arrived in
Seville and at once found the favor he had missed
at home in the sight of Charles V. 1t was decid-
ed at once to fit out an expedition. More than a
year passed in preparations and September 20
1919, little fleet of five vessels cleared the mouth
of the Guadalquivir and passed out to sea on the
eliminating voyage of the great age of discovery
The ships and their commanders were as fol.
lows:
Trinidad, no tons-Captain, Gen. Ferdinand
Magellan; pilot, Estevan Gomez.
San Antonio, 100 tons-Captain. Juan de Carta-
gena
Conception 80 tons-Captain Gaspar Quesada.
Victoria, IS tons-Captain. Luis de Mendoza
Santiago, Is tons-Captain, Juan Serrano
The crews of these five ships we're mixture of
many nationalities-a peculiarly fitting compile
ment. since the voyage was much less a gain for
q single nation Gas was the discovery Of the new
world) but rather contribution to the fund of
human knowledge and nn Introduction of the world
to all the people who live upon It, There were
about $50 men on board.
OF the four captains only proved faithful
The others had plotted treason even before the
ships sailed and while they knelt at the final mass
before going on board. Magellan was warned and
unafraid.
g. 1519 and down the African coast for sew
eral weeks. buffeted by heavy storms. while food
and water grew scarce.
On November 20 the ships reached the coast of
Brazil near Pernamhuco Through February and
March they followed the coast southwark, and
finally found shelter in the harbor of St Julian
and settled down there to pass the winter on the
last day Of March. On the next day, which was
Easter, the smoldering mutny broke out.
The way in which Magellan crushed that for
midable uprising in his own ranks is the best
Indication of the character of the commander that
has been left to US. When the mutneers had
three of the five ships in their control. Magellan
made raid Mendoza's ship. the Victoria.
and that captain met his death with dagger
thrust in the throat. The two other ships were
blockaded. Strong parties then boarded the San
Antonio, and that ship was captured The third
ship. the Conception, thereupon surrendered
Quesada was beheaded and quartered. Carta-
gena Of the San Antonio and guilty priest, Pero