The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1922-01-06
Great LIGHT AS
COLUMBUS TOMB
Receiver General PuIliam's) Idea
for Memorial to the Great
Oiscoverer.
FUND OF $4,000 IS NEEDED
Contends That columhus' Bones Are
In Santo Domingo-Says All
Americans Should Con-
tribute to Fund.

New York.-One Of the most inter
esting undertakings interrupted by
the war was that Of building great
tomb and lighthouse over the remains
of christopher Columbus In Santo
Domingo. 1t was the idea of William
e. Pulliam, then receiver general Of
customs of the Dominican Republic,
and his wife. When Mr.. Pulliam left
New York recently to resume that post
he said that the plans for the monu-
ment would be taken up again. If
they are carried to completion a lofty
mausOleum, like that Of Napoleon in
Les InvalideS in Paris, or Grants
tomb, on Riverside drive, will rise
over the remains of Columbus and a
giant beacon browning 1T will light
the way Of boats plying the Caribbean
sea.
Remains in Santo Domingo.
There is general contention as to
where the authentic remains Of COlum-
bus really lie. Many authorities. es-
pecially those in Spain, maintain that
the bones were removed from Santo
Domingo to Havana In 1895 and thence
in 1898 to Seville, Spain, but other
historians and experts, with whom
Mr. Pulliam agrees, say that these are
the remains either of Columbus's son,
Diego, or his grandson, Luis, and that
! a leaden casket dug up In the cathe-
dral of Santo Domingo in 1877 con-
talning human bones has been estab-
lished through inscriptions and his
| torical records as the coffin Of the dis
coverer.
The following extracts are from let
| tiers written by Mr.. Pulliam In 1914
| to the Pan-American Union In Wash
| ington and to President Jose BOrdas
| Of SantO Domingo regarding mis- prof.
| ect: i
"From my general investigation Of
the subject, it would appear the unani-
nous opinion of investig. tors that the
remains of Columbus are in Santo Do
mingo, where they have lain since
brought from Spain about 1537. About
twenty years ago the Dominican gov
eminent set aside and vested In a
| iunta COlumbina, q tract of land in
the heart Of the city, for the purpose
of erecting thereon mausoleum for
these remains. The location Is ideal.
It oyerlooks the sea 50 often travelled
by Columbus on his voyages Of dis
covery, and the anchorage where the
Inundated admiral, divested of his
authority by Bobadilla. embarked for
Spain in October, 1900. in irons. The
mausoleum plan failed Of completion,
but as q substitute a monument was
erected In the cathedral, and IN a
crypt provided therefor the remains
are now preserved. The monument,
though ornate, is not commensurate
with the greatness of Columbus nor
does 1t constitute a fitting mark for
such world character.
Favors Mausoleum.
81 have often thought that a
mausoleum corresponding in way to
that of Napoleon In Paris or the Grant
tomb In New York, should be erected,
it's construction to be the concern of
the Republic of North, Central and
South America and of Canada. A
massive tomb could be erected, and
on the same a lighthouse superim
posed and powerful light installed
to guide by night the path of the
present-day perplexed mariner. Each
country assisting might supply
marble slab or bronze tablet, suitably
inscribed, to be placed in the interior
around the sarcophagus."
The total cost Of the memorial tomt
and lighthouse Mr.. Pulliam placed ir
1914 at about $4,000. Whatever the
present outlay would have to be, 1t ID
his and Mrs. Pulliam's view that ever!
individual in the Americas should
have his or her chance to contribute
to the memorial, and that levy o.
so cents on each person would prob
ably bring in enough money to see the
building through and provide a funt
} for maintenance and upkeep. His
plan has received the enthusiastic in
: dorsement of leaders throughout thu
+ American continent and in the Do
, minican Republic, and he said tha
unofficial approval of the scheme hat
recently been expressed by the gov
b eminent at Washington.