The Washington times., 1922-09-11
COLUMBUS HAD
RED HAIR, BLUE
EYES, IS CLAIM
Lady Grace Mackenzie Learns
of Interesting Discoveries by
Priest in Bahamas.
BY JULIA MCCARTHY.

BY JULIA MCCARTHY.
NEW YORK, Sept. 11.-Co-
lumbus was a red-head.
The question before the house
is-did the lad hail from Galway
or County Mayo?
Be that as it may, he is to be
placed forever among the au-
burn-haired of history by Lady
Grace Mackenzie, explorer, who
has come up to New York from
the Bahamas, where Christopher
first flung out anchor and where
he buried valuable notes, re.
Gently discovered.
Hates Snakes.
Lady Mackenzie hates snakes,
too. Its a relief to find n brave
woman who doesn't necessarily
crave a two-skin neckpiece of boa
constructors. Setting off lacka-
ldaisically on the West Indian trip,
Just for a rest and to see the Eor-
geous flamingoes of those islands.
Lady Mackenzie has happened on
information that she believes is
more valuable than any she has
yet gained.
In chiffon.hned white crepe de
chine. Lady Mackenzie received us
in her apartment in the Hotel st.
Regis and dispensed a gracious hos.
pitality. Though her draperies
seem, appropriate to her indoor gen
tleness, she admits a liking for the
| L. tnh lie
meet tigers, cheetahs and lions.
"Snakes-I dread them" she ex-
claims.
Darkness and snakes-those are
my fears, no matter how little basis
| | may have in any case for either.
THE greatest adventure of all
was awaiting me in the Bahamas.
| l got a cottage at Nassau, which
| happened to be next door to Father
Chrysostom, the Catholic priest of
that section. He had found hidden
under rocks and other places notes
and data left by Columbus. The
priest told me of his discoveries.
He has thoroughly delved into the
matter, finding things which at this
| time l mdy not divulge. He has in
trusted these facts to me to put
in a book on the subject. Father
Chrysostom has lived there thirty.
four years and has made this study
his hobby. He has gone all over
the historical ground and even in a
boat and made landings in a certain
place the great discoverer described.
| The facts are remarkable.
But I am sure it is all right to
tell you that we found Columbus
had red hair and blue eyes, and
| la ryallyinO nlnnV
a road in Spain leading his son
by the hand. he first met Queen
Isabella"
Lady McKenzie's mother was a
Castilian from Seville. and the
famous explorer declares though
most Spanish women lead secluded
lives, in their hearts is love OF
adventure. Here's a strange con
tradiction:
Il am opposed to suffrage" ad.
mits our hostess. Il believe that
women should trust men TO vote
properly for them. How about
men taking care Of the big gam<
hunting? That's a pleasure.
mo. don't care to go to the
North Pole. although I have been
invited to go on trips OF explora.
ton several times. I detest cold: "
with a shiver. and avoid emily
climates. Comfort Is important.
we had II. too. even in the tubs
and proper clothing 1t is quite pos
sible. although sometimes the only
water we could get for bath was
not inviting.
Queer Natives.
We met some queer natives in
Africa. When we gave them money
for assisting us they woud sing mali
cious little songs.
1.-The white man Is rich,
1.-The white man is a fool
Even when they were perfectly
friendly this rite had to be gone
through and they felt II was rather
a compliment to say we were reck'
less with our money"
Tigers, deer, moose - Lady Mac
Kenzie, daughter of world-travelmg
parents, has shot all these, but pre-
fers discovery to killing. In Nassau
she became interested in the row
rare flamingoes.
"They look like shining armor ot
red and pink" she describes. "It is
possible to sight them from three
quarters OF a mile and they look
large from a distance, although they
are not really large creatures. They
bend down their necks to a spot Ia
feed. Once they lift their heals they
put them down in q different SPOT
and go around in a perfect circle
while eating. Natives have killed off
many OF the young birds for food.
Fine Pigeon Shooting.
There is fine pigeon shooting dowr
there-millions Of birds. apparently