• K^Q- LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 00010577012 Class g / ' / _ Book ^±- GopyrigM COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT: ESSAY ON THE Life of Our Patriotic Admiral Christopher Columbus BY MRS. R. KITCHEN BLOOMSBURG, PA. LiBRARY of CONGRESS Two CoDies Received mar j iaoy Copyritfut antry XLASS C>- XXe, Mo. COPY 3. J * COPYRIGHTED, 1908 BY MRS. R. KITCHEN BLOOMSBURG, PA. PREFACE In placing this work before the public my highest am- bition is to arouse the latent powers of the youth of our land, by our teachers, to a more ardent study of our world's discovery. The same being who, by the word of His power, called into existence this earth of ours, gave to Christopher Columbus the keys to unlock its majestic waters and open up for us a new world, our home, the Western Continent. In the public schools of this land we have the millions who are to be the workers and leaders of the future. Useful reforms can be accomplish- ed by the enthusiastic teacher. We are told the number of school teachers in the United States is more than a half million, of whom nearly four hundred thousand are women. Her education does not stop with the primary school, but is found in the college and university; she is welcomed in the educational ranks to mould and form our future patriots, and oft to glean their scattered ashes into memory's sacred urn. Dear Children what you learn, learn well; Great minds reap store from this, Should you be asked to give advice Stored talent, motors bliss. Christopher Columbus Since the hour when the star of civilization first rose to light man's pathway through the years, patriotism has dwelt in the hearts of the people. Even before humanity threw off the shackles of barbarity and welcomed the dawning light of a new era the seeds of patriotism had taken root in the callous heart of man. When social and intellectual attainments were as yet dim lights in the dis- tance, a man's reason was little better than the brute's instinct; loyalty and love of country seemed to have pre- dominated over all other sentiments. Man might wage war against man, brother slay brother, and all the base and barbarous nature with which beings were endowed, be exhibited, yet there was one shrine at which they all bowed down alike and that was at the altar of patriotism. Other stars have arisen and illumined the world for brief time with their glorious radience and then faded into oblivion ; but this is a fixed planet, deathless and sublime which shall never grow dim until time has run its course. Generation after generation passes away and new ones file in to take their places, bringing with them new cus- 6 CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS toms and new laws, but through all the changes and vicissitudes of life patriotism still lives. History thrills us with its records of our illustrious patriots, it has gar- landed their brows with laurel and erected an imperish- able monument to their memory. They pass away but their names are inscribed in their country's history and their memory enshrined in the hearts of nations. Read the history of bygone years and blush for your own loyalty, ye whose patriotism is but luke warm. Does not the heart thrill and the eyes glow when the glorious career of our dead and gone patriot Columbus is depicted. His watchword was "God and Country." It was im- printed on the tablet of his heart and emblazoned on his banners. He hurled it from his tongue in thundering accents and set it rolling down the ages until we of the present century claim it as our own. He needed no instruction on the subject of patriotism, it was born with him, and grew stronger with his growth and lived and flourished and was as deathless as the laurel wreath which crowned the victors brow. The spark of patriotism implanted within his nature was kindled to a flame, and was kept on burning for eighteen years after he had formed the design of pursuing the course which he afterwards followed, of crossing the Atlantic in search of new countries toward the west. This extraordinary man was led to believe that these countries existed by a number of concurring circum- stances, such as pieces of wood nicely carved and trees apparently from distant countries had been thrown upon CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS 7 the western coast of the Madeiras, and what was still more decisive the bodies of two men had been washed upon the coast of a strange color and unusual appear- ance. Columbus was born in Genoa, Italy, in the year of 1435. He was trained for the sea from his childhood, though taught in the school of adversity it proved no barrier to his success. Being the eldest of four children and his father a poor wool comber and weaver, much care devolved upon him. It is said at thirty his hair was white from trouble and anxiety. His kind and loving disposition is proved by the fact that in his poorest days he saved part of his pittance to educate his younger brothers and support his aged father. Columbus was determined, shrewd and intensely religious. He be- lived and announced himself to be divinely called to carry the true faith into the uttermost parts of the earth. Inspired by this thought, no discouragement, whatever, which might come in his way, could drive him to utterly despair. These facts confirmed Columbus in his belief and made him still more anxious to set out on a voyage of discovery. But where or how was he to get the means? He was poor and had no ships of his own. He could only lay his plans before the different powers of Europe and implore their aid. First, he tried his own countrymen, the Genoese, but without success; then he went to Portugal. The King of this country listened to his arguments, but wishing to have the honor of the discovery all to himself, basely deceived Columbus, 8 CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS and sent out a vessel on the proposed course under an- other commander. The expedition, however, failed as it deserved to do. Columbus next turned to Spain which was then ruled by the famous Ferdinand and his wife Isabella. He had, by this time, become so poor that on his way to the court he had to beg for bread. The King remained in- different and pleaded the want of funds. Columbus dis- appointed — but not moved from his purpose — was about to quit Spain for England, where his brother Bartholo- mew had already been sent to present his plans to Henry VII. By the orders of Isabella he was desired to relin- quish his intention of soliciting the patronage of foreign courts, and invited him into her presence with every mark of condescension and respect. As every pure and noble minded woman is God's best gift to man, so the Queen proved to be to Columbus. She shielded him from the calumny of his enemies, and determined to fit out three vessels for the enterprise, if she had to pledge her jewels to raise the necessary money. His feelings of patriotism and devotion to her I leave to your imagination, as they are beyond the power of human conception. No pen can write or thoughts ex- press them. Orders were issued that a squadron should be fitted out from the harbor of Palos. It consisted of three vessels. The art of building ships was then rude and n its infancy, and as distant voyages were comparatively unknown the largest of the vessels were of inconsider- CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS 9 able dimensions, the others were not much above the size of ordinary boats. The Queen's sacrifice was not required as St. Angel, the Court Treasurer, advanced most of the money and the friends of Columbus the balance. The expense of building and equipping was not more than $20,000, equal to six times that amount at the present day. They had on board food for twelve months and ninety men, most of whom were obtained with the greatest difficulty, as the boldest seaman shrank from such a desperate under- taking. All things being ready, Columbus, influenced by devotional feelings, went with those under his authority in solemn procession to the monastery of Rabida and there, confessing his sins and partaking of the sacrement, he implored the blessing of heaven throughout the voy- age which he designed to undertake. Columbus was now 57 years old. Just as the sun was rising over the billows of the ocean, on the third of August, 1492, he set sail from the harbor of Palos, in the Santa Maria, the largest of the vessels which had been fitted out at his desire. The others were called the Pinta, and the Nina, the former of which was commanded by Martin Alonza Pinzon, and the latter by Vincent Yanez Pinzon, his brother. In six days the Admiral reached the Canaries without any occurrence deserving of particular notice, except only that the rudder of the Pinta broke loose, an accident which the superstition of his associates interpreted as an omen at once unfavorable and alarming. 10 CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS After a detention of over three weeks and refitting at the Canaries, Columbus proceeded (September 6th) on his voyage. He passed into seas which no vessel had yet entered, without a chart to direct him and without any knowledge of the tides which might interrupt his progress. Many of the sailors reflecting on the hazard- ous nature of the enterprise began already to beat their breasts in dejection and dismay, and relinquished all hope of visiting again their country and their friends. Not so with Columbus. He was admirably qualified for the expedition which he had undertaken. He was patient and persevering, master of himself and skillful in the government of other men. In naval science as well as experience, he was far superior to any of his associates. He conducted everything by his presence and authority allowing himself but a few hours for the necessary re- freshment of his body. At all other times he was upon deck noting the flight of birds, the depth of the ocean, and the appearance of the weeds which floated upon its surface. He advanced rapidly before the trade wind, which blows invariably from the east within the tropics, judiciously concealing from his men the number of leagues they had sailed; so great was the ignorance of his companions that none of them was able to detect it. At this time they were distant nearly 200 leagues from the most westerly of the Canaries, and then the magnetic needle was observed to vary from its direction to the polar star and incline toward the west, an appear- ance which is now familiar but for which philosophy has CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS 11 in vain attempted to account. It was the occasion of serious alarm in the breast of Columbus, and it filled his associates with a terror by no means unreasonable. On the night of the 14th of September a very brilliant meteor flamed through the sky and fell into the oecan at a dis- tance of but a few miles from the ships. This greatly in- creased the alarm of the superstitious mariners. Columbus had said that he did not expect to find land within the distance of about three thousand miles, still they were on an expanse of water which had never been seen by mortal man, and far from the track of other navigators. All around them was uncertain, all before them was unknown. Nature seemed to be departing from her steadiness, and the guide on whom they had formerly relied, appeared to be no longer entitled to their confidence. At this crisis, with astonishing pres- ence of mind, Columbus declared that the needle did not point directly to the pole, but that in particular circum- stances it described a compass around it, a solution though wholly unsatisfactory to himself had the effect of silencing the murmurings of his crew. The alarm, however, to which the variation of the needle gave rise was not the only difficulty which Columbus had to sur- mount. In a short time after that phenomenon had been observed the murmurs of his sailors broke out with greater violence, first among the ignorant and wavering ; but the disaffection, spreading gradually, reached at length those more adventurous and better informed and extended with unpropitious influence through the whole fleet. The men 12 CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS blamed their sovereign for listening inconsiderately to the schemes of a dreaming adventurer, and for sporting with the lives of his subjects, in order to carry them into execution. The indications of land had all proved fallacious. They would be amused and deceived no longer. They resolved that Columbus be forced to relinquish an undertaking which seemed to issue nothing but un- avoidable destruction, and some of the more daring talked of throwing him into the sea as a visionary pro- jector whose death would never excite attention, or if inquired into, would be considered as merited by his rashness and folly. In the midst of this disaffection the admiral appeared with a steady and cheerful countenance as if pleased with what he had done. He soothed his companions and expostulated with them. He endea- vored at one time to influence their desire of riches, and at another their love of fame. He assumed a tone of au- thority, and threatened them with the vengeance of their sovereign, and with everlasting infamy, if they should abandon him in the prosecution of this undertaking. The patience and fortitude which he displayed in the manage- ment of his men and in dispelling their mutiny is one of the grandest examples of patriotism which the world has ever applauded. The apprehensions of the crew at length prevailed over the remonstrances of the admiral ; they assembled tumul- tously upon deck and officers and men all insisted upon returning immediately to Spain. At last Columbus yielded so far as to promise that if land was not dis- CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS 13 covered within three days he would return. How anx- iously he watched during that time, and how high his heart beat with hope when signs of land actually appear- ed. The water grew shallower. Flocks of little birds came around the vessels. A staff curiously wrought and adorned was taken up by the Pinta. Weeds were ob- served. A branch bearing fresh berries was found float- ing on the sea. A light was perceived at a distance, and appeared to move from place to place, as if carried by some fisherman or traveler. Those tokens were de- cisive and joyous, and Columbus did not fail to make use of them in elevating the hopes, and diminishing the appre- hensions of his associates. He gave orders that the Ships should lie-to, and on the morning of the 12th of October an island appeared. The crew of the Pinta began the Te Deum. "Land! Land!" cry the sailors. "Land! Land!" he awake, which was echoed by the others. Look! Look! they behold it; it blesses their sight. The sailors were now frantic with delight. They were ready to worship Columbus whom a little while before they had talked of throwing into the sea, and looked up to him as one whom the Deity had endowed with penetration above the com- mon lot of mortals. When the day dawned the land was plainly seen. A pleasant land it was. There was gay flowers and tall trees, with leaves and fruit such as they had never seen before. On the shore were unclad copper-colored men, gazing in wonder at the Spanish Ships. They took the 14 CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS ships for great birds; the white sails for their wings, and the Spaniards as being of a higher order who had the thunder and lightning at their command. They regarded them as the children of the sun who had decended from heaven to abide for a while among the inhabitants of earth. Columbus landed in a gorgeous dress and with a drawn sword in his hand and the Royal Standard dis- played. He then planted the Cross and took possession of the country in the name of the King and Queen of Spain. All his followers kneeling on the shore and kissing the ground, with tears of joy returned thanks to the giver of all good for their successful voyage. (As sunshine and the atmosphere under skillful treatment portrays to us all the hidden beauties of nature, so he, guided by the rays of the same divine influence and early instructed piety, combined with honest toil and by dint of his own perseverance and energy, climbed to the topmost round of the ladder of fame, and carried with him that patriot- ism which gilded his name with honor and placed him in possession — had he known it— of the Western Hemi- sphere). The land thus discovered was one of the Bahama Is- lands in the Atlantic Ocean, between North and South Africa. He named it San Salvidor. Thinking that he was now in the East Indies he called the natives Indians. All the islands of this region are still known as the West Indies. Columbus soon left San Salvidor to make further dis- CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS 15 coveries, in the course of which he touched at Cuba and Haiti. At the last named he lost one of his ships and left some of his men as a colony. After collecting specimens of the productions and inducing several of the natives to embark with him, he set out to retrace his course to Spain. On the return voyage a terrific storm arose. Fearing shipwreck, Columbus wrote an account of his discoveries, and sealed it up in a cask which he threw into the sea, hoping that if he and his men were lost it would be picked up and made known to the world. But it was not God's will that he should perish thus. His ships, though shattered, brought him safe to port. He landed amid the firing of cannons and hastened to bear the news of his success to Ferdinand and Isabella. The whole nation took a holiday. His appearance was hailed with shouts and the ringing of bells. Thousands crowded around him on his way to Court. The streets and windows were lined with people. The King and Queen were dazzled by their new and sudden acquisi- tion. They sank upon their knees and thanked God for such a signal triumph. The Indians he had brought with them were looked at with as much wonder as if they had come from the moon. With no less wonder did they gaze at the strange scenes about them. The news of the discovery threw all Europe into excitement. Wonderful stories were told about the new land in the west.. Many believed that gold grew on trees, and that diamonds were as common there as stones in other counties. Those who 16 CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS had before laughed at Columbus now thought that their fortune would be made if they could only get to the land he had discovered. . ."To the West!" "To the West!" was the cry of every bold navigator that could fit out a vessel. Columbus himself undertook several voyages to the new world, planted a colony and built a city in the island of Hispaniola or St. Dominga. To this city he gave the name of Isabella, in honor of the Queen under whose pat- ronage he sailed. On his third voyage, in A. D. 1498, he first reached the mainland, near the mouth of the Orinoca in South America, landing at different places on the coast of Paria and Cumana and surveying their beauty and fertility with great admiration. Meanwhile murmurs arose among those he had brought with him, because they did not find gold so plenty as they had expected. His enemies, too, spread false reports about him in Spain. Moved by these stories and forgetting all he had done, the King and Queen unjustly deprived him of his com- mand, and his successor went so far as to send him back to Spain in chains. This ingratitude cut Columbus to the heart. He carried his chains with him wherever he went, and ordered that when he died they should be buried with him. Though he proved his innocence he was never restored to his authority. On his fourth voyage, then an old man, he was wrecked on the coast of Jamaica. He and his men were thus left to the mercy of the Indians. The Indians had at first been very friendly, but during his absence the Spaniards CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS 17 had cruely treated them, forced them to work and even robbed them of their gold. Such treatment had awakened a thirst for vengeance. When wrecked, therefore, they not only left him and his men to starve, but even threaten- ed to attack them. At this crisis Columbus saved his party by his knowledge of astronomy. He knew that on a certain night an eclipse of the moon would take place. Collecting the natives around him shortly before the time he told them that the Great Spirit was angry because they would not aid the Spaniards, and that he would hide his face from them that very night.. The moon gradually became dark and the natives believing that God was thus showing his displeasure, fell on their knees, promised Columbus abundant supplies, and prayed that he would ask the Great Spirit to show his face once more. When the eclipse was over, they kept their word. With their help he succeeded in getting back to Haiti. Truly God moved in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform. On his return to Spain Columbus found that his friend, Queen Isabella was dead, which proved to be the last of his good fortune. There was nobody now to do this great man honor. At length his dying hour came, on the 20th of May, A. D. 1506. He welcomed the approach of death as a friendly messenger to remove him from care and pain. His last act was to partake of the Holy Sacrament. His last words were, "Into Thy Hands, O Lord, I commend my Spirit." His remains were first deposited in the church of Santa Marie de la Antigua. After seven years, 18 CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS in 1513, they were removed to the Carthusian monastery of Las Cuevas of Seville. Twenty-three years after- wards they were transferred, with those of his son Don Deigo, to the cathedral of the city of San Damingo. But even here they were not allowed to remain. Upon the cessation of the island *o the French, in the year A. D 1797, they were again removed by the Spanish authorities to the cathedral of Havana, in Cuba. His final resting place, in the cathedral at Havana, his ashes now lie, and when the trump of God shall sound and awake the sleep- ing dust a promised crown awaits him. Among those who visited this New World shortly after its discovery was Amerigo Vespucci. After his return to Europe he wrote an account of his voyage, containing a great many interesting but untrue stories. Among other things he falsely claimed to have reached the main- land before Columbus. He had his narrative so framed as to rob Columbus of the honor he so justly deserved. The consent of all nations has bestowed the name of America on the Western Continent, and at this distance of time we can only regret an act of injustice, which custom has forced us to sanction. But here I can truly endorse that the heart of every true American reveres Europe for the production of that brave and noble man. The most distinguished patriot that adorns the page of history, and the first civilized man known to tread on the Western Continent, which might have remained unknown to Europeans till CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS 19 this day had it not been for the genius of this one great man, the discoverer of America, Christopher Columbus. Although 4 3-4 centuries have passed since Columbus was born, 415 years since his discovery of America, and 302 years since his death, his star of patriotism will never die, but will shine throughout remote generations. His works, his influence on the age in which he lived, have been handed down and honored through all these years, and will be honored by Centuries yet unknown. To whom did America and all Nations pay homage and honor in the 400th Anniversary of the Discovery of America, by the magnificient display of the World's Columbian Exposition? To the memory of him whose arduous Life and courage faced ridicule, stood staunch and true through adversity, severed the ties of home and kindred, and faced even death on an unknown ocean for the cause of discoveries, our brave and patriotic Ad- rr.iral, Christopher Columbus. 20 CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS HISTORY, MEMORY AND PATRIOTISM Three things in life I'll always keep Three things that ne'er grow old I treasure then God's previous gifts And prize them as pure gold. What prompted the noble mind of Betsy Ross, when keen cenception and deft fingers, planned and made our first National Flag, the proud emblem of our nation? Did she not catch the angelic vision of the history of his patriotism learned in youth mirrored in her mind, in- fluencing her life giving to us a memorial, more enduring than marble. Oh, Mothers of America, may the right hand of each one of us be the guiding star to impress on the early minds of childhood the first and best picture to gaze upon should be the Stars and Stripes. May we teach the youth of our land the principles of patriotism, this legacy of our Fathers, handed down to us through suffering, blood and death, must be perpetuated through proper teach- ing of patriotism in our schools. No nation can con- tinue secure if the youth are neglected in regard to its teaching. ' Be thou perpetual, Oh, free America, the proudest nation, the greatest nation, the grandest nation on the globe. Doubtless you have heard of the Columbian Liberty Bell, exhibited at the World's Fair, and since in many of CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS 21 the principal cities of our country. Its weight is 13,000 pounds, each of the thirteen colonies being represented by 1,000 pounds, Type of our first flag and the equality that binds every State, small or great, into the one great Union of States. It is said that over 100,000 persons throughout the land contributed to the casting of this great bell. We cannot pick out their individual differ- ences of ancestry, race, politics, or creed. Each one made his contribution, and the whole volume of sound is richer and fuller because of it. There is but one tongue, one body, one voice. And as each new star of state shine out in its brilliancy on our banner as it proudly floats over our schools and over our land from ocean to ocean con- secrating our noble dead, teaching us as a nation, our discoverer's command, Sail on, Sail on, Sail on. The Eastern World against him, He cared not for its frown. The Western world before him Contains our starry crown. 22 CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS WHO DISCOVERED AMERICA? When and where was Columbus born? What had he been trained for from childhood? What is said of him at the age of thirty? How much of the world was then known? What did Columbus believe? Who helped him on his voyage; How old was he at this time; What happened on the first part of the voyage? How did the sailors treat Columbus ; How did he quell their mutiny; What is said about signs of land? What about the discovery of land? What did he find there? How did Spain receive Columbus on his return? What is said about the last voyage of Columbus? How many did he make?. What about his old age? What of his death and burial? What estimation can we place on the discovery of America to us as a Nation? M*R 1 19U¥