Manawatu Herald SATURDAY, JULY 30, 1892. The Third of August 1492.

Manawatu Herald, 30 July 1892, Page 2

Manawatu Herald SATURDAY, JULY 30, 1892. The Third of August 1492.

As the Columbuß celebration is to be held next Wednesday at Huelva, near Seville, with greater rejoicings than formerly and twenty-five warships, representing the European Powers, are to be present, we may be p eriultted to remark that Columbus, like many an other great man, is more reverenced now he is dead than he ever was when he was alive. It is old history, but worth recalling, as showing how easily persons and countries let slip the opportunity of becoming famous, that Columbus did his best to persuade King John II of Portugal to support him in his schemes for disoovery, but he, being a man unable to grasp the subject declared that the planjwas a fanciful delusion. He waslnean enough to try and secure the advantages of Columbus' idea without his help, as he despatched a secret expedition, which fortunately resulted ignominously. It was this that decided Columbus to offer his services to the King of Spain, who, after a time, permitted three ships to be entrusted to the navigator. Without the least knowledge of what might arise profuse promises, alas ! never fulfilled, were made to Columbus, such as that he should be vice-regent of all the discovered countries and islands, with the tenth part of the hoped-for revenues from the ntw lands, and elevation to the rank of nobles, for himself and his descendants.

On the third of August 1492, the three vessels with ninety sailors quitted the harbour of Palos, and sailed to th» westward. On the 11th of October the commander believed he saw a distant light moving in the dear autumn evening.' At two o'clock on the 12th a sailor described a glimmering streak of land. At dawn of day Columbus landed on the island he christened San Salvador. He soon returned to Castile,. and the islands were, and are known, as the West Indies. Columbus made twd other voyages iib the New World in 1493 and 1498, and in the last named year ; discovered the southern continent of America.

Owing-to the disturbances in the different garrisons he had established, Columbus had an unpleasant duty in restoring order, and had to send many back to Spain. These persons naturally spoke ill of their commander, and the King despatched an officer to investigate into the complaints. This man at onoe. deposed Columbus, imprisoned him in chains and sent him back, a disgraced man, to Spain. Here he succeeded in putting his case sufficiently clear so that he was restored to honour, not, however, before all Europe had oried, shame ! on his King ; but though replaced in name, he was not again placed in the position of admiral, nor was the promise of his recompense adhered to. He made a voyage to try and find a western passage to Central America, but the expedition was unfortunate, and when he returned to Spain he found that his patroness, the King's consort, was dead, and the last two years of his life were joyless and desolate. He died at Valladolid in 1506, deeply wounded at the ingratitude of King Ferdinand, and his

body was taken to Cuba for burial. The chains in which he had been brought fettered to Spain, were placed in his grave, according to his Wish, by his son Diego.