DISCOVERY OF COLUMBUS' REMAINS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 77, 30 March 1878, Page 4

DISCOVERY OF COLUMBUS' REMAINS.

The New York Times states :— Mr Castello, a civil engineer, who has been employed upon the Cathedral at San. Domingo City, arrived in thia city a few daya ago, on his Way to Rome, and is stopping at Washington Place, A Times reporter called upon him 'last evening to learn whether the reporter was true that he had been a witness of the discovery of the remains of Columbus under the altar of -San Domingo Cathedral. Mr Castello said that it was true. He then said that, from a passage in tbe will of Columbus, it had always been believed that the discoverer was buried in the Cathedral, for he had expressed the desire, iand there were accounts that strengthened tbe belief. The exact spot in which to look for the body ot the bones was not indioated, but there was a general impression among antiquarians that the remains of some great man or great treasure lay beneath the altar. On September 10, 1877, nssome of the men under Mr Castello's charge were digging beneath tbe altar, they came upon a leaden bok 42 centimetres loDg, 20| broad, and 20 deep. Thie box was covered by a large stODe, which had evidently been ilaid upon it to discourage careless hunters for treasure. The box was made with great care, of heavy sheet lead, and without any iron except a small screw that bad been used in fastening a plate containing one of the most significant inscriptions found in the ioclosure. Mr Cosiello says that the inscription on thB leaden box at once convinced him tbat the traditions with which everybody in San Domingo were familiar, were based on good grounds. It bore the wordß : — Iltrey Esdo Varon Du Cristobal Colon. In ihe box were found a number of bonee, yellow a* d wasted with age, and in the bottom of it was a handful of. dry mould. Mr Castello paid that he 'had abhndant opportunity to help himself to the bones if he bad chosen to do so, but ho did nof. He satisfied himsalf by selecting a pinch or two of dust, which ha reverently carried away, and afterwards deposited in a small vial. He showed this to a reporter, and taking an envelope from his pocket-book he produced a sample of the dust, contained iu a bit of folded newspaper. He held it out with admiration. It looked for all the world like a pinch of catarrh snuff. The workmen, Mr Castello eaid, tound in the box, among the bones, a silver plate about two aod a half inphea long and less than an inch wide, on the face of which was the followiug inscription: — Ua. Pte. de los rtos. del plmr AUe D. Cbristobal Colon Des. An enquiry was immediately instituted Right Rev. Dr. Coehia, Bishop of Owpe, Apostolic Delegate of the Holy See in Sah Domingo, Venezuela 'and Hoytij Rev. Bernardino d'Emelin, the Bishop's Seoretary ; the Canon, Rector, and founder of the College of ■ San Luis Gonzaga and the House of Charity; Don Francisco Savier Bellini, President Beaz, the Common Council, Don Jose Manuel Echeverry, Consular Representative of Spain, and all tbe Consular representatives of other nations were present. The inscription on the silver plate was read in Spanish — " Una pane de los restos del primer Almirante Don Cristobal Coloc, desenbridor," or, " A portion of the remains of the first Admiral, Don Christopher Columbus." The bones which did not ! forma complete skeleton, were num- j bered, and a list of them prepared by I Dr. M. A. Gomez und Dr. J. De J. Breneß. Alter the examination,, the ! casket was sealed and placed in chhrge ot Father Bellini to await such disposal as ehould be deemed fitting. A grand display took place upon their removal. The Spanish authorities > pent Don Lopez Vmo from Havana I

to make further investigations, and several sessions of these examiners were held, nothing new being elicited. Mr Castello will, in a day or two, receive photographs of the coffin and inscription, and before long will go to Rome with communications from the citizens of San Domingo, asking for advice and assistance in the matter of erecting a monument to Columbus. He does not say whether or not he intends to have his sample of Columbus immured in this city aud marked with a continental monument. If the San Domingo remains were carefully divided, there would be enough of Columbus to give several cities an excuse for buildii g monuments, and would add a realistic interest to the memorials that a strictly empty monument would not be expected to possess*