Chapter I: Front Matter

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Transcriber's note:

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Life Stories for Young People

CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS

Translated from the German of

JOACHIM HEINRICH CAMPE

by

George P. Upton

Translator of “Memories,” “Immensee,” etc.

With Five Illustrations

Chicago A. C. McClurg & Co. 1911

Copyright A. C. McClurg & Co. 1911

Published September, 1911

The · Plimpton · Press [W · D · O] Norwood · Mass · U · S · A

Translator’s Preface

There are five representatives of the Columbus family more or less famous in the history of exploration, _viz._, Christopher, the discoverer of America; Bartolomeo, brother of Christopher, governor of Isabella and founder of San Domingo; Diego, brother of Christopher, who accompanied him on his second voyage and subsequently entered the priesthood; Diego, son of Christopher, and his successor as governor of Hispaniola; Ferdinand, illegitimate son of Christopher, who accompanied his father on his fourth voyage and became his biographer; and Colon, grandson of Christopher, who was made Duke of Veraqua, Marquis of Jamaica, and Captain-general of Hispaniola; but all of them shine in the reflected light of Christopher, except his brother Bartolomeo, who, while not as skilful a navigator and explorer as his brother, was a great soldier, an experienced administrator, and the principal support of Christopher in his many difficulties and hardships.

The story of Columbus, apart from his discovery of America and his many thrilling adventures in the West Indies, should be one of absorbing interest to youth. It is the story of a man who in his youthful days conceived a vast project, for his time, adhered to it with inflexible resolution though confronted with obstacles which would have discouraged any ordinary man, suffered privations and hardships of the most trying kind, meeting threats against his life, shipwreck, physical ailments, poverty, malicious attacks of bitter enemies, shameful calumnies, the disgrace of being sent to Spain in fetters by Bobadilla, his jealous and cruel rival, and the ingratitude and dishonesty of the King of Spain, and yet accomplished a purpose even greater than that which first inspired him, for he died not knowing that he had discovered a new continent. He supposed to the last that the region he had found was the East Indies. The great navigator, seaman, and explorer passed his last days in poverty and neglect, and the rewards which the King had promised were enjoyed not by him but by his son Diego. But his fame is immortal.

G. P. U.

Chicago, _July, 1911_.

Contents

Chapter Page
I Portuguese Voyages of Discovery—The Youth of Columbus—His
Arrival at Lisbon 11
II Columbus’ Scheme Rejected in Lisbon—He Goes to Madrid and Has
an Interview with Ferdinand and Isabella, after which he
Endures Bitter Disappointments 22
III Three Vessels Fitted Out for Columbus—The First Voyage of
Discovery is Made from Palos, August 3, 1492—Columbus on
the Open Sea 30
IV Ocean Phenomena, Unknown to Columbus and his Crew, Increase
the Fear of the Latter 35
V “Land, Land!” 38
VI Columbus Discovers Several Islands, among them Guanahani,
Cuba, and Haiti—Traffic with the Natives 44
VII Prince Guakanahari—The Admiral’s Vessel Wrecked—Forty-three
Men Remain Behind—The Return Voyage Begins 52
VIII The Return Voyage—Storm on the Way—Arrival at the Azores,
Lisbon, and Palos 60
IX Columbus’ Second Journey in 1493—Several Islands
Discovered—The Spaniards Find their Fort Destroyed and
the Colonists Dead 67
X New Discoveries—Columbus in Great Danger—Uprising of the
Natives 75
XI The Natives are Subjugated—Columbus is Traduced in Spain—He
Returns to Europe and Suffers Many Hardships on the
Voyage 82
XII Columbus is Graciously Received by Ferdinand and
Isabella—His Enemies Unable to Shake their Confidence in
Him—The Third Voyage in 1498—Discovery of the Island of
Trinidad at the Mouth of the Orinoco 87
XIII Wretched Condition of the Colony—Vasco da Gama Sails around
the Cape of Good Hope to the East Indies—Ojeda’s
Undertaking—Cabral Discovers Brazil 93
XIV Columbus Again Calumniated at the Spanish Court—Bobadilla is
Ordered to San Domingo on a Tour of Investigation—He
Sends Columbus Back to Spain in Fetters—Columbus
Vindicated by his Sovereigns—Ovando Sails to the New
Countries with a Fleet of Thirty-two Vessels 101
XV Ovando Calls the Audacious Bobadilla to Account—Columbus
Undertakes his Fourth Voyage in 1502 108
XVI Columbus Vainly Attempts to Find the Passage between the
Atlantic and Pacific Oceans 115
XVII Columbus Abandons the Hope of Discovering a Passage to the
Pacific and Returns to Jamaica, where his Vessels are
Exposed to Great Danger—Two Boats are Sent to Haiti for
Help 122
XVIII Conspiracy against Columbus at Jamaica—He Returns to Spain
and Vainly Seeks Reinstatement—He Dies at Valladolid in
1506 131
XIX Diego, Columbus’ Son, Secures the Rights Coming to him from
his Father—The Spaniards Extend their Authority in
Central America and Rule Cruelly—Ponce de Leon’s
Discovery of Florida 144
Appendix 154

Illustrations

Page
Christopher Columbus _Frontispiece_
Columbus Planning the Discovery of America 28
In Sight of the New World 42
Landing of Columbus 44
The Return of Columbus from his First Voyage 68

Christopher Columbus