THE BONES OF COLUMBUS.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 3804, 16 June 1885, Page 2

THE BONES OF COLUMBUS.

“ This is an ago o£ congresses," writes the “ Pail Mall Gazette.” “ The latest invitation to ono of the august assemblies has come from a State which possibly is not so well known as it deserves to be—the Republic of San Domingo. The subject of discussion among the representatives of all the civilised powers in the world, who are requested to meet at the city of San Domingo on Sept. 10, 1885, will be the bones of Christopher Columbus. The question connected with these remains of the great navigator has lately reached an acute stage, and it has become necessary for the honor of those concerned that it should be settled at once; and as Spain and Sin Domingo are not prepared to declare war about it, the dispute is to be referred to a congress. The difficulty has arisen in this wise Columbus died on May 21,1506, at Valladolid, and his body was deposited in the Franciscan priory there. In 1513 it was transferred to the j Cathedral of Seville, The discoverer j having expressed an earnest wish to be buried at Haiti, in San Domingo, bis mortal remains' were conveyed there in 1550 (44 years after his death), and interred in the Cathedral. When Ihe island waa taken, in 1795, by the French, the bones were removed by the Spaniards to Lorenzo, in Havana, and were placed in the Cathedral there on January 19, 1786. The Spanish Academy of History defends the thesis that they are there still, while the Government of San Domingo maintains that it succeeded in burying the bones with due honor in the Cathedral of its capital on September 10, 1877. The latter position is supported by a learned and lengthy historical disquisition, which has been officially communicated to all the Powers, who are now requested to send representatives to a congress to examine the facts and decide the question once for all. The contest does honor to both countries principally concerned. The knotty question for us is, Who are to be our delegates? We submit with much humility the names of Mr Fronde and Professor Freeman. Other differences beside that about the bones of Columbus might bo composed on the pleasant voyage in the Royal steamer to and from tho West Indies.