On October 12, after a long and difficult journey
Columbus landed on the Island of Guanahani
in the Caribbean Islands.
He christened it San Salvador, claiming it for Spain.

When Columbus landed on what is today Cuba,
He thought he was in Japan!!!!!
Columbus made 3 more voyages to The New World,
not realizing what he had done.
He died without realizing his accomplishments.

Our continent was named after explorer Amerigo Vespucci,
America,
however, in 1792, in New York City,
The Colombian Order honored the 300th anniversary
of Columbus' landing.

The Italians in New York organized the first celebration
of the discovery of America,
honoring Christopher Columbus, their native son,
on October 12, 1866.

President Benjamin Harrison proclaimed
the 400th anniversay of Columbus' discovery
in 1892.

Colorado was the first state to observe C-Day.
This is what Columbus Day was called then.
By 1920, C-Day was celebrated annually
im many states.

President Franklin Roosevelt proclaimed
every October 12 as C-Day in 1937;
but it was not until 1971 that Richard Nixon
declared Columbus Day a federal public holiday,
to be celebrated on the 2nd Monday every October.

Columbus Day is known in some states as
Discoverers' Day or Pioneers' Day or C-Day.
A very big parade takes place in New York City
on Columbus Day every year.
To mark the 500th anniversary of Columbus'first voyage,
the City of Columbus, Ohio
built a reproduction of the Santa Maria,
Columbus' flagship.
It is moored in the Scioto River at Battelle Park,
and many people visit it every year.

Columbus' fleet of ships were three:
The Pinta, the Nina and the Santa Maria.
The Santa Maria was a 'Nao' or full ship.
Nao means 'ship' in old Spanish.

The Nina and The Pinta were 'caravels,' smaller ships,
about two-thirds smaller...so they could travel faster,
and sail close to the wind.
The total cargo capacity of the three ships was larger
than the three ships that took the first colonists
to Jamestown in 1607.

The Santa had three masts,
the fore, main, and mizzen (or rear),
each carrying one large sail.
The fore and main sails were square.
The mizzen sail was triangular, a lateen.
There was also a small square sail on the bowsprit,
and a small topsail on the mainmast, above the mainsail.

Columbus captained the fat,'tubby' Santa Maria.
The Santa Maria was nicknamed La Gallega.
Martin Alonso Pinson, from Moguer in Andalucia,
captained the light and fast Pinta.
Pinta probably had 3 masts, about 70 tons.
The smallest ship, The Nina, was captained by
Vicente Anes Pinson, Martin Alonso Pinson's brother.

FROM THE DIARY OF Christopher Columbus, 1492

Wednesday, 10 October.
"Steered west-southwest and sailed at times
ten miles an hour, at others twelve,
and at others, seven; day and night made
fifty-nine leagues' progress; reckoned to the crew
but forty-four.
Here the men lost all patience, and complained
of the length of the voyage, but the Admiral encouraged
them in the best manner he could,
representing the profits they were about to acquire,
and adding that it was to no purpose to complain,
having come so far, they had nothing to do but
continue on to the Indies, till with the help
of our Lord, they should arrive there.

Thursday, 11 October. Steered west-southwest;
and encountered a heavier sea than they had
met with before in the whole voyage.
Saw pardelas and a green rush near the vessel.
The crew of the Pinta saw a cane and a log;
they also picked up a stick which appeared to have been
carved with an iron tool, a piece of cane,
a plant which grows on land, and a board.

The crew of the Nina saw other signs of land,
and a stalk loaded with rose berries.
These signs encouraged them, and they all grew cheerful.
Sailed this day till sunset, twenty-seven leagues.
After sunset steered their original course west
and sailed twelve miles an hour till two hours
after midnight, going ninety miles,
which are twenty-two leagues and a half;
and as the Pinta was the swiftest sailer,
and kept ahead of the Admiral, she discovered land
and made the Admiral bore the royal standard,
and the two captains each a banner of the Green Cross,
which all the ships had carried;
this contained the initials of the names of the
King and Queen each side of the cross, and a
crown over each letter.

Arrived on shore, they saw trees very green many
streams of water, and diverse sorts of fruits.
The Admiral called upon the two Captains,
and the rest of the crew who landed,
as also to Rodrigo de Escovedo notary of the fleet,
and Rodrigo Sanchez, of Segovia,
to bear witness that he before all others
took possession (as in fact he did) of that island
for the King and Queen his sovereigns,
making the requisite declarations, which are more
at large set down here in writing.

Numbers of the people of the island
straightway collected together.
Here follow the precise words of the Admiral:
"As I saw that they were very friendly to us,
and perceived that they could be much more easily
converted to our holy faith by gentle means
than by force, I presented them with some red caps,
and strings of beads to wear upon the neck,
and many other trifles of small value,
wherewith they were much delighted,
and became wonderfully attached to us.

Afterwards they came swimming to the boats,
bringing parrots, balls of cotton thread, javelins,
and many other things which they exchanged for articles
we gave them, such as glass beads, and hawk's bells;
which trade was carried on with the utmost good will.
But they seemed on the whole to me,
to be a very poor people.

They all go completely naked, even the women,
though I saw but one girl.
All whom I saw were young, not above thirty years of age,
well made, with fine shapes and faces;
their hair short, and coarse like that of a horse's tail,
combed toward the forehead, except a small portion
which they suffer to hang down behind, and never cut.

Some paint themselves with black,
which makes them appear like those of the Canaries,
neither black nor white; others with white,
others with red, and others with such colors
as they can find. Some paint the face, and some the whole
body; others only the eyes, and others the nose.

Weapons they have none, nor are acquainted with them,
for I showed them swords which they grasped by the blades,
and cut themselves through ignorance.
They have no iron, their javelins being without it,
and nothing more than sticks, though some have
fish-bones or other things at the ends.

They are all of a good size and stature,
and handsomely formed. I saw some with scars of wounds
upon their bodies, and demanded by signs the of them;
they answered me in the same way, that there came people
from the other islands in the neighborhood who endeavored
to make prisoners of them, and they defended themselves.

I thought then, and still believe, that these were
from the continent.
It appears to me, that the people are ingenious,
and would be good servants and I am of opinion that
they would very readily become Christians,
as they appear to have no religion.

They very quickly learn such words as are spoken to them.
If it please our Lord,
I intend at my return to carry home six of them
to your Highnesses, that they may learn our language.
I saw no beasts in the island, nor any sort of animals..."

~~~This is not the end of the account~~~
But gives a good picture of what Columbus discovered.
What these extracts do not tell is the horrible way
Columbus' men and future Spanish explorers
later treated natives they met,
killing hundreds or thousands of them.
For this reason, many Native Americans understandably
resent this holiday and do not honor it.

~~*~~

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