Three Vessels Fitted Out for Columbus—The First Voyage of Discovery is
made from Palos, August 3, 1492—Columbus on the Open Sea
Columbus was overjoyed at the success which at last crowned his efforts
and at once began actively fitting out the necessary vessels. Those
which the King placed at his disposal were so small and poorly built
that no man but Columbus would have trusted himself in them upon a vast,
unknown sea whose dangerous spots were uncharted. The vessel which he
commanded was named the _Santa Maria_; the second, the _Pinta_; and the
third, the _Nina_. The last two were hardly larger than good-sized
boats. The little squadron was provided with subsistence for twelve
months and ninety men.[12] The cost of the expedition was not more than
5300 ducats, a sum which at that time seemed so large to the
impoverished Court that the whole undertaking might have been abandoned
had it not been that the citizens of Palos provided two of the vessels,
the King sending only one. At last all the preparations were made and
the vessels lay at their anchors ready to sail.
Before weighing anchor, however, Columbus considered it a duty to invoke
the favor of the Creator of the ocean, the Creator and Ruler of all the
earth, for the expedition which he had so much at heart, for it was also
his purpose to spread the knowledge of the only true God in the ignorant
wilderness whither Divine Providence was to conduct him. Accompanied by
all his companions, Columbus went in solemn procession to a monastery in
the vicinity of Palos and there publicly implored divine help, his
seamen following his pious example. Then they returned, full of
confidence in the Most High. The next morning, August 3, 1492, they set
sail in God’s name amid the cheers of a great multitude of spectators.
Columbus commanded the larger vessel, the _Santa Maria_, and the two
brothers, Martin and Vicente Pinzon, the two smaller vessels.
According to Columbus’ plans the fleet was to sail first to the
Canaries, but on the second day out a slight accident happened which
might have ruined the expedition if Columbus had been as weak as his
superstitious comrades. The rudder of the _Pinta_ was broken, purposely,
it is believed, by the helmsman, who was afraid of the voyage and hoped
in this manner to force Columbus to go back. The crew declared that the
accident foretold disaster. “We shall be lost,” they shouted, “if we do
not go back at once.”
“But why?” asked Columbus.
“Why?” they replied. “Heaven has already shown clearly enough by this
broken rudder that it will be disastrous if we do not abandon the
undertaking at once.”
“I really do not know,” answered Columbus, “how you have learned that
this unexpected event is a sign of coming disaster. So far as I know, a
broken rudder only means that we must mend it.”
“The Admiral is a freethinker,” the seamen whispered to each other; “he
does not believe in signs.”
Columbus, who knew their thoughts, realized the necessity of overcoming
as far as possible the superstition of his ignorant companions, as a
hundred opportunities might occur for similar outbreaks. He explained
the matter to them in detail and showed them how unreasonable it was to
regard it as a sign of future disaster, for God had never promised He
would make the future known by signs. Wisely and mercifully Heaven had
concealed the future from us. Therefore it was useless and foolish to
expect disaster because of any sign. All that a wise and pious man could
do was to perform his duties faithfully and industriously all his days,
trusting in divine oversight and having no fear of the future. “Let this
be the rule to govern us throughout our voyage,” said he. By
representations of this kind Columbus, although he could not entirely
remove their superstitious fears, rendered them less dangerous. Nothing
further of particular consequence happened and at last they came to
anchor at the Canary Islands. There the necessary repairs were made and
on the sixth of September they weighed anchor and started upon their
great western voyage over the uncharted sea.
Little progress was made the first day, as they were becalmed, but on
the second, some say the third, the Canaries disappeared from view. They
were hardly out of sight of land when the seamen began to lose courage.
They wept, beat their breasts, and cried aloud as if they were going to
instant destruction. Columbus stood steadfast as a rock in the ocean,
undisturbed by their deafening wails, and showing such composure and
confidence that the cowards plucked up a little courage. He made them
ashamed of their weakness, and so clearly explained to them the honor
and profit which they would receive at the end of the voyage that all
were inspired by his words and promised to follow wherever he should
lead.
Columbus devoted most of his time on the deck of his vessel to the
plummet and instruments of observation. The plummet, a heavy piece of
lead, attached to a long rope, was let down into the water to ascertain
its depth, and thus avoid the danger of stranding. The exact location of
the vessel at any given time was ascertained in Columbus’ day by the
astrolabe,[13] with the help of the location of the stars and their
distance from each other. To-day mariners have much more perfect
instruments for observation. Columbus made all his measurements and
observations himself. He gave only a few hours to sleep and rest, in the
meantime exhibiting such composure as to impress even the weakest of his
sailors with confidence in him and his undertaking. Only to such a man
was this great task possible. In the hands of a man of less courage,
foresight, and ability it must have failed.