More Oct 12th info: Watch Day

On October 12, 1492, two hitherto unknown worlds met on a little island in the Caribbean Sea. While on a voyage of exploration for Spain in search of a direct sea route to the Far East, Christopher Columbus discovered the New World.
In his “years of great anguish,” as he called his years of petitioning the monarchs, 1491 must have seemed hopeless. He was virtually without funds, all pleas had been rejected at court, and he now had two children to support, Diego, his legitimate son, and Fernando, born out of wedlock to Columbus and Beatriz Enríquez de Arana in 1488. In a period of great despair, his one source of comfort was his love for Beatriz. A peasant woman, she was introduced to Columbus by a relative, Diego de Arana, an officer on Columbus’ first voyage.
In Spain, Columbus made one final appeal in the last weeks of 1491. Invited to the royal camp as the monarchs prepared for their final battle with the Muslims in Granada, the future discoverer made his final presentation. But again his plan was rejected; although Columbus had been successful in winning over many of the learned scholars and scientific advisers, this time the rejection was due primarily to the excessive demands he made for titles, revenues, and rewards. His request for payment (one-tenth of all riches from the Indies and the rank of Admiral of the Ocean, Viceroy and Governor of the Indies) caused the sovereigns to flatly refuse the project. Tradition relates that as Columbus rode away on his mule, Ferdinand’s treasurer, Luis de Santángel, a member of a prominent family of converted Jews, interceded on his behalf. Arguing that the investment was small considering the potential reward, Santángel was able to convince the King and Queen to reverse their decision. A court official was dispatched on horseback to bring him back. After several more weeks of negotiating a contract, Columbus left for Palos de la Frontera, in April, 1492, and his rendezvous with history.
The First Voyage (1492-93):
The people of Palos were ordered to provide and equip two caravels (small light sailing ships). The first, owned by Cristóbal Quintero, was called the Pinta; the second, owned by Juan Niño, was officially named the Santa Clara but known as the Niña . The third ship, Columbus' flagship (a small round ship with a large hold, most likely a nao), was owned by Juan de la Cosa and called the Santa María. Little is known about the actual construction but archival evidence suggests that the Niña and the Pinta were small, about 60 tons each and about 70-80 feet long. Of the three, the Pinta was the fastest. The Santa María was about 90-100 tons and not much longer than the other two.
It is true that initially Columbus, who was a foreigner, had difficulty recruiting a crew because so many feared a voyage into the unknown. The royal secretary tried to help by offering freedom to any convict who enlisted. Some seasoned seaman objected to this plan but in the end only four convicts accepted. More than anything, it was the friars of La Rábida and Martín Alonso Pinzón, an experienced sea captain from Palos, who persuaded local sailors to join the expedition. Two other Pinzón brothers joined the voyage; all were commanding officers.
After a southern passage to the Canary Islands where the Niña had her sails replaced with square rigging and the Pinta’s rudder was repaired, the voyagers departed the known world on the 6th of September, 1492. Each day of the voyage, the ships traveled primarily westward. The choice of sailing from the Canaries was masterful. The Canary Current, a river in the ocean, speeded their journey. In mid September the crew began seeing signs of life: brightly colored birds, pelicans, and seaweed. On September 25, it was thought that land was sighted but it was nothing more than low lying clouds. Much of the crew was apprehensive and fearful that the strong daily winds would keep them from getting back to Spain. Columbus had difficulty with his crew at times, and he found it hard to work with the Pinzóns, especially Martín Alonso who was much more seasoned than Columbus, but there is little evidence that the crew was ever close to mutiny. Moreover, it is only legend that Columbus tried to deceive the crew by giving false readings in order to make the distance seem shorter.
On the moonlit night of October 11 the Captain General (Columbus would be called Admiral after fulfilling the obligations of his contract with the monarchs by finding land) thought that he had seen lights in the distance. Two hour past midnight on the morning of October 12 a lookout named Rodrígo de Triana (sometimes called Juan Rodríguez Bermejo), on the Pinta, cried out “ Tierra! Tierra!.”
A new era began for humankind on the morning of October 12, 1492, when the Admiral and a handful of the excited but weary voyagers set foot on land after 36 days of sailing. Columbus raised the royal standard and two captains each carried banners decorated with green crosses and letters representing Ferdinand and Isabel. Soon the curious and naked natives, with some trepidation, came out of their hiding places and greeted the visitors. Although this momentous encounter took place on a relatively inconspicuous island, never again would the world be the same. The actual landfall site is still a question that stirs passions among mariners and historians alike. Called Guanahaní by the natives, Columbus claimed the land for his sovereigns and renamed it San Salvador (in honor of the Savior Jesus Christ), but no one today knows for sure which island it was, perhaps Watling Island or the Semana Cay. Ten or more islands in the Bahamas fit the physical description as recorded by Columbus’ in his journal, described simply as large and flat, with bright green trees and much water.
Columbus alone held the stage. His greatest glory came when he appeared before Ferdinand and Isabella at the royal palace in Barcelona and was invited to sit with them and even eat at the same table. With a parade of exotic natives and colorful parrots, he told his tale of the voyage and of the islands with their lush vegetation and strange inhabitant; he reported on spices, gold, cannibals, and mermaids; and he showed the gold he had brought home, some of it in the form of crowns and large masks but other in the form of ornaments and nuggets and even dust.
All of his titles and rewards were reconfirmed, and he was addressed by his new title “Admiral of the Ocean Seas.” He received 1,000 doubloons, the equivalent of 345,000 maravedis. Columbus owned the day; he delivered what he had promised—at least everybody at the Spanish court thought so.

Blessings,

Tony