European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - October 26, 1967, Darmstadt, Hesse                              Stubborn Genius of by Sid Whipple staff writer out of the millions of facts rumours conjecture and fantasies surround ing the life of Christopher Columbus two characteristics of America s discoverer emerge with shining clarity. He was a stubborn unyielding an arrogant believer in his own Genius As the world s greatest geographer. He was also the greatest navigator of the 15th Century despite the scoffing of the superstitious and the slings and arrows of the envious. If in order to prove his theory head to lie to his seamen Compromise with his under officers and exaggerate to his sovereigns these were expedients for his passionately held purpose to reach Cipa Ngu Japan and Cathay China by sailing Westward around the Globe. Very few new facts about Columb shave come to Light since his fantastic accomplishments were recorded by him self his contemporaries and his son Fernando in the 15th and 16th  through a new assembling of theories documents letters and material objects connected with the Admiral of the Ocean sea a modern his Torian has produced a fresh portrait of the Man who opened the Gateway tothe Western world. The author of this new volume title simply Columbus Macmillan is rated As something of a Genius  Landstrom finnish born but a resident of Sweden is described As one of the most versatile artists of our time a Painter lithographer stage designer playwright novelist and critic. His own paintings maps and drawings add greatly to the Book s fascination. During Columbus time there live Din Florence Italy a physician scientist architect and geographer with attain ments similar to a degree to those of author Landstrom. His name was Pao Lodal Pozzo Toscanelli and he believed thoroughly in Columbus theory. Of particular interest since it touches upon the two compelling reasons behind the explorer s ambitions material wealth and spiritual gain is a letter the florentine wrote to Columbus then atthe court of King John of Portugal. When the said voyage is made rewrote it will be to powerful kingdoms very Noble very Rich. Rich in Al manner of spices with precious stones in abundance. Furthermore some of their Kings and princes Are eager to meet christians from our countries Formant of them Are christians them  Columbus tired of King John dilatory tactics and probably harassed by creditors fled from Lisbon two jumps ahead of the sheriff and went with his son Diego to the court of Ferdinand and Isabella at Castile at the end of 1484. Pictures reprinted from Columbus by Permis Sion of the publisher the Macmillan co. The persistent Mariner however was not placing All his bets on the same horse. His older brother Bartolomeo had been trying to work a Deal with King Henry Vii of England but failed and was then attempting to wheedle the King of France Charles Viii into Back ing the Westward to venture again without much Success. He gracious Welcome Columbus received at the castilian court heartened him. Everybody was kind. One lady in fact Beatriz Enriquez became so attached to him that she bestowed upon him a second son Fernando. Chris Gopher s first wife Felipa de Perestrello had died leaving behind his first son Diego but Isabella and Ferdinand were Atwar with Granada and for about five years the court had Little time and no Money for the aspiring Seaman. Co Lumbus lived on Hopes and Doles. It was not until Boabdil the last of the moorish Kings on Spanish soil sur rendered Granada to the spaniards on Jan. 2, 1492, that Columbus grandiose scheme could receive serious consideration by the court. A commission was set up to consider the matter and according to Landstrom probably had agreed to accept the plan when the question of payment began to be Dis cussed this came As a Shock Landstrom says. This poor foreigner who could afford neither to dress himself properly nor to keep his own horse now demanded in return for his services hot Only one tenth of All the riches that might be found in the indies but also the title of Don Cristobal Colon and the rank of Admiral of the Ocean and vice Roy and governor of the indies. The commission and the sovereigns were astonished. Columbus was Given a  i a rebuffed and disconsolate Columbu decided to leave the country and try his Luck in France there Bartolome was still attempting to enlist Charles in the project. Christopher had reached the pinos Bridge near Granada when a messenger overtook him informing him the Way Down to the Cape verde islands off West Africa. What could be simpler sail out on the northeasterly winds Ansback Home on the Westerly. The bargain practically on the Mariner s own terms was signed sealed and delivered on april 17, 1492. F that if he would return would learn something Isabella had decided i to Santa be he to his advantage to Back the Ven Ture enthusiastically. She was even willing to Hock the Royd jewels if Nec Essary to finance the expedition. What had changed her majesty mind Landstrom Belij Les it was be cause Columbus had played a Trump card he had revealed a professional secret not known to am other Mariner of his Day. \ this was that in the Northern part of the Atlantic the winds were nearly Al ways Westerly but that the winds be came northeasterly at the Canary is lands and remained in this Quarter All or More than 75 years people have been trying to reconstruct the Santamaria the flagship in which Columbus set out on his fateful voyage on the morning of aug. 3, 1492. Landstrom holds that reconstruction of the ship i impossible and that none of the replicas we have seen in museums or at International exhibitions can claim to rep resent anything at Best but a ship of approximately the same kind and the same size As the celebrated original. We simply do not know what the Santa Maria looked  nevertheless by comparing measure ments in a mid-15th-Century shipbuilder s manuscript Landstrom arrives at these approximate dimensions of the Santa Maria keel 56 feet Over All length 82 feet beam 28 feet. On this basis he paints a marvellously detailed picture of the flagship navigating under full sail with the Fleur de Lis Cross of the Spanish order of St. James emblazoned on its great bullying Mainsail. The flagship of about 100 tons Load ing capacity was accompanied by the 60-ton Pinta and the slightly smaller Nina. The ships were stocked with planks spars bolts nails ropes pitch tar whale Oil fat Sulphur sail cloth leather yarn Wax tackle anchors flags muskets powder Stone balls crossbows arrows biscuits Beans peas wine vinegar Olive Oil Honey syrup water dried fish Salt meat Salt pork pigs hens to be killed at sea Salt flour Rice cheese figs almonds Medicine cooking pots bowls candles lamps firewood fishhooks lines nets harpoons nautical almanacs charts Parchment paper Ink com passes magnets half hour glasses astrolabes quadrants Drums Tambou Rines Glass beads Bells brass rings and knitted Caps for trading purposes. In a Little under four months after Isabella s compact with Columbus All these materials plus some 90 Able bodied seamen were aboard the three caramels and headed Westward out of Palos. It had taken Columbus Over 10 years to sell his scheme to anybody powerful enough to carry it out. It took him Les than four months to procure Load and Man his Fleet. It took Only 10 weeks to reach what he thought was his goal the indies. This was a colossal  landed in what we know today As the West indies. The Date by Columbus reckoning was oct. 12. But by today s Calendar it was oct. 23, 1492. Portrait of Columbus possibly by Ghirlandaio is said to show explorer Columbus As embittered and prematurely aged. Landstrom s detailed drawing of the Nina the Santa Maria and the Pinta show ships becalmed using sweeps. Landstrom s Queen Isabella is taken from portrait by Bartolome Bermejo. Page 12 the stars and stripes thursday october 26, 1967 the stars and stripes Page 13