268 COLUMBIAN HISTORICAL EXPOSITION AT MADRID. 



It was found to bear an inscription in Spanish which reads : &quot; The 

 Admiral Don Luis Colon, Duke of Veragua, Marquis of Jamaica.&quot; 

 The discovery caused great excitement. On the opposite or gospel side 

 of the altar two more crypts were disclosed. One was empty, from 

 which the coffin transported to Havana was taken. The other con 

 tained a metallic box similar to that in which the remains of Luis Colum 

 bus were found. Within it were a quantity of dust, a number of bones, 

 a portion of a skull, a leaden ball, and a silver plate about 2 inches long. 

 It was supposed that these were the remains of Christopher Columbus, 

 because of certain inscriptions on the box. 



The box was of lead, about a quarter of an inch thick. It was 18 

 inches long, and about 9 inches wide and 10 inches deep. On the front 

 and on one end was the letter &quot;Cj&quot; on the other end the letter &quot;A,&quot; 

 which were supposed to signify &quot;Cristoval Colon, admiral.&quot; 



On the top of the lid were the letters &quot;D. de la A. Per A.,&quot; interpreted 

 a Descubridor dela America Primer Alinirante&quot; (discoverer of America, 

 the first admiral). 



On the under side of the lid was written in German text, &quot; Ylletre Y 

 Esdo Varon, Dn. Cristoval Colon&quot; (illustrious and renowned man, Don 

 Christopher Columbus). 



On one side of a silver plate, which appeared at one time to have been 

 screwed or bolted to the inside of the box, was inscribed &quot; U Cristoval 

 Colon,&quot; which is supposed to mean u Urna Cristoval Colon&quot; (the coffin 

 of Christopher Columbus). 



On the other side of the plate were the words: u Ua pte de los rtos 

 del pmer Alte D. Cristoval Colon D.,&quot; which are deciphered to be u Urna 

 perteneciente de los restos del primer Almirante Don Cristoval Colon 

 Descubridor,&quot; or in English, &quot; Urn belonging to the remains of the first 

 admiral, Christopher Columbus, discoverer.&quot; 



The finest dust was carefully gathered up and placed in a little casket 

 of gold and crystal, such as is used by ladies to keep their jewels 

 in, and placed in the lead chest. The latter was sealed and then 

 inclosed in an octagonal case of satinwood with glass panels, which was 

 secured with three locks, to which the minister of public works, the 

 archbishop, and the governor of the city have the keys. The case was 

 further protected by broad bands of white ribbon, sealed with wax, and 

 stamped with the official seals of the three officials named, so that it 

 may not be opened without the consent and presence of all of them. 

 It was then placed in a vault at the left of the altar. 



Once each year, on the 10th of September, the precious casket is 

 exposed to public view in the presence of the officials of the Govern 

 ment and the public, when high mass is celebrated by the archbishop 

 for the repose of the soul of the great discoverer. 



The people of Havana and of Spain still insist that the genuine 

 remains of Columbus were transported to the former city in 1795, and 

 a very earnest controversy has been continued from 1877 to the present 



