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| THE SANTA MARIA - The view discloses Columbus'
flag ship, which led her sister ships, the Nina and Pinta, upon the Western quest. All
three were conscripts. A royal edict empowered Columbus to take for
his voyage the best three ships he could find. Distrustful owners
immediately put to sea, and nothing was left Columbus but the three
vessels which finally formed his fleet. No vessel was ever freighted
with a greater cargo of hopes and fears than the Santa Maria. The
fate of a world and the fortunes of a world-finder were borne onward
by that fragile keel which was still guided onward by unyielding
purpose. To us the Sant Maria much resembles a toy ship. Indeed she
was not considered first-class even in her own day, but of the three
was the only one which boasted of a forecastle and cabin. But after
all it would appear that these tiny ships were built for purposes of
attack and defense, each one having a high protected stern, behind
which the sailors could repulse an enemy or, if pressed too closely,
could retreat and fight them from above. The principal officers of
Columbus' fleet embarked on the Santa Maria. There were six of
these, a high constable, a chief accountant, a comptroller, a royal
notary, a historiographer, and last of all a linguist intended as an
interpreter with the natives of the New World which might be
discovered. Altogether the crew of the Santa Maria numbered
sixty-six persons. |
