OCTOBER 12

Back in the dark ages when I went to school, this date was a holiday. It is the day that ships, commanded by Christopher Columbus, first sighted land in the 'New World'. The land was actually what we now call the Bahamas. They had left from Palos, Spain on August 3, 1492.



Columbus was 41 years old when he made his initial voyage. About one year later, he led 17 ships and over 1200 men on a second trip to the 'New World'. He took a more southerly route on this voyage and again made landfall in the Bahamas.



In 1498, Columbus led 6 ships on the same route from Spain and again landed in the Bahamas. This time his ships went on to find the main land of South America.



Columbus led his fourth expedition in 1502. He again found the Bahamas but this time went on to discover Central America in the areas we now call Honduras and Panama. He stayed for over two years.



In 1506 at the age of 55, Columbus died. He went to his deathbed thinking that he had discovered the route to and had explored the coast of East Asia. In actuality, Columbus never set foot on what is now the United States of America or Asia, for that matter.



Further, do not confuse Christopher Columbus with the once Saint Christopher. They were two different people, if, in fact, the latter existed at all.