A SPECIAL REPORT: COLUMBUS
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THE BIG DAY: Christopher Columbus discovered the New World 500 years ago today, but 277 years passed before the effect reached what is now Orange County. . . . Our Columbus was Spanish army Capt. Gaspar de Portola, who first set foot here July 22, 1769. . . . And Orange County’s Queen Isabella was Jose de Galvez, ruler of what is now Mexico. So unstable he once ordered 600 apes captured and trained as Spanish soldiers, Galvez wanted to impress his king--his only reason for ordering Portola’s expedition.
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