diff options
| -rw-r--r-- | .gitattributes | 4 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | LICENSE.txt | 11 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | README.md | 2 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/53608-0.txt | 5950 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/53608-0.zip | bin | 127415 -> 0 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/53608-h.zip | bin | 207886 -> 0 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/53608-h/53608-h.htm | 6031 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/53608-h/images/cover.jpg | bin | 74331 -> 0 bytes |
8 files changed, 17 insertions, 11981 deletions
diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..28fdc4a --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #53608 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/53608) diff --git a/old/53608-0.txt b/old/53608-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 1306235..0000000 --- a/old/53608-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,5950 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of The History of Saint Augustine, Florida, by -William W. Dewhurst - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org/license - - -Title: The History of Saint Augustine, Florida - -Author: William W. Dewhurst - -Release Date: November 26, 2016 [EBook #53608] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE HISTORY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE *** - - - - -Produced by Chuck Greif and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images available at The Internet Archive) - - - - - - - - - - - THE HISTORY - - OF - - SAINT AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA - - WITH - - AN INTRODUCTORY ACCOUNT OF THE EARLY SPANISH - AND FRENCH ATTEMPTS AT EXPLORATION - AND SETTLEMENT IN THE TERRITORY - OF FLORIDA - - TOGETHER WITH - - SKETCHES OF EVENTS AND OBJECTS OF INTEREST CONNECTED WITH THE - OLDEST TOWN IN THE UNITED STATES - - TO WHICH IS ADDED - - A SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE CLIMATE AND - ADVANTAGES OF SAINT AUGUSTINE - AS A HEALTH RESORT - - BY - - WILLIAM W. DEWHURST - - NEW YORK - G. P. PUTNAM’S SONS - 182 FIFTH AVENUE - 1881 - - - COPYRIGHT - 1881 - BY WILLIAM W. DEWHURST - - - - -PREFACE. - - -This brief outline of the history of one of the most interesting -portions of our country, together with the sketches of the celebrated -characters and memorable events which have rendered the town of St. -Augustine famous throughout the world, is offered to the public in the -hope and expectation that the information herein contained may supply -the desire, felt by an ever-increasing number of its citizens and -visitors, to be better informed as to the early history of a place so -justly celebrated. - -The desire of the author has been to condense and render accessible to -the general reader the very interesting but elaborate accounts of the -early writers concerning some of the more notable events connected with -the early settlement and defense of St. Augustine. - -Copious quotations have been borrowed, and the quaint language of the -early historians has been retained as peculiarly appropriate to the -subject and locality described. - -The traditions and chronicles in possession of the descendants of the -early settlers have been sought with a desire to preserve these -fragments of history before it shall be too late. Already those -conversant with the events of the early years of the century have passed -from the stage of life. - -The reader who desires to become better informed as to the events -noticed in this volume should consult the narrative of De Soto, by a -Knight of Elvas, the works of Cabeça de Vaca, Garcilasa de la Vega, -Laudonnère, Bartram, Romans, Vignoles, Roberts, De Brahm, Stork, Forbes, -Darby, Williams, and Fairbanks, to all of whom the author is under -obligation. - -ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA, _November, 1880_. - - - - -CONTENTS. - - -CHAPTER I. PAGE - -Introductory. 1 - -CHAPTER II. - -The Discovery of Florida. 3 - -CHAPTER III. - -Expeditions of Muruelo, Cordova, Alminos, Ayllon, and Narvaez. 7 - -CHAPTER IV. - -Hernando De Soto.--An Account of his March through Florida. 18 - -CHAPTER V. - -Huguenot Settlement under Ribault. 26 - -CHAPTER VI. - -Second Huguenot Settlement under Laudonnère. 29 - -CHAPTER VII. - -The Unfortunate Expedition under Ribault.--Founding of St. Augustine -by Menendez, 1565.--Attack upon the French Settlement on -the St. Johns River. 37 - -CHAPTER VIII. - -Shipwreck of Ribault’s Fleet.--Massacre by Menendez. 46 - -CHAPTER IX. - -Expedition and Retaliation of De Gourges. 57 - -CHAPTER X. - -Return of Menendez.--Attempt to Christianize the Indians.--Attack -upon St. Augustine by Sir Francis Drake.--Murder of the Friars. 66 - -CHAPTER XI. - -Plunder of the Town by Captain Davis.--Removal of the Yemassee -Indians.--Construction of the Fort.--Building of the First Sea-wall.--Attacks -of Governor Moore and Colonel Palmer. 79 - -CHAPTER XII. - -Oglethorpe’s Attack.--Bombardment of the Fort and Town.--Capture -of the Highlanders at Fort Mosa.--Old Fort at Matanzas.--Monteano’s -Invasion of Georgia. 89 - -CHAPTER XIII. - -The Town when delivered to the English.--Fort San Juan De Pinos.--St. -Augustine as described by the English Writers in 1765 to 1775. 100 - -CHAPTER XIV. - -The Settlement of New Smyrna by the Ancestors of a Majority of the -Present Population of St. Augustine.--The Hardships endured by -these Minorcan and Greek Colonists.--Their Removal to St. Augustine -under the Protection of the English Governor. 113 - -CHAPTER XV. - -Administration of Lieut.-Governor Moultrie.--Demand of the People for -the Rights of Englishmen.--Governor Tonyn burning the Effigies -of Adams and Hancock.--Colonial Insurgents confined in the -Fort.--Assembling of the First Legislature.--Commerce of St. Augustine -under the English.--Recession of the Province to Spain. 122 - -CHAPTER XVI. - -Return of the Spaniards.--Completion of the Cathedral.--The Oldest -Church Bell in America.--The Governor’s Desire to People the -Province with Irish Catholics.--Some Official Orders exhibiting -the Customs of the Spaniards.--Unjustifiable Interference of the -United States, during the “Patriot War.”--Florida an Unprofitable -Possession.--Erection of the Monument to the Spanish Constitution. 129 - -CHAPTER XVII. - -Florida Ceded to the United States.--Attempt of the Spanish Governor -to carry away the Records.--Description of St. Augustine when -Transferred.--Population in 1830.--Town during the Indian -War.--Osceola and Coa-cou-che.--A True Account of the Dungeon -in the Old Fort, and the Iron Cages.--The Indians brought to St. -Augustine in 1875. 143 - -CHAPTER XVIII. - -St. Augustine as it used to be.--Customs.--The Oldest Structure in the -United States.--Present Population.--Objects of Interest.--Buildings -Ancient and Modern.--St. Augustine during the Rebellion.--Climate.--Advantages -as a Health Resort. 161 - - - - -HISTORY OF ST. AUGUSTINE. - - - - -CHAPTER I. - -INTRODUCTORY. - - -A universal desire exists to learn the origin and history of our -ancestors. Even before the art of writing was perfected, bards -perpetuated the traditions of the early races of men by recitations of -mingled facts and fables at the periodical assemblies. These -peripatetics were ever welcomed and supported by the people, and -doubtless preserved many of the facts of history. - -Unfortunately, among the Spanish knights, who at various times essayed -the conquest of Florida, few were found to desert the shrine of Mars for -that of Clio. While there are several valuable accounts of the Spanish -occupation, the scope of the histories is narrow and unreliable on many -most interesting subjects, and on others of no importance they are often -most diffuse. Owing to the vicissitudes of the occupation of St. -Augustine, there are few traditions. It is possible that the Spanish -antiquarian may at some future day develop a rich mine of history in -searching the ancient archives of that nation and of the Catholic -Church. Valuable acquisitions have been made in this field of literature -by the labors of the learned and genial Buckingham Smith, a resident of -St. Augustine. - -Two impulses prompted the early Spanish explorers in Florida. The first -was a hope of finding gold, as it had been found in Mexico and South -America. A second and probably more ostensible motive, was the desire -and hope of extending the Catholic faith among the inhabitants of the -New World. - -The result of all their hardships and labors has proved so barren that -even in our day it is impossible to contemplate the slaughters and -disappointments of the brave men who invaded and who defended these -ancient homes, without a pang of regret. - - - - -[1492-1498.] - -CHAPTER II. - -THE DISCOVERY OF FLORIDA. - - -The honor of having discovered Florida has been assigned by different -writers to Columbus, Cabot, and De Leon. - -In 1492, Columbus terminated his venturesome voyage across the Atlantic -by landing at the island of St. Salvador, so called by the great Genoese -explorer in remembrance of his salvation. It is said that from this -island his people, on his return from Europe, ventured with him to the -shores of Florida, being impressed, as were the Aborigines, with a -belief that the continent possessed waters calculated to invigorate and -perpetuate youth and vitality. - -The date 1497 is assigned as the year in which Amerigo Vespucci -discovered the western continent. Vespucci was encouraged by Emanuel, -King of Portugal, and, though probably lacking the inspiring genius and -sublime courage of Columbus, through the accident of fortune he has -perpetuated his name in the designation of half a hemisphere. Doubtless, -Vespucci was the first to reach the mainland of the western continent, -as Columbus did not touch the mainland until his third voyage in 1498, -when he landed at the mouth of the Orinoco in South America. So entirely -unsuspicious was the world at this time of a second continent, that the -transcendent genius of Columbus never suspected the magnitude of his -discovery, and he died in the belief that he had landed on the eastern -shore of Asia. - -The next to essay a voyage to the New World was also a native of -Southern Europe. John Cabot, the son of Giovanni Gabota, a native of -Venice, who had settled in Bristol, was commissioned by Henry the -Seventh of England to sail on a voyage of discovery and conquest. Though -the inception and authority for the expedition antedated the sailing of -Columbus by a year, Cabot did not leave England until May, 1498. His -landing on America was at or near the river St. Lawrence, from whence he -sailed southward along the coast, landing only for observation, and -making no attempt to form a settlement. It is doubtful if Cabot ever -sailed as far south as Florida, though it is claimed that to him belongs -the honor of its discovery. - -Fourteen years afterward, the first landing was made on the sandy shores -of Florida, and possession claimed in the name of the King of Spain. - -The mystic fountain of youth, first pictured in the days of mythology, -whose waters would stay the devastating march of time, endow perpetual -youth, even restore vigor to the decrepitude of age, was said to exist -in the New World. - -This fable, with which the European had become familiar from an Egyptian -or Hellenic source, found confirmation in the traditions of the Indians -of the Caribbean Islands. To the mind of the Spanish knight, eager to -continue his youthful prowess and the enjoyment of the adjuncts of power -and authority already achieved, the belief, thus strengthened by -concurrence of a tradition in the New World, seemed an authentic -reality, and the sufficient foundation for great labor and sacrifice. - -In this materialistic age we may laugh at the credulousness of the -Spanish chevalier, whose faith in the story of an Indian girl led him to -expend his wealth and sacrifice his life in such a chimerical search; -yet the history of our own day will recount equal faith and as fruitless -ventures. - -Juan Ponce de Leon seems to have been a person of influence in Spain, -possessed of a unique character, a chivalrous nature, and a -comprehensive and trained mind. Born in an age when personal valor and -knightly habits were the surest paths to distinction and authority, his -career seems to have been that of an adventurer. When past the meridian -of life, he landed in the Bahamas seeking for the spring of youth. In -vain was his search, but his hopes and his ardor were undaunted. “Upon -the mainland the wished-for waters flowed as a river, on whose banks -lived the rejuvenated races in serene idleness and untold luxuriance.” -Leaving the Bahamas he steered northwest for the coast. While some -accounts make his first landing at a spot north of St. Augustine, it is -more probable that his course was to the west of the Bahama Islands, and -that he first disembarked at or near the southernmost part of Florida, -at a place called Punta Tanchi, now Cape Sable. - -It was on March 27th, 1512, Palm Sunday (Pasqua Florida), and from this -accidental date of discovery did the country receive its name, and not -from its abundance of flowers. While the Latin adjective _floridus_ -signifies “full of flowers,” soldiers of fortune like De Leon did not -make a practice of using the Latin tongue except in their litany. After -erecting a cross, celebrating a solemn mass, and proclaiming the -sovereignty of the Spanish crown, De Leon coasted along the Florida -shore into the Gulf of Mexico, making various attempts to penetrate the -interior of the country. In this he was unable to succeed, owing to the -swampy nature of the land, and its barrenness of food products. After -the loss of many of his men, the rest, greatly suffering for food, -re-embarked. According to some historians De Leon returned to Spain, -and demanded to be made governor of the new dominions; while others -declare that he withdrew only to the islands, from whence he sent a -description of the newly-discovered province, and begged a grant of the -same. His request was acceded to by the Spanish crown on condition that -he should colonize the country. - -Accordingly, in 1516 he returned with two vessels, but his occupancy -being disputed by the Indians, De Leon was mortally wounded in the first -encounter. His followers, being dispirited by the loss of their leader -in a strange and uninviting land, returned on board their vessels and -sailed for Cuba. Here a monument was erected to the memory of Juan Ponce -de Leon, on which is inscribed the following eloquent and deserved -epitaph: “Mole sub hac, fortis requiescunt, ossa Leonis qui vicit factis -nomina magna suis.” - -Though De Leon died in disappointment, never having tasted the fabled -waters of which he came in search, his name will ever be associated with -the country he christened, and many a wasted consumptive who has -regained a lost vigor and health under the assuasive influences of -Florida’s climate will give a kindly thought of remembrance and regret -as he recalls him who first visited Florida, a seeker after healing -waters. - - - - -[1517.] - -CHAPTER III. - -EXPEDITIONS OF MURUELO, CORDOVA, ALMINOS, AYLLON, AND NARVAEZ. - - -In the next twenty years there were many captains who undertook voyages -for the exploration and subjugation of Florida. - -It must be remembered that at this time, and until the beginning of the -eighteenth century, the grand divisions of North America were known only -as Florida and Canada. - -Diego Muruelo, a Spanish adventurer, by profession a pilot, is said to -have sailed from Cuba, and returning with gold and precious stones -obtained from the Florida Indians, spread glowing reports of the -country. These reports may have influenced the home government, as about -this time a Dominican, “Bernardo de Mesa,” was chosen Bishop of Cuba -“including Florida.” - -Fernandez de Cordova landed on the coast, but was driven off by the -Indians, and returned to Cuba, where he died of his wounds. The famous -Bernal Diaz was a member of this expedition. - -One De Alminos, a member of Cordova’s party, made such a favorable -report of the country and the advantages to be derived from a possession -of the same that he induced Francisco de Geray, the governor of Jamaica, -to furnish him with three vessels, with which he returned to the coast; -but was unsuccessful in his attempts to make any acquisition of wealth -or power in Florida, though slight progress was made in the survey of -its coast. De Geray, however, trusting in the reports given him, applied -to the home government to be made Adelantado of Florida, though his -request is said to have been denied. - -Lucas Vasquez de Ayllon, an auditor of St. Domingo, a rich and learned -man, formed a company with six other inhabitants of the island of -Hispaniola, for the purpose of securing Indians to work as slaves in the -mines of Mexico. - -In the humane laws decreed by the Spanish crown against the enslaving of -its Indian subjects, an exception had been made against the Caribs, or -Cannibals; these Indians being considered especially barbarous and -deserving of castigation. - -De Ayllon falsely declaring that the inhabitants of the mainland were -Caribs, set sail in 1520 with two vessels, and directed his course to -the east coast of Florida. He landed in the province of Chicora in South -Carolina, where the Indians were ruled by a chief named Datha who was a -giant. His gigantic stature had been attained by a process of stretching -which elongated the bones while a child. This practice was applied only -to those of royal race. - -The simple Floridians at first fled from the vessels and their -pale-faced occupants. The Spaniards, however, by kind treatment -succeeded in assuring the Indians, and, finally, induced the cacique and -a hundred and thirty attendants on board the ships. These were at once -secured, and the ships set sail for Hispaniola. It is also said that, as -a parting salute, De Ayllon fired the cannon of the ships into the crowd -assembled on the shores; but this inhuman act is not authenticated, and -the treachery of which he certainly was guilty is sufficiently execrable -to account for that remorse which he is said to have suffered afterward. -One vessel was lost on the voyage, and the cargo of the other was sold -upon their arrival at St. Domingo. The North American Indians, however, -have never submitted like the African to the servile yoke. The -Christianizing and civilizing blessings of slavery have never been -appreciated by these Indians. This body of North American captives, the -first which history mentions, set an example which has been followed by -their unfortunate descendants. No promises nor hopes could influence -these to forget their heritage of freedom. Refusing all sustenance, -borne down by sorrow and home-sickness, to a man they chose death rather -than slavery. - -Charles the Fifth had been so affected by the eloquent and earnest -appeals of that humane and nobly pious Bishop of Chiapa, Bartholomi de -las Casas, that he issued decrees visiting his anger and the severest -penalties upon the Spanish governors who, by their barbarous tyranny, -had made the Indians of the New World to detest Christianity, and -tremble at the very name of Christian. Though these ordinances appear -often to have been disregarded, Vasquez’s perfidious treatment of the -natives seems to have been disapproved at Court; for when he applied to -the Spanish Crown for the governorship of the province, his request was -granted on condition that he should not enslave the Indians. - -Tempted by the profit of his first venture, he disregarded this -provision of his grant, and returned to secure a second cargo. The -Indians were equal to the occasion, and met the whites with their own -methods. Having decoyed the Spaniards away from the shore, the Indians -fell upon them and killed two hundred. The Spaniards after this attack -put to sea, and soon after encountering a severe storm were shipwrecked, -and are all reported to have perished except Vasquez himself, who was -picked up and saved, only to pass the remainder of his life in misery -and remorse. His unhappiness may have had for its cause his disgrace and -the displeasure of the king, which he is said to have incurred. Another -account says he was among the killed. - -Despising the ignorant and untrained races of Indians and overweeningly -confident in the mighty influence of the name of his king and the power -of the Spanish arms, Pamphilo de Narvaez, having obtained from Charles -the Fifth a grant of all the lands from Cape Florida to the River of -Palms in Mexico, determined to extend the Spanish rule and the Catholic -faith. Narvaez was also actuated by a desire to retrieve his own -disgrace. Having been sent to Mexico by Valasquez, the Governor of Cuba, -to supersede Cortez, the latter had by a sudden attack seized Narvaez -and assumed the command of his forces, who were doubtless only too -willing to serve under so gallant and successful a commander. - -Returning to Spain, Narvaez was unable to obtain redress for the -injuries sustained at the hands of Cortez, but was placated by the -Commission of Adelantado of Florida. - -On the 12th day of April, 1528, he sailed from St. Jago de Cuba, with -four hundred men and forty horses. Landing near what is now Charlotte -Harbor, he took formal possession of the country in the name of the King -of Spain. - -The houses of the Indians, already evacuated, were in sight of the bay. -Proceeding inland, he came upon a town located on another and larger bay -(Tampa Bay), where the Indians offered him corn. - -Here was promulgated a manifesto prepared by Narvaez, in the Spanish -language, abounding in arrogant assumption of power and superiority, -intended to awe the Indians, and secure at once their allegiance and -homage. - -This curious document is still extant among the Archives of the Seville -Chamber of Commerce. The proclamation throws such a light upon the -estimate which the Spaniards had of the rights and condition of the -Indians, of their own authority, its source, and the purposes for which -it was to be exercised, that a considerable extract is quoted. - -“A summons to be made to the inhabitants of the countries which extend -between the River of Palms and Cape Florida: - -“In the name of his Catholic and Imperial Majesty, ever august King, and -Emperor of all the Romans; in the name of Dona Juana, his mother; King -of Spain; Defender of the Church, always victorious, and always -invincible, the conqueror of barbarous nations; I, Pamphilo de Narvaez, -their servant, and Ambassador and Captain, cause to be known to you in -the best manner I am able.” How God created the world and charged St. -Peter to be sovereign of all men in whatever country they might be born, -God gave him the whole world for his inheritance. One of his successors -made a gift of all these lands to the Imperial Sovereigns, the King and -Queen of Spain, so that the Indians are their subjects. After claiming -their allegiance he closes with the following invitation to embrace the -Catholic faith, which is more after the pagan than Christian order: - -“You will not be compelled to accept Christianity, but when you shall be -well informed of the truth you will be made Christians. If you refuse, -and delay agreeing to what I have proposed to you, I testify to you -that, with God’s assistance, I will march against you, arms in hand. I -will make war upon you from all sides, and by every possible means. I -will subject you to the yoke and obedience of the Church and His -Majesty. I will obtain possession of your wives and children; I will -reduce you to slavery. I notify you that neither His Majesty, nor -myself, nor the gentlemen who accompany me will be the cause of this, -but yourselves only.” That the Indians gave little heed to the claims -and threats of this haughty knight is evident from the sad result of his -expedition. While resting at the village about Tampa, Narvaez was shown -some wooden burial cases, containing the remains of chiefs, and -ornamented with deerskins elaborately painted and adorned with sprigs of -gold. Learning that the gold came from farther north, at a place called -Appalache, Narvaez immediately ordered his men to march thither. With -more judgment or prophetic wisdom his treasurer, Cabeça de Vaca, -endeavored in vain to dissuade him. Having distributed a small quantity -of biscuit and pork as rations, he set out on the 1st of May with three -hundred men and forty horses. They marched through a desolate country, -crossing one large river and meeting only one settlement of Indians -until the 17th of June, when they fell in with a settlement, where they -were well received and supplied with corn and venison. The Spaniards -learning that this tribe were enemies of the Appalacheans, exchanged -presents and obtained guides to direct them to the Appalachean town. -This they reached on the 25th, after a fatiguing march through swamps -and marshes, and at once attacked the inhabitants without warning, and -put them all to the sword. - -The town consisted of comfortable houses well stocked with corn, skins, -and garments made from bark cloth. Not finding the wealth he had -expected, and being subject to the repeated attacks of the Indians, -Narvaez, after a month’s rest at Appalache, divided his command into -three companies, and ordered them to scour the country. - -These companies returning, after an unsuccessful search for gold or -food, the Spaniards continued their march toward the north and west, -carrying with them in chains the Indian chief captured at Appalache. -This plan of securing the chief of an Indian nation or tribe, and -forcing him to march with the troops as a guide and hostage, seems to -have been adopted by each of the Spanish commanders, and always with -disastrous results. The sight of an Indian chief in chains aroused a -feeling of outraged friendship wherever they passed, and gave a -premonition of the servile fate that would be assigned to their race -whenever the Spaniards obtained the dominion. This captive urged on the -Indians to harass and persistently follow up the marching army, -influencing even tribes that were inimical to himself. - -The march of Narvaez through the western part of Florida continued until -fall, with an unvarying succession of attacks and skirmishes at every -halt, and often pitched battles at the towns that lay in his path. -Little progress was made on their journey, owing to the uncertainty of -their course, the unproductive and difficult nature of the country -traversed, and the unremitting attacks and obstacles opposed by the wily -Indians, who were ever on the watch to pick off man or beast, and -prevent the collection of supplies. - -Disheartened at the continued losses sustained by his army, and -despairing of ever reaching by land the Spanish settlements in Mexico, -Narvaez, having reached the banks of a large river, determined to follow -it to its mouth, and take to the sea. - -Slowly they moved down the river, and arrived at its mouth in a sadly -distressed condition. Despair lent them an energy that was fanned to a -burning zeal by the hopes of being able to reach their friends and -salvation on the shores of the same waters before their view. A smith in -their party declared that he could build a forge, and with bellows made -of hides, and the charcoal they could supply abundantly, he forged from -their swords and accoutrements bolts and nails for building boats. - -Diligently they worked, incited by the memory of all their hardships and -perils, and the joyous hope of safe delivery. Such was their energy and -determination, that in six weeks they constructed from the material at -hand, five large boats capable of holding fifty men each. For cordage -they twisted ropes from the manes and tails of their horses, together -with the fiber of plants; their sails were made from their clothing, and -from the hides of their horses they made sacks to hold water. - -With these frail and clumsily constructed crafts, open boats loaded -almost to the water’s edge, and without a navigator in the party, or -provisions for a single week did this little army of desperate men set -out on the open sea. Narvaez commanded one boat. The others were under -the command of his captains, one of whom, Cabeça de Vaca, has preserved -to us the account of this fatal expedition. - -De Vaca gives a long and minute account of their voyage, and the -hardships and misfortunes they underwent until they were all -shipwrecked, and out of the two hundred and forty who started on the -return only fifteen were alive. Narvaez himself was blown off from the -shore while almost alone in his boat and never again heard of. Only -these four are known certainly to have been saved, Cabeça de Vaca, the -treasurer of the expedition, Captain Alonzo Castillo, Captain Andreas -Orantes, and a negro or Turk, named Estevanico. - -These managed to preserve their lives, and attain an influence among the -Indians by pretending to a knowledge of physic, and a supernatural -origin. Their method of practice was unique, and as universal in its -application to every form of disease as that of the celebrated Dr. -Sangrado. It consisted in marking the patient with the sign of the -cross, repeating over him a paternoster or Ave Maria, and then calling -upon him to assure his comrades that he was entirely healed. The fee for -this skillful treatment was the customary reward among the Indians for -the services of the Medicine Man, the transfer of all the worldly -possessions of the patient to the physician in exchange for restored -health. The Indians thus despoiled by Cabeça de Vaca and his companions -begged them not to be distressed about it, assuring them that they held -the loss of their goods as naught in comparison with the pleasure of -having beheld the children of the sun, who had the power to heal the -sick and take away life. They declared they should hide nothing from -them, because everything was known to these divinities. So great was the -terror which their presence inspired, that for the first few days upon -their arrival in any new place, the inhabitants never stood before them -without trembling, and did not dare to speak nor lift up their eyes. De -Vaca says: “We kept up much state and gravity with them, and in order to -maintain this we spoke but seldom to them. The negro who was with us -talked often to them, informed himself of the roads we wished to take, -of the villages we should come upon, and of other things which we -desired to know. Although we knew six languages we could not in all -parts make use of them, as we found more than a thousand different -languages. If we had had an interpreter so that we could have made -ourselves perfectly understood we should have left them all -Christians.”[1] - -Thus did Cabeça de Vaca and his companions for nearly six years pursue -their journey among the Indians. During all this long period they never -once abandoned their hope and design of reaching Mexico. Finally after -many other strange adventures De Vaca arrived at the Spanish settlements -in Mexico, and was received by his countrymen with the greatest -consideration and rejoicing. - -Having been sent over to Spain, he presented to the crown a narrative of -the unfortunate expedition of Narvaez, representing that the country -contained great wealth that he alone was able to secure, and begging -that he be made the governor. In this he was disappointed, however, but -was placated by the government of La Plata, in South America. The -narrative of De Vaca has been received by historians and antiquarians as -in the main veracious, though describing some wonderful customs and -people. It is the earliest account of Florida which we possess, having -been published in 1555, and is of inestimable value. - -Among the sailors in the ill-starred expedition of Narvaez was one Juan -Ortiz, who has attained a celebrity on account of his connection with -the later expedition of De Soto. Ortiz was among those who returned to -Cuba at the beginning of the expedition. It is said that the wife of -Narvaez, by a great reward, induced him to accept the command of a small -vessel which she fitted out to go in search of her husband. Ortiz, -having returned to the shores of Florida, was decoyed by the Indians to -put himself in their power, and was then seized and brought before the -chief named Hiriga, or Hirrihigua, who, feeling inflamed at the -treatment he had received at the hands of Narvaez, ordered the captive -to be stretched out on a pile and burned to death. Then history relates -an episode similar to that of Captain John Smith and Pocahontas, only -more romantic. In this case not only did the beautiful Indian maiden -supplicate an angry father, and clothe the quality of mercy in such -attractive garb as to melt the flinty heart of a stern old savage; but, -having procured the release of Ortiz from his imminent peril, she, with -her equally noble and heroic affianced husband, sacrificed their love on -the altar of humanity. Ortiz having been set to watch a burying-ground, -allowed a wolf to drag off the body of a lately-buried chief, and though -he pursued and killed the wolf, he was again sentenced to death to -appease the outraged spirit. In despair of saving a life that was so -justly forfeited, the daughter of the chief sent Ortiz to her lover, a -neighboring chief named Macaco, who protected him for a period of twelve -years until the arrival of De Soto. He thus incurred the enmity of -Hiriga, who refused to consent to the alliance with his daughter unless -the white man was sacrificed to placate the wrath of the spirit he had -failed to protect. Unfortunately history has failed to preserve the name -of this remarkable girl, and still more unfortunate is it that there is -no reason to believe that after the arrival of De Soto, any return was -made the chief’s daughter, which would show an appreciation by the white -men of conduct so worthy of the highest encomiums and reward. - - - - -CHAPTER IV. - -HERNANDO DE SOTO.--AN ACCOUNT OF HIS MARCH THROUGH FLORIDA. - - -Misled by the fabulous stories told of the wealth of Florida, and by the -still more deceptive innuendoes in the account of De Vaca, and having -before their eyes continually the immense treasures actually secured in -Peru and Mexico, the Spaniards were satisfied that it only needed a -force sufficiently large and ably commanded to secure to the conquerors -even greater treasures in their northern possessions. They were, -moreover, convinced that the Indian tribes would not defend, with such -persistent valor and great sacrifices, a worthless country, when the -incalculable wealth of the Aztec had been so feebly defended. - -At this favorable moment there appeared at court a man who was -acknowledged to be eminently qualified to inspire confidence in any -undertaking he might enter upon. No knight stood higher in the esteem of -his sovereign, or enjoyed greater popularity with the cavaliers than -Hernando de Soto. Born of a good family in the northern part of Spain, -he had early entered the service of D’Avilas, the governor of the West -Indies, by whom he was put in command of a detachment sent to Peru to -reinforce Pizarro. - -Here he exhibited remarkable courage and capacities, and soon rose to -be second in command. Having gained a valuable experience and a splendid -reputation in the conquest of Peru, he was induced by Pizarro to seek -his pleasure or glory in another field, lest his own achievements should -be rivaled by those of his lieutenant. A million and a half of dollars -was the sum which he received on relinquishing the field. This, in those -days, princely fortune was but a small portion of the exorbitant ransom -paid by the captured Inca. - -Returning to Spain, his wealth and achievements seem to have excited -genuine admiration rather than envy, and he at once became the favorite -of the court. His martial spirit craved adventures, and could not remain -content with the dullness of court life. He therefore petitioned the -king to be allowed to fit out an expedition to occupy and settle the -Spanish northern possessions. The country at that time designated as -Florida extended from the Chesapeake Bay to Mexico, and, as was thought, -embraced the richest portion of the world, full of all things good. - -De Soto’s request having been granted, he was at once commissioned -Adelantado and Marquis of Florida. A fleet of seven ships and three -cutters was at once purchased, and armed and equipped for the -expedition, and, as it was De Soto’s intention to colonize the country, -much attention was given to providing a supply of such seeds and animals -as were desirable to introduce. It is possible that some of the seeds -scattered by the followers of De Soto may to-day be reproducing -themselves in Florida. The origin of the wild horses of America has also -been assigned to the Spanish introduction at this time. So great was the -desire to accompany De Soto, and so certain seemed the rich recompense -of wealth and honor to be achieved under such a leader, that the -complement of a thousand chosen men was recruited with ease. Of this -number more than three hundred were gentlemen of rank, knights and -hidalgoes of the best blood of Spain, who lavished their means in the -purchase of arms and equipments, thinking that with these they would -procure wealth in plenty. With this brilliant corps were twelve priests, -to minister to the spiritual welfare of the Spaniards, or Indians, or -both. - -Leaving Spain in the spring, the fleet proceeded as far as Cuba, where -it was delayed a while in completing the arrangements. Here De Soto -married the lady Isabella, a sister of the famous Bovadilla. The -enjoyment of the society of his new wife, however, could not detain him -from the pursuit of honor. In May, 1539, he left Cuba and landed in -Florida on Whitsunday, in the same month. The bay in which they landed, -now called Tampa Bay, was named by them “Espiritu Santo,” in honor of -the day on which they arrived. A detailed account of the march of De -Soto would be too long to introduce in a work like this. There were two -reports published in the sixteenth century, both of which have been -translated into English. While of great value and interest, they both -contain much that is fabulous and exaggerated. Soon after beginning the -march northward, the advance guard of the Spaniards fell in with a body -of Indians, who advanced apparently to oppose them. The Spanish captain, -thinking it was an assault, ordered a charge, when, greatly to their -surprise, they heard the Spanish tongue in a supplication not to kill -one of their own countrymen. The speaker proved to be the captive Ortiz, -before mentioned. Having acquired a knowledge of the Indian language he -was a great acquisition to the command, though unable, from his -restricted confinement, to give a satisfactory reply to the first -question asked him by his countrymen, “Where was there any gold to be -found?” By the advice of Ortiz, or from motives of policy, De Soto -pursued a pacific policy at first, and met with friendly treatment and -generous supplies of provisions at the various Indian towns. The -Indians, at that time, seemed to have paid considerable attention to -agriculture, and to have lived in towns that were rudely fortified, and -built with very considerable dwelling houses and barns. Some of the -houses of the chiefs are described as more than a hundred feet long, -containing many rooms, and set upon artificial mounds. They were built -of palings, sometimes plastered with clay, and covered with thatch. At -nearly every town the Spaniards found provisions stored, consisting of -walnuts, dried grapes, beans, millet, and corn, besides growing -vegetables, among which are mentioned beets. Some of the towns must have -been very large, as many as six thousand inhabitants dwelling in and -around several mentioned. At one town called Mabila, the baggage and -valuables of the Spaniards were carried within the palisades by the -Indians forced to transport them. There an attack was made upon the -town, and twenty-five hundred of the savages were slain. The chief and a -company of natives to transport the baggage were seized at every town, -unless packmen were offered voluntarily. After marching a short distance -away from their homes, the women were allowed their freedom, but the men -were led by a chain attached to a Spanish soldier. Arriving at a town, -these bondsmen were released, and new captives taken, to be in turn -exchanged further on. - -In this manner did De Soto march through what is now Florida, thence -north-easterly through Georgia into South Carolina, thence back to the -vicinity of Pensacola. - -While in South Carolina De Soto fell in with an intelligent race of -Indians, whose sovereign was a woman. Here he secured a large store of -pearls, nearly three hundred pounds, some of which were said to be worth -their weight in gold. These, however, were all lost, together with the -other valuables and the baggage, in the burning of the town Mabila. - -W. Gilmore Simms, the novelist, has seized upon the fables connected -with this Indian queen, in his romance of “Andres Vasconselos.” - -Trusting to the disingenuous tales of the Indians, and ever led on by -his overweening faith in the existence of vast stores of gold, De Soto -had marched on and ever further on until, consuming a year’s time, he -had made a complete circuit of the country, and found himself -empty-handed within six days’ march of Pensacola, then called Ochuse. -Here he had ordered his lieutenant, Maldonado, to await his arrival with -the ships he had sent back to Cuba for a supply of provisions and mining -tools. - -De Soto at this time exhibited that masterly force of character which -had secured his former success and his great influence. Unwilling to -endure the disgrace that would attach to an unsuccessful issue of the -expedition, a disaster which, with the unfortunate results of former -expeditions, he feared would preclude any future attempts to settle the -Spanish domains in Florida, he resolved to conceal from his followers -their location and the nearness of the fleet, lest, being disheartened -by their want of success and worse than uncertain prospect of the -future, they would refuse to continue on, and taking possession of the -ships, set sail for the West Indies. He therefore forbade Ortiz to -mention to the troops the arrival of Maldonado, which had been learned -from the Indians. Recruiting his men and horses by a short rest, he -marched on again into the unknown wilderness, and turned his back -forever upon home, friends, and all that makes life worth living. Still -searching for gold he marched from region to region, ever meeting and -overcoming difficulties and opposition, and yet unsuccessful. He -proceeded as high as the Cumberland River, then turned west, crossed the -Mississippi, and reached the Red River. In that region the Spaniards -wintered, and in the spring De Soto retraced his steps to the -Mississippi, having determined to reach the mouth of that river, from -whence he could send to Mexico and Cuba for further supplies. The -disappointment and mortification which his gallant nature had so long -opposed was eating like a cancer into his heart, and unsustained by a -hope, which in other circumstances would have thrown off disease, his -body at last gave way to fatigue and malaria, and he began to sink under -a wasting fever. Deep despondency settled down upon him as he thought of -home, his young wife, and all the comforts and prospects he had put so -far from his reach. Calling his followers about him, he thanked them for -their courage and devotion, and besought them to accept of his -appointment of a successor to lead them after his death, which he -assured them was near at hand. His followers tried to afford him the -regulation comfort at such times, depicting this life as so full of -misery that he was most happy who was soonest relieved of its burden. -They finally received from him the appointment of Louis Moscoza as their -captain. - -Shortly after, on the 21st day of May, 1542, died that chivalrous -knight, Don Hernando de Soto, Governor of Cuba, and Adelantado of -Florida, far from his native land, in the wilderness on the banks of -that great Father of Waters, whose vast and turbid flow ever recalls his -great name and deeds, and whose discovery has proved his most enduring -remembrance. - -Desirous of impressing the Indians with the supernatural origin of De -Soto, his followers declared that his father, the Sun God, had taken him -to himself, and lest their deception should be manifested by the sight -of his dead body, the corpse of their illustrious and beloved leader was -placed in a canoe, and in the darkness of the night consigned to the -waters of the mighty river. - -Immediately after the death of De Soto, the Spaniards began to build -boats and collect provisions in preparation for their long voyage. They -continued thus employed until the annual floods had subsided, when they -descended to the gulf. Though continuously receiving attacks from the -Indians, they at last reached the Spanish settlement of Panuco, in -Mexico. Here they were received with joy, and every kindness proffered -them. Three hundred and eleven men kneeled before the altar in -thanksgiving to God for their safe deliverance from those distresses and -perils which had swept away more than two-thirds of the gallant army -that four years before had landed in Florida, an army that had overrun a -country containing thousands of brave inhabitants, subsisted for more -than three years on the country through which it passed, ever maintained -the unity of its command and devotion to its valorous leader while he -lived, and executed his wishes after his death. - -In 1559 the Spaniards made another attempt to explore Florida. Mendoza, -the governor of Mexico, under advices from Spain, ordered the equipment -of a larger and more complete expedition than ever had landed in -Florida. - -Fifteen hundred soldiers and many of the religious orders set sail from -Vera Cruz in the spring of 1559, under the command of a soldier of some -reputation, Don Tristan de Luna. Landing near Pensacola, the Spaniards -underwent an experience similar to that encountered by their countrymen -in the previous expeditions, and after being distressed by hunger, -weakened by losses, and divided by mutiny, finally returned without -having accomplished more than to view the desolation wrought by De Soto -and Narvaez in the country through which they had passed. - - - - -CHAPTER V. - -HUGUENOT SETTLEMENT UNDER RIBAULT. - - -The Spaniards having thus far been unsuccessful in making a settlement -upon the shores of Florida, the country was left open to any nation -which should enter upon and colonize the territory. The Admiral Gaspard -de Coligni, then at the head of the Protestant party in France, -perceived with the sagacity of a statesman, the advantage of a colony in -America composed of French Protestants. While increasing the dominion of -France, and thus gaining its promoters honor and patronage, it would -afford a refuge, in case the result of the bitter contest with the -Guises should prove disastrous to the Protestant party. - -Charles the Ninth, then monarch of France, approved of the admiral’s -purpose, and furnished him with two ships. These were readily manned -with zealous Huguenots, under the command of Jean Ribault, who sailed on -the 18th of February, 1562, intending to enter the river Santee. -Arriving on the coast in about the latitude of St. Augustine, they -proceeded north, and entered a large river on the first of May, which -they called the river of May. Here Ribault erected a stone monument on -which was engraved the arms of France. - -Continuing their exploration of the coast, they sailed north about -“ninety leagues,” until they finally disembarked near Port Royal, South -Carolina, where they concluded to plant the colony. The site selected -for their new city was a favorable one, being in a fertile and pleasant -country, “abounding in mulberry and persimmon trees, and inhabited by a -race of hospitable Indians, who supplied them with food for the merest -trifles.” Though the prime object of the expedition had been to -establish a colony in America, when the moment arrived to decide who -should remain in the new settlement so far from home, and who return in -the ships to France, it seems that it was necessary to appeal to the -honor and the patriotism of the company to secure volunteers to retain -possession of the territory which they had christened New France. -Twenty-six of Ribault’s followers, however, agreed to remain, under the -command of Albert, one of his lieutenants. - -A field, sixteen rods long and thirteen wide, was stockaded, and within -this they built a fort, which they named in honor of their sovereign, -Fort Charles. We shall see that this honor paid to their king was -reciprocated on the part of that vacillating monarch by a total neglect -of the rights and interests of his loyal subjects. - -Leaving provisions and ammunition for the little colony, Ribault sailed -away in the middle of July, trusting to soon return with a large -company, who should be the pioneers of a great branch of the French -nation on this continent. Having arrived in France, he found the -government so divided by civil discord and confusion that he was unable -to secure any attention for the settlement of New France. - -Meanwhile Captain Albert visited the Indian chiefs in the vicinity, -cultivating their friendships, and exchanging simple presents for their -gifts of pearls and some silver ore, which the Indians reported as -having been dug from the ground on certain high hills by a tribe who -lived ten days’ journey to the west. - -The colonists seem to have expected to live on the provisions left -within the fort until the return of the fleet from France. When the -weeks passed by and their supplies began to be exhausted, with no sign -of relief from France, the colonists began to be disobedient, -quarrelsome, and unmanageable. In the company was one Laclerc, a -licentious demagogue. This Laclerc, being opposed by Albert in his -attempt to reduce certain of the Indians to slavery, raised a mutiny, in -which the captain lost his life. After the death of Albert, the Indians -refused to supply the colony with provisions, and their situation became -so serious that they resolved to desert the country, and if possible -return to France. Choosing one of their number as captain, they set to -work to build a small ship and collect a store of provisions. - -Having succeeded in constructing a small vessel, calked with moss and -rigged with cordage made from fibrous plants, they set the sails made -from their garments, and embarked to cross the wide ocean in a craft -that had neither the capacity nor equipment for a coasting voyage. Soon -after putting to sea they became becalmed, and continued so for twenty -days, by which time they had been reduced to a starving condition. - -So great was their necessity that they were about to cast lots for a -victim, whose flesh should support life in the rest, when Laclerc the -mutineer, offered himself as the victim. So desperate was their strait -that his offer was accepted and his flesh distributed among the company. -Life being sustained, they were soon after relieved from the repetition -of such a shocking tragedy, being picked up by a passing vessel and -taken to England. Having been brought before Queen Elizabeth, they gave -such an account of Florida as to excite in her a great interest in the -country. - - - - -CHAPTER VI. - -SECOND HUGUENOT SETTLEMENT UNDER LAUDONNÈRE. - - -Coligni and the Protestants had not forgotten the forsaken colony, nor -relinquished their intention of providing a refuge in America. - -After two years Coligni succeeded in obtaining authority to send three -ships to the succor of the colony in Florida. A company equal to the -capacity of the ships quickly volunteered for the enterprise, of whom a -large number belonged to families of good blood. - -Having been well equipped with arms, provisions, tools, and seeds for -agriculture, the fleet sailed under the command of Captain Renè -Laudonnère, who had accompanied Ribault on the former expedition. - -It is greatly to be regretted that the astute Coligni had not assumed in -person the command of this expedition intended to establish in America a -New France, forty-three years before the first settlement of the English -at Jamestown, and sixty-six years before the Puritans on the _Mayflower_ -landed at Plymouth. His counsels would doubtless have preserved the weak -colony who were so cruelly exterminated, and he himself would have -escaped his untimely end. Coligni was one of the first victims of the -horrid massacre of Paris on the eve of St. Bartholomew’s Day, in 1572, -being assassinated by one of the servants of the Duke of Guise. - -Laudonnère came upon the coast at St. Augustine, but, stopping only for -a reconnoisance, he sailed to the site of the former colony and Fort -Charles, with the hope of relieving his countrymen. Finding the fort -deserted, and learning of the time that had elapsed since the departure -of the colony, he determined to return to the river May (now the St. -Johns), and found his settlement on its banks, where, as he says, the -“means of subsistence seemed to abound,” and the signs of gold and -silver observed on the former voyage had been very encouraging. These -signs must have been the possession by the Indians of some pieces of -quartz, which seems to have been very general, and to have led the -French like the Spaniards from tribe to tribe like a very ignis-fatuus. - -Laudonnère’s account of his landing at the harbor of St. Augustine is -extremely interesting, and by his description the location is readily -recognized. He says: “We arrived on Thursday, the 22d of June (1564), -about three o’clock in the afternoon, and landed at a little river which -is thirty degrees distant from the equator. After we had struck sail and -cast anchor athwart the river, I determined to go on shore to discover -the same. Therefore, being accompanied by Mons. de Ottigni, with Mons. -d’Arlac, mine Ensign, and a certain number of gentlemen and soldiers, I -embarked myself about three or four o’clock in the evening, and being -arrived at the mouth of the river, I caused the channel to be sounded, -which was found to be very shallow, although that further within the -same the water was there found reasonably deep, which separateth itself -into two great arms, whereof one runneth toward the south, and the -other toward the north. Having thus searched the river, I went on land -to speak with the Indians, which waited for us upon the shore, which at -our coming on land came before us crying with a loud voice in their -Indian language ‘Antipola Bonassou,’ which is as much as to say, -brother, friend, or some such like thing. After they had made much of -us, they showed us their paracoussy, that is to say, their king or -governor, to whom I presented certain toys wherewith he was well pleased -and for mine own part I praised God continually for the great love I -found in these savages, which were sorry for nothing but that the night -approached and made us retire into our ships. Howbeit before my -departure I named the river the River of Dolphins, because at mine -arrival I saw there a great number of dolphins which were playing at the -mouth thereof.”[2] The dolphins or porpoises still continue to play in -the river and harbor at St. Augustine, especially during the summer -season. Throughout the greater part of the year rare sport could be -obtained by good shots who had the skill to lodge a rifle ball in the -head of the porpoise as he rises to “blow.” - -The Indian town located on the present site of St. Augustine was Seloy, -and the same name seems to have been given to both of the rivers which -unite to form the harbor. From the narration it would seem probable that -the point where Laudonnère landed was upon Anastatia Island, the Indians -having come over from the mainland on seeing the French ships in the -offing. - -Laudonnère having left Fort Charles, entered the river May, and -selecting a favorable site, about six leagues distant from the mouth, -built a small settlement, which he fortified with palisades and an -embankment of earth in the shape of a triangle, and named it Carolus, -still doing honor to the king who so little deserved esteem. With a -religious fervor characteristic of the age, and probably heightened by -their isolation, and proximity to the vast ocean which they had just -passed in safety, and solemnly impressed by their surroundings on a vast -and unexplored continent, the little band of strangers assembled and -dedicated their work and themselves to the glory of God and the -advancement of his holy faith. - -The site of the Huguenot settlement is now known as St. John’s Bluff, -the first point of high land on the south after entering the St. Johns -River from the ocean. It is a sightly hill, probably formed by sand -dunes at an early period when the shore was far to the west of its -present coast line. The bluff rises some forty feet above the river, and -is covered with a thick growth of oaks and other hard woods. At the foot -of the hill on the east lay the broad marshes stretching for four or -five miles toward the sea, and reaching to the narrow ridge of sands and -woods adjoining the beach. The channel of the river here approaches the -southern bank, and the strong current sweeping in against the mobile -sands at each tide has greatly abraded the hill until probably the site -of Laudonnère’s fort has become the channel of the river. The site has -been fortified several times since. During the rebellion a considerable -earthwork was erected there by Florida troops, but the encroachments of -the river have already swept away the site. - -Laudonnère had found the Indians very friendly, and this peaceable -disposition was by him assiduously cultivated. Trinkets and small -presents were exchanged for the provisions which they liberally -provided, and on several occasions the French lent their aid in making -war on the enemies of the friendly tribes about them. - -The chief or cacique of the tribe which inhabited the country between -the mouth of the St. Johns River and St. Augustine was named Satourioua, -or Satouriva, and in his intercourse with the French and Spanish he -exhibited a remarkable sagacity and fidelity, as well as a dignity -unlooked for in a savage. - -Laudonnère describes his first meeting with this chief in these words: -“We found the Paracoussy Satourioua under an arbor, accompanied by -fourscore Indians at the least, and appareled at that time after the -Indian fashion, to wit: with a great hart’s skin, dressed like chamois -and painted with devices of strange and divers colors, but of so lively -a portraiture and representing antiquity with rules so justly compassed -that there is no painter so exquisite that could find fault therewith. -The natural disposition of this strange people is so perfect and so well -guided that without any aid and favor of arts they are able by the help -of nature only, to content the eye of artisans; yet even of those which -by their industry are able to aspire unto things most absolute. - -“The paracoussy now brought us to his father’s lodging, one of the -oldest men that lived upon the earth. Our men regarding his age began to -make much of him, using this speech, Ami--ami--that is to say friend, -whereat the old sire showed himself very glad. Afterwards they -questioned with him concerning the course of his age; whereunto he made -answer showing that he was the first living original from whence five -generations were descended. M. de Ottigni having seen so strange a thing -turned to the man praying him to vouchsafe to answer him to that which -he demanded touching his age. Then the old man called a company of -Indians, and striking twice upon his thigh, and laying his hand upon -two of them, he showed him by signs that these two were his sons; again, -smiting upon their thighs, he showed him others not so old who were the -children of the first two; which he continued in the same manner until -the fifth generation. But this old man had his father alive, more old -than himself, and this man, which seemed to be rather a dead carcass -than a live body, for his sinews, his veins, his arteries, his bones and -other parts appeared so clearly that a man might easily tell them and -discern them one from another, and both of them did wear their hair very -long, and as white as possible, yet it was told us that they might yet -live thirty or forty years more by the course of nature, although the -younger of them both was not less than two hundred and fifty years -old.”[3] - -Laudonnère employed the Indians to assist him in finding gold, and sent -various boat expeditions to the head-waters of the St. Johns River. It -is reported, though unlikely, that one of his officers penetrated the -interior as far as the Mississippi. - -Some of his men appear to have been dissatisfied with the position -assumed by their leader. They accused him of setting up a regal state, -and also of having obtained a knowledge of the location of gold which he -concealed from the rest of the company. Through the influence of these -disaffected ones a conspiracy was organized to depose Laudonnère. He got -rid of several of the disaffected ones, however, by sending them back to -France in a vessel which was returned for supplies at this period. -Subsequently the discontent increased, and Laudonnère was confined for -fifteen days upon one of the vessels in the river, while the mutineers -set about equipping two small vessels which he had built for -exploration. After rifling the fort of such supplies as they needed, -they set sail in these two ships on a piratical expedition. One of these -vessels, having been separated by a gale from its consort, captured a -Spanish ship, and after various adventures was finally captured and the -crew destroyed. The other, after having exhausted its supplies, returned -to the colony, and four of the leaders were tried and shot for mutiny. - -Hearing that there were white captives among the Indians who resided -further south, Laudonnère sent word that he would pay a considerable -ransom for their delivery. Soon after there appeared two Spaniards who -had been wrecked fifteen years before. They had adopted the costume of -the natives--long hair, _et preteria nihil_. They reported that there -had also been saved several women who had married and consented to live -among the Indians. - -The vessel sent to France for supplies not having returned, the garrison -were threatened with an exhaustion of their stores. During all this time -the French seem to have made no effort to cultivate the ground, -expecting either that they would be supplied from home or that the -Indians would furnish all that was required for subsistence. Their store -of presents having become exhausted, however, the Indians became very -niggardly and exacting, and finally declared that they were unable to -supply any sort of provisions. At this Laudonnère seized a chief of one -of the tribes inhabiting the territory to the south, and demanded of the -Indians a large amount of provisions as a ransom. This he did not -succeed in securing, and only engendered in the Indians an unfriendly -spirit, which prompted them later to give to Menendez information of the -location and condition of the French forces. He finally obtained -supplies from some of the tribes to the north, among which was one -inhabiting the sea islands, whose ruler was a beautiful queen. Finding -themselves in danger of starvation, the French set about constructing a -vessel to return home. They were diligently pushing on the work of -construction when there appeared off the coast an English fleet under -the command of Sir John Hawkins, who put into May River for water. -Laudonnère entertained the English with the best he had, even killing -sheep and poultry that he had been saving to stock the country. This -hospitality was reciprocated by Sir John, who, seeing their desperate -condition, offered to transport the whole company to France. Though he -pledged his word to land them on the shores of France before touching -England, Laudonnère refused his offer, fearing, as he said, “least he -should attempt somewhat in Florida in the name of his mistress.” - -Sir John Hawkins, however, with a generous humanity, consented to sell -to the French one of his vessels, and suffered them to assess its value. -With the vessel the English admiral delivered to them a thousand rounds -of ammunition, twenty barrels of flour, five barrels of beans, a -hogshead of salt, with wax for candles, and, as he saw the Frenchmen -were barefooted, fifty pairs of shoes. Having delivered these things to -the French, Sir John sailed away bearing with him the blessings of these -forsaken Frenchmen. Alas! their enjoyment of the fruits of the -Englishman’s humanity was destined to be short-lived. - - - - -CHAPTER VII. - - THE UNFORTUNATE EXPEDITION UNDER RIBAULT.--FOUNDING OF ST. - AUGUSTINE BY MENENDEZ, 1565.--ATTACK UPON THE FRENCH SETTLEMENT ON - THE ST. JOHNS RIVER. - - -The Huguenots in France had not forgotten their friends in Florida, -though the dissensions at home had turned their attention away from all -but the plottings and schemings about them. Desiring to succor and -strengthen the colony, Coligni had secured a fleet of seven vessels, -four being of considerable size. These he placed in command of Captain -Ribault, who had taken out the first expedition. Ribault quickly -recruited a company of six hundred and fifty persons, among whom were -said to be many representatives of good families, about five hundred -being soldiers. - -The fleet sailed from Dieppe in May, 1565, and after a long but -uneventful voyage reached Florida in safety. - -By some means information had been sent to the Spanish Court that an -expedition was fitting out for the succor of the Huguenot colony in -Florida. It has been said that this knowledge emanated from those about -the French sovereign, though it is by no means necessary that it must -have come from such a source. The enemies of the Protestants were -numerous and bitter all over France, and the recruiting and equipment of -the expedition could have been no secret. - -Philip II. determined not to allow any encroachment on the territory, -which he claimed by the right of his subjects’ former expeditions of -discovery and by gift from the Holy See. Not only was he unwilling to -see Florida occupied by foreigners, but of all persons none were more -objectionable than Protestants, upon whom he looked as upon those -without the pale of Christianity, who only lived as enemies of God, to -disseminate a wicked creed, and war upon His holy faith. The very -instrument for the execution of the plans of this bigoted monarch seems -to have been at hand. Don Pedro Menendez de Avilla, had acquired wealth -and distinction as a naval officer. This knight was now desirous of the -honor of driving the French from Florida. Menendez was of aristocratic -birth, a man of great firmness of will and tenacity of purpose; a brave -commander, with a superior sagacity and knowledge of human nature, and -withal a most zealous and devoted Catholic. The name of Menendez has -been held up to the world as the symbol of all that is malignant, -heartless, and cruel. If we are to judge of men’s actions in the past by -the motives that prompted them, as we are asked and expected to do in -all things which happen in our own day, then by such a test the actions -of Menendez must be less harshly considered. That he believed the -rooting out of the Protestant colonization and their faith from the -shores of the New World was God’s work, there can be no doubt. His -devotion to the propagation of the Catholic religion in Florida, and the -sacrifices which he made to extend and continue the teachings of that -faith, prove beyond a doubt his sincerity and fervent zeal. His -conciliatory measures toward the savages so entirely within his power, -and his efforts to instruct the tribes all over Florida, which met with -such marked success, will go far to prove that his nature was not -wantonly cruel. The purpose of his expedition, the object for which he -had enlisted nearly three thousand persons, transporting them into an -unknown continent, and, as is said, investing of his own means nearly -five million dollars, was to prevent the propagation of heretical -doctrines on the shores of the New World. As Menendez expressed it, it -was “to prevent the Lutherans from establishing their abominable and -unreasonable sect among the Indians.” It should also be remembered that -an edict of Ribault’s had been published when he undertook his -expedition, “that no Catholic at the peril of his life should go in his -fleet, nor any Catholic books be taken.” - -Besides it is not improbable that the French prisoners, who were nearly -all put to death by Menendez, were destroyed in the belief that by this -course alone could his own position in his isolated location be made -safe. - -The little band with Laudonnère were waiting for fair winds to sail away -from Florida in the ship they had purchased of the English when the -fleet under Ribault arrived off the mouth of the river May, on the 29th -of August, 1565. Four of the seven vessels were too large to enter the -river, but the other three were brought up to the settlement, and at -once began to land the supplies. Ribault now assumed the command, and -all thought of departure was dismissed. This course was most acceptable -to Laudonnère, who had only consented to abandon the plan of -colonization from the force of his straitened circumstances and the -demands of his company. He had declared that it made his heart grieve to -leave “a place so pleasant that those who are melancholic would be -forced to change their humor,” and to possess which they had given up -home, and friends, and fortune, and undergone perils of land and water. - -While the fleet of Ribault was making its long voyage across the -Atlantic, Menendez was pushing forward his equipment of a fleet to -follow and expel the French from Florida. If he succeeded he was to have -the title of marquis, a large tract of land, and the freedom of all the -ports of New Spain. A salary of ten thousand dollars and the title of -Adelantado was conferred upon him at the outset. He secured a fleet of -thirty-four vessels, which he fully equipped, providing the means from -his private fortune. But one vessel, with two hundred and fifty soldiers -and their equipment, was provided by the crown. Learning the object of -the expedition, volunteers flocked to his standard until he soon had a -force of nearly three thousand men, including a party of twenty-six -monks and priests. Impatient of delay Menendez put to sea on the 1st of -July, with his flag-ship the _El Pelayo_ and about two-thirds of his -fleet, ordering the remainder to rendezvous at Porto Rico as soon as -their equipment was completed. Scarcely had the fleet of Menendez left -the port of Cadiz before a severe storm was encountered that separated -the vessels, and sank and disabled so many that on his arrival at Porto -Rico, on the 9th of August, he found but six ships under his command. -The courage of their leader was undaunted, though a general despair -pervaded the fleet. In the destruction wrought by the mighty elements he -pictured the hand of God, and revived the spirits of his followers by -the assurance that the Almighty had reduced their numbers that “His own -arm might achieve the victory, and His glory be exalted.” Learning that -a Spanish vessel bearing letters to himself had been intercepted by the -French fleet, he determined to sail for Florida at once, without waiting -for the remainder of the fleet. On the 28th of August, the day set in -the calendar of the Romish Church to the honor of St. Augustine, the -fleet came in sight of the Florida coast, probably near Cape Canaveral. -Here they learned the location of the French colony, and sailing -northward, on the 4th of September came in sight of the four French -ships, which lay off the mouth of the river May (St. Johns). During the -night a council was held on board the vessel of the Spanish admiral, in -which the majority of the captains urged a delay until the remainder of -the fleet could arrive from Spain. Menendez courageously refused to -listen to such a plan, and gave orders for an attack at daybreak. The -Frenchmen, however, displayed more of discretion than boldness, and upon -the approach of the Spanish fleet, put out to sea. According to -Laudonnère’s account, “the Spaniards seeing that they could not reach -them by reason that the French ships were better of sail than theirs, -and also because they wou’d not leave the coast, turned back and went on -shore in the river Seloy, which we call the river of Dolphins, eight or -ten leagues from where we were. Our ships returned and reported that -they had seen three Spanish ships enter the river of Dolphins, and the -other three remained in the road; further, that they had put their -soldiers, their victuals, and munitions on land.... And we understood by -King Emola, one of our neighbors, which arrived upon the handling of -these matters, that the Spaniards in great numbers were gone on shore, -which had taken possession of the houses of Seloy, in the most part -whereof they had placed their negroes, which they had brought to labor, -and also lodged themselves and had cast divers trenches about them.”[4] - -The Spanish priest Mendoza gives the following account of the foundation -of St. Augustine: “On Saturday, the 8th day of September, the day of the -Nativity of our Lady, the general disembarked with numerous banners -displayed, trumpets and other martial music resounding, and amid salvos -of artillery. Carrying a cross I proceeded at the head, chanting the -hymn Te Deum Laudamus. The general marched straight up to the cross, -together with all those who accompanied him; and kneeling they all -kissed the cross. A great number of Indians looked upon these -ceremonies, and imitated whatever they saw done. Thereupon the general -took possession of the country in the name of his Majesty. All the -officers then took an oath of allegiance to him as their general, and as -Adelantado of the whole country.” - -Near the site of the Indian village of Seloy was thus laid the -foundation of the first town built by the Caucasian in America. At this -time and place was also introduced that curse and blight upon the -fairest portion of our country, African slavery, whose train of evils -has not been confined to the Southern negroes, but has extended to the -white race, and throughout the length and breadth of our common country. - -Especially to Florida has this iniquitous system been the cause of -unnumbered woes. For an account of the misfortunes which slavery wrought -upon this State prior to the rebellion of 1861, the reader has only to -consult Gidding’s “Exiles of Florida.” It is certain that African -slavery was at this time introduced into North America, though several -writers have evinced a desire to overlook this important fact of -history. The evidence, however, is too plain for denial, the original -agreement with Philip the Second having granted to Menendez the right to -take with him five hundred negro slaves. Whether or not he took this -number is not material. - -In commemoration of the day on which he arrived off the coast, Menendez -gave to the new town the name of St. Augustine, which it has continued -to bear for more than three hundred years. The precise spot where the -Spaniards landed is uncertain, though it is not unlikely that it was -near the ground on which the Franciscans erected their house, now the -United States barrack. - -While Menendez was making haste to fortify his position at St. -Augustine, Ribault was preparing to descend the coast, and by a sudden -attack capture the Spanish fleet and cut off the settlement. This plan -was ineffectually opposed by Laudonnère. His opposition to the plan of -action adopted may have been the cause of his failure to accompany the -expedition. Removing the artillery and garrison to his fleet, and -leaving in the fort the noncombatants, including women, children, and -invalids, to the number of two hundred and forty under the command of -Laudonnère, Ribault set sail to attack the Spaniards on the 10th of -September. - -They bore rapidly down until in sight of the Spanish vessels anchored -off the bar of St. Augustine. Before the enemy were reached, and the -fleet collected for action, Ribault found himself in the midst of one of -those gales which occur with suddenness and violence on the coast of -Florida at different periods of every fall. The tempest rendered his -ships unmanageable, and finally wrecked them all at different points on -the coast south of Matanzas Inlet. - -Menendez had watched the French ships as they approached St. Augustine. -Observing the severity of the storm he was satisfied that the fleet -could not beat back in its teeth should they escape shipwreck, and -therefore their return was impossible for several days after the storm -should cease. Determined to seize the favorable opportunity to attack -the fort on the St. Johns, he gathered a picked force, and with eight -days’ provisions began a march across the country under the guidance of -two Indians who were unfriendly to the French. The march proved -difficult on account of the pouring rains and their ignorance of the -country. The swamps and “baygalls,” many of them waist-deep with water, -proved so embarrassing that it took three days of laborious marching -amidst great discomforts to cover the distance of fifty miles between -the two posts. Immediately on the departure of the ships, Laudonnère had -set to work with the force at his command to repair the breeches in the -fort. These had been made when they expected to return to France. He -also began to so discipline his men as to be a guard to the post. For -several days the regular watches were kept up by the captains who had -been appointed, but as the gale continued they began to feel confident -that no attack would be made while the weather was so inclement, and -therefore ceased to be vigilant. On the night of September 19th the gale -had been very severe, and at daybreak, finding the captain of the watch -was in his quarters, the sentinels went under shelter. At this very -moment the soldiers under Menendez were in sight, kneeling in prayer. -From prayers they rushed to the attack; gaining entrance into the fort -without much opposition, they began an indiscriminate slaughter. -Laudonnère with twenty men sprang from the walls and escaped into the -woods, from whence he made his way across the marshes to a small vessel -in the river, which had been left in charge of Captain Jaques Ribault, a -son of the admiral. From thence they proceeded directly to France -without making an effort to find their companions of Ribault’s fleet or -to learn their fate. - -An order from Menendez to spare the women, children, and cripples, put a -stop to the massacre, though it is said, “to escape death they were -forced to submit to slavery.” The French account says that all the men -who escaped instant death were hung to the limbs of neighboring trees. -This may be exaggerated, but it is certain that the Spaniards suspended -the bodies of some of the Frenchmen, and set up this inscription, “No -por Franceses, sino por Luteranos” (we do not do this as unto Frenchmen, -but as unto Lutherans). Menendez found in the fort six trunks filled -“with books well bound and gilt, from which they did not say mass, but -preached their Lutheran doctrines every evening; all of which books he -directed to be burned.” - - - - -CHAPTER VIII. - -SHIPWRECK OF RIBAULT’S FLEET.--MASSACRE BY MENENDEZ. - - -Fearing lest Ribault should have escaped destruction in the storm, and -returning, should make an attack during his absence, Menendez hurried -back to St. Augustine. He took with him only fifty men, the rest being -left under the command of his son-in-law, De Valdez, who was ordered to -build a church on the site selected by Menendez, and marked by the -erection of crosses. After the completion of the church, De Valdez was -to use every effort to strengthen the captured fort. - -Arriving at St. Augustine, Menendez was hailed as conqueror, and having -been escorted into the place by the priests and people who had been left -behind, a solemn mass was repeated, and a Te Deum chanted to celebrate -the victory. - -Several of Ribault’s vessels were wrecked between Mosquito and Matanzas -inlets. Strange as it may appear, in the destruction of the whole fleet -but one life was lost from drowning. It now often happens on the sandy -portion of the Florida coast, that vessels will be driven high upon the -beach by the force of the swell, and there left by the receding tide in -a sound condition. - -About two hundred men had collected on the southern barrier at Matanzas -Inlet, while a larger party with Ribault were gathered on the same -barrier, further to the south. The Indians soon after reported to -Menendez a large body of men at an inlet four leagues south which they -were unable to cross. He therefore marched with a body of forty men for -the inlet, and arrived at Matanzas the same evening. His course was -probably down the beach on Anastatia Island, as the account speaks of -his ordering the boats to keep abreast of him on the march. - -Having come to the mouth of the inlet one of the Frenchmen swam across, -and reported that the party there assembled belonged to one of the -vessels of Ribault’s fleet. Menendez returned the man in a boat, and -offered a pledge of safety to the French captain and four or five of his -lieutenants who might choose to cross over and hold an interview. Upon -this pledge the captain crossed over in the boat with four of his -companions. These begged of Menendez that he would provide them with -boats that they might cross that inlet and the one at St. Augustine, and -return to their fort, twenty leagues to the north. Upon this Menendez -informed them of the capture of the fort and the destruction of the -garrison. The captain thereupon besought that they be furnished with a -vessel to return to France, observing that the French and Spanish kings -were loving brothers and the two nations at peace. Menendez, in reply, -asked if they were Catholics; to which it was answered that they were of -the New Religion. Then Menendez answered that if they had been Catholics -he would feel that he was serving his king in doing them kindness, but -Protestants he considered as enemies against which he should wage war -unceasingly, both against them, and against all that should come into -the territory of which he was adelantado, having come to these shores in -the service of his king, to plant the Holy Faith, in order that the -savages might be brought to a knowledge of the Holy Catholic religion. - -Upon hearing this, the captain and his men desired to return and report -the same to their companions, and were accordingly sent back in the -boat. Soon after observing signals or signs from the opposite shore, the -boat was sent over to know what was their pleasure. - -The French then endeavored to make some terms for a surrender, with the -privilege of ransom. There being many members of noble and wealthy -families among them, as much as fifty thousand ducats was offered for a -pledge of safety. Menendez would make no pledge, simply sending word -that if they desired they could surrender their arms and yield -themselves to his mercy, “in order that he might do unto them what -should be dictated to him by the grace of God.” The French seem to have -had an instinctive feeling that it would fare hard with them should they -yield themselves to the Spaniards; yet they were so wholly demoralized -and disheartened by the misfortune that had befallen them, that after -much delay and parley they finally sent word to Menendez that they were -willing to yield themselves to be dealt with as he willed. The French -were therefore transported across the sound in parties of ten at a time. -As each boat-load was landed, Menendez directed that the prisoners be -led behind “the scrub,” and their hands pinioned behind their backs. -This course he declared to them to be necessary, as he had but a small -number of men in his command, and if left free it would be an easy -matter for the French to turn upon him and revenge themselves for the -destruction of their fort and Laudonnère’s command. In this manner was -secured the whole body of the French who had collected on the southern -shore of Matanzas Inlet, to the number of two hundred and eight men. Of -this number eight in response to an inquiry declared themselves to be -Catholics, and were sent to St. Augustine in the boat. The remainder -were ordered to march with the Spanish soldiers on their path back to -the settlement. Menendez had sent on in advance an officer and a file of -soldiers with orders to wait at a designated spot on the road, and as -the parties of Frenchmen came up, to take them aside into the woods and -put them to death. In this manner the whole party were killed, and their -bodies left on the sands to feed the buzzards. - -Menendez had hardly returned to St. Augustine before he learned that -there was a larger body of Frenchmen assembled at the spot where he had -found the first party, who were constructing a raft on which to cross -the inlet. Hurrying back with his troops he sent across a boat with a -message to the commander, whom he rightly conjectured was Ribault -himself, that he had destroyed the fort on the St. Johns, and a body of -those who were shipwrecked, and promising him a safe conduct if he -wished to cross over and satisfy himself as to the truth of this report. -Ribault availed himself of this offer, and was shown the dead bodies of -his men who had been so cruelly murdered. He was allowed to converse -with one of the prisoners who had been brought in the company of the -Spaniards. This man was one of the eight who were Catholics and were -spared from the former company. - -Ribault endeavored to negotiate for the ransom of himself and his men, -offering double the sum before named by the French captain, but Menendez -refused to listen to any terms except an unconditional surrender. After -ineffectually offering a ransom of 200,000 ducats, the French admiral -returned to his party, and informed them of the demands of the Spaniard. -In spite of the terrible fate of their comrades, which should have -served as a warning of what awaited themselves, one hundred and fifty of -the company, including Ribault, decided to surrender to the Spanish -captain. - -These were transported to the island and disposed of in the same manner -as the former body of prisoners, saving only a few musicians, and four -soldiers who claimed to be Catholics--in all, sixteen persons. Two -hundred of the French refused to trust themselves to the Spaniards, -preferring the chances of preserving their lives on the inhospitable -beach until they could find a way to escape to a more friendly country. -These retreated back to their wrecked ships, and began to construct a -fort and a small vessel to return to France, or at least to leave the -fatal shores of Florida. - -Menendez soon after determined to break up their camp, fearing the -presence of so large a body of his enemies in his midst. Having fitted -out a fleet of three vessels to co-operate by water, Menendez marched -his soldiers a journey of eight days from St. Augustine. Here he found -the fugitives encamped and prepared to resist an attack. Without delay, -the Spaniards were led to battle. The French, being poorly equipped, -fought at a disadvantage, and were soon forced to retire beyond the -reach of the cannon of the fleet. Having captured the fortification, -Menendez sent word to the French that if they would surrender he would -spare their lives. A portion of the French refused to trust the pledge -of the Spanish captain, and withdrew to the woods. These were never -heard of more. The remainder came to the Spanish camp and surrendered. - -After destroying the fort and setting fire to the wrecked vessels and -the ship the French had begun to build, the Spaniards sailed back to St. -Augustine, bringing with them one hundred and fifty of the Frenchmen. To -this remnant of the proud army of Ribault the pledges given by Menendez -were faithfully kept. - -It is difficult to believe that the unfortunate condition of these -shipwrecked Frenchmen, far from their kindred or race, thrown destitute -upon desolate shores, and begging so earnestly for life, did not move -the heart of Menendez to feelings of pity. Doubtless a regard for his -own safety united with a furious fanaticism to effectually seal up the -springs of charity in his breast. - -The earlier experiences of Menendez in his wars against the Protestants -of the Netherlands, had been in a fallow field for the cultivation of -humanity. In those struggles Pope Pius V. is said to have commanded -Count Santafiore to take no Huguenot prisoners, but instantly to kill -every one who should fall into his hands.[5] - -Let us hope that the sands of Florida will never again be reddened by -blood spilled by the hand of the bigot or partisan. - -The results achieved by Menendez occasioned great rejoicing at the court -of Spain. Letters of gratitude and commendation were sent to him by -Philip II. and the Pontiff Pius V. The pope’s letter is an able and -dispassionate epistle. After lauding the virtues of Menendez, he -declares to him that the key-note to his inspiration and the motive of -his labors, should be to prevent the “Indian idolaters” from being -scandalized by the vices and bad habits of the Europeans. - -As the exaggerated reports of the cruelties practiced by Menendez spread -through Europe, an intense and bitter feeling was excited. Indignation -pervaded the breasts of the French nation at the destruction of their -fellow-countrymen, although the king, Charles IX., failed, in fact even -refused, to take notice of the slaughter of his faithful subjects. A -petition from nine hundred widows and orphans of those who had sailed -on the fatal expedition with Ribault, was unheeded by this sovereign. -That the fate of the Huguenots was merited as the common enemies of -Spain, France, and the Catholic religion, was the openly avowed -sentiment of this unnatural and unpatriotic king. - -Feeling the insecurity of his position, from which there was no place of -retreat in case of a successful attack from a foreign foe or the -neighboring Indians, Menendez applied himself, with the utmost -diligence, to strengthening the defense of his new town. At the same -time he instituted such measures as should insure a permanent -settlement, and the establishment of civil rights and privileges. - -I have stated that the place where Menendez landed was probably near the -present United States barracks. While I have been unable to discover any -authentic records bearing upon this point, the weight of Spanish -testimony confirms the belief that the Spaniards first landed near the -point stated. On the other hand, Romans, in his history of Florida, -published in 1775, says: “After leaving St. Sebastian River, going -south, we next meet the mouth of St. Nicholas Creek, on the point to the -north of which the first town was built by the Spaniards, but they soon -removed it, for convenience sake, to its present site.” - -This St. Nicholas is now called Moultrie Creek, in honor of a -lieutenant-governor of the province during the British occupancy, who -built at its mouth an elegant country residence, which he called Bella -Vista. It is situated six miles south of St. Augustine, and empties into -the Matanzas River. Besides the explicit testimony of Romans, there is a -certain amount of negative testimony to discredit the statement that an -Indian town was located on the present site of St. Augustine. - -First, the location at the mouth of Moultrie Creek would have been a -more desirable location for an Indian town than the site of St. -Augustine, because the land at St. Augustine was low ground (by some -writers said to have been a marsh, though others say it was an oak -hummock). It must have been subject to overflow at the periods of very -high tides, and always exposed to the force of gales. There is also good -reason to believe that there was water or low ground between the -southern end of the town and the fort, and, moreover, there are no signs -of Indian occupation within the city proper. There are many traces of an -Indian settlement to the north of the city, on the lands of Mr. Williams -and in that vicinity, and all accounts agree that there was an Indian -town there in the early Spanish times. There are acres of Mr. Williams’s -land that are so thickly strewn with oyster shells as to render its -cultivation difficult. - -However the facts may be as to the location of the first landing of -Menendez and the attendant ceremonies, it is certain that, soon after, -the foundations of the town were laid on its present site, and the town, -with its fortifications, regularly laid out. The city was originally -planned to be three squares one way by four the other. At this time a -stockade or fortification was built upon or near the site of the present -fort. At about the same period a parish church and hall of justice were -erected, and civil officers appointed. - -During the winter succeeding the settlement of the Spaniards at St. -Augustine, there was a great scarcity of provisions in the colony, so -that the settlers were forced to forage upon the neighboring Indians, -and to depend upon such supplies of fish and game as they might secure. -The danger which attended any expeditions for hunting rendered this but -a meager source of supply. Satouriva, the chief of the Indians, who -inhabited the territory to the north, between St. Augustine and the St. -Johns River, had been a friend of Laudonnère, and from the time of the -destruction of the French he continued unceasingly to wage war on the -Spaniards. His method of warfare exhibited the same bravery and cunning -that has since become characteristic of the Indians, never being found -when looked for--ever present when unexpected. By the constant harassing -attacks, encouraged by this chief, the Spaniards lost many valuable -lives, among them Juan Menendez, nephew of the governor. - -To obtain supplies to relieve the distress of his colony, Menendez -undertook a voyage to Cuba. The governor of the island was through -jealousy unwilling to render him any assistance, and he would have fared -badly had he not found there four of his vessels, which had been left in -Spain with orders to follow him, but, meeting with many delays, had but -lately arrived in Cuba. - -With these vessels he returned to his colony, only to find that during -his absence a portion of the troops had mutinied. The mutineers had -imprisoned the master of the camp, who had been left in command, seized -upon what provisions were remaining, and taking possession of a small -vessel arriving with stores, had set sail for Cuba. - -Menendez with consummate tact succeeded in rousing the flagging interest -of his colony in the extension of the true religion, and managed by his -courage and presence to remove the causes of dissension. Desiring to be -rid of a portion of his colony who had proved querulous, lazy, and -inimical to his interest, he sent a body of them, numbering one hundred, -back to Cuba in one of the vessels going for supplies. The return of -this vessel was anxiously looked for, as the colony had again begun to -suffer from a scarcity of provisions and from sickness. Without waiting -for affairs to become desperate, Menendez sailed for Cuba to obtain the -needed supplies. Upon his arrival he found the governor of Mexico there, -but so disparaging had been the reports of those who had deserted his -standard, that he was advised to give up his unprofitable enterprise, -and the succor he requested was refused. His courage but rose as his -circumstances became more adverse, and, determined not to relinquish his -undertaking nor return empty-handed to his famishing colony, he pawned -his jewels and the badge of his order for a sum of five hundred ducats, -with which he purchased the necessary provisions, and hastened back to -Florida. Upon his return he was rejoiced to find that the distress of -his colony had already been relieved. Admiral Juan de Avila had arrived -from Spain with fifteen vessels and a thousand men, a large quantity of -supplies, and what was most gratifying to Menendez, a letter of -commendation from his sovereign. - -Availing himself of the force now at his command, Menendez set out on an -expedition to establish forts and missionary stations at different -points along the coast, as had been his intention since his first -landing in Florida. Several of these posts were at this time established -by him in the territory then embraced in Florida, the most northerly -station being on the Chesapeake Bay, which was the northern boundary of -the possessions claimed by Spain. Priests or friars were left at each of -these stations to instruct the Indians. While establishing these -missionary posts for introducing Christianity among the Indians, -Menendez became convinced that if the establishments were to be -maintained, and the most important work of teaching the natives -continued, he must have larger means and greater forces at his command. -Hoping to obtain this aid from his sovereign, he set out for Spain in -the spring of 1567. Upon his arrival he was welcomed by the king with -many flattering attentions and assurances of aid in the furtherance of -his plans for propagating the Catholic faith. - - - - -CHAPTER IX. - -EXPEDITION AND RETALIATION OF DE GOURGES. - - -While Menendez was occupied in Spain in forwarding the interests of his -colony, in France plans were being formed and a secret enterprise -undertaken for an attack on the Spanish posts in Florida. - -Most inflammatory and exaggerated accounts of the massacre at Fort -Carolin had been published throughout France. - -One account says of the Spaniards that, after taking the fort, “and -finding no more men, they assailed the poor women, and after having by -force and violence abused the greater part, they destroyed them, and cut -the throats of the little children indiscriminately, ... they took as -many of them alive as they could, and having kept them for three days -without giving them anything to eat, and having made them undergo all -the tortures and all the mockings that could be devised, they hung them -up to some trees that were near the fort. They even flayed the king’s -lieutenant and sent his skin to the King of Spain, and having torn out -his eyes, blackened with their blows, they fastened them on the points -of their daggers, and tried who could throw them the greatest -distance.”[6] - -The French king had refused to listen to the appeals of the relatives -and friends of the Huguenots who had been exterminated 57 in Florida; -but, distressed by the destruction of their countrymen and the harrowing -accounts of the massacre, many of the nation had long felt it a -mortification that an outrage so gross should have received neither -redress nor rebuke. - -Among those whose jealous regard for the national honor was touched by -the conduct of the French king, and in whose breast burned fiercely the -fires of revenge, was the Chevalier Dominique de Gourges. Appearing as -he does in history as the avenger of the sad destruction of his -countrymen, in an expedition undertaken without solicitation, at his own -expense, and at the risk of forfeiting his life by the command of his -king, even if he should be successful, it is but natural that his -character should have been extolled and his virtues exalted by all -writers who have admired his chivalrous courage. - -De Gourges was born of noble parentage, at Mount Marsan in Guienne, and -was said to have been a Catholic, though this is denied by the Spanish -historians. His life had been spent in arms in the service of his king -in Scotland, Piedmont, and Italy. His career was that of an adventurer, -ever ready to risk life to acquire honor and reputation, and having -little desire to amass riches. While serving in Italy against the -Spaniards, he was taken prisoner and consigned to labor as a galley -slave. This ignominious treatment of a soldier of his birth and rank -left in his mind an unappeasable hatred of the Spaniards. His period of -servitude was cut short by the capture of the Spanish galley upon which -he served by Turkish pirates, from whom in turn he was liberated by -Romeguas, the French commander at Malta. His experience during his -imprisonment and escape seems to have opened his eyes to the -opportunities for plunder upon the seas. Soon after his release he -entered upon a marauding expedition to the South Seas, in which he -secured considerable plunder. He had but recently returned home, and -retired to enjoy in quiet the property acquired in his ventures, when -the news of the destruction of Ribault’s colony reached France. Eager to -retaliate by a severe punishment this outrage upon his countrymen, De -Gourges sold his property, and with the sum realized and what he could -borrow on the credit of an alleged commercial venture, purchased and -equipped a fleet of three small vessels, one of which was nothing more -than a launch. - -Deeming it impolitic to make known the object of his voyage, he obtained -a license to trade and procure slaves on the coast of Africa. He -enlisted for a cruise of twelve months a force of one hundred and eighty -picked men, many of whom were gentlemen adventurers. He had been careful -to secure one at least of the men who had escaped with Laudonnère from -Fort Carolin. M. de Montluc, the king’s lieutenant in Guienne, a friend -of De Gourges, rendered him valuable assistance in securing his -equipment. On the 2d of August, 1567, he left Bordeaux, but was delayed -by a storm eight days at the mouth of the river Garonne. Afterward, -having put to sea he was driven by stress of weather far out of his -course, and encountered so severe a gale as to nearly wreck the fleet on -Cape Finisterre. - -One vessel, in which was his lieutenant, was blown so far out of its -course that for fifteen days it was supposed to be lost, which caused -him all “the trouble in the world,” as his people earnestly besought him -to return. The missing vessel, however, met him off the coast of Africa. -Land was then kept in sight until they reached Cape Verde; “thence -taking the direct route to the Indies, he sailed before the wind upon -the high seas, and having crossed over, the first land which he made was -the island of Dominica.” From thence proceeding he stopped in the -island of St. Domingo to weather a gale, and at the island of Cuba for -water, which he had to take by force, for he says: “The Spaniards are -enraged as soon as they see a Frenchman in the Indies. For although a -hundred Spains could not furnish men enough to hold the hundredth part -of a land so vast and capacious, nevertheless it is the mind of the -Spaniards that this New World was never created except for them, and -that it belongs to no man living to step on it, or breathe in it save to -themselves alone.” - -De Gourges had not revealed the real object of the expedition until, -after leaving the island of Cuba, he assembled all his men, and declared -to them his purpose of going to Florida to avenge on the Spaniards the -injury which had been done to the king and to all France. He set before -them the treachery and cruelty of those who had massacred Frenchmen, and -the shame that it was to have left so long unpunished an action so -wicked and so humiliating, and the honor and satisfaction that would -redound to them in removing from the escutcheon of France this foul -blot. The spirit of the address was suited to the French temper, and -they professed themselves ready to fight for the honor of France -wherever the captain should lead. Proceeding on the voyage the fleet -passed the bar of the St. Johns River in sight of the forts which -Menendez had constructed at the mouth of the river. The Spaniards, -mistaking them for their own vessels, fired two guns as a salute, which -was returned by the French, desiring to continue the deception. The -fleet sailed north and entered the St. Mary’s River, where they found a -large body of Indians prepared to dispute any attempt to land. Seeing -this, De Gourges made friendly demonstrations, and sent out the man who -had been with Laudonnère. The Indians readily recognized the Frenchman, -and were delighted to find that the strangers were of that nation, and -enemies of the Spaniards. The chief proved to be Satouriva, the firm -friend to Laudonnère. After learning the purpose of the expedition, -Satouriva promised to join the command at the end of three days with his -whole force of warriors, declaring himself eager to revenge the many -injuries he had himself received as well as the wrongs inflicted on the -French. - -Among Satouriva’s tribe was a white child, a refugee from Laudonnère’s -colony, who had escaped at the massacre at Fort Carolin, and been -protected and reared as a son by the old chief, though the Spaniards had -made strenuous efforts to secure possession of him or compass his death. -This child, named Peter de Bré, whom Satouriva had so faithfully -defended, he now brought to the French ships together with his warriors -as he had agreed. Being joined by the Indians, De Gourges set out across -the country under the guidance of the chief, Helecopile, to attack the -two forts at the mouth of the river. The Indians had promised to bring -the command to the fort on the north side of the river by daybreak, but, -owing to the difficulty in following the intricate paths and fording -deep creeks, they were nine hours marching four leagues, and the sun was -rising as they reached the vicinity of the Spanish fort. This fort was -built on Batton Island, near what is now Pilot-town. The other fort was -nearly opposite, in the vicinity of the present village of Mayport. Both -were armed with the cannon taken from the French at the capture of Fort -Carolin. - -The Spaniards, not fearing a land attack upon the fort on Batton Island, -had neglected to clear away the woods in the vicinity, so that the -French were concealed until they were close upon the fort. As they -rushed from their cover the Spanish sentinel fired twice, when he was -pierced by the pike of Olotoraca, an Indian chief, nephew of Satouriva. -The Spanish garrison were at breakfast, and before they could be -summoned the fort was filled with the French and Indians. So complete -was the surprise that there was but little resistance. “As many as -possible were taken alive by command of Captain Gourges, in order to do -to them as they had done to the French.” - -As soon as the Spaniards whose lives were spared in the attack could be -secured, De Gourges embarked as large a portion of his soldiers as the -boats at his disposal would carry, and hurried to cross the river and -attack the fort at Mayport. The Indians, now wild with excitement, threw -themselves into the water and kept alongside of the boats, swimming with -their bows and arrows held above their heads. The Spaniards in the fort -had by this time begun to realize the situation, and directed the fire -of their guns upon the boats and Indians. Their excitement and alarm -were so great that they did not perceive a difference between the French -and Indians, and seeing so great a multitude approaching, they broke in -terror and fled from the fort before the French reached its walls. The -garrison of the two forts was near a hundred and forty men, all but -fifteen of whom were either killed in the attacks or slain by the -Indians as they attempted to reach the mainland. - -The capture of these two forts occurred on the eve of the first “Sunday -after Easter, 1568.” Crossing to the fort first taken, De Gourges rested -on Sunday and Monday. Scaling ladders and other preparations for an -attack on the main fort were in the meantime being prepared. While here, -a Spanish spy disguised as an Indian was recognized by Olotoraca, and -brought to De Gourges. From him it was learned that the French force -was estimated at quite two thousand men, and that the garrison of Fort -Matteo (formerly Fort Carolin) was two hundred and sixty men. - -Hearing this report, De Gourges was more anxious than ever to make an -immediate attack. He directed the Indians to advance, some on each side -of the river, and to take up a position in the vicinity of the fort. -Early on the morning of the next day he moved his forces up the river, -and, as he says, “gained a mountain covered with forests, at the foot of -which was built the fort.” He had not intended to attack the fort until -the day after his arrival, but, while posting his men and the Indian -forces, it happened “that the Spaniards made a sally with sixty -arquebusiers[7] to reconnoiter his forces.” - -This body he succeeded in cutting off from the fort and totally -destroying. Seeing the fate of so large a portion of their garrison, the -remainder of the Spaniards left the fort in the hopes that they might -make their way to St. Augustine. Entering the woods they were everywhere -met by the Indians. None escaped, and but few were taken alive. Entering -the fort, the French found a number of fine cannon beside a great -quantity of arms, “such as arquebuses, corslets, shields and pikes.” - -The Frenchmen were now upon the scene of the massacre of their -countrymen, and the taunting irony of the tablet erected by Menendez was -before their eyes. The spirit of vengeance was aroused. Ordering all the -Spaniards who had been taken alive to be led to the place where they had -hung the Frenchmen, De Gourges rebuked them in scathing terms. He -declared they could never undergo the punishment which they deserved, -but it was necessary to make an example of them that others might learn -to keep the peace which they had so wickedly violated. - -“This said, they were tied up to the same trees where they had hung the -Frenchmen, and in the place of the inscription which Peter Menendez had -put over them containing these words in the Spanish language: ‘I do this -not as to Frenchmen, but as to Lutherans;’ Captain Gourges caused to be -graven on a pine tablet with a hot iron: ‘I do this not as to Spaniards -or mariners, but as to traitors, robbers, and murderers.’” - -One of the Spaniards is said to have confessed that he had hung up five -Frenchmen with his own hand, and acknowledged that God had brought him -to the punishment he deserved. The next day while frying fish an Indian -set fire to a train of powder laid by the Spaniards which had not been -discovered, and the whole interior of the fort was thereby destroyed. -Being aware that his forces were too weak to hold the country, and -having accomplished all that he had crossed the ocean to perform, De -Gourges completed the destruction of the forts, and, bidding adieu to -the Indians, sailed away for France. The fleet arrived at La Rochelle on -the 6th of June, after a voyage of thirty-four days. The loss of life in -the enterprise had been but “a few gentlemen of good birth,” a few -soldiers in the attacks, and eight men on the patache or launch, which -was lost at sea. Being received “with all honor, courtesy, and kind -treatment,” by the citizens of La Rochelle, where he remained a few -days, De Gourges then sailed for Bordeaux. The Spaniards being advised -of his arrival and what he had done in Florida, sent a large ship and -eighteen launches to surprise and capture him. This formidable fleet -arrived in the roadstead of La Rochelle the very day of his departure. - -The head of De Gourges was demanded and a price set upon it by the King -of Spain, but, though his acts were repudiated by the French king, he -was protected and concealed by Marigny, President of the Council, and by -the Receiver of Vacquieulx, until, after a time, he was the recipient of -marked honors at the French court and died in 1582, “to the great grief -of such as knew him.” - -“That De Gourges deserves censure, cannot be denied; but there will -always exist an admiration for his courage and intrepid valor, with a -sympathy for the bitter provocation under which he acted, both personal -and national; a sympathy not shared with Menendez, who visited his wrath -upon the religious opinions of men, while De Gourges was the -unauthorized avenger of undoubted crime and inhumanity. Both acted in -violation of the pure spirit of that Christianity which they alike -professed to revere under the same form.”[8] - - - - -CHAPTER X. - - RETURN OF MENENDEZ.--ATTEMPT TO CHRISTIANIZE THE INDIANS.--ATTACK - UPON ST. AUGUSTINE BY SIR FRANCIS DRAKE.--MURDER OF THE FRIARS. - - -While these events were transpiring Menendez had completed his -equipment, and sailed with a fresh supply of men and means for his -colonies in Florida. His first information of the disaster which had -overtaken his posts on the St. Johns was received after he arrived at -St. Augustine. So humiliating a disaster as the capture of three of his -forts well fortified and garrisoned with four hundred trained men, was -the occasion of no little mortification and vexation to this gallant -knight, especially since the victors were the avengers of the former -colonists, and the forces that accomplished the affair were so greatly -outnumbered by his soldiers, who were also well defended by strong -forts. To add to the discouragement the condition of the colony at St. -Augustine was found to be most distressing. The garrison was nearly -naked, the colonists half starved, and the attacks of the Indians -growing more frequent and reckless as the weakness and despondency of -the Spaniards became more apparent. The intrepid and indomitable spirit -of Menendez did not bend under these obstacles and reverses which would -have crushed a nature of ordinary mold. His extraordinary and -comprehensive genius opened a way, in the midst of almost superhuman -difficulties, for the maintenance of his colony and the extension of -the Catholic faith, the objects to which his life was now devoted. -Perceiving the insecurity of the garrisons at a distance from each other -and the principal post, he wisely concluded to preserve his forces -entire at St. Augustine, and thus maintain the colony and a base of -operations. The spread of the Catholic faith he determined to secure by -inducing the different tribes of Indians to receive and support one or -more missionaries or teachers. At the earnest solicitation of Menendez -large numbers of priests, friars, and brothers of the various religious -orders of the Catholic Church had been sent to Florida by the King of -Spain. Mission-houses were built all over the country from the Florida -capes on the south to the Chesapeake on the north and the Mississippi on -the west, to which these teachers, being mostly Franciscans, were sent. -By the mildness of their manners, the promises of future joys and -rewards which their teachings declared, and the interest excited by the -introduction of the arts of civilized life, they gained a powerful -ascendency over the native tribes, that promised at one period the -conversion of the whole North American Indian race to the religion and -customs of their Christian teachers. This would have been an achievement -that would have amply compensated for all the efforts, treasure, and -lives expended by the Europeans in the conquest of the New World. In -fact it would have been a wonderful revolution that might well have been -considered a miraculous dispensation of Providence. - -It is due to the grandly comprehensive conception of Menendez that there -was initiated this plan of mission stations through the Floridas, which -so nearly accomplished this happy result. That the ultimate success of -the efforts to Christianize the Indians was not attained was probably -owing to the political changes that occurred in Europe in the -eighteenth century. In both France and Spain the Jesuits fell into -disgrace, and the most rigorous measures of suppression and banishment -were adopted against them. The Jesuit missions in Florida shared the -fate of their order in the Old World, and thus was the encouraging -prospect of Christianizing the Indians swept away forever. - -Under Menendez and his immediate successors whom he named and who -followed his counsels were founded those missionary establishments, -whose ruins have been at a late period a subject of curious -investigation throughout Middle Florida. Romans (“History of Florida,” -New York, 1775) states that in his time there was an old bell of one of -these mission houses lying in the fields near Alachua. Hon. Wilkinson -Call, United States Senator from Florida, who is somewhat of an -antiquarian, has informed the writer that near his birthplace in Leon -County are to be found the ruins of another of these Spanish missions. -The early inhabitants of the region being filled with superstition and a -belief that the ruins were the remains of an establishment of the -buccaneers, threw the bell into a neighboring pond, from which it has -been rescued within a late period. - -Menendez, finding that the interests of the colony were neglected at the -Spanish Court, and that the maintenance of the colony was daily -impoverishing himself, resolved to return permanently to Spain, where he -hoped that his influence would be able to accomplish more benefit to the -undertaking in Florida than could be expected to accrue from his -presence in the territory. Leaving the province under the command of his -nephew, Don Pedro Menendez, he sailed for Spain in 1572. Upon his -arrival all the honors of the court were lavished upon him, and his -counsels were eagerly sought in the various affairs of state. He was -not destined to enjoy his honors long, nor to reap new laurels in the -European wars of the Spanish crown. In the midst of his glory his career -was suddenly ended by his death from a fever, in 1574. His rank and -memory are perpetuated in the Church of St. Nicholas, at Avilès, by a -monument, on which is inscribed the following epitaph: - -“Here lies buried the illustrious Captain Pedro Menendez de Avilès, a -native of this City, Adelantado of the Province of Florida, Knight -Commander of Santa Cruz, of the Order of Santiago, and Captain General -of the Oceanic Seas, and of the Armada which his Royal Highness -collected at Santander in the year 1574, where he died on the 17th of -September, of that year, in the fifty-fifth year of his age.” - -Following out the instructions of Menendez, De las Alas, now governor of -Florida, assembled a council from the different missions in the province -for the purpose of considering methods of extending the Catholic faith. -In pursuance of the advice of this council embassies were sent to all -the tribes of Indians for several hundred miles around St. Augustine. - -Spanish garrisons and many Spanish monks to teach the Indians had -already been received into the towns east of the Appalachicola River. In -1583 the Chickasaws, Tocoposcas, Apacas, Tamaicas, Apiscas and Alabamas, -received the missionaries. At this period the Catholic faith was -recognized as far west as the Mississippi, and as far north as the -mountains of Georgia. - -The Franciscans and Dominicans had been the first to represent the monks -in the New World. Afterward came the Fathers of Mercy, the Augustines, -and the Jesuits. - -Although Florida was included in the diocese of the Bishop of Cuba, it -was decided to establish a convent of the Order of St. Francis at St. -Augustine. I find the name originally given this convent was the -“Conception of Our Lady,” though it is generally referred to as St. -Helena. - -This name St. Helena was applied to all the establishments throughout -the province, of which the great Franciscan house at St. Augustine was -to be the center. - -Sailing in September, 1585, there arrived soon after in the West Indies -a fleet of twenty-six vessels which had been fitted out by private -persons in England to cruise against the Spanish commerce, and placed -under the command of Sir Francis Drake, with the vice-admirals Frobisher -and Knolles. After sacking St. Jago, raising a contribution of -twenty-five thousand ducats on St. Domingo, and doing great injury to -the Spanish shipping in the Caribbean Seas, they steered for Florida on -their homeward voyage. Passing up the coast when abreast Anastatia -Island, on the 8th of May, 1586, they sighted a tower or look-out -station on the shore. Satisfied that it was some Spanish station the -admiral ordered the boats manned and landed a body of troops on the -island. Advancing toward the look-out, they perceived across the bay a -fort, and further up a town built of wood. - -In defiance of King Philip’s order prohibiting foreigners, on pain of -death, from setting foot in the province of Florida, the admiral sent -General Carlisle, of the land forces, with a small body of soldiers to -enter the town. - -The sentinel on the island had probably retreated to the fort, as the -Spaniards, without parley, opened fire upon the English boat as soon as -it came within range of their guns. Perceiving that the Spaniards -intended to oppose his landing, and having too small a force to make an -attack upon the fort, General Carlisle withdrew to the vessels which -were anchored off the bar. That evening a small boat was observed -approaching the fleet from across the bay. As the boat came near, the -music of a fife was heard, and the breeze bore to the ears of the -English the familiar notes of the Prince of Orange’s march. The fifer -proved to be a French musician who had been captured, probably with -Ribault’s men, and who had taken advantage of the panic which the -presence of the English fleet was then causing, to make his escape. He -reported that the fort had been abandoned, and offered to conduct the -English to the town. In the morning Sir Francis crossed the bay, and -finding the fort deserted, as the Frenchman had reported, he took -possession of the same and hoisted the English flag. The fort at that -time was called San Juan de Pinos, and was but a rude structure built of -logs and earth, and without a ditch. The palisades were built of cabbage -palmettoes driven in the ground. The platforms were constructed by -laying the bodies of pine trees horizontally on each other, and filling -an intervening space with earth well rammed. Upon these platforms were -mounted fourteen brass cannon, of what caliber is not mentioned. - -The garrison numbered one hundred and fifty soldiers. Their retreat had -been so precipitous that they neglected to remove the paymaster’s funds, -and a chest containing ten thousand dollars in silver fell into the -hands of the English. It is to be hoped that this unsoldierly conduct -met with exemplary correction at the hands of the _corregidors_, after -the British sailed away. - -“Whether the massive, iron-bound mahogany chest still (1858) preserved -in the old fort is the same which fell into the hands of Drake, is a -question for antiquarians to decide; its ancient appearance might well -justify the supposition.”[9] - -The next day the English marched toward the town; but it is said that -they were unable to proceed by land, owing to heavy rains having lately -fallen, and therefore returned to the fort and embarked in boats. -Proceeding up the sound, as the boats approached the town, the Spaniards -made a show of resistance; but, on the first discharge from the British -marines, they fled into the country, leaving the town at the mercy of -the invader. After pillaging the town and destroying the gardens, Sir -Francis Drake made no further delay, but continued on his voyage to -England. The Spanish account says he burned the town in revenge for the -killing of his sergeant-major. The place and this attack were considered -of so much importance, that after the arrival of Sir Francis in England, -an engraving of “Drake’s descent upon St. Augustine” was made, which -“represents an octagonal fort between two streams; at the distance of -half a mile, another stream; beyond that the town with a look-out and -two religious houses, one of which is a church and the other probably -the house of the Franciscans, who had shortly before established a house -of their order there. The town contains three squares lengthwise and -four in width, with gardens on the west side. - -“Some doubt has been thrown on the actual site of the first settlement -by this account; but I think it probably stood considerably to the south -of the present public square, between the barracks and the -powder-house. Perhaps Maria Sanchez (Santa Maria) Creek may have then -communicated with the bay near its present head, in wet weather and at -high tides isolating the fort from the town. The present north ditch may -have been the bed of a tide creek, and thus would correspond to the -appearance presented by the sketch. It is well known that the north end -of the city has been built at a much later period than the southern, and -that the now vacant space below the barracks was once occupied with -buildings. Buildings and fields are shown on Anastatia Island, opposite -the town. The relative position of the town, with reference to the -entrance of the harbor, is correctly shown on the plan, and there seems -no sufficient ground to doubt the identity of the present town with the -ancient locality.”[10] - -I have thought that the first town may have been built on the more -western of the two peninsulas lying between Santa Maria Creek and St. -Sebastian River. This would correspond with the plan published by Drake, -and if we assume that the town, being built of wood, was entirely -destroyed by Drake, and afterward rebuilt on its present site, the -statement of Romans finds confirmation, that the first site, having been -found ineligible, the location was changed to its present situation. At -the time of Drake’s invasion the town was said to be rapidly growing, -and to have contained a church, a hall for the judges of Residencia, and -other public buildings. - -The Spanish governor (Don Pedro Menendez, a nephew of the founder) set -himself diligently to work to rebuild the town. In the prosecution of -this work, a considerable pecuniary assistance was received from Spain -and Cuba, and it is probable that the first stone buildings were -erected about this period. - -Much attention was at this time devoted to the temporal and spiritual -welfare of the Indians. Father Rogel, who had come to Florida with the -Adelantado Pedro Menendez, had learned the Indian language, and at least -one of the Indians had been taken to Spain, and instructed in the -Spanish language and the tenets of the Church. The Indians were -considered desirable neighbors, and were encouraged to dwell near the -castle, and even within the city. On a map drawn as early as 1638 the -spot now occupied by the old Catholic cemetery near the head of Tolomato -Street is marked “Hermitage of our Lady of Guadalupe, with the territory -occupied by the Indians of the town Tolomato.” Large numbers of -Franciscan missionaries continued to arrive at St. Augustine, and -adventurous monks, who had pined in their convents in the Old World for -more work to do, found room for their energies in Florida, as the -adventurous soldiers had done before them. - -Early in the seventeenth century one of these Franciscans wrote a book -called “La Doctrina Cristiana” in the Yemassee dialect. This volume, -which is said to have been the first book written in the language of any -of the North American Indians, has received an extended notice at the -hands of Buckingham Smith, Esq. The labors of the missionaries were not -without difficulties and discouragements, nor free from dangers. Toward -the close of the sixteenth and at the beginning of the seventeenth -century there were several of the worthy fathers who sacrificed their -lives in noble efforts to instruct the Indians. - -Padre Martinez, accompanied by two other learned and pious priests, -arrived off the coast in a small vessel from Spain. Father Martinez, -being blown ashore while reconnoitering the coast in a small boat, was -murdered by the Indians of Fort George Island. His companions taking -alarm at the fate of their brother returned at once to Cuba. - -In 1598 a most cruel and unprovoked assault was made by the Indians upon -two pious fathers within sight of the castle at St. Augustine. Besides -the Indian village near the gates there was another Indian town about a -quarter of a mile north of the castle, situated on the creek called Cano -de la Leche. The Spaniards called the place Nombre de Dios, and until -after the English possession of Florida (1763-1784) there stood a stone -chapel on the spot called “Nostra Senora de la Leche.” This chapel was -used by the English as a hospital, and fell into disuse and neglect -after the Indian tribes ceased to reside peacefully in the vicinity of -the town. As it was neither safe nor convenient for the inhabitants of -the city to worship there, the vestments which had been given to the -chapel by the King of Spain were removed. The crucifix taken from it is -yet preserved in the cathedral at St. Augustine. The ground on which -this chapel stood is still owned by the Catholic Church, and a new -chapel was built in 1874 by Bishop Verot on the ruins of the old church; -but the severe gale of 1878 unroofed this, and at present only two of -the coquina walls are standing. The location is immediately adjoining on -the east the grounds of General Dent’s cottage and young orange grove on -the right, as you go out of the city gates by the shell road. The name -of the Indian village here located was called Topiqui. - -Father Pedro de Corpa had established a chapel and mission at Tolomato, -and Father Bias Rodriguez another at Topiqui. Among the pupils at -Tolomato was the son of the chief of Guale, a province embraced by what -is now called Amelia Island. This young chief was too full of animal -spirits and the wild Indian nature to readily adopt habits required by -the Franciscans. Having repeatedly offended against the proprieties of -the mission, Father Corpa was compelled to publicly censure his conduct. -The high spirit of the young chief rebelled at this reproof, and he at -once withdrew from the mission. The good priest anticipated no evil and -sought no protection. Not so the young chief. His heart was full of -bitterness. Gathering a band of warriors from his own nation, he -returned to St. Augustine determined on revenge. Approaching Tolomato in -the dusk of evening, he burst into the chapel, and murdered Father Corpa -at the altar. The Indians then cut off the worthy father’s head and set -it upon a pole, while his body was cast into the woods and never found. -The young chief urged that an end should be made of all the missionaries -in the province, saying that the friars had heaped upon the Indians -injuries, and robbed them of their liberty and customs, while promising -them all manner of good things, of which none were as yet received; and -thus they were compelled to labor and be deprived of all the pleasures -which their ancestors enjoyed, in the hopes of receiving heaven. - -The Indians of Tolomato were grieved at the death of their teacher, and -urged the young chief to fly from the punishment which the Spanish -governor would surely inflict. He replied that the Spaniards desired to -make them all slaves, and that the penalty for the death of one priest -was as severe as for the destruction of the whole body. Thus urged, they -followed their leader to the village of Topiqui, where they seized -Father Rodriguez, and informing him of the death of Father Corpa, -declared that the same fate awaited him. In vain did the pious friar -reason, in vain did he supplicate them not to commit so foolish a sin. -The arguments and tears of the priest were of no avail. Finding the -Indians determined to take his life, he begged the privilege of saying a -last mass. “The permission was given, and there for the last time the -worthy father put on his robes, which might well be termed his robes of -sacrifice. The wild and savage crowd, thirsting for his blood, reclined -upon the floor, and looked on in sullen silence, awaiting the conclusion -of the rites. The priest alone, standing before the altar, proceeded -with this most sad and solemn mass, then cast his eyes to heaven and -knelt in private supplication, where the next moment he fell under the -blows of his cruel foes, bespattering the altar at which he ministered -with his own life’s blood. His crushed remains were thrown into the -fields, that they might serve for the fowls of the air or the beasts of -the forests; but not one would approach them except a dog, which, -rushing forward to lay hold upon the body, fell dead upon the spot, says -the ancient chronicle; and an old Christian Indian, recognizing it, gave -it sepulture in the forest.”[11] - -Other missions also were destroyed by this mad band of savages, but the -zeal of the Franciscans was unabated, and they continued for several -years to make many converts among the Indians. - -In 1611 the prelate St. Francisco Marroz, “custodio from the convent of -St. Francisco of the Havanna, together with the St. Helena,” Fr. Miguel -de Annon, and Fr. Pedro de Chocas, fell martyrs by the hands of the -Indians, who are said to have pillaged the town after having driven the -inhabitants to seek protection under the guns of the fort or stockade. - -The now-apparent danger of a total destruction of the settlement by the -Indians, who had begun to learn their own strength and the weakness of -the Spaniards, opened the eyes of the governor to the necessity of more -effective defense of the town. The plan of defense, embracing the castle -and lines of stockades at both ends of the town with stone bastions, was -initiated in the early part of the seventeenth century, though not -completed for many years. - -In 1640 many Apalachian Indians were brought to St. Augustine, and -compelled to labor on the fort and at other works of defense. These -Indians were nominally hostages for the allegiance of a very numerous -tribe who lived in Middle Florida, and had made numerous ravages on the -Spanish missions between 1635 and 1638. Finding peaceful measures of no -avail, the Spaniards marched against them, and, after several victories, -brought away a large number of captives. These were kept steadily at -work until 1702, when they were released through the efforts of the -Franciscan friars. This remission, however, was granted by the Spanish -crown only during the peaceful conduct of their tribe, and until their -services should again be required. It does not appear that the -Apalachians ever again labored on the fort. - - - - -[1655-1737.] - -CHAPTER XI. - - PLUNDER OF THE TOWN BY CAPTAIN DAVIS.--REMOVAL Of THE YEMASSEE - INDIANS.--CONSTRUCTION OF THE FORT.--BUILDING OF THE FIRST - SEA-WALL.--ATTACKS OF GOVERNOR MOORE AND COLONEL PALMER. - - -The town of St. Augustine had continued to grow, and ninety years after -its foundation was said to contain three hundred householders. This -statement may be correct, as the town was afterward partly burned -(1702), though Romans, more than a hundred years later, says there were -not three hundred houses in his time. - -The parish church at this period (1655) was said to have been built of -wood, as the bishop of the diocese (Cuba and Florida) was unable to -provide a better structure, his income being less than five hundred -dollars per annum. In 1771 De Brahm says the churches were all built of -stone. The city was allowed during the latter part of the seventeenth -century a vicar, a parochial curate, and a superior sacristan, and a -chaplain was attached to the fort. The convent of St. Francis was in a -prosperous condition, having under its charge fifty brethren, greatly -respected and very zealous for the conversion of the Indians. - -In 1665 Captain Davis, an English buccaneer, sailed from the West Indies -along the Florida coast for the purpose of intercepting the Spanish -treasure fleet returning from Mexico. While waiting their coming he -plundered St. Augustine as a diversion, no opposition being made by the -inhabitants, who retired into the fort to assist the garrison of two -hundred men in defending this structure. The castle was at that time an -octagon flanked by two round towers. - -In 1584 Captains Barlow and Armada, by the authority of Sir Walter -Raleigh, had taken possession of the rivers and lands of the northern -coast of Florida (South Carolina). As late as 1663 England claimed -Florida as a part of the Carolinas, and in the right acquired by Henry -VII. from its discovery by Cabot. In 1670 an English colony was -established near Beaufort, South Carolina. The Spaniards resented this -encroachment upon their territory, and in 1675 projected an attack upon -the South Carolina colony, which was unsuccessful. These attacks and -counter-attacks between the Spanish and English continued until the -Spanish evacuation in 1763. - -In 1680 Don Juan Marquez de Cabrera, having been appointed governor, -entered vigorously upon the work of strengthening the defenses of the -town and extending the work of the missions. - -Soon after entering upon his duties the governor became annoyed at the -hostile conduct, either real or fancied, of Chief Nichosatly of the -Yemassees. This tribe of Indians was very powerful, and possessed many -flourishing towns in Florida, lying adjacent to the English settlements -on the north. - -Cabrera accused him of rendering aid to the British settlers, contrary -to his duties as a subject of the King of Spain. - -Nichosatly denied having assisted the English, and professed loyalty to -the Spaniards and the Catholic religion. - -Cabrera was unwilling to trust his assurances, and condemned him to be -publicly executed as a traitor. This conduct was as extraordinary as was -that of the Indian; for it is said that he exhibited a remarkable -Christian temper, forgiving his enemies, and exhorting his friends not -to avenge his death. This advice was not followed, unfortunately for the -Spanish interests. The English used this injury to excite the Yemassees -to a fierce war, and the Spaniards were soon driven from all their -settlements north of the St. Johns River. Cabrera was soon after -recalled in disgrace by the King of Spain, but the evil he had done was -irreparable, and from this time the Spanish influence among the Indians -began to decline. - -Governor Cabrera had accumulated a large quantity of material, -consisting of stone, oyster-shell lime, cement, timber, and iron for the -prosecution of the work on the fort. His successors continued to collect -supplies as fast as their means would allow. From 1693 to 1701 the -governor, Laureano de Torrez-y-Ayala, kept constantly in operation two -lime-kilns. He also had thirty stone-cutters employed in getting out the -stone from the quarries on Anastatia Island, and eight yokes of oxen -hauling the coquina to the landing on Quarry Creek. - -In 1687 Don Juan de Aila volunteered to go to Spain and procure for the -colony the assistance of men and supplies, of which it stood in great -need. This he did, providing his own vessel, and, as a reward for his -efforts, the Spanish crown granted him a permit to import merchandise -free of duty, and also to carry with him twelve negro slaves. “By a -mischance, he was only able to carry one negro there, with the troops -and other cargo, and was received in the city with universal joy. This -was the first occasion of the reception of African slaves.”[12] - -The Count de Galvez, Viceroy of New Spain (Mexico including Florida) -seems to have felt great interest in the Spanish settlement of St. -Augustine. Upon his recommendation the council of the Indies -appropriated in 1691 ten thousand dollars for building a sea-wall from -the castle to the city, and two years after a further sum of six -thousand dollars for building a look-out. - -The work upon the sea-wall had already been begun by the governor, Don -Diego de Quiroga-y-Lozada, with what means the local authorities and -citizens could supply. - -In 1690, finding the sea was making great encroachments, and threatened -to undermine the houses, having washed with great force and effect upon -the light sands of the water-front, and even up to the very dwellings, -the governor called a meeting of the chief citizens of the town to take -the subject under consideration. It was decided by the chief men that, -in order to prevent the total loss of the great sums that had already -been invested in the fort and other defenses of the town, and to protect -the place from gradual destruction, and being unfitted for habitation, -it was necessary to build a wall from the glacis of the fort to the -public square on the north of the city, which should be a defense -against the force of the sea. Two thousand dollars were contributed, of -which the soldiers are said to have donated seventeen hundred, although -their wages were six years in arrears. - -The wall, which was begun at this time, was a slight structure, and -extended only to the present basin in front of the plaza. To one who has -seen the water, in severe north-easters, dashing over the present -sea-wall, it seems strange that the Spaniards had not built a more -extensive and efficacious protection against the sea for their -metropolitan town in North America. One of the old citizens informs me -that the tide rose so high during a severe storm in the fall of 1811, -that boats passed freely over the streets, and the inhabitants were all -obliged to withdraw from the lower story of the houses. - -In 1693, Governor Don Laureano de Torrez received another thousand -dollars contributed out of their wages by the soldiers, and also further -assistance from the home government, with which he continued the -building of the sea-wall, and the work on the fort. It is probably about -this time that the Mexican convicts were employed in the construction of -the castle. At one time there was said to have been one hundred and -forty of these convicts in service at St. Augustine. - -For several years the Spaniards had greatly harassed the English -settlers in the Carolinas, having made incursions in 1675, and again in -1681, and, as a fixed policy, incited the Indians to make inroads to -ravage the unprotected settlements, and carry off plunder, especially -negroes. Many demands were made on the Spanish authorities for the -negroes thus carried away, and also those who escaped; but the Spaniards -invariably refused to surrender the slaves, alleging that the King of -Spain felt it his duty to keep the negroes under the influence of the -Catholic religion. - -In 1702 Governor Moore of South Carolina determined to retaliate upon -the Spaniards for their conduct toward the English, by the capture of -the town of St. Augustine. He induced the legislature to vote him aid to -the extent of two thousand pounds sterling, and to authorize the -enlistment of six hundred volunteers, and an equal number of Creek and -Yemassee Indians. Impressing a number of merchant ships into service as -transports, the troops were taken to Port Royal as a rendezvous, where -Governor Moore joined them in September of the same year. Colonel -Daniel, who is described as the life of the expedition, was made second -in command, and ordered to proceed through the inland passages of the -St. Johns River, and thence to attack St. Augustine by land, while the -governor should enter the harbor and attack the city from his ships. The -Spaniards, having notice of the advance, retired into the castle with -their valuables, and a store of provisions to maintain them for four -months. Colonel Daniel arrived behind the town before Governor Moore’s -fleet came to the harbor, and meeting with no resistance, entered at -once and secured a considerable plunder which the inhabitants had been -unable to remove. The next day Governor Moore arrived and entered upon a -regular siege, so that the Spaniards were obliged to lie quietly within -the walls of the castle. Moore, finding that his cannon were too light -to effect a breach in the walls of the fort, sent a vessel to Jamaica -for guns of a larger caliber. This vessel not returning, he sent Colonel -Daniel in a second on the same errand. While his lieutenant was thus -absent there appeared in sight two Spanish vessels, one of twenty-two -and the other of sixteen guns. At sight of these Moore was stricken with -such a panic that he abandoned his ships and fled across the country to -Charleston. He is said, however, to have first burned the town (in part -only, it is most likely), and to have previously sent to Jamaica the -church plate and other costly church ornaments and utensils. This is -quite likely, as the English troops occupied the parish church -immediately on their entrance into the town. - -Colonel Daniel secured the munitions for which he was sent, and promptly -returned to St. Augustine, rejoicing in the thought that the place was -now in their power. Entering the harbor he first learned of Moore’s -retreat upon being chased by the Spanish ships, from which he narrowly -escaped. - -This expedition cost the English colony six thousand pounds, for which -they received only disgrace, having accomplished nothing but the -imprisonment of the Spaniards for a period of three months. At the -termination of the siege, the inhabitants at once applied themselves to -repairing and rebuilding their houses, and the governor, Don Joseph de -Zuñiga, received liberal aid from Spain in rebuilding and strengthening -the town. - -In 1706 the French and Spaniards under Mons. La Febour entered the -harbor of St. Augustine on their way to attack Charleston. Taking a part -of the garrison of the fort they proceeded on their voyage, but were -obliged to retreat without accomplishing anything. - -In 1717 the Spanish governor, Don Juan de Ayola y Escobar, procured a -general combination of the Yemassee, Creek, Apalache, Congaree, Catauba, -and Cherokee Indians, against the English settlements in Carolina. - -A year after Don Antonio de Benavuedi y Malina, having been appointed -governor, put a stop to the Indian hostilities against the English. - -He seems to have entertained a very unfavorable opinion of the Indians, -which he exhibited in an unreasonable decree against the Yemassees, -exiling this tribe to a distance six leagues south of St. Augustine. The -Yemassees remonstrated with the new governor against this order; stating -to him that although at one time they had joined the English, after the -execution of their Chief Nichosatly, yet they had since repented of that -fault, and fought against them in behalf of the Spaniards; that it would -be a grievous act to drive them from their fields of corn, and their -houses, while the English were their enemies; that they revered the -Catholic king and the holy Church, and desired to have its rites -administered to them, and wished to live in peace. - -The governor was obdurate, and ordered Captain Ortagas to execute his -order with the troops. Thus this powerful nation, abandoning their -fields almost ripe for harvest, and many cattle and hogs, were compelled -to make new homes in the wilderness. It is said that many women, -children, and infirm persons were left on Amelia Island; that the -English killed four hundred when they found that the Indians were -abandoning the country; and that of the three thousand who had resided -between St. Augustine and the St. Mary’s River, at the end of a year -from their removal, not one-third had survived the vengeance of their -enemies and hunger and disease. The removal of this tribe of Indians was -impolitic on the part of the Spaniards, as the English soon after took -possession of their lands, which lay between the English and Spanish -settlements. - -In 1725 the disputes between the English and Spaniards culminated in -hostilities. The Spaniards charged the English with intruding on their -lands, and the English retorted that the Spaniards had enticed away -their negroes and incited the Indians against their settlements. The -Spanish governor recalled the Yemassees, and having armed and equipped a -body of warriors under their chief Mocano, sent them into Georgia, where -they committed a general massacre. - -Colonel Palmer of that colony raised a body of three hundred militia, -and entered Florida, burning and destroying every Spanish and Indian -settlement to the very gates of St. Augustine. The Spanish inhabitants -of the country and town fled into the fort for safety; but, with -execrable meanness, excluded the poor Indians, who were nearly all -killed or made prisoners. The Spaniards saved only what could be -protected by the guns of the fort, which was then quite a formidable -work. - -The chapel of Nostra Senora de la Leche, the location of which has been -described, was plundered by some of the soldiers. They stripped it of -the gold and silver vessels, and taking the infant image from the arms -of the figure of the Virgin Mary, brought it to Colonel Palmer, who was -encamped two miles north of the city gates. This piece of sacrilege, -however, was displeasing to the commander, who told the soldiers that -the Spaniards would one day be revenged upon them. Having accomplished -all he could hope from his small force, Colonel Palmer retired with a -great booty of cattle and other plunder. - -In 1737 Governor Don Manuel de Monteano, soon after taking command of -the province, made the following report to the Governor-general of Cuba: -“The fort of this place is its only defense; it has no casemates for the -shelter of the men, nor the necessary elevation of the counter-scarp, -nor covert ways, nor ravelins to the curtains, nor other exterior works, -that could give time for a long defense; but it is thus naked outside, -as it is without soul within, for there are no cannon that could be -fired twenty-four hours.” The representations of the governor received -prompt attention at the Spanish Court, where it had now become -recognized that the Spanish possessions in America were endangered, and -unless St. Augustine was maintained, they would be irrecoverably lost. - -Large appropriations of money were sent, and a garrison of seven hundred -regular troops, and a number of new cannon assigned to the castle. With -the means thus provided, the governor applied himself with great energy -and skill in putting the fort in an excellent state of defense. The -superintendence of the work was assigned to Don Antonio de Arredondo, -an officer who ranked well among engineers. Bomb-proofs were -constructed, a covered way made, the ramparts heightened and casemated, -and redoubts extended across either end of the town, in which there were -ten salient angles.[13] - -Romans states that two of these salient angles or bastions, built of -stone, stood in the southern line of redoubts, but were broken down by -the English, and the material used for the foundation of the new -barracks. From the statements of old residents, I am satisfied that one -or more stood near the present saw-mills, and commanded the approach by -the old road across the marshes of the St. Sebastian. - -It is probable that the credit is due Don Arredondo for the symmetry and -beauty of outline in the general design of the fort, and also for the -perfection of the lines, curves, and angles in the masonry. The noble -conception and perfection of detail throughout the work demonstrates the -engineer to have been a man of excellent abilities, and proficient in -the higher mathematics, “one of the sublimest realms of human thought.” - -Some of the curves in the masonry within the casemates are beautiful -pieces of design. The compound circular and elliptic arch, or -three-centered circular arch, which supports the incline leading from -the terre-plein to the court, is said to have presented a problem too -difficult for the United States engineer in charge of the repairs after -the change of flags. It will be seen that the north side of the arch -having fallen has been patched with a rectilinear wall, and the symmetry -of the elegant lines destroyed. - - - - -CHAPTER XII. - - OGLETHORPE’S ATTACK.--BOMBARDMENT OF THE FORT AND TOWN.--CAPTURE OF - THE HIGHLANDERS AT FORT MOSA.--OLD FORT AT MATANZAS.--MONTEANO’S - INVASION OF GEORGIA. - - -In 1740 Governor Oglethorpe of Georgia, being encouraged by King George -II., determined to capture St. Augustine, and thus drive the Spaniards -from Florida. At his request the Carolina colonies sent him a body of -four hundred troops under Colonel Vanderdussen. He also equipped a body -of Creek Indians, and in May had rendezvoused at the mouth of the St. -Johns River a force of two thousand men. With a portion of this force he -attacked a small fort called Diego, situated on what is now known as -Diego Plains (called by the inhabitants Dago), twenty-five miles north -of St. Augustine, then the estate of Don Diego de Spinosa. The remains -of this fort and several cannon were to be seen until a late date. - -Having taken the fort after a slight resistance, he left the same in -charge of Lieutenant Dunbar, and returned to the St. Johns River to -await the arrival of more troops, and to allow Commodore Price, R. N., -to blockade the harbor of St. Augustine with his fleet, consisting of -four vessels of twenty guns each. - -From the prisoners captured at Diego it was learned that the Spaniards -had lately received a reinforcement of six half galleys, armed with -several long brass nine-pounders, and two sloops loaded with -provisions, besides which all the cattle in the neighborhood had been -driven into town. The prisoners, he says, “agree that there are fifty -pieces of cannon in the castle, several of which are of brass, from -twelve to forty-eight pounds. It has four bastions. The walls are of -stone and casemated. The internal square is sixty yards. The ditch is -forty feet wide and twelve feet deep, six of which are sometimes filled -with water. The counter-scarp is faced with stone. They have lately made -a covered way by embanking four thousand posts. The town is fortified -with an intrenchment, salient angles, and redoubts, which inclose about -half a mile in length and a quarter of a mile in width. The inhabitants -and garrison, men, women, and children amount to above two thousand five -hundred. For the garrison the king pays eight companies, sent from Spain -two years since, fifty-three men each; three companies of foot and one -of artillery of the old garrison, and one troop of horse, one hundred -each.” - -This estimate would make the garrison about nine hundred and twenty-four -men, which was probably within the whole number of fighting men, as -another account says there were in the town at the time, the seven -hundred regulars assigned from Spain, two companies of horse, and four -companies of negroes, besides Indians. These negroes were probably free -men, as it is elsewhere stated that they had their own officers, and -though armed, by the governor, provided themselves. - -Oglethorpe having been joined by more troops marched across the country, -ordering the forces at Diego to advance as far as Fort Mosa, two miles -north of St. Augustine, while he made an attack on the fort at Picolata. -This fort was called St. Francis de Poppa, and commanded the approaches -from West Florida and Mexico, and the ferry across the St. Johns River. -Its remains existed until a short time since, and even yet the ditch -can be traced upon the grounds of Mr. Michael Usina. If the testimony of -the old residents can be relied upon, Forbes and Vignoles in their -histories have fallen into error as to the location of this old Spanish -fortification, describing it as on the west side of the river, while the -old citizens call the fort at Picolata “Fort Poppa.” - -Forbes says Picolata’s ancient fort was built by the “Spaniards with -square towers thirty feet high and a deep ditch about it, which is now -partly filled up. The stone was brought from Anastatia Island. On the -opposite side is Fort Poppa, with shallow intrenchments twenty yards -square and as many from the river. A small distance back is another -turret of the same size, and some groves of orange trees and oaks.” - -Vignoles’ description (1823) is as follows: “Of the old blockhouse of -Picolata nothing remains except two of the shattered walls, through -which loop-holes and _meutrières_ are pierced. It stands on a low bluff, -and is half concealed by the luxuriant branches of surrounding trees. It -reminds the visitor who views it from the river of the deserted -castellated residence of some ancient feudal lord. Opposite is Fort -Poppa, of which scarce a vestige remains.” - -William Bartram, in his “Travels through Florida,” published in -Philadelphia, 1791, gives an interesting description of this fort which -I will also quote, as I find all knowledge of these old relics is fast -being effaced from memory and accessible records. Describing his sail up -the St. Johns River, he says: “At noon I came abreast of Fort Picolata, -where, being desirous of gaining yet further intelligence [about it], I -landed, but to my disappointment found the fort dismantled. This -fortress is very ancient and was built by the Spaniards. It is a square -tower, thirty feet high, pierced with loop-holes and surrounded with a -deep ditch. The upper story is open on each side, with battlements -supporting a cupola or roof. These battlements were formerly mounted -with eight four-pounders, two on each side. - -“The work was constructed with hewn stone, cemented with lime. The stone -was cut out of the quarries on St. Anastatia Island, opposite St. -Augustine.” Williams calls the fort on the west side of the river Fort -“San Fernando.” - -Oglethorpe captured the Fort at Picolata without difficulty, and after -considerable delay advanced his whole force upon St. Augustine. The -fleet, which had by this time arrived, was moored across the harbor, and -one vessel stationed off the mouth of Matanzas River, to prevent the -arrival of supplies from that quarter. A company of eighty Scotch -settlers from Georgia, all dressed in Highland costume, together with -forty Indians, were stationed at Fort Mosa, under Colonel Palmer, with -orders to avoid a battle, but to be vigilant in scouring the country, to -intercept all supplies, and to encamp every night at a different place. -Colonel Vanderdussen, who had marched from the St. Johns River by the -beach, was ordered to build a battery at Point Quartell (north beach), -while Oglethorpe, with a regiment of Georgians and the main body of the -Indians, landed on Anastatia Island, and began the construction of a -battery at the north end of the main island. Aware that his force was -too small to carry an assault on the castle, to which the inhabitants -and forces had all retired, Oglethorpe determined to reduce the fort by -bombardment, while he cut off all supplies by a blockade. The site of -the first battery constructed on the island has long since become the -channel of the river. The high ridge to the west of the lighthouse, on -which Mr. Aspinwall has lately built a small building, probably -extended at least half a mile north of the present shore line. It was -on this ridge that Oglethorpe built his first battery, and having -mounted in it several eighteen-pound cannon, he sent a message to the -Spanish governor summoning him to surrender. - -The governor, Don Manuel de Monteano, a very brave and efficient -officer, replied that he would be pleased to shake hands with General -Oglethorpe in the fort. The general, being indignant at such a reply, -opened fire upon the place, which was kept up with spirit, and many -shells were thrown into the town, causing the citizens to seek shelter -within the walls of the castle. The Spaniards replied with the cannon in -the fort, and also diverted the attention of the British with the -maneuvers of the six galleys with their batteries of nine-pounders. -Captain Warren, a brave officer from the fleet, offered to lead an -attack on these galleys in the night; but it was decided that the plan -was too dangerous, as the galleys lay at night under the guns of the -fort, where the water was too shoal to bring up any large vessels to -cover the attacking party. Finding the distance too great for his fire -to injure the fort, Oglethorpe began the construction of a second -battery on the marsh of the island, nearer the town. This battery was -called Battery Poza, and mounted four eighteen-pound cannon. The remains -of this battery are still to be seen. It is located on an island in the -marsh, and reached from the bay by ascending a small creek, navigable -for boats at half tide. Oglethorpe is said to have buried an -eighteen-pound cannon in this battery when the siege was raised, which -may yet be beneath the sand of the redoubts. - -While engaged in the construction of Battery Poza, the fire of the -British was somewhat relaxed. Observing this, Governor Monteano sent out -a detachment of three hundred men and a party of Yemassee Indians, to -attack Colonel Palmer at Fort Mosa. It is said the sally was made on the -night of the king’s birthday, and that the British were found drinking -and carousing. The former statement is incorrect, though the latter may -be true. Colonel Palmer was a brave and able officer, but he seems to -have had Scotch obstinacy, united with undisciplined men, to render his -authority nugatory. - -The camp was surprised and the Highlanders quickly overcome after -Colonel Palmer was slain and the soldiers who were vigilant had been -killed or made their escape. There was a tradition that Colonel Palmer -was killed by Wakona, the Yemassee chief, on the spot where the soldiers -had brought him the infant image fifteen years before. - -This loss was a severe blow to the expedition, not so much from the loss -of the men, but its effect was to depress the spirits of the command and -to greatly discourage the Indians, who soon after found an excuse to -withdraw. A Cherokee having killed a Spaniard, cut off his head and -brought it to Oglethorpe, who spurned the Indian and called him a -barbarous dog. This rebuff was made a pretext by the Indians for their -desertion, and, without making known their intentions, soon after they -were gone. - -Meantime the bombardment continued; but it was found that, even from the -nearest battery, the shot produced little effect upon the walls of the -castle. The siege, which was commenced on the 13th of June, had now -continued into July, with only disastrous results. The soldiers began to -wilt under the extreme heat, and complain of the annoyance of the -sandflies and mosquitoes. To add to the difficulty sickness appeared, -and the men, never under very good control, began to desert in squads, -and return across the country to their homes. The commodore, finding his -provisions becoming short, and fearing the autumn gales, was unwilling -to remain longer on the station. The ship at Matanzas had already -withdrawn. The inlet being unguarded, the Spaniards soon succeeded in -bringing in a large supply of provisions, of which they now stood in -great need. Learning that the Spaniards had received succor, the troops -lost all hope, and the siege was soon after raised. - -It would seem, from the accounts of this blockade and the fact that -supplies were brought in at Matanzas Inlet, that the old fort at -Matanzas was not then standing. If this is the case, it must have been -constructed immediately after Oglethorpe’s departure, as the Spaniards -had had a garrison in it before the English occupation, as will be seen -from the following extract from Romans: “Twenty miles south [of St. -Augustine] is the look-out or fort of Matanca, on a marshy island -commanding the entrance of Matanca, which lays opposite to it. This fort -is to be seen at a distance of about five leagues. It is of very little -strength, nor need it be otherwise, as there is scarce eight feet of -water on this bar at the best of times. The Spaniards kept a lieutenant -in command here; the English a sergeant. Between two or three miles from -this inlet or bar is another of still less note, called El Penon. -Matanca Bar is known from the sea by the fort, which shows white in a -clear day, when the inlet bears west, three leagues off.” - -I have been unable to find out at what date this fort was constructed. -The natural features have greatly changed since the time of Romans even. -The island has been very much washed away by the current, and will soon -cease to exist at all. The bar, which must have been nearly opposite the -island, has gradually worked south until now it is nearly half a mile -below the fort, and a high sand ridge, a part of Anastatia Island, is -between the fort and the ocean, so that, instead of being visible three -leagues at sea, the fort, probably, would not be seen from the ocean at -all.[14] Soundings on Matanzas Bar are now given as one fathom. Fort -Mosa, where Colonel Palmer was killed, was built by the negro refugees -from the British colonies, and was often called the Negro Fort. It was a -square earthwork with four bastions, containing a well and a house with -a look-out, and surrounded with a ditch. The walls of a stone house are -still standing near the location of this fort, at a place called by the -town’s people “Moses,” north of Mr. Hildreth’s grounds. - -Oglethorpe was greatly blamed at the time for his failure to take St. -Augustine, but it is evident that the town was well protected. The north -side of the peninsula, on which the town is built, was defended by the -fort, about which, for a space of fifteen hundred yards, a clear space -was maintained by the Spanish governors, and also by the ditch and -redoubt with salient angles running from the fort to the St. Sebastian -River; upon the east side of the town the galleys and the guns of the -fort could prevent a landing, as the water upon the bar was too shoal to -admit the passage of the English ships; upon the south was a line of -redoubts again with cannon, and a water front for the approach of the -galleys, while upon the west was the long stretch of boggy marshes -extending for a quarter of a mile to the St. Sebastian River. No place -could be better situated for defense. Had the blockade been efficient -and long-continued the town must have surrendered as there was a large -population to feed besides the garrison, and the very advantages of the -place for defense rendered it difficult to bring in supplies. - -Governor Monteano was constantly sending messages to Cuba, by the way of -West Florida and the Keys, for succor of provisions, and was said to -have received supplies from a vessel which arrived at Mosquito Inlet, -while the harbor of Matanzas was yet blockaded. - -The siege was abandoned on the 10th of July. During the bombardment one -hundred and fifty-three shells fell in the town, but occasioned no loss -of life, and did very little damage. That the fire from the batteries -was very ineffectual is evident from an inspection of the shot-holes in -the walls of the old fort made by the guns of Oglethorpe’s batteries -which are still visible. I have counted eight indentations on the -eastern face of the main fort, and two on the south-east bastion. Their -penetration was barely sufficient to bury the solid shot, while the -shell do not appear to have done any injury, thus exhibiting an -ineffectiveness of the artillery which seems remarkable, as there were -said to have been thirty mortars large and small, and ten eighteen-pound -cannon in the different batteries erected by Oglethorpe, of which the -farthest was not more than three-quarters of a mile distant. - -This attack of Oglethorpe seems to have demonstrated to the Spanish -crown the likelihood of an English occupation of their possessions in -Florida. The following year large reinforcements were sent to Governor -Monteano, with instructions to improve the defenses of the town in every -possible way. - -Finding the British colonists did not renew their attack on the town as -he had anticipated, Monteano advised an invasion of Georgia and South -Carolina. Accordingly an army of two thousand men was raised in Cuba, -which, being dispatched to St. Augustine, was placed under the command -of Governor Monteano. To this force the governor added one thousand men -from the garrison of the town, including a regiment of negroes, whose -officers are said to have dressed, ranked, and associated with the -Spanish officers without reserve.[15] - -With this force Monteano entered upon the invasion of Georgia; but, -being opposed by Oglethorpe with great energy and skill, was entirely -unsuccessful, and the expedition retired to St. Augustine. From thence -the forces returned to Cuba, where the governor was imprisoned and tried -for misconduct, though acquitted of the charges. - -In the next year Oglethorpe endeavored to retaliate upon the Spaniards, -and get possession of St. Augustine by a sudden attack which should take -the town by surprise. He is said to have approached with such celerity -and secresy that he arrived within sight of the town without exciting an -alarm. Here he captured a small body of troops acting as a guard to the -king’s workmen. This capture defeated the success of his surprise, for, -the absence of the guard being noticed, a body of horsemen were sent out -to learn the cause of their detention, and the forces of Oglethorpe were -discovered in time to close the city gates and prepare the garrison. -Oglethorpe was unwilling to risk an assault on the town, and retired -into Georgia, after spending two months in attempting to provoke the -Spaniards to a fight without the walls of the town. During this time his -troops completely devastated the surrounding country. - -Up to about this period there had existed an Indian village near the -site of Fort Mosa (or Moosa) called Macarizi. It was probably located on -a creek now called “Baya’s Creek,” about two miles north of the city, -though the Franciscan Father Ayeta, in his “La Verdad Defendida,” p. -215, says that Macarizi and Nombre de Dios (Topiqui) were the same. - -Soon after Oglethorpe retired Governor Monteano furnished arms and -ammunition to one Pedro Christano, a Spanish Indian chief among the -Yemassees, and incited incursions against the British colonists in -Georgia. These were continued under the encouragement of the Spaniards -until the settlements south of St. Simonds Island were entirely broken -up. These hostilities, which had continued since 1725, were mutually -suspended under the treaty which was concluded between England and Spain -in 1748, but marauding expeditions were again entered upon in 1755. The -Spanish ambassador at London, having obtained from the court of St. -James an order commanding the English settlers to retire from the -territory of Florida, the new governor, Don Alonzo Fernandez de Herreda, -sent a company of dragoons to hasten the obedience of the English -colonists. Upon a summons the English agreed to retire, but they never -did so, and the next year, 1763, the provinces of the Floridas were -ceded to Great Britain in exchange for Havana and the western portion of -Cuba, which had been captured from the Spanish. This treaty was -concluded on the 3d of November, 1762, and ratified February 10th, -1763. - - - - -CHAPTER XIII. - - THE TOWN WHEN DELIVERED TO THE ENGLISH.--FORT SAN JUAN DE - PINOS.--ST. AUGUSTINE AS DESCRIBED BY THE ENGLISH WRITERS 1765 TO - 1775. - - -Before the cession of the province, the fort had been completed, and -presented, at the time it was delivered to the English, very much the -same appearance as now. Many of the casemates had platforms about seven -feet from the floor for sleeping apartments. The moat was about four -feet deeper than at present, and the water battery was built in such a -manner that the guns were mounted upon it instead of behind it, as at -present. The high banks of sand on the north, west, and south sides of -the fort have been placed there in recent times as a protection from the -shot of modern guns, which would soon make a breach through almost any -thickness of coquina wall. The fortress occupies about four acres of -ground, and mounts one hundred guns, requiring a garrison of a thousand -soldiers, though a much larger number have, on several occasions, been -its garrison. Its site was well chosen for the protection of the town in -the days when it was built, as its guns command the whole harbor and -inlet from the sea, as also the whole peninsula to the south, upon which -the town is built, the land approach from the north, and the marshes -west of the town. Various dates have been assigned as the period at -which the work on this fort was commenced, but of this date there is no -record in this country, if there is in Spain. At the time of Drake’s -attack, 1586, there was an octagonal fort on or about the site of the -present structure, which was built of logs and earth. In 1638, or -thereabouts, the Apalachians were set to work on the fortifications of -the town, and, as Menendez had applied himself to strengthening the -defenses of the town after the attack of De Gourges, 1567, it is -probable that this fort had been commenced before the beginning of the -seventeenth century. That the Spaniards had then begun to use coquina as -a building stone is to be inferred from a statement of Romans, that, in -his time, one of the old houses of the town bore the date 1571. The name -of the wooden fort was San Juan de Pinos, and the present fort bore the -name St. John for many years. It is supposed that the old wooden -structure stood near the north-west bastion, which was probably called -St. John, while the south-east was named for St. Peter, the south-west -was called St. Augustine, and the north-east St. Paul. - -It is uncertain when the name St. Mark’s was first applied to the -castle, though probably during the English occupation, 1663-1684. The -fort, doubtless, acquired the name from that applied to the present -north river, which was called by the Spaniards St. Mark’s River, at the -mouth of which the fort is located. It is probably the oldest -fortification now standing in the United States, and certainly the -oldest which is yet in a good state of preservation. From the date at -which the Apalachians began work, until the year in which the -fortification was declared finished and the commemorative tablet -erected, the period during which it was being built is one hundred and -eighteen years. It has now been a century and a quarter since this -magnificent old structure, representing the grandest military -architecture of the middle ages, was completed, and two centuries and a -half since its inception. - -What a strange and eventful history is connected with its stone walls, -its deep ditch, its frowning battlements, its dismal dungeon, and damp -casemates, in the midst of which, on the north side, is its chapel with -raised altar, built into the masonry, and holy water niches in the walls -of the casemates. - -Those who have read this history thus far will have noted the laying of -its foundations by the hands of those zealous and bigoted Catholics who -had exterminated a settlement of the subjects of a friendly nation, lest -they should spread among the barbarous Indians heretical doctrines; the -accretion of its rising walls under the hands of the unfortunate -Indians, who had been loath to accept the Christian teachers and -doctrine that had been forced upon them by these expungers of heresy, -until, with the aid of convicts and king’s workmen, the work was -completed, to stand the defense of the Spanish possessions in Florida, -the protection of fugitive slaves, depredating Indians, Spanish -pensioners and adventurers, and the prison of many wretched Indians and -whites who had fallen under the displeasure of a Spanish autocrat. For -almost two hundred years the Spanish ensign had been uninterruptedly -displayed from the site of this fort, when, by the treaty of 1762, it -was yielded to the British, and the cross of St. George displayed from -its battlements. - -The year after his arrival in Florida, Governor Hereda sculptured, in -alto-relievo, the Spanish coat of arms over the entrance of the fort. -The tablet upon which the design is impressed is made of cement, and let -into the walls of the fort. The inscription on the tablet beneath the -coat of arms is as follows: - - “REYNANDO EN ESPANA EL SEN^{N} DON FERNANDO SEXTO Y SIENDO GOV^{R} - Y CAP^{N} DE ES^{A} C^{D} SA^{N} AUG^{N} DE LA FLORIDA Y SUS - PROV^{A} EL MARISCAL DE CAMPO D^{N} ALONZO FERN^{DO} HERADA ASI - CONCLUIO ESTE CASTILLO EL AN OD 1756 DRI^{G}ENDO LAS OBRAS EL CAP. - INGN^{RO} DN PEDRO DE BROZAS Y GARAY.” - -TRANSLATION: - - “_Don Ferdinand the VI, being King of Spain, and the Field Marshal - Don Alonzo Fernando Hereda being Governor and Captain General of - this place, St. Augustine of Florida, and its province, this Fort - was finished in the year 1756. The works were directed by the - Captain Engineer, Don Pedro de Brazas Y Garay._”[16] - -An alto-relievo coat of arms, upon a cement tablet, was also placed upon -the lunette, but vandal relic hunters have disfigured this tablet most -aggravatingly. In the top of this tablet there is an oval-shaped hollow, -which looks as if it might have been worn by the handle of a spear, or -small staff of a standard. It is possible that the sentry has stood upon -this wall, resting his lance on the top of this tablet for years, until -this hollow has been worn three inches or more in depth, and so -perfectly smooth as to have a polish over the surface of the depression. - -Every part of this old work should be protected and preserved by the -United States, whose property it is. With proper care, and moderate -repairs from time to time, this old structure will yet remain for ages a -grand old relic of medieval architecture, and a monument of the first -settlement of this country by our European ancestors. The sum of thirty -millions of dollars is said to have been expended by the Spaniards in -the construction of this fortification; a sum so vast that, when the -amount was read to King Ferdinand VI., he is reported to have turned to -his secretary, and exclaimed, “What! Is the fort built of solid -dollars?” - -“Of its legends connected with the dark chambers and prison vaults, the -chains, the instruments of torture, the skeletons walled in, its closed -and hidden recesses, of Coacouchee’s escape, and many another tale, -there is much to say; but it is better said within the grim walls, where -the eye and the imagination can go together in weaving a web of mystery -and awe over its sad associations, to the music of the grating bolt, the -echoing tread, and the clanking chain.”[17] - -I have heard from native residents that tales of skeletons, etc., were -never heard until after the late war; which assertion the above -quotation from Fairbanks’ History, published in 1858, will disprove.[18] - -The appearance and condition of the town at the time of the English -possession has been described by several writers, whose quaintness of -style adds to the inherent interest of the subject. - -The English surveyor-general, De Brahm, describes the place as follows: - -“At the time the Spaniards left the town, all the gardens were well -stocked with fruit trees, viz.: figs, guavas, plantain, pomegranates, -lemons, limes, citrons, shadock, bergamot, China and Seville oranges, -the latter full of fruit throughout the whole winter season. The town is -three quarters of a mile in length, but not a quarter wide; had four -churches ornamentally built with stone in the Spanish taste, of which -one within and one without the town exist. One is pulled down; that is -the German church, but the steeple is preserved as an ornament to the -town; and the other, viz., the convent-church and convent in town, is -taken in the body of the barracks. All the houses are built of masonry; -their entrances are shaded by piazzas, supported by Tuscan pillars or -pilasters against the south sun. The houses have to the east windows -projecting sixteen or eighteen inches into the street, very wide and -proportionally high. On the west side, their windows are commonly very -small, and no opening of any kind on the north, on which side they have -double walls six or eight feet asunder, forming a kind of gallery which -answers for cellars and pantries. Before most of the entrances were -arbors of vines, producing plenty and very good grapes. No house has any -chimney or fireplace; the Spaniards made use of stone urns, filled them -with coals left in their kitchens in the afternoon, and set them at -sunset in their bedrooms to defend themselves against those winter -seasons which required such care. The governor’s residence has on both -sides piazzas, viz., a double one on the south, and a single one to the -north; also a Belvidere and a grand portico decorated with Doric pillars -and entablatures. On the north end of the town is a casemated fort, with -four bastions, a ravelin, counterscarp, and a glacis built with quarried -shell-stones, and constructed according to the rudiments of Marechal de -Vauban. This fort commands the road of the bay, the town, its environs, -and both Tolomato Stream and Matanzas Creek. The soil in the gardens and -environs of the town is chiefly sandy and marshy. The Spaniards seem to -have had a notion of manuring their land with shells one foot deep.” - -In 1770, according to De Brahm, the inhabitants of St. Augustine and -vicinity numbered 288 householders exclusive of women and children, of -whom 31 were storekeepers and traders; 3 haberdashers, 15 innkeepers, 45 -artificers and mechanics, 110 planters, 4 hunters, 6 cow-keepers, 11 -overseers, 12 draftsmen in the employ of the government, besides -mathematicians; 58 had left the province, and 28 had died, of whom 4 -were killed acting as constables, and two hanged for piracy.[19] - -Another account says that at the time of the evacuation by the -Spaniards, the town contained a garrison of 2,500 men, and a population -of 3,200, who were of all colors, whites, negroes, mulattoes, Indians, -etc. This estimate probably included the surrounding country as well as -the town, as Romans a few years later made the number residing within -the city much smaller. He says: “The town has, by all writers, till Dr. -Stork’s time, been said to lay at the foot of a hill; so far from the -truth is this, that it is almost surrounded by water, and the remains of -the line drawn from the harbor to St. Sebastian Creek, a fourth of a -mile north of the fort, in which line stands a fortified gate called the -Barrier Gate, is the only rising ground near it; this line had a ditch, -and its fortification was pretty regular; about a mile and a half beyond -this are the remains of another fortified line, which had a kind of -look-out or advanced guard of stoccadoes at its western extremity on St. -Sebastian Creek, and Fort Mossa at its eastern end; besides these the -town has been fortified with a slight but regular line of -circumvallation and a ditch. The town is half a mile in length, and its -southern line had two bastions of stone, one of which (if not both) are -broken down, and the materials used for the building of the foundation -of the barracks; the ditch and parapet are planted with a species of -agave, which by its points is well fitted to keep out cattle.[20] Dr. -Stork has raised this into a fortification against the savages, and -magnified it into a chevaux de frize. The town is very ill built, the -streets being all, except one, crooked and narrow. The date on one of -the houses I remember to be 1571; these are of stone, mostly -flat-roofed, heavy, and look badly. Till the arrival of the English, -neither glass windows nor chimneys were known here, the lower windows -had all a projecting frame of wooden rails before them. The governor’s -house is a heavy, unsightly pile, but well contrived for the climate; at -its north-west side it has a kind of tower; this serves for a look-out. -There were three suburbs in the time of the Spaniards, but all destroyed -before my acquaintance with the place, except the church of the Indian -town to the north, now converted into an hospital. Dr. Stork says the -steeple of this church is of good workmanship, though built by the -Indians, neither of which assertions is true. The steeple of the German -chapel to the west of the town likewise remains.[21] - -“The parish church in the town is a wretched building, and now almost a -heap of ruins; the parade before the governor’s house is nearly in the -middle of the town, and has a very fine effect; there are two rows of -orange trees planted by order of Governor Grant, which make a fine walk -on each side of it; the sandy streets are hardened by lime and oyster -shells. Dr. Stork says there were nine hundred houses at the time of the -Spanish evacuation, and 3,200 inhabitants. In my time there were not -three hundred houses, and at most a thousand inhabitants; these, a few -excepted, I found to be a kind of outcast and scum of the earth; to keep -them such their ill form of government does not a little contribute. A -letter dated May 27th, 1774, says this town is now truly become a heap -of ruins--a fit receptacle for the wretches of inhabitants.”[22] - -This sweeping condemnation of the whole population of the town would -seem to be exceedingly unjust and unbecoming a historian. - -Major Ogilvie of the British army received the town from the Spaniards, -and immediately entered upon an administration of the affairs of the -province which was most unreasonable and impolitic. “Major Ogilvie, in -taking possession of the eastern province, by his impolitic behavior -caused all the Spaniards to remove to Havana, which was a deadly wound -to the province, never to be cured again.” - -So oppressive was the course of this commander, that it was said that -not more than five of the Spanish inhabitants consented to remain in the -province, and only by the efforts of the officer in command were the -Spaniards prevented from destroying every house and building in the -town. The governor did destroy his garden, which had been stocked with -rare ornamental plants, trees, and flowers. - -By the articles of peace the King of Great Britain guaranteed “the -liberty of the Catholic religion,” but the prejudices of the Spaniards -were deeply rooted, and the transfer of the territory was distasteful -beyond measure. Governor James Grant was sent out from England to take -charge of the province, and immediately, upon relieving Major Ogilvie, -issued a proclamation dated October 7th, 1763, intended to conciliate -and retain those Spaniards who had not withdrawn, and recall those who -had, as well as to encourage persons in England to remove to Florida. - -Governor Grant had been high in command at the capture of Havana. His -administration of a country hitherto the seat of war between the -aborigines, the original settlers, and their British neighbors, was not -without many difficulties; but his management of affairs was generally -very satisfactory, and showed much policy and executive ability. It was -said of him that, hearing of any coolness between those about him, they -were brought together at his table (always well provided) and reconciled -before they were allowed to leave it. His conduct was not exempt from -unfriendly criticism, however, and it was charged that he would not -allow the transfer of Spanish landed interest to be good, although -mentioned in the treaty; “that he reigned supreme without control, even -in peace, notwithstanding the frequent murmurs of the people and the -presentments of the grand juries, occasioned by his not calling an -assembly, which they thought was a duty incumbent upon him. There was -also a complaint of the contingent money, of five thousand pounds per -annum for seven years, not being so very visibly expended on highways, -bridges, ferries, and such other necessary things as the people would -have wished.”[23] - -The Spaniards attempted to illegally transfer, and, in fact, did sell -the whole of their property in St. Augustine to a few British subjects -for a nominal sum. It was probably this class of conveyances that -Governor Grant refused to recognize. The complaint as to the building of -roads, etc., must have been without foundation, as under Governor Grant -were constructed all those public roads, since known as the King’s -Roads, running from New Smyrna to St. Augustine, and thence to -Jacksonville and the St. Mary’s River. These roads were all turnpiked -upon the line of surveyed routes, and are to-day the best roads in the -State. - -Under Governor Grant the British built at St. Augustine very extensive -barracks, which were soon afterward burned. Romans thus criticises the -policy of the governor in expending so large sums on military works: -“The bar of this harbor is a perpetual obstruction to St. Augustine -becoming a place of any great trade, and alone is security enough -against enemies; so that I see but little occasion for so much -fortification as the Spaniards had here, especially as a little look-out -called Mossa, at a small distance north of the town, proved sufficient -to repel General Oglethorpe with the most formidable armament ever -intended against St. Augustine. However, there was much more propriety -in the Spaniards having a fort in the modern taste of military -architecture--of a regular quadrilateral form, with four bastions, a -wide ditch, a covered way, a glacis, a ravelin to defend the gate, -places of arms and bomb-proofs, with a casemating all round, etc., etc., -for a defense against savages--than there was in raising such a -stupendous pile of buildings as the new barracks by the English, which -are large enough to contain five regiments, when it is a matter of grave -doubt whether it will ever be a necessity to keep one whole regiment -here. To mend this matter, the great barrack was built with materials -brought to St. Augustine from New York, far inferior in value to those -found on the spot, yet the freight alone amounted to more than their -value when landed, so that people can hardly help thinking that the -contrivers of all this, having a sum of money to throw away, found it -necessary to fill some parasite’s pockets. This fort and barrack, -however, add not a little to the beauty of the prospect,” as one -approaches the town from the water. - -When the old light-house was built I have been unable to discover. Under -Governor Grant it was raised by a timber construction, and had a cannon -planted on it, which was fired as soon as the flag was hoisted to notify -the inhabitants and pilots that a vessel was approaching. It had two -flagstaffs, one to the north and one to the south, on either of which -the flag was hoisted as the vessel was approaching from the north or -south. - -It is possible that the old light-house was constructed in 1693, with -the proceeds of the six thousand dollars appropriated by the Council of -the Indies, for “building a tower as a look-out.” The Spaniards kept a -detachment of troops stationed there, and the tower and adjoining chapel -were inclosed with a high and thick stone wall, pierced with loop-holes, -and having a salient angle to protect the gate. Romans describes it, in -his time, as follows: “About half a mile from the north end of the -island [Anastatia] is a heavy stone building serving for a look-out. A -small detachment of troops is kept here, and by signals from hence the -inhabitants are given to understand what kind of, and how many vessels -are approaching the harbor, either from the north or from the south. In -the year 1770, fifty feet of timber framework were added to its former -height, as was likewise a mast or flagstaff forty-seven feet long; but -this last, proving too weighty, endangered the building, and was soon -taken down.”[24] This old structure was repaired and a house for the -light-keeper built in 1823, by Elias Wallen, a contractor, who was also -employed upon the repairs made to the old “Governor’s House.” - -The coquina ledge upon which it was built has of late years been rapidly -washing away by the action of the tides, and dashing of the waves, which -during the annual north-east storms are sometimes of considerable force. -A storm washed away the foundations of the tower, and it fell with a -crash on Sunday, the 20th of June, 1880. Thus has gone forever one of -St. Augustine’s most interesting old landmarks.[25] - -The English built a bridge across the St. Sebastian River upon the old -road leading over the marshes, which approached the town near the -saw-mills. From some defect in construction, this bridge did not remain -long. They then established a ferry, and appointed a ferry-keeper with a -salary of fifty pounds sterling per annum. The inhabitants paid nothing -for crossing except after dark. - - - - -CHAPTER XIV. - - THE SETTLEMENT OF NEW SMYRNA BY THE ANCESTORS OF A MAJORITY OF THE - PRESENT POPULATION OF ST. AUGUSTINE.--THE HARDSHIPS ENDURED BY - THESE MINORCAN AND GREEK COLONISTS.--THEIR REMOVAL TO ST. AUGUSTINE - UNDER THE PROTECTION OF THE ENGLISH GOVERNOR. - - -The proclamation of Governor Grant, and the accounts which had gone -abroad of the advantages of the province, and the liberal policy adopted -by the British in the treatment of colonists, induced some wealthy -planters from the Carolinas to remove to Florida, and several noblemen -of England also solicited grants of land in the province. Among the -noblemen who secured grants of land in Florida were Lords Hawke, Egmont, -Grenville, and Hillsborough, Sir William Duncan, and Dennys Rolle, the -father of Lord Rolle. Sir William Duncan was a partner with Dr. Turnbull -in importing a large number of Europeans for the cultivation of their -lands south of St. Augustine, on the Halifax River. The persons whom -these two gentlemen then induced to come to Florida are the ancestors of -a large majority of the resident population of St. Augustine at the -present day. In the early accounts of the place I am satisfied that -gross injustice was done to these people in a reckless condemnation of -the whole community. I have myself heard their descendants unreasonably -censured, and their characters severely criticised. These unfavorable -opinions were doubtless generated by the unfortunate position in which -these immigrants found themselves. Friendless in a strange land, -speaking a different language from the remainder of the inhabitants, and -of a different religious belief, it was but natural that they should -mingle but little with the English residents, especially after they had -experienced such unjust treatment at the hands of one of the most -influential of the principal men of the colony. The reader will -understand the position of these Minorcans and Greeks, and the feelings -they must have entertained toward the great men of the colony, after -reading Romans’s account of the hardships they were forced to undergo, -and the difficulty they had in breaking their onerous contract. Romans -says: “The situation of the town, or settlement, made by Dr. Turnbull is -called New Smyrna from the place of the doctor’s lady’s nativity. About -fifteen hundred people, men, women, and children, were deluded away from -their native country, where they lived at home in the plentiful -corn-fields and vineyards of Greece and Italy, to this place, where, -instead of plenty, they found want in the last degree; instead of -promised fields, a dreary wilderness; instead of a grateful, fertile -soil, a barren, arid sand, and in addition to their misery were obliged -to indent themselves, their wives and children for many years to a man -who had the most sanguine expectations of transplanting bashawship from -the Levant. The better to effect his purpose, he granted them a pitiful -portion of land for ten years upon the plan of the feudal system. This -being improved, and just rendered fit for cultivation, at the end of -that term it again reverts to the original grantor, and the grantee may, -if he chooses, begin a new state of vassalage for ten years more. Many -were denied even such grants as these, and were obliged to work at tasks -in the field. Their provisions were, at the best of times, only a quart -of maize per day, and two ounces of pork per week. This might have -sufficed with the help of fish, which abounded in this lagoon; but they -were denied the liberty of fishing, and, lest they should not labor -enough, inhuman taskmasters were set over them, and instead of allowing -each family to do with their homely fare as they pleased, they were -forced to join altogether in one mess, and at the beat of a vile drum to -come to one common copper, from whence their hominy was ladled out to -them; even this coarse and scanty meal was, through careless management, -rendered still more coarse, and, through the knavery of a providetor and -the pilfering of a hungry cook, still more scanty. Masters of vessels -were forewarned from giving any of them a piece of bread or meat. -Imagine to yourself an African--one of a class of men whose hearts are -generally callous against the softer feelings--melted with the wants of -these wretches, giving them a piece of venison, of which he caught what -he pleased, and for this charitable act disgraced, and, in course of -time, used so severely that the unusual servitude soon released him to a -happier state. Again, behold a man obliged to whip his own wife for -pilfering bread to relieve his helpless family; then think of a time -when the small allowance was reduced to half, and see some brave, -generous seamen charitably sharing their own allowance with some of -these wretches, the merciful tars suffering abuse for their generosity, -and the miserable objects of their ill-timed pity undergoing bodily -punishment for satisfying the cravings of a long-disappointed appetite, -and you may form some judgment of the manner in which New Smyrna was -settled. Before I leave this subject I will relate the insurrection to -which those unhappy people at New Smyrna were obliged to have recourse, -and which the great ones styled rebellion. In the year 1769, at a time -when the unparalleled severities of their taskmasters, particularly one -Cutter (who had been made a justice of the peace, with no other view -than to enable him to execute his barbarities on a larger extent and -with greater appearance of authority) had drove these wretches to -despair, they resolved to escape to the Havannah. To execute this they -broke into the provision stores and seized on some craft lying in the -harbor, but were prevented from taking others by the care of the -misters. Destitute of any man fit for the important post of leader, -their proceedings were all confused, and an Italian of very bad -principles, but of so much note that he had formerly been admitted to -the overseer’s table, assumed a kind of command; they thought themselves -secure where they were, and this occasioned a delay till a detachment of -the Ninth Regiment had time to arrive, to whom they submitted, except -one boatful, which escaped to the Florida Keys and were taken up by a -Providence man. Many were the victims destined to punishment; as I was -one of the grand jury which sat fifteen days on this business, I had an -opportunity of canvassing it well; but the accusations were of so small -account that we found only five bills: one of these was against a man -for maiming the above said Cutter, whom it seems they had pitched upon -as the principal object of their resentment, _and curtailed his ear and -two of his fingers_; another for shooting a cow, which, being a capital -crime in England, the law making it such was here extended to this -province; the others were against the leader and two more for the -burglary committed on the provision store. The distress of the sufferers -touched us so that we almost unanimously wished for some happy -circumstances that might justify our rejecting all the bills, except -that against the chief who was a villain. One man was brought before us -three or four times, and, at last, was joined in one accusation with the -person who maimed Cutter; yet, no evidence of weight appearing against -him, I had an opportunity to remark, by the appearance of some faces in -court, that he had been marked, and that the grand jury disappointed the -expectations of more than one great man. Governor Grant pardoned two, -and a third was obliged to be the executioner of the remaining two. On -this occasion I saw one of the most moving scenes I ever experienced; -long and obstinate was the struggle of this man’s mind, who repeatedly -called out that he chose to die rather than be the executioner of his -friends in distress; this not a little perplexed Mr. Woolridge, the -sheriff, till at length the entreaties of the victims themselves put an -end to the conflict in his breast, by encouraging him to act. Now we -beheld a man thus compelled to mount the ladder, take leave of his -friends in the most moving manner, kissing them the moment before he -committed them to an ignominious death. Cutter some time after died a -lingering death, having experienced besides his wounds the terrors of a -coward in power overtaken by vengeance.”[26] - -The original agreement made with the immigrants before leaving the -Mediterranean was much more favorable to them than Romans describes it. -At the end of three years each head of a family was to have fifty acres -of land and twenty-five for each child of his family. This contract was -not adhered to on the part of the proprietors, and it was not until, by -the authority of the courts, they had secured their freedom from the -exactions imposed upon them that any disposition was shown to deed them -lands in severalty. After the suppression of this attempt to escape, -these people continued to cultivate the lands as before, and large crops -of indigo were produced by their labor. Meantime the hardships and -injustice practiced against them continued, until, in 1776, nine years -from their landing in Florida, their number had been reduced by -sickness, exposure, and cruel treatment from fourteen hundred to six -hundred. - -At that time it happened that some gentlemen visiting New Smyrna from -St. Augustine were heard to remark that if these people knew their -rights they never would submit to such treatment, and that the governor -ought to protect them. This remark was noted by an intelligent boy who -told it to his mother, upon whom it made such an impression that she -could not cease to think and plan how, in some way, their condition -might be represented to the governor. Finally, she decided to call a -council of the leading men among her people. They assembled soon after -in the night, and devised a plan of reaching the governor. Three of the -most resolute and competent of their number were selected to make the -attempt to reach St. Augustine and lay before the governor a report of -their condition. In order to account for their absence they asked to be -given a long task, or an extra amount of work to be done in a specified -time, and if they should complete the work in advance, the intervening -time should be their own to go down the coast and catch turtle. This was -granted them as a special favor. Having finished their task by the -assistance of their friends so as to have several days at their -disposal, the three brave men set out along the beach for St. Augustine. -The names of these men, most worthy of remembrance, were Pellicier, -Llambias, and Genopley. Starting at night they reached and swam Matanzas -Inlet the next morning, and arrived at St. Augustine by sundown of the -same day. After inquiry they decided to make a statement of their case -to Mr. Young, the attorney-general of the province. No better man could -have been selected to represent the cause of the oppressed. They made -known to him their condition, the terms of their original contract, and -the manner in which they had been treated. Mr. Young promised to present -their case to the governor, and assured them if their statements could -be proved, the governor would at once release them from the indentures -by which Turnbull claimed to control them. He advised them to return to -Smyrna and bring to St. Augustine all who wished to leave New Smyrna, -and the service of Turnbull. “The envoys returned with the glad tidings -that their chains were broken and that protection awaited them. Turnbull -was absent, but they feared the overseers, whose cruelty they dreaded. -They met in secret and chose for their leader Mr. Pellicier, who was -head carpenter. The women and children with the old men were placed in -the center, and the stoutest men armed with wooden spears were placed in -front and rear. In this order they set off, like the children of Israel, -from a place that had proved an Egypt to them. So secretly had they -conducted the transaction, that they proceeded some miles before the -overseer discovered that the place was deserted. He rode after the -fugitives and overtook them before they reached St. Augustine, and used -every exertion to persuade them to return, but in vain. On the third day -they reached St. Augustine, where provisions were served out to them by -order of the governor. Their case was tried before the judges, where -they were honestly defended by their friend the attorney-general. -Turnbull could show no cause for detaining them, and their freedom was -fully established. Lands were offered them at New Smyrna, but they -suspected some trick was on foot to get them into Turnbull’s hands, and -besides they detested the place where they had suffered so much. Lands -were therefore assigned them in the north part of the city, where they -have built houses and cultivated their gardens to this day. Some by -industry have acquired large estates: they at this time form a -respectable part of the population of the city.”[27] - -It will be seen by the date of their removal to St. Augustine that the -unfavorable comments of Romans and the Englishman whose letter he quotes -upon the population of the town at the cession to Great Britain, could -not have referred to the immigrants who came over under contract with -Turnbull. It will also be seen that Williams speaks in very -complimentary terms of these people and their descendants. I am pleased -to quote from an earlier account a very favorable, and, as I believe, a -very just tribute to the worth of these Minorcan and Greek settlers and -their children. Forbes, in his sketches, says: “They settled in St. -Augustine, where their descendants form a numerous, industrious, and -virtuous body of people, distinct alike from the indolent character of -the Spaniards and the rapacious habits of some of the strangers who have -visited the city since the exchange of flags. In their duties as small -farmers, hunters, fishermen, and other laborious but useful occupations, -they contribute more to the real stability of society than any other -class of people: generally temperate in their mode of life and strict in -their moral integrity, they do not yield the palm to the denizens of the -land of steady habits. Crime is almost unknown among them; speaking -their native tongue, they move about distinguished by a primitive -simplicity and purity as remarkable as their speech.”[28] - -Many of the older citizens now living remember the palmetto houses which -used to stand in the northern part of the town, built by the people who -came up from Smyrna. By their frugality and industry the descendants of -those who settled at Smyrna have replaced these palmetto huts with -comfortable cottages, and many among them have acquired considerable -wealth, and taken rank among the most respected and successful citizens -of the town. - - - - -[1771.] - -CHAPTER XV. - - ADMINISTRATION OF LIEUT.-GOVERNOR MOULTRIE.--DEMAND OF THE PEOPLE - FOR THE RIGHTS OF ENGLISHMEN.--GOVERNOR TONYN BURNING THE EFFIGIES - OF ADAMS AND HANCOCK.--COLONIAL INSURGENTS CONFINED IN THE - FORT.--ASSEMBLING OF THE FIRST LEGISLATURE.--COMMERCE OF ST. - AUGUSTINE UNDER THE ENGLISH.--RECESSION OF THE PROVINCE TO SPAIN. - - -Governor Grant’s administration lasted until 1771, when he returned to -England suffering in health. Upon his departure the province was under -the authority of Hon. John Moultrie, the lieut.-governor, for a period -of three years. The spirit of liberty, which was making itself felt -throughout the British provinces at the North at this time, was here in -Florida exciting in the breasts of those born under the British flag a -determination to demand the rights granted by the Magna Charta. Urged by -leading men in the council, the grand jury made presentments setting -forth the rights of the inhabitants of the province to a representative -government. These presentments the lieut.-governor disregarded, but -finally yielded so far as to consent to the formation of a legislature -which should be elected and meet every three years. The freeholders were -inflexible in their determination to have annual sessions of their -representatives, and continued without representation rather than to -yield. The chief justice, William Drayton, a gentleman of talents and -great professional knowledge, being unwilling to yield to the -pretensions of the lieut.-governor, was suspended from his office, and -the Rev. John Forbes, an assistant judge, was appointed to the vacancy -by Lieut.-Governor Moultrie. It was charged against Mr. Forbes that his -sympathies were with the Americans of the northern colonies. The -confirmation of his appointment was therefore rejected and a chief -justice sent from England. - -In March, 1774, a new governor arrived from England. This gentleman was -Colonel Patrick Tonyn, a _protegé_ of Lord Marchmont, and very zealous -for the royal cause. He at once issued a proclamation inviting the -inhabitants of the provinces to the North, who were attached to the -crown, to remove with their property to Florida. This invitation was -accepted by a considerable number of royalists. In 1776 Governor Tonyn -issued another proclamation inviting the inhabitants of the towns on the -St. Johns, and of the Musquitoes, to assemble and co-operate with the -king’s troops in resisting the “perfidious insinuations” of the -neighboring colonists, and to prevent any more men from joining their -“traitorous neighbors.” This was met by a counter proclamation by -President Batton Gwinnet, of Georgia, who encouraged the belief that the -God of “armies had appeared so remarkably in favor of liberty, that the -period could not be far distant when the enemies of America would be -clothed with everlasting shame and dishonor.” Governor Tonyn issued -commissions to privateers, and held a council of the Indians to secure -their alliance against the patriots of the neighboring colonies. - -Upon the receipt of news of the Declaration of Independence of the -American colonies, the royalists showed their zeal for the king by -burning the effigies of John Hancock and Samuel Adams on the plaza, -near where the constitutional monument now stands. In 1775 some -privateers from Carolina captured the brig _Betsy_ off the bar, and -unloaded her in sight of the garrison, giving to the captain a bill -signed “Clement Lamprière,” and drawn on Miles Brewton, at Charleston, -for one thousand pounds sterling. The cargo consisted of one hundred and -eleven barrels of powder sent from London, and the capture was a great -mortification to the new governor. - -During the early years of the struggle between the American colonies and -the mother country, St. Augustine was the British point of rendezvous -and an asylum for the royalists. From Georgia and Carolina there were -said to have been seven thousand royalists and slaves who moved to -Florida during these years. So hazardous to the colonial interests had -the British possession of St. Augustine become, that Governor Houston, -of Georgia, urged upon General Howe to attack the place in the spring of -1778. This expedition was never undertaken, though Colonel Fuser, of the -Sixtieth Regiment, issued a proclamation on June 27th, 1778, commanding -all those who had not entered the militia to join him, as “the rebels -might be expected every instant.” - -The inhabitants of the province, while willing to fight for the king, -still demanded the establishment of a representative government. -Governor Tonyn, in a letter to Lord George St. German, Secretary of -State, says: “I perceive the cry for a provincial legislature to remedy -local inconveniences is as loud as ever, and suggestions are thrown out -that, without it, people’s property is not secure, and that they must -live in a country where they can enjoy to their utmost extent the -advantages of the British Constitution and laws formed with their -consent. But mention the expediency, propriety, reasonableness, -justice, and gratitude of imposing taxes for the expenses of the -government, they are all silent, or so exceedingly poor as not to be -able to pay the least farthing.” - -In 1780 Governor Tonyn repaired both lines of defense about the town, -strengthened the fortifications, and added several new works. The -inhabitants complained bitterly that the burdens of the public defense -fell upon them, as their negroes were kept for several months employed -upon the king’s works. The governor seems to have considered that -loyalty to the king was not to be expected from his new subjects in -Florida, or at least was to be found only among Protestants. Writing of -the militia, he says: “There are several Minorcans, and I have my doubts -as to their loyalty, being of Spanish and French extraction, and of the -Roman Catholic religion.” - -About this time the British, having captured Charleston, seized a number -of the most influential men of South Carolina, in violation of their -parole, and sent them to St. Augustine, where they remained until -exchanged in 1781. All of the number, except General Gadsden, accepted a -second parole, after arriving at St. Augustine. Gadsden, refusing to -receive pledges at the hands of those who had already broken them, was -confined for nearly a year in the fort. These prisoners were often -threatened with the fate due to defeated rebels, and perhaps were taken -to view the gallows at the north-east corner of the court-yard in the -fort, said to have been erected by the British.[29] - -The pressure upon the governor, urging him to permit the enjoyment of -the rights of representation granted by the king’s charter, had now -become so forcible that, in 1781, a General Assembly was called, -consisting of an Upper and a Lower House. The former was probably -composed of the crown officers, and the latter of those elected by the -freeholders. - -March 17th, 1781, the first Assembly met. Though Florida had been -settled more than two hundred years, never before had the citizens been -allowed to assemble and enact a law. The governor, in his address upon -the assembling of the two Houses, was inclined to be sarcastic. He -announced that the “king and Parliament,” with astonishing “and -unprecedented condescension,” relinquished their right of taxation, -provided the Legislature made due provision for defraying the expenses -of the government, and this when the whole sum raised by taxation did -not amount to the salary of the king’s treasurer. The principal source -of revenue was said to be from licenses to sell liquors. - -In 1781 an event occurred most damaging to the material advancement of -the province. This was an order from Sir Guy Carleton, H. B. M., -Commander-in-chief in America, to General Leslie, in Carolina, to -evacuate the province of East Florida with all his troops and such -loyalists as wished. The inhabitants at once sent the most urgent -protests against this harsh and unreasonable order, appealing to the -governor and the king, by whom it was soon after revoked. - -It was at the hands of an expedition fitted out at St. Augustine that -Great Britain obtained possession of the Bahama Islands, which she still -holds. In 1783, Colonel Devereux, with two twelve-gun vessels, and a -small force of men, made a sudden attack and captured the town of -Nassau, with the Spanish garrison and governor. - -During the latter part of the British possession the exports of rum, -sugar, molasses, indigo, and lumber had become considerable. As early as -1770 the records of the Custom-House showed the entry of fifty schooners -and sloops from the northern provinces and the West Indies, beside -several square-rigged vessels from London and Liverpool. In 1771 the -imports were: 54 pipes of Madeira wine, 170 puncheons of rum, 1,660 -barrels of flour, 1,000 barrels of beef and pork, 339 firkins of butter, -and 11,000 pounds of loaf sugar. These cargoes were brought in -twenty-nine vessels, of which five were from London. There were also -imported about 1,000 negroes, of whom 119 were from Africa. - -The average annual expenses of East Florida, while under the British -flag, were £122,660 sterling, without including the pay of the army or -navy. In 1778, a period of the greatest prosperity reached under the -British flag, the whole value of the exports was only £48,000 sterling, -or a little more than one-third of the expenses of the province. - -Through the exertions of the Anglo-Saxon settlers, who had brought to -the province their advanced ideas of government, agriculture, and -commerce, Florida was just entering upon a career of prosperity, when it -was again ceded to Spain. These constant changes, necessitating the -transfer of property to the subjects of the ruling sovereign, would, of -themselves, have prevented any considerable improvement in the material -wealth of the province; but the treaty between Great Britain and Spain -so far neglected to provide for the interests of the British subjects -who had settled in Florida, that the only stipulation relating to them -was one allowing them the privilege of removing within eighteen months -from the time of the ratification. Whatever real property was not sold -to Spanish subjects, at the end of this period, was to become the -property of the Spanish Crown. Under the British there had settled in -the town of St. Augustine a large number of half-pay officers of the -British Government, who, with others possessing certain incomes, had -greatly improved the place. It is said that those conversant with the -place in 1784, spoke highly of the beauty of the gardens, the neatness -of the houses, and the air of cheerfulness and comfort that seemed -during the preceding period to have been thrown over the town. Florida -was literally deserted by its British subjects upon the change of flags. -Vignoles says: “Perhaps no such other general emigration of the -inhabitants of a country, amicably transferred to another government, -ever occurred.” Among the British subjects, who remained and transferred -their allegiance to Spain, were several families whose descendants are -still living in Florida. - - - - -CHAPTER XVI. - - RETURN OF THE SPANIARDS.--COMPLETION OF THE CATHEDRAL.--THE OLDEST - CHURCH BELL IN AMERICA.--THE GOVERNOR’S DESIRE TO PEOPLE THE - PROVINCE WITH IRISH CATHOLICS.--SOME OFFICIAL ORDERS EXHIBITING THE - CUSTOMS OF THE SPANIARDS.--UNJUSTIFIABLE INTERFERENCE OF THE UNITED - STATES, DURING THE “PATRIOT WAR.”--FLORIDA AN UNPROFITABLE - POSSESSION.--ERECTION OF THE MONUMENT TO THE SPANISH CONSTITUTION. - - -In June, 1784, Governor Zespedes took possession of St. Augustine, in -the name of “his most Catholic Majesty.” The British Government had -provided a fleet of transports to convey its subjects, and from the St. -Johns River and the St. Mary’s they sailed for the American colonies and -the British dominions. - -With the Spanish flag returned to St. Augustine the numerous company of -salaried officials and crown-pensioners holding sinecure offices, and -contributing nothing to the improvement of the place, and nothing to its -existence but their presence. This large portion of the inhabitants, -dependent upon the crown, did not always receive punctual payment of -their salaries; but, with their daily allowance of rations in kind, they -were enabled to exist. They generally occupied the houses belonging to -the crown, which were numerous, and the rent required was but nominal. -In 1764, a large number of lots in the town had been sold in confidence -to Jesse Fish, a British subject, to prevent their being forfeited to -the crown at the expiration of the period allowed by the treaty between -Great Britain and Spain for the disposal of private property. This sale -was not recognized as valid by the Spanish authorities upon their -return, and one hundred and eighty-five lots were thus forfeited to the -King of Spain. These lots were soon after sold at auction, on terms very -favorable to the purchasers. - -Upon the return of the Spaniards they at once devoted their energies to -completing their house of worship. At the change of flags (1763) the -walls of the present cathedral had been erected, and, to prevent the -property from becoming forfeited to the British Government, the lot and -unfinished structure were deeded to Jesse Fish for one hundred dollars. -The deed was a trust deed, and, upon the return of the Spaniards, the -property was reconveyed by Mr. Fish to the Rev. Thomas Hassett, -Vicar-General of Florida. The old parish church, which stood on the lot -now belonging to the Episcopal parish, and west of their church edifice, -had during the English possession been used as a courthouse. This old -church was called “Our Lady of the Angels,” and was built of stone, -being probably the second church erected in the town by the Spaniards. -The Spanish governor, immediately on taking possession, had fitted up -this old church for worship, for which the second story was assigned, -while on the first floor were rooms used for a guard, a temporary jail, -and for storing provisions, all of which uses would seem more -appropriate to the castle. Where the first wooden church stood I have -been unable to learn, though there is some rather obscure evidence that -it was near the present residence of Mr. Howard, on St. George Street. -How long the walls of the cathedral had been standing, before the change -of flags, is unknown. In 1703 the king decreed an appropriation of -$20,000 for the repair of the churches of St. Augustine injured by -Colonel Daniel. In 1720 the crown sent $20,000 more, and in 1723 issued -a decree to procure at once workmen and repair the convent, the church, -and the walls of the city. In 1790 the king decreed the application of -the rent from ten lots in Havana to finish the church. The inhabitants -were urged to contribute in work or money; and it is said that they -brought in poultry, which was very scarce, and donated the proceeds of -the sales of their chickens, which then sold at a dollar apiece. The two -old churches--“Nostra Senora de la Leche,” and “Our Lady of the -Angels”--were torn down, and the materials sold for the benefit of the -new church, as well as such ornaments as were salable. From these -sources it was reported to the Bishop of Cuba that the following amounts -had been obtained: From the ornaments of the old churches, $3,978; from -donations offered by “these wretched inhabitants,” $850; the value of -the stone in the two old and dilapidated churches, $800--a total of -$5,628. To this amount the government applied revenues which amounted to -$11,000. It was not long after the means were secured before the edifice -was completed. It was blessed Dec. 8th, 1791. This new church, now -called the cathedral, was constructed under the supervision of Don -Mariana de la Roque, and presents a very pleasing architectural aspect. -The front wall is carried above the roof, making a section of a -bell-shaped cone, in excellent proportion and graceful curvature. The -front entrance is supported by a circular arch, and upon each side stand -two massive Doric columns supporting the entablature. The roof is -supported by trusses, so that the whole auditorium is free from columns -except two large stone pillars, which support the gallery immediately -over the entrance, and thus form the vestibule. From the center of the -ceiling hangs a unique chandelier, in which has been kept burning the -sacred flame almost without intermission for nearly a hundred years. -Near the vestibule, upon the left as you enter the church, is the sacred -crucifix belonging to the early chapel of Nra. Sra. de la Leche. It is -said that another ornament of this early chapel, a statue representing -the blessed Virgin watching from the church over the camp of the new -believers in her Son’s divinity, is in the convent of St. Teresa, at -Havana. A very interesting document is probably in the possession of the -church in Cuba, which is an inventory taken under a decree, issued Feb -6, 1764, by Morel, Bishop of Santa Cruz, enumerating all the ornaments, -altars, effigies, bells, and jewels belonging to the churches and -religious associations of St. Augustine. This inventory and much of the -property was taken to Cuba in a schooner called _Our Lady of the Light_. -From this record it might be possible to learn something of the history -of the bells in the belfry of the cathedral. Of these there are four -hanging in separate niches cut in the wall of the elevated front, three -in niches having their floors upon the same plane, but the two outer -ones are constructed of a less height than the center niche in which -hangs the largest bell; the fourth is a small bell in a corresponding -niche above the other three. I have always thought that one of these -bells might have been used in the English church, though there is no -record of it. The bell in the westerly niche, though the best in -appearance, and having the brightest color, is probably the oldest bell -upon this continent. The following inscription is cast upon its exterior -surface: - - ✝ - - SANCTE JOSEPH - - ORA PRO NOBIS - - D 1682 - -The other bells have inscriptions cast upon them, but no date. The small -bell in the upper niche was placed there about fifty years ago, having -been presented to the church by Don Geronimo Alverez, the same who was -alcalde (mayor) when the monument was built. An interesting anecdote is -told of this man, showing the power he possessed in the town. It is said -that, soon after the change of flags, a funeral procession approached -the church followed by pall-bearers decorated with a white sash, a -custom then first introduced, which is still retained. At the entrance -to the church they were met by this valiant but ignorant don, who -fiercely brandished a staff, and declared that not one of the impious -Freemasons should cross the threshold of the church except over his dead -body. Argument was unavailing, and the ceremony at the church was -necessarily dispensed with on that occasion, though the precaution was -taken to inform the old gentleman, before the next funeral, that the -sash was but a badge of mourning, and not the trappings of the devil. - -The cathedral is one of the most ornamental and interesting structures -in the town, and it is to be hoped that the revenues of the church may -be sufficient to keep it in perfect preservation. At present it needs -repairs.[30] - -May 15th, 1792, the large barracks built by the British were burned. The -lower story, only, was built of brick, the upper being of wood, while -the porches on all sides were supported by stone pillars. After the -destruction of these barracks, the Spanish governor made use of the -convent of “The Conception of Our Lady,” or St. Francis, as it was -afterward called, for the accommodation of his troops. It has ever since -been used for military purposes, though it still bears the canonized -name Francis. - -Finding that the Minorcans were unable to receive the full benefit from -the teachings of the priests because of their inability to understand -the Spanish language, the Vicar-General asked that there might be sent -to St. Augustine a priest conversant with the language of this large -proportion of his flock. In 1795, agreeably to this request, Friar -McAfry Catalan, an Irish priest speaking the Minorcan language, arrived -in St. Augustine. The Spanish governor, Don Juan Nepomuseno Quesada, -made great efforts to settle the province, and allowed many -extraordinary privileges, such as were not enjoyed in any other part of -the Spanish dominions. In 1792 Florida was opened to general emigration -without exception of country or creed. It was rapidly progressing to -importance under this wise policy, when the Spanish Minister, growing -jealous of the republican spirit of the new colonists, closed the gates -against American citizens about the year 1804. Quesada, however, -endeavored to procure a large Irish emigration, and wrote to Las Casas, -Governor of Cuba, asking that the government would aid those of Irish -nationality and Catholic faith to settle in the province. The governor -replied that no settlers should be admitted to Florida unless they paid -their own transportation and maintained themselves. He instructed -Quesada to afford no other assistance than “lands, protection, good -treatment, and no molestation in matters of religion, although there -shall be no other public worship but Catholic.” He also referred him to -the “Law of the Indies.” By this law lands were granted to new settlers, -“making a distinction between gentlemen and peasants.” A peasant’s -portion was a town lot fifty by one hundred feet--arable land, capable -of producing one hundred fanegas (bushels) of wheat and ten of Indian -corn, with as much land as two oxen can plow in a day for the raising of -esculent roots; also pasture-land for eight breeding sows, twenty cows, -five mares, one hundred sheep, and twenty goats. - -A gentleman’s portion was a lot in town one hundred by two hundred feet, -and, of all the remainder, five times a peasant’s portion. Many grants -were made under this law by Governor Quesada, and the patents issued by -him are the foundation of many titles of lands in the vicinity of St. -Augustine. - -At this time there were many customs, ordinances, and habits of life -existing in this old town of which no record or chronicle now remains. -One most respectable gentleman of the place has mentioned to the author -that his mother was married to three different husbands in the space of -two years. This would seem a very strange proceeding at the present day, -but can be readily understood when we learn that, a hundred years ago, -the women of this town were obliged to marry for protection. The -following are some of the orders issued September 2d, 1790, by the -Spanish governor: Order No. 12 prohibits all women under the age of -forty (whether widows or single) from living otherwise than under the -immediate protection of their parents or relations. Order No. 23 -forbidding masters or supercargoes of vessels from selling their cargoes -by wholesale without having first exposed the same for sale at retail -eight days previously to the public. Order No. 25 prohibiting persons -from galloping horses through the streets, and dogs from going at large -except hounds and pointers. Order No. 27 prohibiting persons from -walking the streets after nine o’clock at night without a lantern with a -light therein. Another order prohibited the owners of billiard tables -from admitting tradesmen, laborers, domestics, and boys on working days. - -There were few events worth recording which happened under the Spanish -rule after 1800, or at least that are of interest to the general reader. -Just after the recession the Indians attacked the settlements, and -burned Bella Vista, the country seat of Governor Moultrie, seven miles -south of St. Augustine. These Indian contests continued during the whole -succeeding period up to the change of flags, and were then transferred -to the Americans. The Indians were in almost every instance incited by -white men, or goaded to desperation by the deceptions of their white -neighbors, who were ever attempting to either make slaves of the Indians -or procure what negro slaves were owned by them. Just before the cession -of Florida to the United States, there were said to be about a thousand -Indians in the vicinity of St. Augustine. These obtained a living by -hunting, raising herds of cattle, and crops of corn, and bringing wood -into St. Augustine. This they were said to carry in bundles on their -backs. About this time they were all nearly starved by the trickery of -some unprincipled residents of St. Augustine. At the period when the -attention of themselves and their negro slaves was directed to the -cultivation of their crops a few worthless wretches, for the purpose of -alarming the Indians, and inducing them to sell their slaves for almost -nothing, went among the nation and spread the report that two thousand -men under General Jackson were coming to expel them from their lands and -carry away their slaves and cattle. This form of imposition had before -proved successful, and did in this case. The Indians upon this abandoned -their lands and sold their slaves, but before the next season -experienced great suffering from want, while the unprincipled -speculators having gratified their avarice were indifferent to the needs -of the poor savages. - -In January, 1811, President Monroe appointed George Matthews and John -McKee commissioners, with power to occupy the Floridas with force, -“should there be room to entertain a suspicion that a design existed in -any other power to occupy the provinces.” In pursuance of these -instructions, which at this day must be considered simply extraordinary, -one of the commissioners came to St. Augustine, and made a proposition -to the Spanish governor to surrender the province to the United States, -which was of course refused. Thereupon it was given out that the United -States intended to occupy the province, and those whose interest would -be served endeavored to bring such a result about by every means in -their power. This was the period of the embargo in the United States. -The port of Fernandina affording deep water, and a convenient point for -shipping American productions, and being under the Spanish flag, became -the resort for a large fleet of vessels. This was of course obnoxious to -the United States authorities, who offered every encouragement to a -large class of citizens who were anxious to escape from the Spanish -rule. - -In March, 1812, a large number of these individuals organized a -provisional government, and soon after, with the help of Commodore -Campbell, United States Navy, obtained the capitulation of the town and -fort on Amelia Island. Still encouraged, and led by citizens and -officers of the United States, these men, styling themselves patriots, -began a march toward St. Augustine, and taking possession of the old -Fort Mosa, invested the place. From this place they were dislodged by a -Spanish gun-boat, but they still hovered about the town and cut off all -supplies. It is said that the courage and activity of a company of -negroes commanded by a free black, named Prince, alone saved the people -of the town from starvation. At this period a barrel of corn sold for -sixteen dollars. At the same time the Indians were urged to attack the -Americans and “patriots,” and for the space of a year there was a -constant strife between these parties throughout Florida. In May, 1813, -President Monroe, seeing that he had gone too far in incroaching upon -the territory of a friendly nation, withdrew the American troops from -Florida. These incursions under American protection in East Florida, -like General Jackson’s unhesitating course in attacking the British on -Spanish territory in West Florida, plainly showed the King of Spain how -precarious and unreliable was the tenure of his sovereignty. The Spanish -nation had held the territory of Florida for two hundred and fifty -years, constantly yielding to the French and English portions adjacent -originally claimed by Spain. The great hopes of wealth and a vast -revenue from the province had never been realized; but, on the contrary, -vast outlays had constantly been required, which were supplied by the -more prosperous provinces and the home government. In 1811, Governor -Estrada writes to the Captain-General of Cuba, that the $140,013 and 4 -reals allowed annually for salaries was urgently needed; also that -there were no funds wherewith to pay “the annual presents of the -Indians, the payments due invalids, Florida pensioners and settlers, who -receive a daily pension and charity, whose outcries are so continual -that the most obdurate heart would melt at them with compassion.” - -Under these circumstances it was but natural that the King of Spain -should be willing to rid himself of this so very unprofitable province. -The United States, upon the other hand, were anxious to obtain the -possession of the peninsula to complete their coast line. - -In 1819 a treaty of amity was concluded between his Catholic Majesty and -the United States, whereby the two Floridas were ceded to the latter -power as an indemnity for damages estimated at five million dollars. -This treaty was dated February 22d, 1819, and ratified February 22d, -1821. - -Seven years before the cession the Spanish Cortes had issued an order to -the authorities of all the Spanish colonies to erect in some public -place of their principal town a monument as a memorial of the liberal -constitution which had been granted to Spain and her provinces. -Accordingly, the City Council of St. Augustine, probably with the -crown’s funds, erected upon the public square a monument to commemorate -a grant of the privilege of representation, which the people of the -province never even asked for, much less enjoyed. At the east end of the -public square, or “Plaza de la Constitucion,” as it is now called, there -stood, in Spanish times, the government drug store, two private houses -used as dwellings, a bar-room, and the town market. Adjoining the market -was a bell-tower, and the guard in front of the public jail, which stood -where the St Augustine Hotel now is, used to strike the bell in the -tower to mark the hours, which were counted with the old-fashioned -sand-glass standing within the tower under the supervision of the guard. -As these buildings occupied about a fourth part of the present plaza, -the monument, though now situated toward the western side of the square, -then stood in the center of the inclosure. Soon after its completion, -the Spanish government issued orders that all monuments erected to the -constitution throughout its realms should be razed. The citizens of St. -Augustine were much grieved to think of losing their monument, which was -considered a great ornament to the public park, and appealed to the -governor and principal men to allow the decree to be disregarded. It was -finally decided to allow the monument to stand without the inscription. -The citizens accordingly removed the marble tablets upon which the -inscriptions had been engraved, and placed them in concealment, where -they remained until 1818, when they were restored without opposition. -This monument is the only one in existence commemorative of the Spanish -constitution of 1812. It is twenty feet high, standing upon a foundation -of granite with a square pedestal, from which the shaft rises in a -curve, and thence tapers with rectilinear surfaces to its top, which is -surmounted by a cannon-ball. It is constructed of coquina, and its -surface is cemented and kept whitewashed, except the ball upon the -summit, which is painted black. Don Geronimo Alvarez was alcalde at the -time it was erected. Upon three of the four sides there is set in the -masonry a small marble tablet bearing the inscription, “Plaza de la -Constitucion.” Upon the east side is the large marble tablet upon which -is engraved the following: - - _Plaza de la - Constitucion. - Promulga en esta Ciudad - de San Agustin de la Florida - Oriental en 17 de Octubre de - 1812 siendo Gobernador el - Brigadier Don Sebastian - Kindalem Cuba Here - del order de Santiago. - Peira eterna memoria - El Ayuntamiento Constitucional - Erigioeste Obelisco - dirigido por Don Fernando - de la Plaza_[31] - _Arredondo el Joven - Regidor De cano y - Don Franciscor Robira - Procurador Sindico. - Año de 1813_ - -TRANSLATION. - -Plaza of the Constitution, promulgated in the city of St. Augustine, -East Florida, on the 17th day of October, the year 1812. Being then -Governor the Brigadier Don Sebastian Kindalem, Knight of the order of -San Diego. - - FOR ETERNAL REMEMBRANCE, - -the Constitutional City Council erected this monument under the -supervision of Don Fernando de la Maza Arredondo, the young municipal -officer, oldest member of the corporation, and Don Franciscor Robira, -Attorney and Recorder. - -Immediately under the date there is cut in the marble tablet the Masonic -emblem of the square and compass. The reader can readily believe that -the City Council of St. Augustine in 1813 were all too good Catholics to -be responsible for this symbol of Masonry. The history of that piece of -vandalism is said to be as follows: Soon after the close of the war of -the Rebellion, the “young bloods” amused themselves by endeavoring to -create an alarm in the mind of the United States commandant, and, by -executing a series of cabalistic marks at different localities -throughout the town, to convey the impression that a secret society was -in existence, and about to do some act contrary to the peace and dignity -of the United States. Besides other marks and notices posted upon -private and public buildings about the town this square and compass was -one night cut upon the tablet of the Spanish monument, where it will -remain as long as the tablet exists, an anomaly, without this -explanation. - - - - -CHAPTER XVII. - - FLORIDA CEDED TO THE UNITED STATES.--ATTEMPT OF THE SPANISH - GOVERNOR TO CARRY AWAY THE RECORDS.--DESCRIPTION OF ST. AUGUSTINE - WHEN TRANSFERRED.--POPULATION IN 1830.--TOWN DURING THE INDIAN - WAR.--OSCEOLA AND COA-COU-CHE.--A TRUE ACCOUNT OF THE DUNGEON IN - THE OLD FORT, AND THE IRON CAGES.--THE INDIANS BROUGHT TO ST. - AUGUSTINE IN 1875. - - -East Florida was delivered by Governor Coppinger to Lieut. Rob. Butler, -U. S. A., on the 10th of July, 1821. It had been intended to have the -transfer take place on the anniversary of the declaration of American -Independence; but the Spaniards, feeling no particular regard for the -4th of July, made no efforts to hasten the settlement of the -preliminaries, and were therefore unprepared to turn over the province -until the tenth of the month. - -On the 30th of March, 1822, Congress passed an act incorporating into a -territory the two Floridas, and authorizing a legislative council and a -superior court, which were to meet alternately at Pensacola and St. -Augustine. William P. Duval was appointed the first governor, to hold -his office for three years. It is an interesting fact that among those -who were saved with Laudonnère at the massacre of the French Huguenots -was one “Francis Duval of Rouen, son of him of the Iron Crown of Rouen.” - -General Jackson had been compelled to imprison the Spanish governor of -West Florida for refusing to deliver certain papers that were considered -indispensable. Fearing that the attempt would be made by the Governor -of East Florida to carry away papers which should be delivered with the -territory, General Jackson sent Captain J. R. Hanham from Pensacola to -demand such papers and records as properly belonged to the Americans -after the change of flags. Captain Hanham made the journey across the -State--a distance of 600 miles--in seventeen days. He arrived none too -soon, as the vessel was then in the harbor upon which it was intended to -send papers and archives sufficient to fill eleven large boxes. After -Governor Coppinger had refused to deliver these, Captain Hanham forced a -room in the government house and seized the boxes, which had already -been packed with the papers ready for shipment. Other valuable papers -were shipped and lost on the passage to Havana, some say destroyed by -pirates, others by the wreck of the vessel. - -In 1823 St. Augustine witnessed for the second time the assembly of a -legislative body, the second session of the territorial council being -held that year in the government house. In the same year a treaty was -concluded at Moultrie Creek, seven miles south of the city, with the -Indian tribes of Florida, in which they agreed to surrender all their -lands in the territory. It is needless to say that this treaty was never -executed. - -Forbes’s “Sketches,” published the year of the cession, gives an -interesting account of the condition of St. Augustine at the end of the -Spanish possession. It is related in these words: “The town, built in -Spanish manner, forms an oblong square, or parallelogram; the streets -are regularly laid out, but the buildings have not been put up to -conform strictly to that rule. The streets are generally so narrow as to -admit with difficulty carriages to pass each other. To make up for this -inconvenience they have a terrace foundation, and, being shaded, renders -the walking very agreeable. The houses are built generally of a -freestone peculiar to the country, which, with the aid of an outer coat -of plaster, has a handsome and durable effect. They are only two stories -high, thick walls with spacious entries, large doors, windows, and -balconies, and a garden lot to each, more commonly stocked with orange -and fig trees, interspersed with grape-vines and flowers. On entering -this old town from the sea, the grandeur of the Castle of Fort St. -Mark’s presents itself, and imposes a degree of respect upon travelers -upon seeing a fort forty feet high, in the modern taste of military -architecture, commanding the entrance. The works are bronzed and -squamated by age, but will, with some American ingenuity, be justly -deemed one of the handsomest in the western hemisphere. It mounts sixty -guns of twenty-four pounds, of which sixteen are bronze, and is -calculated to contain one thousand men for action; with which, and the -courage such a fort should inspire, it is capable of a noble defense, -having in old times resisted some formidable attacks. It is not liable -to be shattered by balls, nor does it expose its defenders to the fatal -effects of storms [stormings]. From the castle, southward, are the -remains of a stone wall trenching its glacis, built to prevent the -incroachment of the sea; along this is a very pleasant walk as far as -the market-place, which is opposite the old Government House in the -center of the town, and separated from it by an oblong square called the -parade, on which there is a Roman Catholic church of modern construction -and quite ornamental. In front of this there formerly stood a handsome -and spacious edifice, built in modern style by Lieut.-Governor Moultrie -for a State-house, which was not completed. For want of an exterior coat -of plaster it has crumbled to pieces, leaving not a single vestige of -its former splendor. - -“The old Government House, now much decayed, is occupied as a barrack -for the Royal Artillery. It leaves the marks of a heavy pile of -buildings in the Spanish style, having balconies in front, galleries and -areas on both sides, with several irregular additions well contrived for -the climate. Among these was an outlook built by Governor Grant, on the -western summit of the main building, which commanded a full view of the -sea-coast and surrounding country. The garden attached to the Government -House is surrounded by a stone wall; it was formerly laid out with great -taste, and stocked with most of the exotic and indigenous plants common -to the tropics and the Middle States, such as the pomegranate, plantain, -pineapple, papau, olive, and sugar-cane. The orange and lemon trees here -grow to large size, and produce better fruit than they do in Spain and -Portugal. - -“From the square environed by orange trees the streets extend -southwardly to some stone buildings, one of which was formerly a -Franciscan convent, now converted into a jail, but under the British was -used as barracks. In addition they constructed the very large and -handsome buildings, four stories high, of wood, with materials brought -from New York and intended for Pensacola, but detained by Governor -Grant. These barracks at the southern extremity of the peninsula in -which the town is built formed an elegant appendage to it, but were -burned and now exhibit only the stack of chimneys. In a course westward -from these vestiges of royalty are streets leading to a bridge formerly -of wood but now of stone, crossing a small creek running parallel with -the sea, on the east side, and St. Sebastian on the west. Over this are -several valuable and highly improved orange groves and several redoubts, -forming the south and western lines of fortification. Near the bridge, -in the same street as the Government House, is the burying-ground of -the Protestants, where stood an Episcopal church with a handsome -steeple, not a vestige of which remains. - -“Before the entrance of some of the houses built by the Spaniards rises -a portico of stone arches, the roofs of which are commonly flat. There -are nearly one thousand houses of all descriptions in the town, which is -about three-quarters of a mile in length by one-quarter in breadth. As -it is built upon a point of land it is in some degree insulated by the -conflux of Matanzas River and St. Sebastian Creek, by which means the -egress by land must be by the northern gates, and by a bridge and -causeway in a western direction. The whole forms a very picturesque -piece of scenery, being surrounded by orange groves and kitchen gardens. -Within the first line [of redoubts upon the north] was a small -settlement of Germans, with a church of their own, on St. Mark’s River: -within the same was an Indian town, with a church also; but it must be -regretted that nothing of these remains, as they serve if not as temples -certainly as ornamental relics. - -“The governor has given the land belonging to this township as glebe -land to the parish church, which will no doubt be confirmed by the -American Government in its liberal appropriations for religious -purposes. The harbor of St. Augustine would be one of the best in the -world were it not for the bar, which admits vessels drawing not more -than six feet with safety. It is surrounded by breakers which are not as -dangerous as they appear. There is a roadstead on the north side of the -bar with good anchorage for vessels drawing too much water to enter the -harbor. [A part of Anastatia Island] is known as Fish’s Island, and from -the hospitality of Mr. Jesse Fish, one of the oldest inhabitants of the -province, is remarkable for the date and olive trees, the flavor of the -oranges, and the cultivation of his garden.”[32] - -The location of the Protestant cemetery as here described is confusing, -being located near “this bridge, in the same street as the Government -House.” Probably the text should read, in the same street as the Convent -House, which would place the Episcopal church and cemetery near the -southern end of St. George Street. - -Another account, published about the same period as Forbes’s, gives the -following picture of the town: “Somewhat more than half way between the -fort and the south end of the western peninsula a stone causeway and -wooden bridge crosses Mari-Sanchez (Santa Maria) Creek, and connects the -two portions or precincts of the town. It is to the north of this -causeway that the principal part of the buildings are placed, forming a -parallelogram somewhat more than a quarter of a mile wide from east to -west, and three-quarters in length from north to south. The neck of land -(on which the town is built) is divided into two peninsulas by -Mari-Sanchez (Santa Maria) Creek, running parallel to the harbor, but -heading in some low lands within the lines. It is on the eastern -peninsula alone that the town is built, the western one being occupied -by kitchen gardens, corn fields, orange groves, and pasture grounds. The -houses on the side of the harbor are chiefly of stone, having only one -story above the ground floor: these latter are invariably laid with a -coat of tabia, a mixture of sand and shells, and are scarcely ever used -but as store rooms, the families living in the upper stories.[33] - -“The dwellings on the back streets with few exceptions, particularly in -the north-west quarter, have but the ground floor, and are generally -built of wood, though stone ones are common, but almost all are laid -with tabia flooring.”[34] - -At the census of 1830 St. Augustine and environs contained four thousand -inhabitants, of whom eight hundred and forty-four were free blacks. The -large number of free persons of color is accounted for by the fact that -St. Augustine under the Spanish had been an asylum for all the runaway -slaves from the neighboring colonies. They had been formed into a -military company, and after the “patriot war” of 1812 to 1816 lands had -been donated to them for their services. It was also said that those -born in the province were registered from their birth, and a severe -penalty imposed upon any master of a vessel who should attempt to carry -any of them away. - -In 1822 an attempt was made to deprive the Roman Catholics of the -cathedral. A petition of the inhabitants was thereupon presented to -Congress, and that body passed an act on February 8, 1827, granting and -confirming to the Catholic society of St. Augustine the building and -grounds where they now worship. - -In 1821 Rev. Andrew Fowler, a missionary from Charleston, South -Carolina, organized the present Episcopal parish. The corner-stone of -the present church edifice was laid by the Rev. Edward Phillips on the -23d of June, 1825, and the building was consecrated by Bishop Bowen of -South Carolina in the year 1833. The church is a small and plain -structure, but in very good taste, and ornamented with a steeple. It is -built of coquina, and from its location fronting the plaza, is one of -the most noticeable buildings in the city. - -The Presbyterian church, though built later, 1830, has a less modern -appearance. This church, which was fitted in quite the old-fashioned -style, with high-backed pews facing the entrance doors between which was -the pulpit, underwent a remodeling of the interior in 1879. - -By act of Congress dated March 30, 1823, East and West Florida were -united as one territory. Florida was admitted into the Union as a State, -March 3d, 1845. - -In 1830 there was quite a spirit of speculation rife in the old city. A -canal into the St. Johns River and another between the Halifax and -Matanzas rivers, also a railway to Picolata were projected, and sanguine -people fully expected to see these projects completed immediately. To -this day the railway alone has been completed, and is barely able to pay -a dividend to its stockholders with a tariff of two dollars for a -carriage of fifteen miles. All the other projects are still being talked -of. - -One of the bubbles of the speculation of this period was a new and large -city to be built north of the fort. Peter Sken Smith, a gentleman of -some means, erected the frame of a large hotel on grounds outside of the -city gate, and there were also built there several houses and stores, a -market, and a wharf. Judge Douglass, the first judge of the territory, -entered largely into the business of raising the silk-worm. He set out a -large number of mulberry trees and built a large building on his -plantation called Macarasi, or more commonly Macariz, situated just -beyond the end of the shell road, which gave to the place the general -appellation of the “Cocoonery.” Judge Douglass has been ridiculed for -yielding to the “silk-growing fever,” but the enterprise which was so -disastrous to him and others will one day become a lucrative business -for many in the mild climate of Florida. - -The large and handsome residence on the lot adjoining the Episcopal -church, now owned by L. H. Tyler, Esq., was built by Peter Sken Smith, -in 1833. The artisans and much of the materials were brought from the -North, and the sum of forty thousand dollars was said to have been -invested on the house and furniture. Shortly after the house was for -sale at less than two thousand dollars. - -The plaza was inclosed about this time, and the cannon placed at the -corners. The old guns yet to be seen about the city were used by several -private citizens to ornament the corners of the streets upon which their -lots fronted. In a cut published thirty years ago showing the plaza, -etc., the date-palms in Mr. Tyler’s yard appear to reach to an altitude -almost the same as at present, showing the extreme slowness of their -upward growth. - -St. Augustine, immediately after it came under the jurisdiction of the -United States, began to receive a most desirable addition to its -population in a class of Americans of culture and means, who had long -desired to avail themselves of the benefits and delights of its climate, -but had hesitated about becoming citizens of the place under Spanish -rule. I have heard old citizens say that there was no town of its size -in the country where there were so many persons of refined tastes and -independent means as in St. Augustine at that time. The Indian war soon -after brought to St. Augustine a large addition to its population. This -consisted mostly of the military, both regulars and militia, of Florida -and the neighboring States, and the many officers, agents, and attachés -of the government. It was the government headquarters and a depot of -supplies, and for a season was full of bustle, excitement, and more -activity than it has ever experienced since. - -The incidents of that war would be out of place in a history of St. -Augustine. Two of the principal characters of that exciting time were, -however, brought to St. Augustine, and, with about three hundred other -Creeks and Seminoles, confined in Fort Marion. Osceola, a young chief of -the Mickasookie tribe, of great daring, considerable education, and -great natural abilities, inherited with the Caucasian blood derived from -his father, was for some time confined at St. Augustine, and afterwards -removed to Fort Moultrie, in Charleston Harbor, where his body is now -buried. Though captured through a base trick, Osceola had, through a -sullen sense of honor, refused to escape from Fort Marion with Wild Cat. -It was said that he died of a broken heart when he learned the fate of -his nation, and the intention of the government to remove the remnant of -the Seminoles west of the Mississippi. - -The casemate in the south-west bastion of the fort has been rendered -famous by the escape of a body of Indians, including the famous -Coa-cou-che. This Indian, also called Wild Cat, was the youngest son of -Philip, a great chief among the Seminoles. He was a man of great -courage, of an adventurous disposition, and savage nature, lacking the -intellectual abilities of Osceola, but possessing great influence among -his nation. Like most of the young chiefs, he was bitterly opposed to -the execution of the treaty signed by the older chiefs, by which the -Seminoles agreed to remove west of the Mississippi. At an interview -immediately before the breaking out of hostilities, Colonel Harney -observed to him that unless the Seminoles removed according to the -treaty the whites would exterminate them. To this Coa-cou-che replied, -that Iste-chatte (the Indian) did not understand that word. The Great -Spirit he knew might exterminate them, but the pale-faces could not; -else, why had they not done it before? - -During the war this young chief was captured and placed under guard in -Fort Marion. It is reported that he was at first confined in one of the -close cells, and, in order to be removed to a casemate which had an -embrasure through which he had planned to escape, he complained of the -dampness of his cell and feigned sickness. This, like many other -incidents connected with his escape, is probably fictitious. There were -at the time a considerable number of Indians confined in the fort, and -unless they showed themselves querulous and dangerous, they were all -allowed the freedom of the court during the day, and confined at night -in the several casemates. It is probable that Coa-cou-che chose the -casemate in the south-west bastion from which to make his escape, -because of a platform which is in that casemate. This platform is raised -some five feet from the floor, and built of masonry directly under the -embrasure through which he escaped. This opening had been constructed -high up in the outer wall of the casemate to admit light and air. It is -thirteen feet above the floor, and eight feet above the platform, which -had probably been constructed for the convenience and dignity of the -judges, who doubtless used this casemate as a judgment room. The -aperture is about two feet high by nine inches wide, and some eighteen -feet above the surface of the ground at the foot of the wall within the -moat. It is said that as he took his airing upon the terre-plein the -evening before his escape, Coa-cou-che lingered longer than usual, -gazing far out into the west as the sun went down, probably thinking -that ere another sunset he would be beyond the limit of his farthest -vision, enjoying the freedom of his native forests. That night he -squeezed his body, said to have been attenuated by voluntary abstinence -from food, through the embrasure in the wall, and silently dropped into -the moat at the foot of the bastion. The moat was dry, and the station -of every guard was well known to the Indian, so that escape was no -longer difficult. Coa-cou-che immediately joined his nation, but was -afterwards captured and sent west. He was recalled by General Worth, and -used to secure the submission of his tribe. General Worth declared to -him that if his people were not at Tampa on a certain day he would hang -from the yard of the vessel on which he had returned, and was then -confined. This message he was ordered to send to his people by Indian -runners furnished by the general. He was directed to deliver to the -messengers twenty twigs, one for each day, and to make it known to his -people that when the last twig in the hands of the messenger was broken, -so would the cords which bound his life to earth be snapped asunder -unless they were all at the general’s camp prepared to depart to the -reservation provided for them at the west. The struggle in the mind of -Coa-cou-che was severe, but his love of life was strong. He sent by the -messenger his entreaties that his people should appear at the time and -place designated, and take up their abode in the prairies of the west. -Desiring to impress upon his people that this was the will of the Great -Spirit, with consummate policy he directed the messenger to relate to -them this, Coa-cou-che’s dream: “The day and manner of my death are -given out so that whatever I may encounter, I fear nothing. The spirits -of the Seminoles protect me; and the spirit of my twin-sister who died -many years ago watches over me; when I am laid in the earth I shall go -to live with her. She died suddenly. I was out hunting, and when seated -by my campfire alone I heard a strange noise--a voice that told me to go -to her. The camp was some distance off, but I took my wife and started. -The night was dark and gloomy; the wolves howled about me. I went from -hommock to hommock, sounds came often to my ear. I thought she was -speaking to me. At daylight I reached the camp, but she was dead. I sat -down alone under the long gray moss of the trees, when I heard strange -sounds again. I felt myself moving, and went along into a new country -where all was bright and beautiful. I saw clear water ponds, rivers, and -prairies upon which the sun never set. All was green; the grass grew -high, and the deer stood in the midst looking at me. I then saw a small -white cloud approaching, and when just before me, out of it came my -twin-sister dressed in white, and covered with bright silver ornaments. -Her long black hair which I had often braided fell down upon her back. -She clasped me around the neck and said, ‘Coa-cou-che, Coa-cou-che.’ I -shook with fear; I knew her voice, but could not speak. With one hand -she gave me a string of white beads; in the other she held a cup -sparkling with pure water; as I drank she sang the peace song of the -Seminoles, and danced around me. She had silver bells upon her feet -which made a loud sweet noise. Taking from her bosom something, she laid -it before me, when a bright blaze streamed above us. She took me by the -hand and said, ‘All is peace.’ I wanted to ask for others, but she shook -her head, stepped into the cloud, and was gone. All was silent. I felt -myself sinking until I reached the earth when I met my brother, -Chilka.”[35] - -Coa-cou-che’s appeal was successful. The messengers returned with the -whole remnant of the tribe three days before the expiration of the time. -They all embarked and took up their residence on the prairies, where the -sun never sets and the grass grows high. It was not a field in which -Coa-cou-che could distinguish himself, and from this time his name was -never heard, except in connection with his past exploits in Florida. - -Soon after the United States took possession of St. Augustine, the -government began to make extensive improvements in and about the town. -The barracks were immediately remodeled, and built as they are at -present. The fort, which had become much dilapidated, was repaired and -fitted for a garrison. It was while this work was being prosecuted that -the cell under the north-east bastion was discovered, which has ever -since been associated with the Huguenot massacre and the Spanish -Inquisition, in annual editions of guide-books and tourists’ letters. It -is constantly designated as “the Dungeon,” and, lest I should not be -understood in referring to it as a cell, I shall also call it a dungeon, -in explaining how it was found and what it did not contain. For some -reason unexplained by any record left by the Spaniards, the terre-plein, -near the north-east bastion, had been built upon large wooden beams. At -the time the Americans took possession of the fort they found the last -casemate, fronting on the court on the east side, filled with the -coquina floor of the terre-plein, which had fallen in, as the timbers -supporting it had rotted. Naturally, this half-filled casemate had -become the place of deposit for all rubbish accumulated upon any part of -the works. In the course of repairs the rubbish was cleared out of the -casemate, and the entrance into the adjoining cell exposed. Entering -this cell, and examining the masonry for anticipated repairs, the -engineer in charge, said to be Lieutenant Tuttle, U. S. A., discovered a -newness of appearance about a small portion of the masonry of the north -wall. Under his instruction a mason cut out this newer stone-work and -found that the small arch, under which those who now enter the “dungeon” -crawl, had been walled up. Why the entrance had thus been filled with -masonry is unknown, but it is extremely unlikely that it was done to -insure the perpetual captivity and death of a human being. The engineer -and mason entered the cell, and made an examination of the interior with -the light of a candle. Near the entrance were the remains of a fire, the -ashes and bits of pine wood burned off toward the center of the pile in -which they had been consumed. Upon the side of the cell was a rusty -staple, with about three links of chain attached thereto. Near the wall, -on the west side of the cell, were a few bones. Finding these very -rotten, and crumbling to pieces under his touch, the engineer spread his -handkerchief upon the floor and brushed very gently the few fragments of -bone into it. These were shown the surgeon then stationed at the post, -who said they might be human bones, but were so badly crumbled and -decayed he could not determine definitely. Nothing else was found in the -cell.[36] The iron cages, which have been described as a part of the -fixtures of this terrible dungeon, and which it has been said contained -human bones, appear upon the united testimony of old inhabitants to have -been found outside of the city gates entirely empty. It is said that, in -1822, a Mr. Deever, a butcher, while digging post holes on the grounds -opposite to those now owned by Mr. Kingsland, just north of the city -gates, came upon the cages and dug them up. One of them was made use of -in his workshop by Mr. Bartolo Oliveros, a locksmith. The other one was -allowed by Mr. Deever to lie near the city gate until it was -appropriated by some unknown party. The cages are described as having -had much the shape of a coffin; and the tradition is, that a human -being had been placed in each, the solid bands of iron riveted about his -body, and, after life had been extinguished by the horrible torture of -starvation, cages and corpses had been buried in the “scrub” then -covering the ground north of the gate. Doubtless these cages were used -for the punishment of criminals condemned for some heinous crime; but -whether they were introduced by the Spaniards or English is not known. -An old gentleman, Mr. Christobal Bravo, tells me his mother has related -to him that she had seen, during the English possession, these cages, or -similar ones, suspended at the gates of the city, with criminals -incarcerated therein. In the face of the facts it is feared that St. -Augustine must lose much of the romance and melancholy interest excited -by the stories of Spanish cruelty and torture. It is very probable that -this inner cell at the fort was used as a place of confinement for -criminals, and it is possible that some may have died therein. In fact, -it was so reported and generally believed at the time the poet Bryant -visited St. Augustine in 1843. Fairbanks, on page 157 of his “History -and Antiquities of St. Augustine,” published in 1858, refers to the -instruments of torture and skeletons walled in the old fort. - -The account, as recited by the “Old Sergeant,” Mr. McGuire, -ordnance-sergeant, U. S. A., gives the current legend connected with the -dungeon. The sergeant alone can do justice to the narrative, in presence -of an appreciative audience clustered around his smoking torch under the -vaulted arch of the grim, damp cell. No pen can transcribe the -sergeant’s Irish brogue, or his periods, his tones, and his inimitable -expression of countenance, which seems to evince a combination of honest -doubt and wishful credence in the melancholy tale of Spanish barbarity, -which has proved so remunerative to himself, and so acceptable to the -novelty hunting tourist. While the sergeant’s lamp holds out to burn, no -visitor to St. Augustine should fail to hear his tale, “Just as it was -told to me,” as he is particular to explain. - -In the spring of 1875 a body of Comanche, Kiowa, and Cheyenne chiefs -were removed from the West by order of the government, and sent to St. -Augustine. These Indians were, at first, confined within the old fort, -under a guard furnished from the post at St. Francis Barracks. They had -been sent under the charge of Captain Pratt, of the Tenth U. S. Cavalry. -The selection of this officer was a most fortunate choice. Through his -indubitable faith in the possibility of developing the better nature of -the Indian, together with his unwearied perseverance under difficulties -that none but a missionary among the depraved races of men can realize, -by his great tact and his patience he succeeded in demonstrating that, -by proper methods and efforts, the Indian problem is capable of a -satisfactory solution. Under the system adopted by Captain Pratt the -guard was soon dispensed with, and the Indians treated very much as if -they were a company of enlisted soldiers. They walked the streets, -attended the churches, and had their school, with no other restraint or -hindrance than is imposed upon soldiers. They soon acted as their own -guard day and night, assumed the dress of a soldier, and many of the -manners and habits of the white man. After remaining at St. Augustine -for about two years, a portion of the company were sent to the Hampton, -Va. school, and the remainder were returned to their native tribes, -where they must yet exert a powerful influence for the advance of -civilization. - -It is a remarkable coincidence that the first practical demonstration -of the ability of the government to elevate and civilize the Indian, and -the first advance in a rational method of making citizens of the remnant -of our aboriginal population, was inaugurated at St. Augustine. The evil -in the nature of the Caucasian who first landed in America, upon the -shores of Florida, has proved a curse and a blight to the red man. The -gratifying success that crowned the philanthropic policy inaugurated by -the government among the representatives of the Indian race, while -prisoners at St. Augustine, will, it is to be hoped, be the harbinger of -the speedy civilization of the whole of the Indian race existing in -America. - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII. - - ST. AUGUSTINE AS IT USED TO BE.--CUSTOMS.--THE OLDEST STRUCTURE IN - THE UNITED STATES.--PRESENT POPULATION.--OBJECTS OF - INTEREST.--BUILDINGS ANCIENT AND MODERN.--ST. AUGUSTINE DURING THE - REBELLION.--CLIMATE.--ADVANTAGES AS A HEALTH RESORT. - - -In February, 1835, an unprecedented depression of temperature destroyed -the orange trees which embosomed the town and rendered the place -exceedingly attractive. The deep green foliage concealed the dingy and -often unsightly buildings. The fragrance of the blossoms in spring was -almost overpowering, and was said to be perceptible far out to sea. The -income of the people of the town derived from the sale of their oranges -was not far from seventy-five thousand dollars annually, and the crop -that was yearly sent from St. Augustine in sailing vessels exceeded -three million oranges. One orange tree upon the plaza is reported to -have borne twelve thousand oranges. In 1829, Mr. A. Alverez picked from -one tree in his garden six thousand five hundred oranges, and it is -recorded that “an old citizen picked from one tree eight thousand of the -golden apples. The Minorcan population of St. Augustine had been -accustomed to depend on the produce of their little groves of eight or -ten trees, to purchase their coffee, sugar, and other necessaries from -the stores; they were left without resource. The wild groves suffered -equally with those cultivated. The town of St. Augustine, that -heretofore appeared like a rustic village, its white houses peeping -from the clustered boughs and golden fruit of their favorite tree, -beneath whose shade the foreign invalid cooled his fevered limbs, and -imbibed health from the fragrant air, how is she fallen! Dry, unsightly -poles, with ragged bark, stick up around her dwellings, and where the -mocking bird once delighted to build her nest, and tune her lovely song, -owls now hoot at night, and sterile winds whistle through the leafless -branches. Never was a place more desolate.”[37] - -Many of the trees had attained a very large size and great age. A large -number sent out sprouts from the roots, and if undisturbed, many groves -would have borne profitable crops in a few years. The scale insect, -however, made its appearance in 1842 in countless multitudes, blighting -the groves throughout Florida. For twenty years it was a constant -struggle, on the part of the few who retained their faith in the success -of orange culture, to rid their groves of this destructive insect. -Finally, nature provided in some way an exterminator of the insect, and -from that time there has been no serious drawback to the culture of -oranges in Florida. Williams describes the inhabitants at this time as -“a temperate, quiet, and rather indolent people; affectionate and -friendly to each other, and kind to the few slaves they held. They -mostly kept little stores, cultivated small groves or gardens, and -followed fishing and hunting.” Posey balls, masquerades, and sherivarees -were their principal diversions. - -The posey dance of St. Augustine was introduced in the following manner: -“The females of a family, no matter what their rank or station in life -may be, erect in a room of their house a neat little altar, lit up with -candles, and dressed with pots and festoons of flowers. This is -understood by the gentlemen as a polite invitation to call and admire -the taste of the fair architects. It is continued for several successive -evenings; in the meantime the lady selects from her visitors some happy -beau, whom she delights to honor, and presents him with a bouquet of -choice flowers. His gallantry is then put to the test; should he choose -to decline the proffered honor, he has only to pay the expenses of -lighting up the altar. But if he accepts the full dignity offered him, -he is king of the ball, which shortly succeeds, and the posey lass -becomes queen, as a matter of course. The posey ball is a mixed -assembly. People of all ranks meet here on a level, yet they are -conducted with the nicest decorum, and even with politeness and grace. - -“Sherivarees are parties of idle people, who dress themselves in -grotesque masquerade, whenever a widow or widower is married. They often -parade about the streets and play buffoon tricks for two or three days; -haunting the residence of the new married pair, and disturbing the whole -city with noise and riot. - -“The carnival is a scene of masquerading, which was formerly celebrated -by the Spanish and Minorcan populations with much taste and gayety; but -since the introduction of an American population, it has during the -whole winter season been prostituted to cover drunken revels, and to -pass the basest objects of society into the abodes of respectable -people, to the great annoyance of the civil part of the community.”[38] - -These and other customs have long since ceased to exist, and many are -already forgotten. One of these was “shooting the Jews,” originally a -religious ceremony, but afterwards a diversion. For many years it was -the custom to hang effigies at the street corners and upon the plaza on -the evening of Good Friday. When the bells in the cathedral, which are -never rung during Good Friday, began on Saturday morning at ten o’clock -to ring the Hallelujah, crowds of men in the streets commenced to shoot -with guns and pistols at the hanging effigies. This was continued until -some unerring marksman severed the cord about the neck of the image, or -perhaps it was riddled and shredded by the fusilade. - -The Spanish veil was until a late period the only covering for the head -worn by the ladies of the town. A lady now living has described the -disapproval manifested at the appearance of the first bonnet in church. -Great indignation was expressed, and loud protests against the insult -offered to the church and congregation by this supposed exhibition of -ill-breeding and irreverence. - -In the memory of those now living wheeled vehicles within the gates were -first allowed. Before that time all moving of goods was done in packs. -The narrow streets without sidewalks evidently were not intended for the -passage of carts and carriages. Saddle-horses were common, but their -path was the center of the street, which was rendered hard and smooth -with pounded coquina, and kept so neat that the ladies wore on their -feet only the thinnest of slippers. - -One of the ancient customs brought from the island of Minorca is yet -continued. - -On the night before Easter Sunday the young men go about the city in -parties serenading. Approaching the dwelling of some one whom they wish -to favor with their song, or from whom they expect the favors asked in -their rhyme, they knock gently upon the window. If their visit is -welcome they are answered by a knock from within, and at once begin the -following song said to be in the Mahonese dialect: - - “US GOIS. - - “Disciarem lu dol - Cantarem aub’ alagria, - Y n’arem a dá - Las pascuas a Maria. - O Maria! - - “San Gabriel - Qui portaba la ambasciada - Des nostro rey del cel, - Estaran vos preñada. - Ya omitiada - Tuao vais aqui serventa, - Fia del Deo contenta, - Para fa lo que el vol. - Disciarem lu dol, etc. - - - “Y a milla nit - Pariguero vos regina-- - A un Deo infinit-- - Dintra una establina. - Y a milla dia, - Que los angels von cantant - Par y abondant, - De la gloria de Deo sol. - Disciarem lu dol, etc. - - “Y a Libalem, - Alla la terra santa, - Nus nat Jesus, - Aub’ alagria tanta; - Infant petit - Que tot lu mon salvaria. - Y ningu y bastaria - Nu mes un Deo sol. - Disciarem lu dol, etc. - - “Cuant de Orion lus - Tres reys la stralla veran, - Deo omnipotent - Adora lo vingaran. - Un present inferan - De mil encens y or, - A lu benuit seño, - Que conesce cual se vol. - Disciarem lu dol, etc. - - “Tot fu gayant - Para cumplé la prumas, - Y lu Esperit sant - De un angel fau gramas, - Gran foc ences, - Que crama lu curagia. - Damos da lenguagia - Para fe lo que Deo vol. - Disciarem lu dol, etc. - - “Cuant trespasá - De quest mon nostra Señora, - Al cel s’ empugia. - Sun fil la matescia ora, - O, Emperadora! - Que del cel san eligida, - Lu rosa florida, - Mé resplenden que un sol. - Disciarem lu dol, etc. - - “Y el tercer groin - Que Jesus resunta, - Deo y aboroma, - Que la mort triumfa. - De alli se ballá - Para perldra Lucife - An tot a sen pendá, - Que de nostro ser al sol. - Disciarem lu dol,” etc. - - - - [TRANSLATION.] - “THE STANZAS. - - “Let us leave off mourning, - Let us sing with joy, - Let us go and give - Our salutation to Mary. - O Mary! - - “Saint Gabriel - Brought the tidings - That the King of Heaven - Thou hadst conceived. - Thou wert humble. - Behold, here is the handmaid, - Daughter of God, content - To do what he will! - CHORUS.--Let us leave off mourning, etc. - - “And at midnight - She gave birth to the child-- - The infinite God-- - In a stable. - At mid-day, - The angels go singing - Peace and abundance, - And glory to God alone. - CHORUS. - - “In Bethlehem, - In the Holy Land, - Was born the Saviour, - With great joy; - The little child - Who all the world would save, - Which no one could accomplish - But God alone. - CHORUS. - - “When in the East - Three kings the star did see, - God omnipotent - To adore they came. - A present they made him - Of myrrh and gold, - To the blessed Saviour, - Who knows every one. - CHORUS. - - “All burning with zeal - To accomplish the promises, - The Holy Spirit - From an angel was sent forth. - A great fire was kindled, - And courage inflamed him. - God give us language - To do thy will. - CHORUS. - - “When we have passed - From this world, our Lady, - To heaven we are raised. - Your Son, at the same hour, - O Queen, - Who art of Heaven the choicest - Blooming rose! - More brilliant than the sun. - CHORUS. - - On the third day - Our Jesus arose, - The celestial God - Over death triumphant. - From hence he has gone - To overcome Satan - Throughout the whole world. - Our protector and guide. - CHORUS. - -After this hymn the following stanzas, soliciting the customary gifts of -cakes or eggs, are sung: - - * * * - - “Lu cet gois vam cantant, - Regina celestial. - Damos pan y alagria! - Yabonas festas tingan; - Y vos da sus bonas festas, - Damos dinés de sus nous, - Sempre tarem lus neans Uestas - Para recibi un grapat de nes. - Y, el giorn de pascua florida - Alagramos y, giuntament. - As qui es mort par dar nos vida; - Y via glorosiamente, - A questa casa está empedrada, - Bien halla que la empedro. - San amo de aquesta casa - Baldria duná un do, - Formagiada o empanada. - Cucutta a flao, - Cual se val casa sue grada, - Sol que no rue digas que no.” - - - * * * - - “These seven stanzas sung, - Celestial queen - Give us peace and joy! - May you enjoy a good feast; - We wish a happy time, - Give us of your bounty. - We always have our hands ready - Thy bounty to receive. - Let us now the Easter feast - Together enjoy. - He died to save us; - Let us be joyful. - This house is walled round, - Blessed be he who walled it about. - The owner of this house - Ought to give us a token, - Either a cake or a tart. - We like anything, - So you say not no.” - - * * * - -The shutters are then opened by the people within, and a supply of cakes -or other pastry is dropped into a bag carried by one of the party, who -acknowledge the gift in the following lines, and then depart: - - “Aquesta casa reta empedrada, - Empedrada de cuastro vens, - Sun amo de aquesta casa, - Es omo de compliment.” - - “This house is walled round, - Walled round on four sides. - The owner of this house - Is a polite gentleman.” - -If nothing is given, the last line reads thus: - -“No es homo de compliment.” - -“Is not a polite gentleman.” - -This song is repeated throughout the city until midnight. To the -listener it has a peculiar fascination like some of the tunes from -popular operas, keeping one awake to listen to its strains, even after -many repetitions have rendered the singing monotonous. - -The walls of the United States barracks are probably the oldest -structures in the place. An old house on Hospital Street, torn down in -1871, when Mr. Pendleton built a very pretty cottage upon the same -ground, was said by old residents to have been the oldest house in the -town. The former residence of the attorney-general during the English -possession stood just south of the Worth House on the corner of Bay and -Green Streets. This was a very old structure, though built in too costly -a manner to have been one of the earliest buildings, one of which in -English times still bore the date 1571. The house was built by a -Spaniard named Ysnada. Its beams were made of a wood brought from Cuba, -which resembled our royal palm in being susceptible of taking a high -polish. The staircases, wainscoting, and panels were of lignum vitæ. For -many years the house stood in too dilapidated a condition for occupancy. -Finally the wood was torn out by curiosity hunters and dealers, and made -into canes and other mementoes of “the oldest house in St. Augustine.” - -The present sea-wall was built between 1835 and 1843, under the -superintendence of Colonel Dancey, now living at his orange grove called -Buena Vista, on the St. Johns River. He was then a captain in the U. S. -Army. The wall is ten feet above low-water mark, seven feet thick at the -base, and three feet wide on top, capped with granite, and extends along -the whole front of the city, from the old fort on the north to the -barracks on the south, about three-quarters of a mile in length. -Opposite the plaza the wall forms a basin for small boats. Under Colonel -Dancey the government spent three appropriations of fifty thousand -dollars each, having spent twenty thousand dollars previously in -preparation for the work. Captain Benham spent two appropriations of -fifty thousand dollars each in covering the wall with granite slabs, as -it was found that the coquina was rapidly wearing away under the tread -of pedestrians using the wall as a promenade. Much of the pleasure of -this otherwise delightful promenade is marred by the narrowness of the -curbing, making the passing difficult. This feature is said to be -unobjectionable to lovers, who are credited with the opinion that to see -St. Augustine aright it is necessary to promenade the sea-wall by -moonlight, viewing the rippling waters of the bay, with the roar of the -surf on the neighboring beach as an interlude to the sweeter music of -their own voices. Colonel Dancey built the present causeway leading to -the depot in 1837 at the expense of the United States. His successor, -Captain Benham, superintended the construction of the water battery at -the fort, and other repairs made to the property of the United States -within the city. - -Under the dominion of the United States, St. Augustine soon became a -health and pleasure resort. Without manufactures, with, as yet, no -products of agriculture for export, its fine port is destitute of -commerce, and its easy-going population have ever since depended upon -the attractions offered by their city to invalids and persons of -fortune, for the means with which to procure the necessaries and -luxuries which its inhabitants enjoy in a fair measure. Strangers often -wonder how the town is supported, but upon investigation it is found -that the frugality of the people is remarkable. Their independence comes -from what they save rather than from what they earn. While there is -little wealth among its citizens, there is little actual want. The many -girls and young ladies always dress with neatness and taste, and many -earn the means to support themselves by braiding palmetto for hats and -baskets, making feather flowers, shell, and fish-scale ornaments, and -bouquets of the native grasses. The town has long been noted for the -number and health of its young children. - -In 1834 the city contained 1,739 inhabitants, of whom 498 were males, -519 females, 151 free colored persons, and 571 slaves. Of these, 10 were -lawyers, 3 doctors, 1 printer, 7 dry-goods dealers, 6 keepers of -boarding-houses, 13 grocers, 1 painter, 7 carpenters, 4 masons, 2 -blacksmiths, 1 gunsmith, 2 shoemakers, 1 baker, 2 tailors, 1 tanner, and -5 cigar-makers. The present population of the city is, by the census of -1880, about 2,300, of which about the same number follow the above -callings as in 1834, with the exception of lawyers and grocers, of whom -there are not more than half the former number. There is no bank in the -city, its place being supplied by the money-order department of the -post-office. The colored population are much more intelligent, better -educated, and generally superior to the individuals of that unfortunate -race found in other parts of the South. This is partly owing to the -large number of free negroes here before the Emancipation, and also to -the advantages they have derived from contact with the visitors and -residents coming from all parts of the country. In 1843 the poet Bryant -remarked the fact above stated, saying, “In the colored people whom I -saw in the Catholic church I remarked a more agreeable, open, and gentle -physiognomy than I have been accustomed to see in that class.”[39] - -Many of the most interesting old structures have, unfortunately, been -torn down. As these attractive old relics of antiquity are swept away, -some ignorant iconoclast bids the people rejoice over a new “city -improvement,” forgetting that there are many modern cities in America, -and but one “ancient city.” The building now used as a post-office has, -in this way, been remodeled from a quaint and interesting old Spanish -structure, with its court-yard and balconies, into a commonplace modern -structure. Even the old coquina lunette standing in the same yard on the -corner of King and Tolomato Streets had to succumb to personal interest -and the demand for “improvements,” and was swept away, thus depriving -the city of one of its most attractive mementoes. - -The fort, the Spanish monument, the cathedral, and the city gates yet -remain, preserved from the hands of vandals. The city has lately -repaired the sentry-boxes, constructed in the pilasters of the city -gate, and doubtless from this time on there will be an effort made to -preserve all of the old relics yet remaining. - -In 1879 the Ladies’ Memorial Association obtained permission of the city -to remove to the plaza a monument that had been erected on St. George -Street to the memory of the soldiers of St. Augustine and vicinity who -died in the late “war between the States.” This monument now stands near -the east end of the plaza, and preserves the names of those whose memory -it is intended to perpetuate, engraved upon two marble slabs set into -the masonry. Its inscriptions are as follows: - - “Our dead.” - - “Erected by the Ladies’ Memorial Association of St. Augustine, - Fla., A.D. 1872.” - - “In Memoriam. Our loved ones who gave their lives in the service of - the Confederate States.” - -In the military cemetery near the barracks are three small pyramids -built of masonry and whitewashed, marking the place where are interred -the remains of Major Dade and his one hundred and seven comrades -massacred by the Indians near the Withlacoochee River, on the 28th of -December, 1835. They were buried on the battle-field by a detachment -that was sent out for their succor, but arrived too late. Upon the -removal of their remains to St. Augustine, these pyramids were erected, -and also a handsome monument. The monument is of marble, a broken pillar -or shaft upon a square pedestal, with inscriptions on the four faces. - -On the first we read: - - “This monument, in token of respectful and affectionate remembrance - by their comrades of all grades, is committed to the care and - preservation of the garrison of St. Augustine.” - -On another the following: - - “A mute record of all the officers who perished, and are here and - elsewhere deposited, as also a portion of the soldiers, has been - prepared and placed in the office of the adjutant of the post, - where it is hoped it will be carefully and perpetually preserved.” - -On another: - - “The conflict in which so many perished in battle, and by disease, - commenced 25th December, 1835, and terminated 14th August, 1842.” - -On the last: - - “Sacred to the memory of the officers and soldiers killed in battle - and died in service during the Florida War.” - -Near this cemetery is the post hospital, a convenient and airy building. -A large building on St. George Street, erected in 1874, is occupied by -the society of nuns called Sisters of St. Joseph. Many of the female -children of the city are taught by the sisters in this building, and -children from abroad are also received, and lodge in the building. The -nuns of St. Augustine have always had the reputation of making fine -lace-work, and much of their work is purchased by visitors. - -A large and comfortable building was erected a few years since as a home -for aged and infirm colored persons. It stands back from King Street -just west of Santa Maria Creek. Doctor Bronson and Mr. Buckingham Smith -were chiefly instrumental in erecting the building and furnishing the -endowment, which is managed by a board of trustees. The general -management of the Home and its inmates is given to a matron chosen by -the ladies of the different church parishes, subject to the approval of -the board of trustees. - -The wooden building upon a circular foundation of coquina standing in -the bay north of the basin is the bath-house. In the winter it is kept -heated, and warm salt-water baths are furnished to visitors. During the -summer it is liberally patronized for swimming baths by the citizens of -the place and many summer visitors, who come from the interior of the -State to spend the hot months at the seaside. Probably a larger -proportion of the ladies of St. Augustine know how to swim than of any -other place in the country. - -Within the last few years there have been a number of handsome houses -built in the city by wealthy gentlemen who occupy them during the winter -season. Mr. H. P. Kingsland of New York has a fine residence north of -the gates upon the shell road. This is probably the most expensive of -the houses built by nonresidents, though the fine house built by the -late Hy. Ball upon his estate on Tolomato Street is said to have cost a -large sum of money. The grounds and orange grove on this place were very -attractive during the life of Mr. Ball, and it is a place much -frequented by visitors. - -Mr. Geo. L. Lorillard has lately purchased the “Stone” mansion on St. -George Street, and is ornamenting the grounds, and otherwise making the -place more attractive. - -Mr. Tyler, Mr. Ammidown, Mr. Howard, Mr. Bronson, Mr. Alexander, and Mr. -Wilson each have fine residences on St. George Street south of the -plaza. Mr. Edgar has a handsome coquina house on the bay, while the -residence of ex-Senator Gilbert on the south, and the residence and -orange grove of Dr. Anderson on the north, are sure to attract the -notice of the stranger entering the city from the causeway. All of these -residences have attractive grounds, ornamentally laid out, and -artistically adorned, containing a great variety of most beautiful roses -and ornamental plants and flowers. The roses especially are congenial to -the soil and climate, and are in the early winter months most attractive -in their wealth of bloom. This shrub in some of its varieties, here -attains the proportions of a tree. The rose tree in the garden of Mr. -Oliveros was fifteen feet high, rising from a stock twenty-one inches in -circumference, and its branches covered a space eighteen feet in -diameter. The tree is dead, but the stump is still to be seen. - -The shell road extends for about a mile north of the city, and is much -used during the winter season. Carriages, buggies, and saddle-horses for -hire are usually standing at all hours in front of the hotels or near -the plaza, and on fair days are well patronized. Mr. Williams and Mr. -Hildreth, north of the city, have attractive places which are much -visited by tourists. When the tide is low there is a short but quite -hard drive along the edge of the St. Sebastian River. There is an -interesting drive to a suburb west of the city called Ravenswood, where -is a spring called from the famous Ponce de Leon. A great natural -curiosity is a large spring in the ocean about three miles off the coast -near Matanzas Inlet, eighteen miles south of St. Augustine. This spring -has been described in the publications of the U. S. Coast Survey. There -is a comfortable hotel kept by Mr. Darius Allen at Matanzas, which is -often filled with hunting and fishing parties. The house stands on the -narrow sand reef between the Matanzas River and the ocean. - -At the outbreak of the war of the Rebellion the Union sentiment, which -existed among a considerable portion of the community, was stifled by -the taunts of cowardice and the popular frenzy for secession. A number -of the inhabitants, being unable to make their influence felt at the -election of delegates, prepared and had presented to the convention that -passed the ordinance of secession a letter of protest against such a -course. The only effect of this letter was to place the signers in such -a position that they were advised to volunteer at once to serve in the -Confederate army. - -In March, 1862, the United States forces took possession of the town, -which they held until the close of the war. The city was taken by a -naval force under command of Lieut. S. F. Du Pont, afterward Admiral Du -Pont. - -In his report to the Secretary of the Navy, Flag-Officer Du Pont speaks -of the occupation of the place in a tone exhibiting less of exultation -than sadness, that a place which had enjoyed so many favors at the hands -of the government should have taken part in an attempt at its overthrow. - -It is perhaps too soon after the close of the struggle to discuss the -events of that period. As a matter of history, however, I give the -report of Commander Rodgers, who received the surrender of the town. In -transmitting the report, Flag-Officer Du Pont adds: “The American flag -is flying once more over that old city, raised by the hands of its own -people.” - -The following is Commander Rodgers’s report: - -“UNITED STATES FLAG-SHIP WABASH, -“OFF ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA, _March 12, 1862_. - - “SIR: Having crossed the bar with some difficulty, in obedience to - your orders, I approached St. Augustine under a flag of truce, and - as I drew near the city a white flag was hoisted upon one of the - bastions of Fort Marion. - - “Landing at the wharf and inquiring for the chief authorities I was - soon joined by the mayor, and conducted to the City Hall, where the - municipal authorities were assembled. - - “I informed them that having come to restore the authority of the - United States, you had deemed it more kind to send an unarmed boat - to inform the citizens of your determination than to occupy the - town at once by force of arms; that you were desirous to calm any - apprehension of harsh treatment that might exist in their minds, - and that you should carefully respect the persons and property of - all citizens who submitted to the authority of the United States; - that you had a single purpose--to restore the state of affairs - which existed before the Rebellion. I informed the municipal - authorities that so long as they respected the authority of the - government we serve, and acted in good faith, municipal affairs - would be left in their own hands, so far as might be consistent - with the exigencies of the times. - - “The mayor and council then informed me that the place had been - evacuated the preceding night by two companies of Florida troops, - and that they gladly received the assurance I gave them, and placed - the city in my hands. I recommended them to hoist the flag of the - Union at once, and in prompt accordance with the advice, by order - of the mayor the national ensign was displayed from the flagstaff - of the fort. * * * * - - “I called upon the clergymen of the city requesting them to - reassure the people, and to confide in our kind intentions toward - them. - - “About fifteen hundred people remain in St. Augustine, about - one-fifth of the inhabitants having fled. I believe that there are - many citizens who are earnestly attached to the Union, a large - number who are silently opposed to it, and a still larger number - who care very little about the matter. - - “I think that nearly all of the men acquiesce in the condition of - affairs we are now establishing. - - “There is much violent and pestilent feeling among the women. They - seem to mistake treason for courage, and have a theatrical desire - to figure as heroines. Their minds have doubtless been filled with - the falsehoods so industriously circulated in regard to the lust - and hatred of our troops. On the night before our arrival, a party - of women assembled in front of the barracks and cut down the - flag-staff, in order that it might not be used to support the old - flag. The men seemed anxious to conciliate in every way. There is a - great scarcity of provisions in the place. There seems to be no - money, except the wretched paper currency of the Rebellion, and - much poverty exists. In the water-battery at the fort are three - fine army thirty-two-pounders, of 7,000 pounds, and two eight-inch - seacoast howitzers, of 5,600 pounds, with shot and some powder. - There are a number of very old guns in the fort, useless and not - mounted. - - * * * * * - -“I have the honor to be very respectfully, -“C. R. P. RODGERS, _Commander_. - -“_Flag Officer_, S. F. DU PONT, -“Commanding S. Atlantic Blockading Station.” - - - -Mr. Christobal Bravo, an old and much-respected citizen of the place, -who is still alive, was the mayor who surrendered the town. - -Immediately after the close of the Rebellion, real estate in the city -possessed very little value. Within a short time, however, as a few -wealthy men began to secure sites for winter residences, the prices -suddenly leaped to the full value, and, in many cases, fictitious -values, which they have since maintained. - -The climate of St. Augustine is unsurpassed by that of any location in -the world. The mass of testimony to its healthfulness and agreeableness -is constantly accumulating, and dates from its first settlement. - -The extreme old age attained by the aborigines in Florida has been -referred to in the extract from Laudonnère. Romans mentions a man, -eighty-five years old, who had gone five miles on foot to catch fish, -while his mother was meantime busy preparing bread. - -The following quaint testimony is from “Romans’s History”: - -“Before I quit this subject of the air, I cannot help taking notice of a -remark, which I have read somewhere, made by Dr. James McKenzie, which -is, ‘The soon molding of the bread, moistness of sponge, dissolution of -loaf sugar, and rusting of metals, are marks of a bad air.’ Now every -one of those marks are more to be seen at St. Augustine than in any -place I ever was at. And yet I do not think that on all the continent -there is a more healthy spot. Burials have been less frequent here than -anywhere else, where an equal number of inhabitants are found; and it -was remarked, during my stay there, that, when a detachment of the royal -regiment of artillery once arrived there in a sickly state, none of the -inhabitants caught the contagion, and the troops themselves soon -recruited. The Spanish inhabitants lived here to a great age, and -certain it is, that the people of the Havannah looked on it as their -Montpellier, frequenting it for the sake of health.” - -Forbes remarks that the Ninth Regiment of British troops never lost a -man by natural death during the eight months they were quartered in the -town. The undeviating salubrity “of St. Augustine, under the British -flag, was certainly augmented by the perfect cleanliness and neatness -which was the characteristic of the town during that epoch, and that it -continued so while the buildings crumbled into ruins over the heads of -the indolent Spaniards, and the dirt and nuisance augmented in every lot -is an additional proof of the natural healthfulness of the place.”[40] - -From October to June the weather is temperate, the thermometer having a -mean of fifty-eight degrees in the winter, and sixty-eight degrees in -the spring. During the winter months there are frequent cloudy days, and -usually several cold storms in a season. From twenty-five years’ -observations Dr. Baldwin, of Jacksonville, prepared a table showing the -average of clear days in January to be 20-3/10; February, 19-5/10; -March, 20-4/10; April, 25. For the whole year, 235 clear days. - -The climate of St. Augustine is sufficiently cold in winter to brace up -the constitution, after being relaxed by summer heats. On the other -hand, it is sufficiently warm to entice the invalid to be out of doors, -and to present opportunities for open-air exercises. The east winds that -prevail are tempered by the proximity of the Gulf Stream, a vast volume -of warm water moving along the coast of Florida, whose effect is felt -thousands of miles farther north in modifying the temperature of the -British Isles. - -The peculiar location of St. Augustine, upon a narrow peninsula, -provides a natural drainage that renders the place particularly -desirable as a health resort. Through the winter rains are infrequent, -that being the dry season in Florida; whatever rain falls, however, is -immediately absorbed by the sandy soil, and, in many parts of the city, -the slope of the surface carries the rain-fall immediately into the -tide-water environing the city, before it has time to be absorbed by the -earth. - -The mean relative humidity for the five winter months of several -localities, recommended as health resorts, is shown in a table compiled -by C. J. Kenworthy, M.D., of Jacksonville, Fla., and published by him in -his work on “The Climatology of Florida.” I take the liberty of using -his data. The humidity of St. Augustine during the winter months is -nearly the same as that of Jacksonville. At Mentone and Cannes the mean -relative humidity for the five months, beginning in November, is ... - - 72-4/10 per cent. - Breckenridge, Minn. 79-6/10 “ - Bismark, Dak. 76-5/10 “ - Nassau, N. P. 73-2/10 “ - Punta Rassa, Fla. (on the Gulf coast) 72-7/10 “ - Jacksonville, “ 68-8/10 “ - -Thus it will be seen that, although we sometimes have fogs and cloudy -weather, the humidity of the atmosphere is less than that of several -noted health resorts, some of which are at a considerable elevation. -Finally, the medical attendance and supply of nourishing and appetizing -food available at St. Augustine are all that could be desired. The -hotels and boarding-houses are excellent; while the opportunities and -inducements for open-air recreations and exercises are superior. - -With the close connections furnished by the lines of railway lately -completed to Jacksonville, that city will doubtless become the objective -point of the Florida-bound tourist. At that place time-tables can be -obtained of the river steamers and the railway from Tocoi, on the St. -Johns River, to St. Augustine; and, by correspondence, accommodations -can be secured in advance, during the season, when the hotels and -boarding-houses of St. Augustine are likely to be crowded. - -All visitors to Florida, and especially those who come for recreation, -should be sure to spend a portion of the season, at least, in St. -Augustine. - - * * * * * - - THE - - SOUVENIR ALBUM - - OF - - VIEWS IN ST. AUGUSTINE. - - PREPARED BY THE CELEBRATED - LOUIS GLASER, OF LEIPSIC, - And Copyrighted. - - THIS CONVENIENT LITTLE ALBUM CONTAINS - VIEWS OF FOURTEEN OF THE MOST INTERESTING - SCENES AND STRUCTURES - IN THE - “ANCIENT CITY;” - - -Embracing: - - THE CITY GATES; THE CATHEDRAL; THE OLD FORT AND WATER BATTERY, FROM - THE BAY; THE FORT AND THE HARBOR, SHOWING THE LIGHT-HOUSE; THE - PLAZA DE LA CONSTITUCION, SHOWING THE SPANISH MONUMENT; THE NEW - LIGHT-HOUSE ON ANASTATIA ISLAND; THE SPANISH COAT-OF-ARMS OVER THE - ENTRANCE TO THE FORT; A VIEW UP ST. GEORGE STREET; THE OLD FORT AT - MATANZAS; THE BAY, LOOKING NORTH, SHOWING THE OLD FORT; A - BIRD’S-EYE VIEW OF THE CITY, LOOKING SOUTH, TAKEN FROM THE LOOK-OUT - TOWER ON THE OLD FORT; THE OLD SPANISH LIGHT-HOUSE WHICH FELL IN - 1880; THE ARCHES SUPPORTING THE BALCONY OF AN OLD SPANISH - RESIDENCE; AND A DOUBLE-PAGE VIEW OF THE CITY FROM THE BAY, SHOWING - ONE MILE OF ITS FRONTAGE. - - A most acceptable present, and a memento of the oldest town in the - United States. - - Sent, post-paid, on receipt of one dollar. - - Address, - - W. W. DEWHURST, - - St. Augustine, Florida. - - -FOOTNOTES: - - [1] Naufragios de Alvar Nuñez Cabeça de Vaca, cap. 31. Barcia, - Historiadores, tom. ii. - - [2] Hakluyt’s translation. French’s Historical Collections, p. 223. - - [3] Laudonnère’s Narrative, translated by Hakluyt. - - [4] Laudonnère’s Narrative, French’s Historical Collections, p. 332. - - [5] Catena, Vita de Pio V., p. 85. “He complained of the count for not - having obeyed his command to slay instantly whatever heretic fell into - his hands.” - - [6] Hakluyt’s translation. - - [7] The arquebuse was a rude musket exploded with a slow match. - - [8] Fairbanks’ History of St. Augustine, p. 107. - - [9] Fairbanks’ History of St. Augustine, p. 112. This chest has since - been broken into fragments and sold to visitors as souvenirs of the - old Spanish occupation. After the last chips had been disposed of, - any old pieces of mahogany were substituted, until the memory of the - chest had faded away, and the trade in mahogany splinters became - unremunerative. - - [10] Fairbanks, pp. 113, 114. - - [11] Fairbanks, p. 119. - - [12] Fairbanks, p. 128. This statement is evidently in error, as I - have shown from Laudonnère’s account that Menendez brought negro - slaves; moreover, the residents of the asylum of all slaves escaping - from the British colonies, and those captured by the Indians under a - standing reward, would hardly rejoice over the arrival of one negro. - - [13] See Souvenir Album of St. Augustine for a view of the old - lighthouse, which exhibits a salient angle protecting the gate of the - inclosing wall. - - [14] For an excellent view of this old fort, see Souvenir Album of - Views in St. Augustine. - - [15] Williams’ Florida, p. 185. - - [16] For an excellent view of the tablet over the entrance to the - fort, on which is sculptured the Spanish coat of arms and the above - inscription, see Souvenir Album of Views in St. Augustine. - - [17] Fairbanks’ History and Antiquities, p. 157. - - [18] For several views of the old fort, see Souvenir Album of Views in - St. Augustine. - - [19] History of the Three Provinces, by Wm. Gerard de Brahm, His - Majesty’s Survr. Gen. for the Southern District of North America, from - 1751 to 1771. A manuscript work purchased in London, in 1848, for - Harvard College library, for £12 10s. The portion relating to Florida - comprises 173 pages with 14 maps. - - [20] Spanish bayonet (Yucca Gloriosa). It bears a pyramid of white - flowers, and, as also the prickly pear, by its appearance suggests the - rural scenery of the tropics. - - [21] I have been unable to find any record of the time or manner in - which any German colony settled in St. Augustine. - - [22] Romans’s History of Florida, New York, 1775. - - [23] Romans’s History of Florida. - - [24] Romans’s History of Florida. - - [25] A very good view of this old structure is published in the - Souvenir Album of Views in St. Augustine. - - [26] Romans’s History of Florida, N. Y., 1775. - - [27] Williams’ Florida, page 190, A.D. 1837. - - [28] Forbes’ Sketches, etc., N. Y., 1821. - - [29] See Souvenir Album of Views in St. Augustine. - - [30] A fine view of the cathedral, showing the four bells in the - tower, and the ornamental front, is given in the Souvenir Album of - Views in St. Augustine. - - [31] Maza, engraver’s mistake. - - [32] Forbes’s Sketches, pp. 85 to 89. - - [33] From inquiry of the old inhabitants I do not find this statement - confirmed. Perhaps the richer class of people made no use of the - ground floors, but the general custom was to use them as is still done. - - [34] Vignole’s History. - - [35] Sprague’s History of the Seminole War. - - [36] The finding of any bones is denied by Major H. W. Benham, U. S. - A., on the authority of a Mr. Ridgely, Lieutenant Tuttle’s overseer. - Major Benham took charge of the work upon the fort in January, 1839. - - [37] Williams’s History, page 18. - - [38] Williams’s History, pp. 115 et seq. - - [39] Fairbanks’s History, p. 197. - - [40] Forbes’s Sketches. - - - - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The History of Saint Augustine, Florida, by -William W. Dewhurst - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE HISTORY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE *** - -***** This file should be named 53608-0.txt or 53608-0.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/3/6/0/53608/ - -Produced by Chuck Greif and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images available at The Internet Archive) - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no -one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation -(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, -set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to -copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to -protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project -Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you -charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you -do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the -rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose -such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and -research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do -practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is -subject to the trademark license, especially commercial -redistribution. - - - -*** START: FULL LICENSE *** - -THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE -PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK - -To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free -distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work -(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project -Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at -http://gutenberg.org/license). - - -Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works - -1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to -and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property -(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all -the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy -all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. -If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the -terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or -entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. - -1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be -used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who -agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few -things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works -even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See -paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement -and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic -works. See paragraph 1.E below. - -1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" -or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the -collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an -individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are -located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from -copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative -works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg -are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project -Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by -freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of -this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with -the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by -keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project -Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. - -1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern -what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in -a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check -the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement -before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or -creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project -Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning -the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United -States. - -1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: - -1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate -access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently -whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the -phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project -Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, -copied or distributed: - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org/license - -1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived -from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is -posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied -and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees -or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work -with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the -work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 -through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the -Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or -1.E.9. - -1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted -with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution -must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional -terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked -to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the -permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. - -1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm -License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this -work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. - -1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this -electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without -prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with -active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project -Gutenberg-tm License. - -1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, -compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any -word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or -distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than -"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version -posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), -you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a -copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon -request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other -form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm -License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. - -1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, -performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works -unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing -access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided -that - -- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from - the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method - you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is - owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he - has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the - Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments - must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you - prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax - returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and - sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the - address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to - the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." - -- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies - you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he - does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm - License. You must require such a user to return or - destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium - and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of - Project Gutenberg-tm works. - -- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any - money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the - electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days - of receipt of the work. - -- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free - distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. - -1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set -forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from -both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael -Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the -Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. - -1.F. - -1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable -effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread -public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm -collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic -works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain -"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or -corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual -property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a -computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by -your equipment. - -1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right -of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project -Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all -liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal -fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT -LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE -PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE -TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE -LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR -INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH -DAMAGE. - -1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a -defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can -receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a -written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you -received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with -your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with -the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a -refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity -providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to -receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy -is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further -opportunities to fix the problem. - -1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth -in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER -WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO -WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. - -1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied -warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. -If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the -law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be -interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by -the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any -provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. - -1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the -trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone -providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance -with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, -promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, -harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, -that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do -or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm -work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any -Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. - - -Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm - -Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of -electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers -including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists -because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from -people in all walks of life. - -Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the -assistance they need, are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's -goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will -remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure -and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. -To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation -and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 -and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. - - -Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive -Foundation - -The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit -501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the -state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal -Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification -number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at -http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent -permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. - -The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. -Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered -throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at -809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email -business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact -information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official -page at http://pglaf.org - -For additional contact information: - Dr. Gregory B. Newby - Chief Executive and Director - gbnewby@pglaf.org - - -Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation - -Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide -spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of -increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be -freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest -array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations -($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt -status with the IRS. - -The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating -charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United -States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a -considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up -with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations -where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To -SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any -particular state visit http://pglaf.org - -While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we -have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition -against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who -approach us with offers to donate. - -International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make -any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from -outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. - -Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation -methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other -ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. -To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate - - -Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic -works. - -Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm -concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared -with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project -Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. - - -Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed -editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. -unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily -keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. - - -Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: - - http://www.gutenberg.org - -This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, -including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to -subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/old/53608-0.zip b/old/53608-0.zip Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index e93618c..0000000 --- a/old/53608-0.zip +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/53608-h.zip b/old/53608-h.zip Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index ba508d2..0000000 --- a/old/53608-h.zip +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/53608-h/53608-h.htm b/old/53608-h/53608-h.htm deleted file mode 100644 index dab4eb7..0000000 --- a/old/53608-h/53608-h.htm +++ /dev/null @@ -1,6031 +0,0 @@ -<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" -"http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> - -<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" lang="en" xml:lang="en"> - <head> <link rel="coverpage" href="images/cover.jpg" /> -<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=utf-8" /> -<title> - The Project Gutenberg eBook of The -History of Saint Augustine, Florida, by William W. Dewhurst. -</title> -<style type="text/css"> - p {margin-top:.2em;text-align:justify;margin-bottom:.2em;text-indent:4%;} - -.c {text-align:center;text-indent:0%;} - -.cb {text-align:center;text-indent:0%;font-weight:bold;} - -td.reg {text-indent:-4%;margin-left:2%;} - -th {padding-top:.254em;} - -td {text-indent:0%;margin-left:0%;} - -.hgec {font-size:500%;font-weight:bold;text-align:center;text-indent:0%;} - -.lftspc {margin-left:.15em;} - -.nind {text-indent:0%;} - -.r {text-align:right;margin-right: 5%;} - -.rt {text-align:right;text-indent:0%;margin-left:0%;} - -small {font-size: 70%;font-weight:normal;} - -big {font-size: 130%;} - - h1 {margin-top:5%;text-align:center;clear:both;font-size:175%;} - - h2 {margin-top:4%;margin-bottom:2%;text-align:center;clear:both; - font-size:120%;} - - hr {width:90%;margin:2em auto 2em auto;clear:both;color:black;} - - hr.full {width: 60%;margin:2% auto 2% auto;border-top:1px solid black; -padding:.1em;border-bottom:1px solid black;border-left:none;border-right:none;} - - table {margin-top:2%;margin-bottom:2%;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;border:none;} - - body{margin-left:4%;margin-right:6%;background:#ffffff;color:black;font-family:"Times New Roman", serif;font-size:medium;} - -a:link {background-color:#ffffff;color:blue;text-decoration:none;} - - link {background-color:#ffffff;color:blue;text-decoration:none;} - -a:visited {background-color:#ffffff;color:purple;text-decoration:none;} - -a:hover {background-color:#ffffff;color:#FF0000;text-decoration:underline;} - -.smcap {font-variant:small-caps;font-size:100%;} - - img {border:none;} - -.blockquot {margin-top:2%;margin-bottom:2%;} -.blockquot p{font-size:75%;margin-left:4%;text-indent:-4%;} -.blockquot2 {margin-top:2%;margin-bottom:2%;} - - sup {font-size:75%;vertical-align:top;} - - sub {font-size:75%;vertical-align:bottom;} - -.figcenter {margin-top:3%;margin-bottom:3%;clear:both; -margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;text-align:center;text-indent:0%;} - @media print, handheld - {.figcenter - {page-break-before: avoid;} - } - -.footnotes {border:dotted 3px gray;margin-top:5%;clear:both;} - -.footnote {width:95%;margin:auto 3% 1% auto;font-size:0.9em;position:relative;} - -.label {position:relative;left:-.5em;top:0;text-align:left;font-size:.8em;} - -.fnanchor {vertical-align:30%;font-size:.8em;} - -.pagenum {font-style:normal;position:absolute; -left:95%;font-size:55%;text-align:right;color:gray; -background-color:#ffffff;font-variant:normal;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0em;} -@media print, handheld -{.pagenum - {display: none;} - } -</style> - </head> -<body> - - -<pre> - -The Project Gutenberg EBook of The History of Saint Augustine, Florida, by -William W. Dewhurst - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org/license - - -Title: The History of Saint Augustine, Florida - -Author: William W. Dewhurst - -Release Date: November 26, 2016 [EBook #53608] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE HISTORY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE *** - - - - -Produced by Chuck Greif and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images available at The Internet Archive) - - - - - - -</pre> - -<hr class="full" /> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/cover.jpg" width="314" height="500" alt="" title="" /> -</div> - -<h1><small>THE HISTORY<br /> - -<small>OF</small></small><br /> - -<span class="smcap">Saint Augustine, Florida</span></h1> - -<p class="c"><small>WITH<br /> -AN INTRODUCTORY ACCOUNT OF THE EARLY SPANISH<br /> -AND FRENCH ATTEMPTS AT EXPLORATION<br /> -AND SETTLEMENT IN THE TERRITORY<br /> -OF FLORIDA<br /><br /> -TOGETHER WITH<br /> -SKETCHES OF EVENTS AND OBJECTS OF INTEREST CONNECTED WITH THE<br /> -OLDEST TOWN IN THE UNITED STATES<br /><br />TO WHICH IS ADDED<br /> - -A SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE CLIMATE AND -ADVANTAGES OF SAINT AUGUSTINE -AS A HEALTH RESORT</small><br /><br /><br /> - -BY<br /> - -WILLIAM W. DEWHURST<br /><br /><br />NEW YORK<br /> -G. P. P U T N A M ’ S S O N S<br /> -182 <span class="smcap">Fifth Avenue</span><br /> -1 8 8 1 -<br /><br /><br /> - -<small> -<span class="smcap">Copyright</span><br /> -1881<br /> -<span class="smcap">By</span> WILLIAM W. DEWHURST</small> -</p> - -<h2><a name="PREFACE" id="PREFACE"></a>PREFACE.</h2> - -<p><span class="smcap">This</span> brief outline of the history of one of the most interesting -portions of our country, together with the sketches of the celebrated -characters and memorable events which have rendered the town of St. -Augustine famous throughout the world, is offered to the public in the -hope and expectation that the information herein contained may supply -the desire, felt by an ever-increasing number of its citizens and -visitors, to be better informed as to the early history of a place so -justly celebrated.</p> - -<p>The desire of the author has been to condense and render accessible to -the general reader the very interesting but elaborate accounts of the -early writers concerning some of the more notable events connected with -the early settlement and defense of St. Augustine.</p> - -<p>Copious quotations have been borrowed, and the quaint language of the -early historians has been retained as peculiarly appropriate to the -subject and locality described.</p> - -<p>The traditions and chronicles in possession of the descendants of the -early settlers have been sought with a desire to preserve these -fragments of history before it shall be too late. Already those -conversant with the events of the early years of the century have passed -from the stage of life.</p> - -<p>The reader who desires to become better informed as to the events -noticed in this volume should consult the narrative of De Soto, by a -Knight of Elvas, the works of Cabeça de Vaca, Garcilasa de la Vega, -Laudonnère, Bartram, Romans, Vignoles, Roberts, De Brahm, Stork, Forbes, -Darby, Williams, and Fairbanks, to all of whom the author is under -obligation.</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">St. Augustine, Florida</span>, <i>November, 1880</i>.</p> - -<h2><a name="CONTENTS" id="CONTENTS"></a>CONTENTS.</h2> - -<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="" -style="margin:auto auto;max-width:85%;"> - -<tr><th class="c" colspan="2"><a href="#CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I.</a></th></tr> -<tr><td> </td><td class="rt"><span class="smcap">Page</span></td></tr> - -<tr><td valign="top" class="reg">Introductory.</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_001">1</a></td></tr> - -<tr><th class="c" colspan="2"><a href="#CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II.</a></th></tr> - -<tr><td valign="top" class="reg">The Discovery of Florida.</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_003">3</a></td></tr> - -<tr><th class="c" colspan="2"><a href="#CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III.</a></th></tr> - -<tr><td valign="top" class="reg">Expeditions of Muruelo, Cordova, Alminos, Ayllon, and Narvaez.</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_007">7</a></td></tr> - -<tr><th class="c" colspan="2"><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV.</a></th></tr> - -<tr><td valign="top" class="reg">Hernando De Soto.—An Account of his March through Florida.</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_018">18</a></td></tr> - -<tr><th class="c" colspan="2"><a href="#CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V.</a></th></tr> - -<tr><td valign="top" class="reg">Huguenot Settlement under Ribault.</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_026">26</a></td></tr> - -<tr><th class="c" colspan="2"><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI.</a></th></tr> - -<tr><td valign="top" class="reg">Second Huguenot Settlement under Laudonnère.</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_029">29</a></td></tr> - -<tr><th class="c" colspan="2"><a href="#CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII.</a></th></tr> - -<tr><td valign="top" class="reg">The Unfortunate Expedition under Ribault.—Founding of St. Augustine -by Menendez, 1565.—Attack upon the French Settlement on -the St. Johns River.</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_037">37</a></td></tr> - -<tr><th class="c" colspan="2"><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII.</a></th></tr> - -<tr><td valign="top" class="reg">Shipwreck of Ribault’s Fleet.—Massacre by Menendez.</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_046">46</a></td></tr> - -<tr><th class="c" colspan="2"><a href="#CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX.</a></th></tr> - -<tr><td valign="top" class="reg">Expedition and Retaliation of De Gourges.</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_057">57</a></td></tr> - -<tr><th class="c" colspan="2"><a href="#CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X.</a></th></tr> - -<tr><td valign="top" class="reg">Return of Menendez.—Attempt to Christianize the Indians.—Attack -upon St. Augustine by Sir Francis Drake.—Murder of the Friars.</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_066">66</a></td></tr> - -<tr><th class="c" colspan="2"><a href="#CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI.</a></th></tr> - -<tr><td valign="top" class="reg">Plunder of the Town by Captain Davis.—Removal of the Yemassee -Indians.—Construction of the Fort.—Building of the First Sea-wall.—Attacks -of Governor Moore and Colonel Palmer.</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_079">79</a></td></tr> - -<tr><th class="c" colspan="2"><a href="#CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII.</a></th></tr> - -<tr><td valign="top" class="reg">Oglethorpe’s Attack.—Bombardment of the Fort and Town.—Capture -of the Highlanders at Fort Mosa.—Old Fort at Matanzas.—Monteano’s -Invasion of Georgia.</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_089">89</a></td></tr> - -<tr><th class="c" colspan="2"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">CHAPTER XIII.</a></th></tr> - -<tr><td valign="top" class="reg">The Town when delivered to the English.—Fort San Juan De Pinos.—St. -Augustine as described by the English Writers in 1765 to 1775.</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_100">100</a></td></tr> - -<tr><th class="c" colspan="2"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">CHAPTER XIV.</a></th></tr> - -<tr><td valign="top" class="reg">The Settlement of New Smyrna by the Ancestors of a Majority of the -Present Population of St. Augustine.—The Hardships endured by -these Minorcan and Greek Colonists.—Their Removal to St. Augustine -under the Protection of the English Governor.</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_113">113</a></td></tr> - -<tr><th class="c" colspan="2"><a href="#CHAPTER_XV">CHAPTER XV.</a></th></tr> - -<tr><td valign="top" class="reg">Administration of Lieut.-Governor Moultrie.—Demand of the People for -the Rights of Englishmen.—Governor Tonyn burning the Effigies -of Adams and Hancock.—Colonial Insurgents confined in the -Fort.—Assembling of the First Legislature.—Commerce of St. Augustine -under the English.—Recession of the Province to Spain.</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_122">122</a></td></tr> - -<tr><th class="c" colspan="2"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">CHAPTER XVI.</a></th></tr> - -<tr><td valign="top" class="reg">Return of the Spaniards.—Completion of the Cathedral.—The Oldest -Church Bell in America.—The Governor’s Desire to People the -Province with Irish Catholics.—Some Official Orders exhibiting -the Customs of the Spaniards.—Unjustifiable Interference of the -United States, during the “Patriot War.”—Florida an Unprofitable -Possession.—Erection of the Monument to the Spanish Constitution.</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_129">129</a></td></tr> - -<tr><th class="c" colspan="2"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">CHAPTER XVII.</a></th></tr> - -<tr><td valign="top" class="reg">Florida Ceded to the United States.—Attempt of the Spanish Governor -to carry away the Records.—Description of St. Augustine when -Transferred.—Population in 1830.—Town during the Indian -War.—Osceola and Coa-cou-che.—A True Account of the Dungeon -in the Old Fort, and the Iron Cages.—The Indians brought to St. -Augustine in 1875.</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_143">143</a></td></tr> - -<tr><th class="c" colspan="2"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">CHAPTER XVIII.</a></th></tr> - -<tr><td valign="top" class="reg">St. Augustine as it used to be.—Customs.—The Oldest Structure in the -United States.—Present Population.—Objects of Interest.—Buildings -Ancient and Modern.—St. Augustine during the Rebellion.—Climate.—Advantages -as a Health Resort.</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_161">161</a></td></tr> -</table> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_001" id="page_001"></a>{01}</span></p> - -<h1>HISTORY OF ST. AUGUSTINE.</h1> - -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I.<br /><br /> -<small>INTRODUCTORY.</small></h2> - -<p><span class="smcap">A universal</span> desire exists to learn the origin and history of our -ancestors. Even before the art of writing was perfected, bards -perpetuated the traditions of the early races of men by recitations of -mingled facts and fables at the periodical assemblies. These -peripatetics were ever welcomed and supported by the people, and -doubtless preserved many of the facts of history.</p> - -<p>Unfortunately, among the Spanish knights, who at various times essayed -the conquest of Florida, few were found to desert the shrine of Mars for -that of Clio. While there are several valuable accounts of the Spanish -occupation, the scope of the histories is narrow and unreliable on many -most interesting subjects, and on others of no importance they are often -most diffuse. Owing to the vicissitudes of the occupation of St. -Augustine, there are few traditions. It is possible that the Spanish -antiquarian may at some future day develop a rich mine of history in -searching the ancient archives of that nation and of the Catholic -Church. Valuable acquisitions have been made in this field of literature -by the labors of the learned and genial Buckingham Smith, a resident of -St. Augustine.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_002" id="page_002"></a>{2}</span></p> - -<p>Two impulses prompted the early Spanish explorers in Florida. The first -was a hope of finding gold, as it had been found in Mexico and South -America. A second and probably more ostensible motive, was the desire -and hope of extending the Catholic faith among the inhabitants of the -New World.</p> - -<p>The result of all their hardships and labors has proved so barren that -even in our day it is impossible to contemplate the slaughters and -disappointments of the brave men who invaded and who defended these -ancient homes, without a pang of regret.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_003" id="page_003"></a>{3}</span></p> - -<h2>[1492-1498.]<br /><br /> -<a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II.<br /><br /> -<small>THE DISCOVERY OF FLORIDA.</small></h2> - -<p><span class="smcap">The</span> honor of having discovered Florida has been assigned by different -writers to Columbus, Cabot, and De Leon.</p> - -<p>In 1492, Columbus terminated his venturesome voyage across the Atlantic -by landing at the island of St. Salvador, so called by the great Genoese -explorer in remembrance of his salvation. It is said that from this -island his people, on his return from Europe, ventured with him to the -shores of Florida, being impressed, as were the Aborigines, with a -belief that the continent possessed waters calculated to invigorate and -perpetuate youth and vitality.</p> - -<p>The date 1497 is assigned as the year in which Amerigo Vespucci -discovered the western continent. Vespucci was encouraged by Emanuel, -King of Portugal, and, though probably lacking the inspiring genius and -sublime courage of Columbus, through the accident of fortune he has -perpetuated his name in the designation of half a hemisphere. Doubtless, -Vespucci was the first to reach the mainland of the western continent, -as Columbus did not touch the mainland until his third voyage in 1498, -when he landed at the mouth of the Orinoco in South America. So entirely -unsuspicious was the world at this time of a second continent, that the -transcendent genius of Columbus never suspected the magnitude of his -discovery, and he died in the belief that he had landed on the eastern -shore of Asia.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_004" id="page_004"></a>{4}</span></p> - -<p>The next to essay a voyage to the New World was also a native of -Southern Europe. John Cabot, the son of Giovanni Gabota, a native of -Venice, who had settled in Bristol, was commissioned by Henry the -Seventh of England to sail on a voyage of discovery and conquest. Though -the inception and authority for the expedition antedated the sailing of -Columbus by a year, Cabot did not leave England until May, 1498. His -landing on America was at or near the river St. Lawrence, from whence he -sailed southward along the coast, landing only for observation, and -making no attempt to form a settlement. It is doubtful if Cabot ever -sailed as far south as Florida, though it is claimed that to him belongs -the honor of its discovery.</p> - -<p>Fourteen years afterward, the first landing was made on the sandy shores -of Florida, and possession claimed in the name of the King of Spain.</p> - -<p>The mystic fountain of youth, first pictured in the days of mythology, -whose waters would stay the devastating march of time, endow perpetual -youth, even restore vigor to the decrepitude of age, was said to exist -in the New World.</p> - -<p>This fable, with which the European had become familiar from an Egyptian -or Hellenic source, found confirmation in the traditions of the Indians -of the Caribbean Islands. To the mind of the Spanish knight, eager to -continue his youthful prowess and the enjoyment of the adjuncts of power -and authority already achieved, the belief, thus strengthened by -concurrence of a tradition in the New World, seemed an authentic -reality, and the sufficient foundation for great labor and sacrifice.</p> - -<p>In this materialistic age we may laugh at the credulousness of the -Spanish chevalier, whose faith in the story of an Indian girl led him to -expend his wealth and sacrifice his life in such a<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_005" id="page_005"></a>{5}</span> chimerical search; -yet the history of our own day will recount equal faith and as fruitless -ventures.</p> - -<p>Juan Ponce de Leon seems to have been a person of influence in Spain, -possessed of a unique character, a chivalrous nature, and a -comprehensive and trained mind. Born in an age when personal valor and -knightly habits were the surest paths to distinction and authority, his -career seems to have been that of an adventurer. When past the meridian -of life, he landed in the Bahamas seeking for the spring of youth. In -vain was his search, but his hopes and his ardor were undaunted. “Upon -the mainland the wished-for waters flowed as a river, on whose banks -lived the rejuvenated races in serene idleness and untold luxuriance.” -Leaving the Bahamas he steered northwest for the coast. While some -accounts make his first landing at a spot north of St. Augustine, it is -more probable that his course was to the west of the Bahama Islands, and -that he first disembarked at or near the southernmost part of Florida, -at a place called Punta Tanchi, now Cape Sable.</p> - -<p>It was on March 27th, 1512, Palm Sunday (Pasqua Florida), and from this -accidental date of discovery did the country receive its name, and not -from its abundance of flowers. While the Latin adjective <i>floridus</i> -signifies “full of flowers,” soldiers of fortune like De Leon did not -make a practice of using the Latin tongue except in their litany. After -erecting a cross, celebrating a solemn mass, and proclaiming the -sovereignty of the Spanish crown, De Leon coasted along the Florida -shore into the Gulf of Mexico, making various attempts to penetrate the -interior of the country. In this he was unable to succeed, owing to the -swampy nature of the land, and its barrenness of food products. After -the loss of many of his men, the rest, greatly suffering for food, -re-embarked.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_006" id="page_006"></a>{6}</span> According to some historians De Leon returned to Spain, -and demanded to be made governor of the new dominions; while others -declare that he withdrew only to the islands, from whence he sent a -description of the newly-discovered province, and begged a grant of the -same. His request was acceded to by the Spanish crown on condition that -he should colonize the country.</p> - -<p>Accordingly, in 1516 he returned with two vessels, but his occupancy -being disputed by the Indians, De Leon was mortally wounded in the first -encounter. His followers, being dispirited by the loss of their leader -in a strange and uninviting land, returned on board their vessels and -sailed for Cuba. Here a monument was erected to the memory of Juan Ponce -de Leon, on which is inscribed the following eloquent and deserved -epitaph: “Mole sub hac, fortis requiescunt, ossa Leonis qui vicit factis -nomina magna suis.”</p> - -<p>Though De Leon died in disappointment, never having tasted the fabled -waters of which he came in search, his name will ever be associated with -the country he christened, and many a wasted consumptive who has -regained a lost vigor and health under the assuasive influences of -Florida’s climate will give a kindly thought of remembrance and regret -as he recalls him who first visited Florida, a seeker after healing -waters.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_007" id="page_007"></a>{7}</span></p> - -<h2>[1517.]<br /><br /> -<a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III.<br /><br /> -<small>EXPEDITIONS OF MURUELO, CORDOVA, ALMINOS, AYLLON, AND NARVAEZ.</small></h2> - -<p><span class="smcap">In</span> the next twenty years there were many captains who undertook voyages -for the exploration and subjugation of Florida.</p> - -<p>It must be remembered that at this time, and until the beginning of the -eighteenth century, the grand divisions of North America were known only -as Florida and Canada.</p> - -<p>Diego Muruelo, a Spanish adventurer, by profession a pilot, is said to -have sailed from Cuba, and returning with gold and precious stones -obtained from the Florida Indians, spread glowing reports of the -country. These reports may have influenced the home government, as about -this time a Dominican, “Bernardo de Mesa,” was chosen Bishop of Cuba -“including Florida.”</p> - -<p>Fernandez de Cordova landed on the coast, but was driven off by the -Indians, and returned to Cuba, where he died of his wounds. The famous -Bernal Diaz was a member of this expedition.</p> - -<p>One De Alminos, a member of Cordova’s party, made such a favorable -report of the country and the advantages to be derived from a possession -of the same that he induced Francisco de Geray, the governor of Jamaica, -to furnish him with three vessels, with which he returned to the coast; -but was unsuccessful in his attempts to make any acquisition of wealth -or power in Florida,<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_008" id="page_008"></a>{8}</span> though slight progress was made in the survey of -its coast. De Geray, however, trusting in the reports given him, applied -to the home government to be made Adelantado of Florida, though his -request is said to have been denied.</p> - -<p>Lucas Vasquez de Ayllon, an auditor of St. Domingo, a rich and learned -man, formed a company with six other inhabitants of the island of -Hispaniola, for the purpose of securing Indians to work as slaves in the -mines of Mexico.</p> - -<p>In the humane laws decreed by the Spanish crown against the enslaving of -its Indian subjects, an exception had been made against the Caribs, or -Cannibals; these Indians being considered especially barbarous and -deserving of castigation.</p> - -<p>De Ayllon falsely declaring that the inhabitants of the mainland were -Caribs, set sail in 1520 with two vessels, and directed his course to -the east coast of Florida. He landed in the province of Chicora in South -Carolina, where the Indians were ruled by a chief named Datha who was a -giant. His gigantic stature had been attained by a process of stretching -which elongated the bones while a child. This practice was applied only -to those of royal race.</p> - -<p>The simple Floridians at first fled from the vessels and their -pale-faced occupants. The Spaniards, however, by kind treatment -succeeded in assuring the Indians, and, finally, induced the cacique and -a hundred and thirty attendants on board the ships. These were at once -secured, and the ships set sail for Hispaniola. It is also said that, as -a parting salute, De Ayllon fired the cannon of the ships into the crowd -assembled on the shores; but this inhuman act is not authenticated, and -the treachery of which he certainly was guilty is sufficiently execrable -to account for that remorse which he is said to have suffered afterward. -One<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_009" id="page_009"></a>{9}</span> vessel was lost on the voyage, and the cargo of the other was sold -upon their arrival at St. Domingo. The North American Indians, however, -have never submitted like the African to the servile yoke. The -Christianizing and civilizing blessings of slavery have never been -appreciated by these Indians. This body of North American captives, the -first which history mentions, set an example which has been followed by -their unfortunate descendants. No promises nor hopes could influence -these to forget their heritage of freedom. Refusing all sustenance, -borne down by sorrow and home-sickness, to a man they chose death rather -than slavery.</p> - -<p>Charles the Fifth had been so affected by the eloquent and earnest -appeals of that humane and nobly pious Bishop of Chiapa, Bartholomi de -las Casas, that he issued decrees visiting his anger and the severest -penalties upon the Spanish governors who, by their barbarous tyranny, -had made the Indians of the New World to detest Christianity, and -tremble at the very name of Christian. Though these ordinances appear -often to have been disregarded, Vasquez’s perfidious treatment of the -natives seems to have been disapproved at Court; for when he applied to -the Spanish Crown for the governorship of the province, his request was -granted on condition that he should not enslave the Indians.</p> - -<p>Tempted by the profit of his first venture, he disregarded this -provision of his grant, and returned to secure a second cargo. The -Indians were equal to the occasion, and met the whites with their own -methods. Having decoyed the Spaniards away from the shore, the Indians -fell upon them and killed two hundred. The Spaniards after this attack -put to sea, and soon after encountering a severe storm were shipwrecked, -and are all reported to <span class="pagenum"><a name="page_010" id="page_010"></a>{10}</span>have perished except Vasquez himself, who was -picked up and saved, only to pass the remainder of his life in misery -and remorse. His unhappiness may have had for its cause his disgrace and -the displeasure of the king, which he is said to have incurred. Another -account says he was among the killed.</p> - -<p>Despising the ignorant and untrained races of Indians and overweeningly -confident in the mighty influence of the name of his king and the power -of the Spanish arms, Pamphilo de Narvaez, having obtained from Charles -the Fifth a grant of all the lands from Cape Florida to the River of -Palms in Mexico, determined to extend the Spanish rule and the Catholic -faith. Narvaez was also actuated by a desire to retrieve his own -disgrace. Having been sent to Mexico by Valasquez, the Governor of Cuba, -to supersede Cortez, the latter had by a sudden attack seized Narvaez -and assumed the command of his forces, who were doubtless only too -willing to serve under so gallant and successful a commander.</p> - -<p>Returning to Spain, Narvaez was unable to obtain redress for the -injuries sustained at the hands of Cortez, but was placated by the -Commission of Adelantado of Florida.</p> - -<p>On the 12th day of April, 1528, he sailed from St. Jago de Cuba, with -four hundred men and forty horses. Landing near what is now Charlotte -Harbor, he took formal possession of the country in the name of the King -of Spain.</p> - -<p>The houses of the Indians, already evacuated, were in sight of the bay. -Proceeding inland, he came upon a town located on another and larger bay -(Tampa Bay), where the Indians offered him corn.</p> - -<p>Here was promulgated a manifesto prepared by Narvaez, in the Spanish -language, abounding in arrogant assumption of power and superiority, -intended to awe the Indians, and secure at once their allegiance and -homage.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_011" id="page_011"></a>{11}</span></p> - -<p>This curious document is still extant among the Archives of the Seville -Chamber of Commerce. The proclamation throws such a light upon the -estimate which the Spaniards had of the rights and condition of the -Indians, of their own authority, its source, and the purposes for which -it was to be exercised, that a considerable extract is quoted.</p> - -<p>“A summons to be made to the inhabitants of the countries which extend -between the River of Palms and Cape Florida:</p> - -<p>“In the name of his Catholic and Imperial Majesty, ever august King, and -Emperor of all the Romans; in the name of Dona Juana, his mother; King -of Spain; Defender of the Church, always victorious, and always -invincible, the conqueror of barbarous nations; I, Pamphilo de Narvaez, -their servant, and Ambassador and Captain, cause to be known to you in -the best manner I am able.” How God created the world and charged St. -Peter to be sovereign of all men in whatever country they might be born, -God gave him the whole world for his inheritance. One of his successors -made a gift of all these lands to the Imperial Sovereigns, the King and -Queen of Spain, so that the Indians are their subjects. After claiming -their allegiance he closes with the following invitation to embrace the -Catholic faith, which is more after the pagan than Christian order:</p> - -<p>“You will not be compelled to accept Christianity, but when you shall be -well informed of the truth you will be made Christians. If you refuse, -and delay agreeing to what I have proposed to you, I testify to you -that, with God’s assistance, I will march against you, arms in hand. I -will make war upon you from all sides, and by every possible means. I -will subject you to the yoke and obedience of the Church and His -Majesty. I will obtain possession of your wives and children; I will -reduce you to<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_012" id="page_012"></a>{12}</span> slavery. I notify you that neither His Majesty, nor -myself, nor the gentlemen who accompany me will be the cause of this, -but yourselves only.” That the Indians gave little heed to the claims -and threats of this haughty knight is evident from the sad result of his -expedition. While resting at the village about Tampa, Narvaez was shown -some wooden burial cases, containing the remains of chiefs, and -ornamented with deerskins elaborately painted and adorned with sprigs of -gold. Learning that the gold came from farther north, at a place called -Appalache, Narvaez immediately ordered his men to march thither. With -more judgment or prophetic wisdom his treasurer, Cabeça de Vaca, -endeavored in vain to dissuade him. Having distributed a small quantity -of biscuit and pork as rations, he set out on the 1st of May with three -hundred men and forty horses. They marched through a desolate country, -crossing one large river and meeting only one settlement of Indians -until the 17th of June, when they fell in with a settlement, where they -were well received and supplied with corn and venison. The Spaniards -learning that this tribe were enemies of the Appalacheans, exchanged -presents and obtained guides to direct them to the Appalachean town. -This they reached on the 25th, after a fatiguing march through swamps -and marshes, and at once attacked the inhabitants without warning, and -put them all to the sword.</p> - -<p>The town consisted of comfortable houses well stocked with corn, skins, -and garments made from bark cloth. Not finding the wealth he had -expected, and being subject to the repeated attacks of the Indians, -Narvaez, after a month’s rest at Appalache, divided his command into -three companies, and ordered them to scour the country.</p> - -<p>These companies returning, after an unsuccessful search for<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_013" id="page_013"></a>{13}</span> gold or -food, the Spaniards continued their march toward the north and west, -carrying with them in chains the Indian chief captured at Appalache. -This plan of securing the chief of an Indian nation or tribe, and -forcing him to march with the troops as a guide and hostage, seems to -have been adopted by each of the Spanish commanders, and always with -disastrous results. The sight of an Indian chief in chains aroused a -feeling of outraged friendship wherever they passed, and gave a -premonition of the servile fate that would be assigned to their race -whenever the Spaniards obtained the dominion. This captive urged on the -Indians to harass and persistently follow up the marching army, -influencing even tribes that were inimical to himself.</p> - -<p>The march of Narvaez through the western part of Florida continued until -fall, with an unvarying succession of attacks and skirmishes at every -halt, and often pitched battles at the towns that lay in his path. -Little progress was made on their journey, owing to the uncertainty of -their course, the unproductive and difficult nature of the country -traversed, and the unremitting attacks and obstacles opposed by the wily -Indians, who were ever on the watch to pick off man or beast, and -prevent the collection of supplies.</p> - -<p>Disheartened at the continued losses sustained by his army, and -despairing of ever reaching by land the Spanish settlements in Mexico, -Narvaez, having reached the banks of a large river, determined to follow -it to its mouth, and take to the sea.</p> - -<p>Slowly they moved down the river, and arrived at its mouth in a sadly -distressed condition. Despair lent them an energy that was fanned to a -burning zeal by the hopes of being able to reach their friends and -salvation on the shores of the same waters before their view. A smith in -their party declared that he could build a<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_014" id="page_014"></a>{14}</span> forge, and with bellows made -of hides, and the charcoal they could supply abundantly, he forged from -their swords and accoutrements bolts and nails for building boats.</p> - -<p>Diligently they worked, incited by the memory of all their hardships and -perils, and the joyous hope of safe delivery. Such was their energy and -determination, that in six weeks they constructed from the material at -hand, five large boats capable of holding fifty men each. For cordage -they twisted ropes from the manes and tails of their horses, together -with the fiber of plants; their sails were made from their clothing, and -from the hides of their horses they made sacks to hold water.</p> - -<p>With these frail and clumsily constructed crafts, open boats loaded -almost to the water’s edge, and without a navigator in the party, or -provisions for a single week did this little army of desperate men set -out on the open sea. Narvaez commanded one boat. The others were under -the command of his captains, one of whom, Cabeça de Vaca, has preserved -to us the account of this fatal expedition.</p> - -<p>De Vaca gives a long and minute account of their voyage, and the -hardships and misfortunes they underwent until they were all -shipwrecked, and out of the two hundred and forty who started on the -return only fifteen were alive. Narvaez himself was blown off from the -shore while almost alone in his boat and never again heard of. Only -these four are known certainly to have been saved, Cabeça de Vaca, the -treasurer of the expedition, Captain Alonzo Castillo, Captain Andreas -Orantes, and a negro or Turk, named Estevanico.</p> - -<p>These managed to preserve their lives, and attain an influence among the -Indians by pretending to a knowledge of physic, and a supernatural -origin. Their method of practice was unique,<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_015" id="page_015"></a>{15}</span> and as universal in its -application to every form of disease as that of the celebrated Dr. -Sangrado. It consisted in marking the patient with the sign of the -cross, repeating over him a paternoster or Ave Maria, and then calling -upon him to assure his comrades that he was entirely healed. The fee for -this skillful treatment was the customary reward among the Indians for -the services of the Medicine Man, the transfer of all the worldly -possessions of the patient to the physician in exchange for restored -health. The Indians thus despoiled by Cabeça de Vaca and his companions -begged them not to be distressed about it, assuring them that they held -the loss of their goods as naught in comparison with the pleasure of -having beheld the children of the sun, who had the power to heal the -sick and take away life. They declared they should hide nothing from -them, because everything was known to these divinities. So great was the -terror which their presence inspired, that for the first few days upon -their arrival in any new place, the inhabitants never stood before them -without trembling, and did not dare to speak nor lift up their eyes. De -Vaca says: “We kept up much state and gravity with them, and in order to -maintain this we spoke but seldom to them. The negro who was with us -talked often to them, informed himself of the roads we wished to take, -of the villages we should come upon, and of other things which we -desired to know. Although we knew six languages we could not in all -parts make use of them, as we found more than a thousand different -languages. If we had had an interpreter so that we could have made -ourselves perfectly understood we should have left them all -Christians.”<a name="FNanchor_1_1" id="FNanchor_1_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a></p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_016" id="page_016"></a>{16}</span></p> - -<p>Thus did Cabeça de Vaca and his companions for nearly six years pursue -their journey among the Indians. During all this long period they never -once abandoned their hope and design of reaching Mexico. Finally after -many other strange adventures De Vaca arrived at the Spanish settlements -in Mexico, and was received by his countrymen with the greatest -consideration and rejoicing.</p> - -<p>Having been sent over to Spain, he presented to the crown a narrative of -the unfortunate expedition of Narvaez, representing that the country -contained great wealth that he alone was able to secure, and begging -that he be made the governor. In this he was disappointed, however, but -was placated by the government of La Plata, in South America. The -narrative of De Vaca has been received by historians and antiquarians as -in the main veracious, though describing some wonderful customs and -people. It is the earliest account of Florida which we possess, having -been published in 1555, and is of inestimable value.</p> - -<p>Among the sailors in the ill-starred expedition of Narvaez was one Juan -Ortiz, who has attained a celebrity on account of his connection with -the later expedition of De Soto. Ortiz was among those who returned to -Cuba at the beginning of the expedition. It is said that the wife of -Narvaez, by a great reward, induced him to accept the command of a small -vessel which she fitted out to go in search of her husband. Ortiz, -having returned to the shores of Florida, was decoyed by the Indians to -put himself in their power, and was then seized and brought before the -chief named Hiriga, or Hirrihigua, who, feeling inflamed at the -treatment he had received at the hands of Narvaez, ordered the captive -to be stretched out on a pile and burned to death. Then history relates -an episode similar to that of Captain John Smith and Pocahontas,<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_017" id="page_017"></a>{17}</span> only -more romantic. In this case not only did the beautiful Indian maiden -supplicate an angry father, and clothe the quality of mercy in such -attractive garb as to melt the flinty heart of a stern old savage; but, -having procured the release of Ortiz from his imminent peril, she, with -her equally noble and heroic affianced husband, sacrificed their love on -the altar of humanity. Ortiz having been set to watch a burying-ground, -allowed a wolf to drag off the body of a lately-buried chief, and though -he pursued and killed the wolf, he was again sentenced to death to -appease the outraged spirit. In despair of saving a life that was so -justly forfeited, the daughter of the chief sent Ortiz to her lover, a -neighboring chief named Macaco, who protected him for a period of twelve -years until the arrival of De Soto. He thus incurred the enmity of -Hiriga, who refused to consent to the alliance with his daughter unless -the white man was sacrificed to placate the wrath of the spirit he had -failed to protect. Unfortunately history has failed to preserve the name -of this remarkable girl, and still more unfortunate is it that there is -no reason to believe that after the arrival of De Soto, any return was -made the chief’s daughter, which would show an appreciation by the white -men of conduct so worthy of the highest encomiums and reward.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_018" id="page_018"></a>{18}</span></p> - -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV.<br /><br /> -<small>HERNANDO DE SOTO.—AN ACCOUNT OF HIS MARCH THROUGH FLORIDA.</small></h2> - -<p><span class="smcap">Misled</span> by the fabulous stories told of the wealth of Florida, and by the -still more deceptive innuendoes in the account of De Vaca, and having -before their eyes continually the immense treasures actually secured in -Peru and Mexico, the Spaniards were satisfied that it only needed a -force sufficiently large and ably commanded to secure to the conquerors -even greater treasures in their northern possessions. They were, -moreover, convinced that the Indian tribes would not defend, with such -persistent valor and great sacrifices, a worthless country, when the -incalculable wealth of the Aztec had been so feebly defended.</p> - -<p>At this favorable moment there appeared at court a man who was -acknowledged to be eminently qualified to inspire confidence in any -undertaking he might enter upon. No knight stood higher in the esteem of -his sovereign, or enjoyed greater popularity with the cavaliers than -Hernando de Soto. Born of a good family in the northern part of Spain, -he had early entered the service of D’Avilas, the governor of the West -Indies, by whom he was put in command of a detachment sent to Peru to -reinforce Pizarro.</p> - -<p>Here he exhibited remarkable courage and capacities, and soon<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_019" id="page_019"></a>{19}</span> rose to -be second in command. Having gained a valuable experience and a splendid -reputation in the conquest of Peru, he was induced by Pizarro to seek -his pleasure or glory in another field, lest his own achievements should -be rivaled by those of his lieutenant. A million and a half of dollars -was the sum which he received on relinquishing the field. This, in those -days, princely fortune was but a small portion of the exorbitant ransom -paid by the captured Inca.</p> - -<p>Returning to Spain, his wealth and achievements seem to have excited -genuine admiration rather than envy, and he at once became the favorite -of the court. His martial spirit craved adventures, and could not remain -content with the dullness of court life. He therefore petitioned the -king to be allowed to fit out an expedition to occupy and settle the -Spanish northern possessions. The country at that time designated as -Florida extended from the Chesapeake Bay to Mexico, and, as was thought, -embraced the richest portion of the world, full of all things good.</p> - -<p>De Soto’s request having been granted, he was at once commissioned -Adelantado and Marquis of Florida. A fleet of seven ships and three -cutters was at once purchased, and armed and equipped for the -expedition, and, as it was De Soto’s intention to colonize the country, -much attention was given to providing a supply of such seeds and animals -as were desirable to introduce. It is possible that some of the seeds -scattered by the followers of De Soto may to-day be reproducing -themselves in Florida. The origin of the wild horses of America has also -been assigned to the Spanish introduction at this time. So great was the -desire to accompany De Soto, and so certain seemed the rich recompense -of wealth and honor to be achieved under such a leader, that the -complement of a thousand chosen men was recruited with ease.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_020" id="page_020"></a>{20}</span> Of this -number more than three hundred were gentlemen of rank, knights and -hidalgoes of the best blood of Spain, who lavished their means in the -purchase of arms and equipments, thinking that with these they would -procure wealth in plenty. With this brilliant corps were twelve priests, -to minister to the spiritual welfare of the Spaniards, or Indians, or -both.</p> - -<p>Leaving Spain in the spring, the fleet proceeded as far as Cuba, where -it was delayed a while in completing the arrangements. Here De Soto -married the lady Isabella, a sister of the famous Bovadilla. The -enjoyment of the society of his new wife, however, could not detain him -from the pursuit of honor. In May, 1539, he left Cuba and landed in -Florida on Whitsunday, in the same month. The bay in which they landed, -now called Tampa Bay, was named by them “Espiritu Santo,” in honor of -the day on which they arrived. A detailed account of the march of De -Soto would be too long to introduce in a work like this. There were two -reports published in the sixteenth century, both of which have been -translated into English. While of great value and interest, they both -contain much that is fabulous and exaggerated. Soon after beginning the -march northward, the advance guard of the Spaniards fell in with a body -of Indians, who advanced apparently to oppose them. The Spanish captain, -thinking it was an assault, ordered a charge, when, greatly to their -surprise, they heard the Spanish tongue in a supplication not to kill -one of their own countrymen. The speaker proved to be the captive Ortiz, -before mentioned. Having acquired a knowledge of the Indian language he -was a great acquisition to the command, though unable, from his -restricted confinement, to give a satisfactory reply to the first -question asked him by his countrymen, “Where was there any gold to be -found?” By the advice of Ortiz, or from<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_021" id="page_021"></a>{21}</span> motives of policy, De Soto -pursued a pacific policy at first, and met with friendly treatment and -generous supplies of provisions at the various Indian towns. The -Indians, at that time, seemed to have paid considerable attention to -agriculture, and to have lived in towns that were rudely fortified, and -built with very considerable dwelling houses and barns. Some of the -houses of the chiefs are described as more than a hundred feet long, -containing many rooms, and set upon artificial mounds. They were built -of palings, sometimes plastered with clay, and covered with thatch. At -nearly every town the Spaniards found provisions stored, consisting of -walnuts, dried grapes, beans, millet, and corn, besides growing -vegetables, among which are mentioned beets. Some of the towns must have -been very large, as many as six thousand inhabitants dwelling in and -around several mentioned. At one town called Mabila, the baggage and -valuables of the Spaniards were carried within the palisades by the -Indians forced to transport them. There an attack was made upon the -town, and twenty-five hundred of the savages were slain. The chief and a -company of natives to transport the baggage were seized at every town, -unless packmen were offered voluntarily. After marching a short distance -away from their homes, the women were allowed their freedom, but the men -were led by a chain attached to a Spanish soldier. Arriving at a town, -these bondsmen were released, and new captives taken, to be in turn -exchanged further on.</p> - -<p>In this manner did De Soto march through what is now Florida, thence -north-easterly through Georgia into South Carolina, thence back to the -vicinity of Pensacola.</p> - -<p>While in South Carolina De Soto fell in with an intelligent race of -Indians, whose sovereign was a woman. Here he secured<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_022" id="page_022"></a>{22}</span> a large store of -pearls, nearly three hundred pounds, some of which were said to be worth -their weight in gold. These, however, were all lost, together with the -other valuables and the baggage, in the burning of the town Mabila.</p> - -<p>W. Gilmore Simms, the novelist, has seized upon the fables connected -with this Indian queen, in his romance of “Andres Vasconselos.”</p> - -<p>Trusting to the disingenuous tales of the Indians, and ever led on by -his overweening faith in the existence of vast stores of gold, De Soto -had marched on and ever further on until, consuming a year’s time, he -had made a complete circuit of the country, and found himself -empty-handed within six days’ march of Pensacola, then called Ochuse. -Here he had ordered his lieutenant, Maldonado, to await his arrival with -the ships he had sent back to Cuba for a supply of provisions and mining -tools.</p> - -<p>De Soto at this time exhibited that masterly force of character which -had secured his former success and his great influence. Unwilling to -endure the disgrace that would attach to an unsuccessful issue of the -expedition, a disaster which, with the unfortunate results of former -expeditions, he feared would preclude any future attempts to settle the -Spanish domains in Florida, he resolved to conceal from his followers -their location and the nearness of the fleet, lest, being disheartened -by their want of success and worse than uncertain prospect of the -future, they would refuse to continue on, and taking possession of the -ships, set sail for the West Indies. He therefore forbade Ortiz to -mention to the troops the arrival of Maldonado, which had been learned -from the Indians. Recruiting his men and horses by a short rest, he -marched on again into the unknown wilderness, and turned his back -forever upon home, friends, and all<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_023" id="page_023"></a>{23}</span> that makes life worth living. Still -searching for gold he marched from region to region, ever meeting and -overcoming difficulties and opposition, and yet unsuccessful. He -proceeded as high as the Cumberland River, then turned west, crossed the -Mississippi, and reached the Red River. In that region the Spaniards -wintered, and in the spring De Soto retraced his steps to the -Mississippi, having determined to reach the mouth of that river, from -whence he could send to Mexico and Cuba for further supplies. The -disappointment and mortification which his gallant nature had so long -opposed was eating like a cancer into his heart, and unsustained by a -hope, which in other circumstances would have thrown off disease, his -body at last gave way to fatigue and malaria, and he began to sink under -a wasting fever. Deep despondency settled down upon him as he thought of -home, his young wife, and all the comforts and prospects he had put so -far from his reach. Calling his followers about him, he thanked them for -their courage and devotion, and besought them to accept of his -appointment of a successor to lead them after his death, which he -assured them was near at hand. His followers tried to afford him the -regulation comfort at such times, depicting this life as so full of -misery that he was most happy who was soonest relieved of its burden. -They finally received from him the appointment of Louis Moscoza as their -captain.</p> - -<p>Shortly after, on the 21st day of May, 1542, died that chivalrous -knight, Don Hernando de Soto, Governor of Cuba, and Adelantado of -Florida, far from his native land, in the wilderness on the banks of -that great Father of Waters, whose vast and turbid flow ever recalls his -great name and deeds, and whose discovery has proved his most enduring -remembrance.</p> - -<p>Desirous of impressing the Indians with the supernatural<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_024" id="page_024"></a>{24}</span> origin of De -Soto, his followers declared that his father, the Sun God, had taken him -to himself, and lest their deception should be manifested by the sight -of his dead body, the corpse of their illustrious and beloved leader was -placed in a canoe, and in the darkness of the night consigned to the -waters of the mighty river.</p> - -<p>Immediately after the death of De Soto, the Spaniards began to build -boats and collect provisions in preparation for their long voyage. They -continued thus employed until the annual floods had subsided, when they -descended to the gulf. Though continuously receiving attacks from the -Indians, they at last reached the Spanish settlement of Panuco, in -Mexico. Here they were received with joy, and every kindness proffered -them. Three hundred and eleven men kneeled before the altar in -thanksgiving to God for their safe deliverance from those distresses and -perils which had swept away more than two-thirds of the gallant army -that four years before had landed in Florida, an army that had overrun a -country containing thousands of brave inhabitants, subsisted for more -than three years on the country through which it passed, ever maintained -the unity of its command and devotion to its valorous leader while he -lived, and executed his wishes after his death.</p> - -<p>In 1559 the Spaniards made another attempt to explore Florida. Mendoza, -the governor of Mexico, under advices from Spain, ordered the equipment -of a larger and more complete expedition than ever had landed in -Florida.</p> - -<p>Fifteen hundred soldiers and many of the religious orders set sail from -Vera Cruz in the spring of 1559, under the command of a soldier of some -reputation, Don Tristan de Luna. Landing near Pensacola, the Spaniards -underwent an experience similar to<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_025" id="page_025"></a>{25}</span> that encountered by their countrymen -in the previous expeditions, and after being distressed by hunger, -weakened by losses, and divided by mutiny, finally returned without -having accomplished more than to view the desolation wrought by De Soto -and Narvaez in the country through which they had passed.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_026" id="page_026"></a>{26}</span></p> - -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V.<br /><br /> -<small>HUGUENOT SETTLEMENT UNDER RIBAULT.</small></h2> - -<p><span class="smcap">The</span> Spaniards having thus far been unsuccessful in making a settlement -upon the shores of Florida, the country was left open to any nation -which should enter upon and colonize the territory. The Admiral Gaspard -de Coligni, then at the head of the Protestant party in France, -perceived with the sagacity of a statesman, the advantage of a colony in -America composed of French Protestants. While increasing the dominion of -France, and thus gaining its promoters honor and patronage, it would -afford a refuge, in case the result of the bitter contest with the -Guises should prove disastrous to the Protestant party.</p> - -<p>Charles the Ninth, then monarch of France, approved of the admiral’s -purpose, and furnished him with two ships. These were readily manned -with zealous Huguenots, under the command of Jean Ribault, who sailed on -the 18th of February, 1562, intending to enter the river Santee. -Arriving on the coast in about the latitude of St. Augustine, they -proceeded north, and entered a large river on the first of May, which -they called the river of May. Here Ribault erected a stone monument on -which was engraved the arms of France.</p> - -<p>Continuing their exploration of the coast, they sailed north about -“ninety leagues,” until they finally disembarked near Port Royal, South -Carolina, where they concluded to plant the colony.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_027" id="page_027"></a>{27}</span> The site selected -for their new city was a favorable one, being in a fertile and pleasant -country, “abounding in mulberry and persimmon trees, and inhabited by a -race of hospitable Indians, who supplied them with food for the merest -trifles.” Though the prime object of the expedition had been to -establish a colony in America, when the moment arrived to decide who -should remain in the new settlement so far from home, and who return in -the ships to France, it seems that it was necessary to appeal to the -honor and the patriotism of the company to secure volunteers to retain -possession of the territory which they had christened New France. -Twenty-six of Ribault’s followers, however, agreed to remain, under the -command of Albert, one of his lieutenants.</p> - -<p>A field, sixteen rods long and thirteen wide, was stockaded, and within -this they built a fort, which they named in honor of their sovereign, -Fort Charles. We shall see that this honor paid to their king was -reciprocated on the part of that vacillating monarch by a total neglect -of the rights and interests of his loyal subjects.</p> - -<p>Leaving provisions and ammunition for the little colony, Ribault sailed -away in the middle of July, trusting to soon return with a large -company, who should be the pioneers of a great branch of the French -nation on this continent. Having arrived in France, he found the -government so divided by civil discord and confusion that he was unable -to secure any attention for the settlement of New France.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile Captain Albert visited the Indian chiefs in the vicinity, -cultivating their friendships, and exchanging simple presents for their -gifts of pearls and some silver ore, which the Indians reported as -having been dug from the ground on certain high hills by a tribe who -lived ten days’ journey to the west.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_028" id="page_028"></a>{28}</span></p> - -<p>The colonists seem to have expected to live on the provisions left -within the fort until the return of the fleet from France. When the -weeks passed by and their supplies began to be exhausted, with no sign -of relief from France, the colonists began to be disobedient, -quarrelsome, and unmanageable. In the company was one Laclerc, a -licentious demagogue. This Laclerc, being opposed by Albert in his -attempt to reduce certain of the Indians to slavery, raised a mutiny, in -which the captain lost his life. After the death of Albert, the Indians -refused to supply the colony with provisions, and their situation became -so serious that they resolved to desert the country, and if possible -return to France. Choosing one of their number as captain, they set to -work to build a small ship and collect a store of provisions.</p> - -<p>Having succeeded in constructing a small vessel, calked with moss and -rigged with cordage made from fibrous plants, they set the sails made -from their garments, and embarked to cross the wide ocean in a craft -that had neither the capacity nor equipment for a coasting voyage. Soon -after putting to sea they became becalmed, and continued so for twenty -days, by which time they had been reduced to a starving condition.</p> - -<p>So great was their necessity that they were about to cast lots for a -victim, whose flesh should support life in the rest, when Laclerc the -mutineer, offered himself as the victim. So desperate was their strait -that his offer was accepted and his flesh distributed among the company. -Life being sustained, they were soon after relieved from the repetition -of such a shocking tragedy, being picked up by a passing vessel and -taken to England. Having been brought before Queen Elizabeth, they gave -such an account of Florida as to excite in her a great interest in the -country.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_029" id="page_029"></a>{29}</span></p> - -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI.<br /><br /> -<small>SECOND HUGUENOT SETTLEMENT UNDER LAUDONNÈRE.</small></h2> - -<p><span class="smcap">Coligni</span> and the Protestants had not forgotten the forsaken colony, nor -relinquished their intention of providing a refuge in America.</p> - -<p>After two years Coligni succeeded in obtaining authority to send three -ships to the succor of the colony in Florida. A company equal to the -capacity of the ships quickly volunteered for the enterprise, of whom a -large number belonged to families of good blood.</p> - -<p>Having been well equipped with arms, provisions, tools, and seeds for -agriculture, the fleet sailed under the command of Captain Renè -Laudonnère, who had accompanied Ribault on the former expedition.</p> - -<p>It is greatly to be regretted that the astute Coligni had not assumed in -person the command of this expedition intended to establish in America a -New France, forty-three years before the first settlement of the English -at Jamestown, and sixty-six years before the Puritans on the <i>Mayflower</i> -landed at Plymouth. His counsels would doubtless have preserved the weak -colony who were so cruelly exterminated, and he himself would have -escaped his untimely end. Coligni was one of the first victims of the -horrid massacre of Paris on the eve of St. Bartholomew’s Day, in<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_030" id="page_030"></a>{30}</span> 1572, -being assassinated by one of the servants of the Duke of Guise.</p> - -<p>Laudonnère came upon the coast at St. Augustine, but, stopping only for -a reconnoisance, he sailed to the site of the former colony and Fort -Charles, with the hope of relieving his countrymen. Finding the fort -deserted, and learning of the time that had elapsed since the departure -of the colony, he determined to return to the river May (now the St. -Johns), and found his settlement on its banks, where, as he says, the -“means of subsistence seemed to abound,” and the signs of gold and -silver observed on the former voyage had been very encouraging. These -signs must have been the possession by the Indians of some pieces of -quartz, which seems to have been very general, and to have led the -French like the Spaniards from tribe to tribe like a very ignis-fatuus.</p> - -<p>Laudonnère’s account of his landing at the harbor of St. Augustine is -extremely interesting, and by his description the location is readily -recognized. He says: “We arrived on Thursday, the 22d of June (1564), -about three o’clock in the afternoon, and landed at a little river which -is thirty degrees distant from the equator. After we had struck sail and -cast anchor athwart the river, I determined to go on shore to discover -the same. Therefore, being accompanied by Mons. de Ottigni, with Mons. -d’Arlac, mine Ensign, and a certain number of gentlemen and soldiers, I -embarked myself about three or four o’clock in the evening, and being -arrived at the mouth of the river, I caused the channel to be sounded, -which was found to be very shallow, although that further within the -same the water was there found reasonably deep, which separateth itself -into two great arms, whereof one runneth toward the south, and the -other<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_031" id="page_031"></a>{31}</span> toward the north. Having thus searched the river, I went on land -to speak with the Indians, which waited for us upon the shore, which at -our coming on land came before us crying with a loud voice in their -Indian language ‘Antipola Bonassou,’ which is as much as to say, -brother, friend, or some such like thing. After they had made much of -us, they showed us their paracoussy, that is to say, their king or -governor, to whom I presented certain toys wherewith he was well pleased -and for mine own part I praised God continually for the great love I -found in these savages, which were sorry for nothing but that the night -approached and made us retire into our ships. Howbeit before my -departure I named the river the River of Dolphins, because at mine -arrival I saw there a great number of dolphins which were playing at the -mouth thereof.”<a name="FNanchor_2_2" id="FNanchor_2_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_2_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a> The dolphins or porpoises still continue to play in -the river and harbor at St. Augustine, especially during the summer -season. Throughout the greater part of the year rare sport could be -obtained by good shots who had the skill to lodge a rifle ball in the -head of the porpoise as he rises to “blow.”</p> - -<p>The Indian town located on the present site of St. Augustine was Seloy, -and the same name seems to have been given to both of the rivers which -unite to form the harbor. From the narration it would seem probable that -the point where Laudonnère landed was upon Anastatia Island, the Indians -having come over from the mainland on seeing the French ships in the -offing.</p> - -<p>Laudonnère having left Fort Charles, entered the river May, and -selecting a favorable site, about six leagues distant from the mouth, -built a small settlement, which he fortified with palisades<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_032" id="page_032"></a>{32}</span> and an -embankment of earth in the shape of a triangle, and named it Carolus, -still doing honor to the king who so little deserved esteem. With a -religious fervor characteristic of the age, and probably heightened by -their isolation, and proximity to the vast ocean which they had just -passed in safety, and solemnly impressed by their surroundings on a vast -and unexplored continent, the little band of strangers assembled and -dedicated their work and themselves to the glory of God and the -advancement of his holy faith.</p> - -<p>The site of the Huguenot settlement is now known as St. John’s Bluff, -the first point of high land on the south after entering the St. Johns -River from the ocean. It is a sightly hill, probably formed by sand -dunes at an early period when the shore was far to the west of its -present coast line. The bluff rises some forty feet above the river, and -is covered with a thick growth of oaks and other hard woods. At the foot -of the hill on the east lay the broad marshes stretching for four or -five miles toward the sea, and reaching to the narrow ridge of sands and -woods adjoining the beach. The channel of the river here approaches the -southern bank, and the strong current sweeping in against the mobile -sands at each tide has greatly abraded the hill until probably the site -of Laudonnère’s fort has become the channel of the river. The site has -been fortified several times since. During the rebellion a considerable -earthwork was erected there by Florida troops, but the encroachments of -the river have already swept away the site.</p> - -<p>Laudonnère had found the Indians very friendly, and this peaceable -disposition was by him assiduously cultivated. Trinkets and small -presents were exchanged for the provisions which they liberally -provided, and on several occasions the French lent<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_033" id="page_033"></a>{33}</span> their aid in making -war on the enemies of the friendly tribes about them.</p> - -<p>The chief or cacique of the tribe which inhabited the country between -the mouth of the St. Johns River and St. Augustine was named Satourioua, -or Satouriva, and in his intercourse with the French and Spanish he -exhibited a remarkable sagacity and fidelity, as well as a dignity -unlooked for in a savage.</p> - -<p>Laudonnère describes his first meeting with this chief in these words: -“We found the Paracoussy Satourioua under an arbor, accompanied by -fourscore Indians at the least, and appareled at that time after the -Indian fashion, to wit: with a great hart’s skin, dressed like chamois -and painted with devices of strange and divers colors, but of so lively -a portraiture and representing antiquity with rules so justly compassed -that there is no painter so exquisite that could find fault therewith. -The natural disposition of this strange people is so perfect and so well -guided that without any aid and favor of arts they are able by the help -of nature only, to content the eye of artisans; yet even of those which -by their industry are able to aspire unto things most absolute.</p> - -<p>“The paracoussy now brought us to his father’s lodging, one of the -oldest men that lived upon the earth. Our men regarding his age began to -make much of him, using this speech, Ami—ami—that is to say friend, -whereat the old sire showed himself very glad. Afterwards they -questioned with him concerning the course of his age; whereunto he made -answer showing that he was the first living original from whence five -generations were descended. M. de Ottigni having seen so strange a thing -turned to the man praying him to vouchsafe to answer him to that which -he demanded touching his age. Then the old man called a company of -Indians, and striking twice upon his thigh, and laying<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_034" id="page_034"></a>{34}</span> his hand upon -two of them, he showed him by signs that these two were his sons; again, -smiting upon their thighs, he showed him others not so old who were the -children of the first two; which he continued in the same manner until -the fifth generation. But this old man had his father alive, more old -than himself, and this man, which seemed to be rather a dead carcass -than a live body, for his sinews, his veins, his arteries, his bones and -other parts appeared so clearly that a man might easily tell them and -discern them one from another, and both of them did wear their hair very -long, and as white as possible, yet it was told us that they might yet -live thirty or forty years more by the course of nature, although the -younger of them both was not less than two hundred and fifty years -old.”<a name="FNanchor_3_3" id="FNanchor_3_3"></a><a href="#Footnote_3_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a></p> - -<p>Laudonnère employed the Indians to assist him in finding gold, and sent -various boat expeditions to the head-waters of the St. Johns River. It -is reported, though unlikely, that one of his officers penetrated the -interior as far as the Mississippi.</p> - -<p>Some of his men appear to have been dissatisfied with the position -assumed by their leader. They accused him of setting up a regal state, -and also of having obtained a knowledge of the location of gold which he -concealed from the rest of the company. Through the influence of these -disaffected ones a conspiracy was organized to depose Laudonnère. He got -rid of several of the disaffected ones, however, by sending them back to -France in a vessel which was returned for supplies at this period. -Subsequently the discontent increased, and Laudonnère was confined for -fifteen days upon one of the vessels in the river, while the mutineers -set about equipping two small vessels which he had built<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_035" id="page_035"></a>{35}</span> for -exploration. After rifling the fort of such supplies as they needed, -they set sail in these two ships on a piratical expedition. One of these -vessels, having been separated by a gale from its consort, captured a -Spanish ship, and after various adventures was finally captured and the -crew destroyed. The other, after having exhausted its supplies, returned -to the colony, and four of the leaders were tried and shot for mutiny.</p> - -<p>Hearing that there were white captives among the Indians who resided -further south, Laudonnère sent word that he would pay a considerable -ransom for their delivery. Soon after there appeared two Spaniards who -had been wrecked fifteen years before. They had adopted the costume of -the natives—long hair, <i>et preteria nihil</i>. They reported that there -had also been saved several women who had married and consented to live -among the Indians.</p> - -<p>The vessel sent to France for supplies not having returned, the garrison -were threatened with an exhaustion of their stores. During all this time -the French seem to have made no effort to cultivate the ground, -expecting either that they would be supplied from home or that the -Indians would furnish all that was required for subsistence. Their store -of presents having become exhausted, however, the Indians became very -niggardly and exacting, and finally declared that they were unable to -supply any sort of provisions. At this Laudonnère seized a chief of one -of the tribes inhabiting the territory to the south, and demanded of the -Indians a large amount of provisions as a ransom. This he did not -succeed in securing, and only engendered in the Indians an unfriendly -spirit, which prompted them later to give to Menendez information of the -location and condition of the French forces. He finally obtained -supplies from some of the tribes to the north,<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_036" id="page_036"></a>{36}</span> among which was one -inhabiting the sea islands, whose ruler was a beautiful queen. Finding -themselves in danger of starvation, the French set about constructing a -vessel to return home. They were diligently pushing on the work of -construction when there appeared off the coast an English fleet under -the command of Sir John Hawkins, who put into May River for water. -Laudonnère entertained the English with the best he had, even killing -sheep and poultry that he had been saving to stock the country. This -hospitality was reciprocated by Sir John, who, seeing their desperate -condition, offered to transport the whole company to France. Though he -pledged his word to land them on the shores of France before touching -England, Laudonnère refused his offer, fearing, as he said, “least he -should attempt somewhat in Florida in the name of his mistress.”</p> - -<p>Sir John Hawkins, however, with a generous humanity, consented to sell -to the French one of his vessels, and suffered them to assess its value. -With the vessel the English admiral delivered to them a thousand rounds -of ammunition, twenty barrels of flour, five barrels of beans, a -hogshead of salt, with wax for candles, and, as he saw the Frenchmen -were barefooted, fifty pairs of shoes. Having delivered these things to -the French, Sir John sailed away bearing with him the blessings of these -forsaken Frenchmen. Alas! their enjoyment of the fruits of the -Englishman’s humanity was destined to be short-lived.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_037" id="page_037"></a>{37}</span></p> - -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII.</h2> - -<div class="blockquot"><p>THE UNFORTUNATE EXPEDITION UNDER RIBAULT.—FOUNDING OF ST. -AUGUSTINE BY MENENDEZ, 1565.—ATTACK UPON THE FRENCH SETTLEMENT ON -THE ST. JOHNS RIVER.</p></div> - -<p>The Huguenots in France had not forgotten their friends in Florida, -though the dissensions at home had turned their attention away from all -but the plottings and schemings about them. Desiring to succor and -strengthen the colony, Coligni had secured a fleet of seven vessels, -four being of considerable size. These he placed in command of Captain -Ribault, who had taken out the first expedition. Ribault quickly -recruited a company of six hundred and fifty persons, among whom were -said to be many representatives of good families, about five hundred -being soldiers.</p> - -<p>The fleet sailed from Dieppe in May, 1565, and after a long but -uneventful voyage reached Florida in safety.</p> - -<p>By some means information had been sent to the Spanish Court that an -expedition was fitting out for the succor of the Huguenot colony in -Florida. It has been said that this knowledge emanated from those about -the French sovereign, though it is by no means necessary that it must -have come from such a source. The enemies of the Protestants were -numerous and bitter all over France, and the recruiting and equipment of -the expedition could have been no secret.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_038" id="page_038"></a>{38}</span></p> - -<p>Philip II. determined not to allow any encroachment on the territory, -which he claimed by the right of his subjects’ former expeditions of -discovery and by gift from the Holy See. Not only was he unwilling to -see Florida occupied by foreigners, but of all persons none were more -objectionable than Protestants, upon whom he looked as upon those -without the pale of Christianity, who only lived as enemies of God, to -disseminate a wicked creed, and war upon His holy faith. The very -instrument for the execution of the plans of this bigoted monarch seems -to have been at hand. Don Pedro Menendez de Avilla, had acquired wealth -and distinction as a naval officer. This knight was now desirous of the -honor of driving the French from Florida. Menendez was of aristocratic -birth, a man of great firmness of will and tenacity of purpose; a brave -commander, with a superior sagacity and knowledge of human nature, and -withal a most zealous and devoted Catholic. The name of Menendez has -been held up to the world as the symbol of all that is malignant, -heartless, and cruel. If we are to judge of men’s actions in the past by -the motives that prompted them, as we are asked and expected to do in -all things which happen in our own day, then by such a test the actions -of Menendez must be less harshly considered. That he believed the -rooting out of the Protestant colonization and their faith from the -shores of the New World was God’s work, there can be no doubt. His -devotion to the propagation of the Catholic religion in Florida, and the -sacrifices which he made to extend and continue the teachings of that -faith, prove beyond a doubt his sincerity and fervent zeal. His -conciliatory measures toward the savages so entirely within his power, -and his efforts to instruct the tribes all over Florida, which met with -such marked success, will go far to prove that his nature was not -wantonly cruel. The purpose of<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_039" id="page_039"></a>{39}</span> his expedition, the object for which he -had enlisted nearly three thousand persons, transporting them into an -unknown continent, and, as is said, investing of his own means nearly -five million dollars, was to prevent the propagation of heretical -doctrines on the shores of the New World. As Menendez expressed it, it -was “to prevent the Lutherans from establishing their abominable and -unreasonable sect among the Indians.” It should also be remembered that -an edict of Ribault’s had been published when he undertook his -expedition, “that no Catholic at the peril of his life should go in his -fleet, nor any Catholic books be taken.”</p> - -<p>Besides it is not improbable that the French prisoners, who were nearly -all put to death by Menendez, were destroyed in the belief that by this -course alone could his own position in his isolated location be made -safe.</p> - -<p>The little band with Laudonnère were waiting for fair winds to sail away -from Florida in the ship they had purchased of the English when the -fleet under Ribault arrived off the mouth of the river May, on the 29th -of August, 1565. Four of the seven vessels were too large to enter the -river, but the other three were brought up to the settlement, and at -once began to land the supplies. Ribault now assumed the command, and -all thought of departure was dismissed. This course was most acceptable -to Laudonnère, who had only consented to abandon the plan of -colonization from the force of his straitened circumstances and the -demands of his company. He had declared that it made his heart grieve to -leave “a place so pleasant that those who are melancholic would be -forced to change their humor,” and to possess which they had given up -home, and friends, and fortune, and undergone perils of land and water.</p> - -<p>While the fleet of Ribault was making its long voyage across<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_040" id="page_040"></a>{40}</span> the -Atlantic, Menendez was pushing forward his equipment of a fleet to -follow and expel the French from Florida. If he succeeded he was to have -the title of marquis, a large tract of land, and the freedom of all the -ports of New Spain. A salary of ten thousand dollars and the title of -Adelantado was conferred upon him at the outset. He secured a fleet of -thirty-four vessels, which he fully equipped, providing the means from -his private fortune. But one vessel, with two hundred and fifty soldiers -and their equipment, was provided by the crown. Learning the object of -the expedition, volunteers flocked to his standard until he soon had a -force of nearly three thousand men, including a party of twenty-six -monks and priests. Impatient of delay Menendez put to sea on the 1st of -July, with his flag-ship the <i>El Pelayo</i> and about two-thirds of his -fleet, ordering the remainder to rendezvous at Porto Rico as soon as -their equipment was completed. Scarcely had the fleet of Menendez left -the port of Cadiz before a severe storm was encountered that separated -the vessels, and sank and disabled so many that on his arrival at Porto -Rico, on the 9th of August, he found but six ships under his command. -The courage of their leader was undaunted, though a general despair -pervaded the fleet. In the destruction wrought by the mighty elements he -pictured the hand of God, and revived the spirits of his followers by -the assurance that the Almighty had reduced their numbers that “His own -arm might achieve the victory, and His glory be exalted.” Learning that -a Spanish vessel bearing letters to himself had been intercepted by the -French fleet, he determined to sail for Florida at once, without waiting -for the remainder of the fleet. On the 28th of August, the day set in -the calendar of the Romish Church to the honor of St. Augustine, the -fleet came in sight of the Florida coast, probably near Cape<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_041" id="page_041"></a>{41}</span> Canaveral. -Here they learned the location of the French colony, and sailing -northward, on the 4th of September came in sight of the four French -ships, which lay off the mouth of the river May (St. Johns). During the -night a council was held on board the vessel of the Spanish admiral, in -which the majority of the captains urged a delay until the remainder of -the fleet could arrive from Spain. Menendez courageously refused to -listen to such a plan, and gave orders for an attack at daybreak. The -Frenchmen, however, displayed more of discretion than boldness, and upon -the approach of the Spanish fleet, put out to sea. According to -Laudonnère’s account, “the Spaniards seeing that they could not reach -them by reason that the French ships were better of sail than theirs, -and also because they wou’d not leave the coast, turned back and went on -shore in the river Seloy, which we call the river of Dolphins, eight or -ten leagues from where we were. Our ships returned and reported that -they had seen three Spanish ships enter the river of Dolphins, and the -other three remained in the road; further, that they had put their -soldiers, their victuals, and munitions on land.... And we understood by -King Emola, one of our neighbors, which arrived upon the handling of -these matters, that the Spaniards in great numbers were gone on shore, -which had taken possession of the houses of Seloy, in the most part -whereof they had placed their negroes, which they had brought to labor, -and also lodged themselves and had cast divers trenches about them.”<a name="FNanchor_4_4" id="FNanchor_4_4"></a><a href="#Footnote_4_4" class="fnanchor">[4]</a></p> - -<p>The Spanish priest Mendoza gives the following account of the foundation -of St. Augustine: “On Saturday, the 8th day of September, the day of the -Nativity of our Lady, the general disembarked<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_042" id="page_042"></a>{42}</span> with numerous banners -displayed, trumpets and other martial music resounding, and amid salvos -of artillery. Carrying a cross I proceeded at the head, chanting the -hymn Te Deum Laudamus. The general marched straight up to the cross, -together with all those who accompanied him; and kneeling they all -kissed the cross. A great number of Indians looked upon these -ceremonies, and imitated whatever they saw done. Thereupon the general -took possession of the country in the name of his Majesty. All the -officers then took an oath of allegiance to him as their general, and as -Adelantado of the whole country.”</p> - -<p>Near the site of the Indian village of Seloy was thus laid the -foundation of the first town built by the Caucasian in America. At this -time and place was also introduced that curse and blight upon the -fairest portion of our country, African slavery, whose train of evils -has not been confined to the Southern negroes, but has extended to the -white race, and throughout the length and breadth of our common country.</p> - -<p>Especially to Florida has this iniquitous system been the cause of -unnumbered woes. For an account of the misfortunes which slavery wrought -upon this State prior to the rebellion of 1861, the reader has only to -consult Gidding’s “Exiles of Florida.” It is certain that African -slavery was at this time introduced into North America, though several -writers have evinced a desire to overlook this important fact of -history. The evidence, however, is too plain for denial, the original -agreement with Philip the Second having granted to Menendez the right to -take with him five hundred negro slaves. Whether or not he took this -number is not material.</p> - -<p>In commemoration of the day on which he arrived off the coast, Menendez -gave to the new town the name of St. Augustine,<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_043" id="page_043"></a>{43}</span> which it has continued -to bear for more than three hundred years. The precise spot where the -Spaniards landed is uncertain, though it is not unlikely that it was -near the ground on which the Franciscans erected their house, now the -United States barrack.</p> - -<p>While Menendez was making haste to fortify his position at St. -Augustine, Ribault was preparing to descend the coast, and by a sudden -attack capture the Spanish fleet and cut off the settlement. This plan -was ineffectually opposed by Laudonnère. His opposition to the plan of -action adopted may have been the cause of his failure to accompany the -expedition. Removing the artillery and garrison to his fleet, and -leaving in the fort the noncombatants, including women, children, and -invalids, to the number of two hundred and forty under the command of -Laudonnère, Ribault set sail to attack the Spaniards on the 10th of -September.</p> - -<p>They bore rapidly down until in sight of the Spanish vessels anchored -off the bar of St. Augustine. Before the enemy were reached, and the -fleet collected for action, Ribault found himself in the midst of one of -those gales which occur with suddenness and violence on the coast of -Florida at different periods of every fall. The tempest rendered his -ships unmanageable, and finally wrecked them all at different points on -the coast south of Matanzas Inlet.</p> - -<p>Menendez had watched the French ships as they approached St. Augustine. -Observing the severity of the storm he was satisfied that the fleet -could not beat back in its teeth should they escape shipwreck, and -therefore their return was impossible for several days after the storm -should cease. Determined to seize the favorable opportunity to attack -the fort on the St. Johns, he gathered a picked force, and with eight -days’ provisions began a march across the country under the guidance of -two Indians who<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_044" id="page_044"></a>{44}</span> were unfriendly to the French. The march proved -difficult on account of the pouring rains and their ignorance of the -country. The swamps and “baygalls,” many of them waist-deep with water, -proved so embarrassing that it took three days of laborious marching -amidst great discomforts to cover the distance of fifty miles between -the two posts. Immediately on the departure of the ships, Laudonnère had -set to work with the force at his command to repair the breeches in the -fort. These had been made when they expected to return to France. He -also began to so discipline his men as to be a guard to the post. For -several days the regular watches were kept up by the captains who had -been appointed, but as the gale continued they began to feel confident -that no attack would be made while the weather was so inclement, and -therefore ceased to be vigilant. On the night of September 19th the gale -had been very severe, and at daybreak, finding the captain of the watch -was in his quarters, the sentinels went under shelter. At this very -moment the soldiers under Menendez were in sight, kneeling in prayer. -From prayers they rushed to the attack; gaining entrance into the fort -without much opposition, they began an indiscriminate slaughter. -Laudonnère with twenty men sprang from the walls and escaped into the -woods, from whence he made his way across the marshes to a small vessel -in the river, which had been left in charge of Captain Jaques Ribault, a -son of the admiral. From thence they proceeded directly to France -without making an effort to find their companions of Ribault’s fleet or -to learn their fate.</p> - -<p>An order from Menendez to spare the women, children, and cripples, put a -stop to the massacre, though it is said, “to escape death they were -forced to submit to slavery.” The French account says that all the men -who escaped instant death were<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_045" id="page_045"></a>{45}</span> hung to the limbs of neighboring trees. -This may be exaggerated, but it is certain that the Spaniards suspended -the bodies of some of the Frenchmen, and set up this inscription, “No -por Franceses, sino por Luteranos” (we do not do this as unto Frenchmen, -but as unto Lutherans). Menendez found in the fort six trunks filled -“with books well bound and gilt, from which they did not say mass, but -preached their Lutheran doctrines every evening; all of which books he -directed to be burned.”<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_046" id="page_046"></a>{46}</span></p> - -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII.<br /><br /> -<small>SHIPWRECK OF RIBAULT’S FLEET.—MASSACRE BY MENENDEZ.</small></h2> - -<p><span class="smcap">Fearing</span> lest Ribault should have escaped destruction in the storm, and -returning, should make an attack during his absence, Menendez hurried -back to St. Augustine. He took with him only fifty men, the rest being -left under the command of his son-in-law, De Valdez, who was ordered to -build a church on the site selected by Menendez, and marked by the -erection of crosses. After the completion of the church, De Valdez was -to use every effort to strengthen the captured fort.</p> - -<p>Arriving at St. Augustine, Menendez was hailed as conqueror, and having -been escorted into the place by the priests and people who had been left -behind, a solemn mass was repeated, and a Te Deum chanted to celebrate -the victory.</p> - -<p>Several of Ribault’s vessels were wrecked between Mosquito and Matanzas -inlets. Strange as it may appear, in the destruction of the whole fleet -but one life was lost from drowning. It now often happens on the sandy -portion of the Florida coast, that vessels will be driven high upon the -beach by the force of the swell, and there left by the receding tide in -a sound condition.</p> - -<p>About two hundred men had collected on the southern barrier at Matanzas -Inlet, while a larger party with Ribault were gathered on the same -barrier, further to the south. The Indians soon after reported to -Menendez a large body of men at an inlet<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_047" id="page_047"></a>{47}</span> four leagues south which they -were unable to cross. He therefore marched with a body of forty men for -the inlet, and arrived at Matanzas the same evening. His course was -probably down the beach on Anastatia Island, as the account speaks of -his ordering the boats to keep abreast of him on the march.</p> - -<p>Having come to the mouth of the inlet one of the Frenchmen swam across, -and reported that the party there assembled belonged to one of the -vessels of Ribault’s fleet. Menendez returned the man in a boat, and -offered a pledge of safety to the French captain and four or five of his -lieutenants who might choose to cross over and hold an interview. Upon -this pledge the captain crossed over in the boat with four of his -companions. These begged of Menendez that he would provide them with -boats that they might cross that inlet and the one at St. Augustine, and -return to their fort, twenty leagues to the north. Upon this Menendez -informed them of the capture of the fort and the destruction of the -garrison. The captain thereupon besought that they be furnished with a -vessel to return to France, observing that the French and Spanish kings -were loving brothers and the two nations at peace. Menendez, in reply, -asked if they were Catholics; to which it was answered that they were of -the New Religion. Then Menendez answered that if they had been Catholics -he would feel that he was serving his king in doing them kindness, but -Protestants he considered as enemies against which he should wage war -unceasingly, both against them, and against all that should come into -the territory of which he was adelantado, having come to these shores in -the service of his king, to plant the Holy Faith, in order that the -savages might be brought to a knowledge of the Holy Catholic religion.</p> - -<p>Upon hearing this, the captain and his men desired to return<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_048" id="page_048"></a>{48}</span> and report -the same to their companions, and were accordingly sent back in the -boat. Soon after observing signals or signs from the opposite shore, the -boat was sent over to know what was their pleasure.</p> - -<p>The French then endeavored to make some terms for a surrender, with the -privilege of ransom. There being many members of noble and wealthy -families among them, as much as fifty thousand ducats was offered for a -pledge of safety. Menendez would make no pledge, simply sending word -that if they desired they could surrender their arms and yield -themselves to his mercy, “in order that he might do unto them what -should be dictated to him by the grace of God.” The French seem to have -had an instinctive feeling that it would fare hard with them should they -yield themselves to the Spaniards; yet they were so wholly demoralized -and disheartened by the misfortune that had befallen them, that after -much delay and parley they finally sent word to Menendez that they were -willing to yield themselves to be dealt with as he willed. The French -were therefore transported across the sound in parties of ten at a time. -As each boat-load was landed, Menendez directed that the prisoners be -led behind “the scrub,” and their hands pinioned behind their backs. -This course he declared to them to be necessary, as he had but a small -number of men in his command, and if left free it would be an easy -matter for the French to turn upon him and revenge themselves for the -destruction of their fort and Laudonnère’s command. In this manner was -secured the whole body of the French who had collected on the southern -shore of Matanzas Inlet, to the number of two hundred and eight men. Of -this number eight in response to an inquiry declared themselves to be -Catholics, and were sent to St. Augustine in the boat. The remainder -were ordered to<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_049" id="page_049"></a>{49}</span> march with the Spanish soldiers on their path back to -the settlement. Menendez had sent on in advance an officer and a file of -soldiers with orders to wait at a designated spot on the road, and as -the parties of Frenchmen came up, to take them aside into the woods and -put them to death. In this manner the whole party were killed, and their -bodies left on the sands to feed the buzzards.</p> - -<p>Menendez had hardly returned to St. Augustine before he learned that -there was a larger body of Frenchmen assembled at the spot where he had -found the first party, who were constructing a raft on which to cross -the inlet. Hurrying back with his troops he sent across a boat with a -message to the commander, whom he rightly conjectured was Ribault -himself, that he had destroyed the fort on the St. Johns, and a body of -those who were shipwrecked, and promising him a safe conduct if he -wished to cross over and satisfy himself as to the truth of this report. -Ribault availed himself of this offer, and was shown the dead bodies of -his men who had been so cruelly murdered. He was allowed to converse -with one of the prisoners who had been brought in the company of the -Spaniards. This man was one of the eight who were Catholics and were -spared from the former company.</p> - -<p>Ribault endeavored to negotiate for the ransom of himself and his men, -offering double the sum before named by the French captain, but Menendez -refused to listen to any terms except an unconditional surrender. After -ineffectually offering a ransom of 200,000 ducats, the French admiral -returned to his party, and informed them of the demands of the Spaniard. -In spite of the terrible fate of their comrades, which should have -served as a warning of what awaited themselves, one hundred and fifty of -the company, including Ribault, decided to surrender to the Spanish -captain.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_050" id="page_050"></a>{50}</span></p> - -<p>These were transported to the island and disposed of in the same manner -as the former body of prisoners, saving only a few musicians, and four -soldiers who claimed to be Catholics—in all, sixteen persons. Two -hundred of the French refused to trust themselves to the Spaniards, -preferring the chances of preserving their lives on the inhospitable -beach until they could find a way to escape to a more friendly country. -These retreated back to their wrecked ships, and began to construct a -fort and a small vessel to return to France, or at least to leave the -fatal shores of Florida.</p> - -<p>Menendez soon after determined to break up their camp, fearing the -presence of so large a body of his enemies in his midst. Having fitted -out a fleet of three vessels to co-operate by water, Menendez marched -his soldiers a journey of eight days from St. Augustine. Here he found -the fugitives encamped and prepared to resist an attack. Without delay, -the Spaniards were led to battle. The French, being poorly equipped, -fought at a disadvantage, and were soon forced to retire beyond the -reach of the cannon of the fleet. Having captured the fortification, -Menendez sent word to the French that if they would surrender he would -spare their lives. A portion of the French refused to trust the pledge -of the Spanish captain, and withdrew to the woods. These were never -heard of more. The remainder came to the Spanish camp and surrendered.</p> - -<p>After destroying the fort and setting fire to the wrecked vessels and -the ship the French had begun to build, the Spaniards sailed back to St. -Augustine, bringing with them one hundred and fifty of the Frenchmen. To -this remnant of the proud army of Ribault the pledges given by Menendez -were faithfully kept.</p> - -<p>It is difficult to believe that the unfortunate condition of these<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_051" id="page_051"></a>{51}</span> -shipwrecked Frenchmen, far from their kindred or race, thrown destitute -upon desolate shores, and begging so earnestly for life, did not move -the heart of Menendez to feelings of pity. Doubtless a regard for his -own safety united with a furious fanaticism to effectually seal up the -springs of charity in his breast.</p> - -<p>The earlier experiences of Menendez in his wars against the Protestants -of the Netherlands, had been in a fallow field for the cultivation of -humanity. In those struggles Pope Pius V. is said to have commanded -Count Santafiore to take no Huguenot prisoners, but instantly to kill -every one who should fall into his hands.<a name="FNanchor_5_5" id="FNanchor_5_5"></a><a href="#Footnote_5_5" class="fnanchor">[5]</a></p> - -<p>Let us hope that the sands of Florida will never again be reddened by -blood spilled by the hand of the bigot or partisan.</p> - -<p>The results achieved by Menendez occasioned great rejoicing at the court -of Spain. Letters of gratitude and commendation were sent to him by -Philip II. and the Pontiff Pius V. The pope’s letter is an able and -dispassionate epistle. After lauding the virtues of Menendez, he -declares to him that the key-note to his inspiration and the motive of -his labors, should be to prevent the “Indian idolaters” from being -scandalized by the vices and bad habits of the Europeans.</p> - -<p>As the exaggerated reports of the cruelties practiced by Menendez spread -through Europe, an intense and bitter feeling was excited. Indignation -pervaded the breasts of the French nation at the destruction of their -fellow-countrymen, although the king, Charles IX., failed, in fact even -refused, to take notice of the slaughter of his faithful subjects. A -petition from nine hundred<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_052" id="page_052"></a>{52}</span> widows and orphans of those who had sailed -on the fatal expedition with Ribault, was unheeded by this sovereign. -That the fate of the Huguenots was merited as the common enemies of -Spain, France, and the Catholic religion, was the openly avowed -sentiment of this unnatural and unpatriotic king.</p> - -<p>Feeling the insecurity of his position, from which there was no place of -retreat in case of a successful attack from a foreign foe or the -neighboring Indians, Menendez applied himself, with the utmost -diligence, to strengthening the defense of his new town. At the same -time he instituted such measures as should insure a permanent -settlement, and the establishment of civil rights and privileges.</p> - -<p>I have stated that the place where Menendez landed was probably near the -present United States barracks. While I have been unable to discover any -authentic records bearing upon this point, the weight of Spanish -testimony confirms the belief that the Spaniards first landed near the -point stated. On the other hand, Romans, in his history of Florida, -published in 1775, says: “After leaving St. Sebastian River, going -south, we next meet the mouth of St. Nicholas Creek, on the point to the -north of which the first town was built by the Spaniards, but they soon -removed it, for convenience sake, to its present site.”</p> - -<p>This St. Nicholas is now called Moultrie Creek, in honor of a -lieutenant-governor of the province during the British occupancy, who -built at its mouth an elegant country residence, which he called Bella -Vista. It is situated six miles south of St. Augustine, and empties into -the Matanzas River. Besides the explicit testimony of Romans, there is a -certain amount of negative testimony to discredit the statement that an -Indian town was located on the present site of St. Augustine.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_053" id="page_053"></a>{53}</span></p> - -<p>First, the location at the mouth of Moultrie Creek would have been a -more desirable location for an Indian town than the site of St. -Augustine, because the land at St. Augustine was low ground (by some -writers said to have been a marsh, though others say it was an oak -hummock). It must have been subject to overflow at the periods of very -high tides, and always exposed to the force of gales. There is also good -reason to believe that there was water or low ground between the -southern end of the town and the fort, and, moreover, there are no signs -of Indian occupation within the city proper. There are many traces of an -Indian settlement to the north of the city, on the lands of Mr. Williams -and in that vicinity, and all accounts agree that there was an Indian -town there in the early Spanish times. There are acres of Mr. Williams’s -land that are so thickly strewn with oyster shells as to render its -cultivation difficult.</p> - -<p>However the facts may be as to the location of the first landing of -Menendez and the attendant ceremonies, it is certain that, soon after, -the foundations of the town were laid on its present site, and the town, -with its fortifications, regularly laid out. The city was originally -planned to be three squares one way by four the other. At this time a -stockade or fortification was built upon or near the site of the present -fort. At about the same period a parish church and hall of justice were -erected, and civil officers appointed.</p> - -<p>During the winter succeeding the settlement of the Spaniards at St. -Augustine, there was a great scarcity of provisions in the colony, so -that the settlers were forced to forage upon the neighboring Indians, -and to depend upon such supplies of fish and game as they might secure. -The danger which attended any expeditions for hunting rendered this but -a meager source of<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_054" id="page_054"></a>{54}</span> supply. Satouriva, the chief of the Indians, who -inhabited the territory to the north, between St. Augustine and the St. -Johns River, had been a friend of Laudonnère, and from the time of the -destruction of the French he continued unceasingly to wage war on the -Spaniards. His method of warfare exhibited the same bravery and cunning -that has since become characteristic of the Indians, never being found -when looked for—ever present when unexpected. By the constant harassing -attacks, encouraged by this chief, the Spaniards lost many valuable -lives, among them Juan Menendez, nephew of the governor.</p> - -<p>To obtain supplies to relieve the distress of his colony, Menendez -undertook a voyage to Cuba. The governor of the island was through -jealousy unwilling to render him any assistance, and he would have fared -badly had he not found there four of his vessels, which had been left in -Spain with orders to follow him, but, meeting with many delays, had but -lately arrived in Cuba.</p> - -<p>With these vessels he returned to his colony, only to find that during -his absence a portion of the troops had mutinied. The mutineers had -imprisoned the master of the camp, who had been left in command, seized -upon what provisions were remaining, and taking possession of a small -vessel arriving with stores, had set sail for Cuba.</p> - -<p>Menendez with consummate tact succeeded in rousing the flagging interest -of his colony in the extension of the true religion, and managed by his -courage and presence to remove the causes of dissension. Desiring to be -rid of a portion of his colony who had proved querulous, lazy, and -inimical to his interest, he sent a body of them, numbering one hundred, -back to Cuba in one of the vessels going for supplies. The return of -this vessel was<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_055" id="page_055"></a>{55}</span> anxiously looked for, as the colony had again begun to -suffer from a scarcity of provisions and from sickness. Without waiting -for affairs to become desperate, Menendez sailed for Cuba to obtain the -needed supplies. Upon his arrival he found the governor of Mexico there, -but so disparaging had been the reports of those who had deserted his -standard, that he was advised to give up his unprofitable enterprise, -and the succor he requested was refused. His courage but rose as his -circumstances became more adverse, and, determined not to relinquish his -undertaking nor return empty-handed to his famishing colony, he pawned -his jewels and the badge of his order for a sum of five hundred ducats, -with which he purchased the necessary provisions, and hastened back to -Florida. Upon his return he was rejoiced to find that the distress of -his colony had already been relieved. Admiral Juan de Avila had arrived -from Spain with fifteen vessels and a thousand men, a large quantity of -supplies, and what was most gratifying to Menendez, a letter of -commendation from his sovereign.</p> - -<p>Availing himself of the force now at his command, Menendez set out on an -expedition to establish forts and missionary stations at different -points along the coast, as had been his intention since his first -landing in Florida. Several of these posts were at this time established -by him in the territory then embraced in Florida, the most northerly -station being on the Chesapeake Bay, which was the northern boundary of -the possessions claimed by Spain. Priests or friars were left at each of -these stations to instruct the Indians. While establishing these -missionary posts for introducing Christianity among the Indians, -Menendez became convinced that if the establishments were to be -maintained, and the most important work of teaching the natives -continued, he<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_056" id="page_056"></a>{56}</span> must have larger means and greater forces at his command. -Hoping to obtain this aid from his sovereign, he set out for Spain in -the spring of 1567. Upon his arrival he was welcomed by the king with -many flattering attentions and assurances of aid in the furtherance of -his plans for propagating the Catholic faith.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_057" id="page_057"></a>{57}</span></p> - -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX.<br /><br /> -<small>EXPEDITION AND RETALIATION OF DE GOURGES.</small></h2> - -<p><span class="smcap">While</span> Menendez was occupied in Spain in forwarding the interests of his -colony, in France plans were being formed and a secret enterprise -undertaken for an attack on the Spanish posts in Florida.</p> - -<p>Most inflammatory and exaggerated accounts of the massacre at Fort -Carolin had been published throughout France.</p> - -<p>One account says of the Spaniards that, after taking the fort, “and -finding no more men, they assailed the poor women, and after having by -force and violence abused the greater part, they destroyed them, and cut -the throats of the little children indiscriminately, ... they took as -many of them alive as they could, and having kept them for three days -without giving them anything to eat, and having made them undergo all -the tortures and all the mockings that could be devised, they hung them -up to some trees that were near the fort. They even flayed the king’s -lieutenant and sent his skin to the King of Spain, and having torn out -his eyes, blackened with their blows, they fastened them on the points -of their daggers, and tried who could throw them the greatest -distance.”<a name="FNanchor_6_6" id="FNanchor_6_6"></a><a href="#Footnote_6_6" class="fnanchor">[6]</a></p> - -<p>The French king had refused to listen to the appeals of the relatives -and friends of the Huguenots who had been exterminated 57<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_058" id="page_058"></a>{58}</span> in Florida; -but, distressed by the destruction of their countrymen and the harrowing -accounts of the massacre, many of the nation had long felt it a -mortification that an outrage so gross should have received neither -redress nor rebuke.</p> - -<p>Among those whose jealous regard for the national honor was touched by -the conduct of the French king, and in whose breast burned fiercely the -fires of revenge, was the Chevalier Dominique de Gourges. Appearing as -he does in history as the avenger of the sad destruction of his -countrymen, in an expedition undertaken without solicitation, at his own -expense, and at the risk of forfeiting his life by the command of his -king, even if he should be successful, it is but natural that his -character should have been extolled and his virtues exalted by all -writers who have admired his chivalrous courage.</p> - -<p>De Gourges was born of noble parentage, at Mount Marsan in Guienne, and -was said to have been a Catholic, though this is denied by the Spanish -historians. His life had been spent in arms in the service of his king -in Scotland, Piedmont, and Italy. His career was that of an adventurer, -ever ready to risk life to acquire honor and reputation, and having -little desire to amass riches. While serving in Italy against the -Spaniards, he was taken prisoner and consigned to labor as a galley -slave. This ignominious treatment of a soldier of his birth and rank -left in his mind an unappeasable hatred of the Spaniards. His period of -servitude was cut short by the capture of the Spanish galley upon which -he served by Turkish pirates, from whom in turn he was liberated by -Romeguas, the French commander at Malta. His experience during his -imprisonment and escape seems to have opened his eyes to the -opportunities for plunder upon the seas. Soon after his release he -entered upon a marauding expedition<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_059" id="page_059"></a>{59}</span> to the South Seas, in which he -secured considerable plunder. He had but recently returned home, and -retired to enjoy in quiet the property acquired in his ventures, when -the news of the destruction of Ribault’s colony reached France. Eager to -retaliate by a severe punishment this outrage upon his countrymen, De -Gourges sold his property, and with the sum realized and what he could -borrow on the credit of an alleged commercial venture, purchased and -equipped a fleet of three small vessels, one of which was nothing more -than a launch.</p> - -<p>Deeming it impolitic to make known the object of his voyage, he obtained -a license to trade and procure slaves on the coast of Africa. He -enlisted for a cruise of twelve months a force of one hundred and eighty -picked men, many of whom were gentlemen adventurers. He had been careful -to secure one at least of the men who had escaped with Laudonnère from -Fort Carolin. M. de Montluc, the king’s lieutenant in Guienne, a friend -of De Gourges, rendered him valuable assistance in securing his -equipment. On the 2d of August, 1567, he left Bordeaux, but was delayed -by a storm eight days at the mouth of the river Garonne. Afterward, -having put to sea he was driven by stress of weather far out of his -course, and encountered so severe a gale as to nearly wreck the fleet on -Cape Finisterre.</p> - -<p>One vessel, in which was his lieutenant, was blown so far out of its -course that for fifteen days it was supposed to be lost, which caused -him all “the trouble in the world,” as his people earnestly besought him -to return. The missing vessel, however, met him off the coast of Africa. -Land was then kept in sight until they reached Cape Verde; “thence -taking the direct route to the Indies, he sailed before the wind upon -the high seas, and having crossed over, the first land which he made was -the island<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_060" id="page_060"></a>{60}</span> of Dominica.” From thence proceeding he stopped in the -island of St. Domingo to weather a gale, and at the island of Cuba for -water, which he had to take by force, for he says: “The Spaniards are -enraged as soon as they see a Frenchman in the Indies. For although a -hundred Spains could not furnish men enough to hold the hundredth part -of a land so vast and capacious, nevertheless it is the mind of the -Spaniards that this New World was never created except for them, and -that it belongs to no man living to step on it, or breathe in it save to -themselves alone.”</p> - -<p>De Gourges had not revealed the real object of the expedition until, -after leaving the island of Cuba, he assembled all his men, and declared -to them his purpose of going to Florida to avenge on the Spaniards the -injury which had been done to the king and to all France. He set before -them the treachery and cruelty of those who had massacred Frenchmen, and -the shame that it was to have left so long unpunished an action so -wicked and so humiliating, and the honor and satisfaction that would -redound to them in removing from the escutcheon of France this foul -blot. The spirit of the address was suited to the French temper, and -they professed themselves ready to fight for the honor of France -wherever the captain should lead. Proceeding on the voyage the fleet -passed the bar of the St. Johns River in sight of the forts which -Menendez had constructed at the mouth of the river. The Spaniards, -mistaking them for their own vessels, fired two guns as a salute, which -was returned by the French, desiring to continue the deception. The -fleet sailed north and entered the St. Mary’s River, where they found a -large body of Indians prepared to dispute any attempt to land. Seeing -this, De Gourges made friendly demonstrations, and sent out the man who -had<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_061" id="page_061"></a>{61}</span> been with Laudonnère. The Indians readily recognized the Frenchman, -and were delighted to find that the strangers were of that nation, and -enemies of the Spaniards. The chief proved to be Satouriva, the firm -friend to Laudonnère. After learning the purpose of the expedition, -Satouriva promised to join the command at the end of three days with his -whole force of warriors, declaring himself eager to revenge the many -injuries he had himself received as well as the wrongs inflicted on the -French.</p> - -<p>Among Satouriva’s tribe was a white child, a refugee from Laudonnère’s -colony, who had escaped at the massacre at Fort Carolin, and been -protected and reared as a son by the old chief, though the Spaniards had -made strenuous efforts to secure possession of him or compass his death. -This child, named Peter de Bré, whom Satouriva had so faithfully -defended, he now brought to the French ships together with his warriors -as he had agreed. Being joined by the Indians, De Gourges set out across -the country under the guidance of the chief, Helecopile, to attack the -two forts at the mouth of the river. The Indians had promised to bring -the command to the fort on the north side of the river by daybreak, but, -owing to the difficulty in following the intricate paths and fording -deep creeks, they were nine hours marching four leagues, and the sun was -rising as they reached the vicinity of the Spanish fort. This fort was -built on Batton Island, near what is now Pilot-town. The other fort was -nearly opposite, in the vicinity of the present village of Mayport. Both -were armed with the cannon taken from the French at the capture of Fort -Carolin.</p> - -<p>The Spaniards, not fearing a land attack upon the fort on Batton Island, -had neglected to clear away the woods in the vicinity, so that the -French were concealed until they were close upon the<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_062" id="page_062"></a>{62}</span> fort. As they -rushed from their cover the Spanish sentinel fired twice, when he was -pierced by the pike of Olotoraca, an Indian chief, nephew of Satouriva. -The Spanish garrison were at breakfast, and before they could be -summoned the fort was filled with the French and Indians. So complete -was the surprise that there was but little resistance. “As many as -possible were taken alive by command of Captain Gourges, in order to do -to them as they had done to the French.”</p> - -<p>As soon as the Spaniards whose lives were spared in the attack could be -secured, De Gourges embarked as large a portion of his soldiers as the -boats at his disposal would carry, and hurried to cross the river and -attack the fort at Mayport. The Indians, now wild with excitement, threw -themselves into the water and kept alongside of the boats, swimming with -their bows and arrows held above their heads. The Spaniards in the fort -had by this time begun to realize the situation, and directed the fire -of their guns upon the boats and Indians. Their excitement and alarm -were so great that they did not perceive a difference between the French -and Indians, and seeing so great a multitude approaching, they broke in -terror and fled from the fort before the French reached its walls. The -garrison of the two forts was near a hundred and forty men, all but -fifteen of whom were either killed in the attacks or slain by the -Indians as they attempted to reach the mainland.</p> - -<p>The capture of these two forts occurred on the eve of the first “Sunday -after Easter, 1568.” Crossing to the fort first taken, De Gourges rested -on Sunday and Monday. Scaling ladders and other preparations for an -attack on the main fort were in the meantime being prepared. While here, -a Spanish spy disguised as an Indian was recognized by Olotoraca, and -brought to De<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_063" id="page_063"></a>{63}</span> Gourges. From him it was learned that the French force -was estimated at quite two thousand men, and that the garrison of Fort -Matteo (formerly Fort Carolin) was two hundred and sixty men.</p> - -<p>Hearing this report, De Gourges was more anxious than ever to make an -immediate attack. He directed the Indians to advance, some on each side -of the river, and to take up a position in the vicinity of the fort. -Early on the morning of the next day he moved his forces up the river, -and, as he says, “gained a mountain covered with forests, at the foot of -which was built the fort.” He had not intended to attack the fort until -the day after his arrival, but, while posting his men and the Indian -forces, it happened “that the Spaniards made a sally with sixty -arquebusiers<a name="FNanchor_7_7" id="FNanchor_7_7"></a><a href="#Footnote_7_7" class="fnanchor">[7]</a> to reconnoiter his forces.”</p> - -<p>This body he succeeded in cutting off from the fort and totally -destroying. Seeing the fate of so large a portion of their garrison, the -remainder of the Spaniards left the fort in the hopes that they might -make their way to St. Augustine. Entering the woods they were everywhere -met by the Indians. None escaped, and but few were taken alive. Entering -the fort, the French found a number of fine cannon beside a great -quantity of arms, “such as arquebuses, corslets, shields and pikes.”</p> - -<p>The Frenchmen were now upon the scene of the massacre of their -countrymen, and the taunting irony of the tablet erected by Menendez was -before their eyes. The spirit of vengeance was aroused. Ordering all the -Spaniards who had been taken alive to be led to the place where they had -hung the Frenchmen, De Gourges rebuked them in scathing terms. He -declared they<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_064" id="page_064"></a>{64}</span> could never undergo the punishment which they deserved, -but it was necessary to make an example of them that others might learn -to keep the peace which they had so wickedly violated.</p> - -<p>“This said, they were tied up to the same trees where they had hung the -Frenchmen, and in the place of the inscription which Peter Menendez had -put over them containing these words in the Spanish language: ‘I do this -not as to Frenchmen, but as to Lutherans;’ Captain Gourges caused to be -graven on a pine tablet with a hot iron: ‘I do this not as to Spaniards -or mariners, but as to traitors, robbers, and murderers.’<span class="lftspc">”</span></p> - -<p>One of the Spaniards is said to have confessed that he had hung up five -Frenchmen with his own hand, and acknowledged that God had brought him -to the punishment he deserved. The next day while frying fish an Indian -set fire to a train of powder laid by the Spaniards which had not been -discovered, and the whole interior of the fort was thereby destroyed. -Being aware that his forces were too weak to hold the country, and -having accomplished all that he had crossed the ocean to perform, De -Gourges completed the destruction of the forts, and, bidding adieu to -the Indians, sailed away for France. The fleet arrived at La Rochelle on -the 6th of June, after a voyage of thirty-four days. The loss of life in -the enterprise had been but “a few gentlemen of good birth,” a few -soldiers in the attacks, and eight men on the patache or launch, which -was lost at sea. Being received “with all honor, courtesy, and kind -treatment,” by the citizens of La Rochelle, where he remained a few -days, De Gourges then sailed for Bordeaux. The Spaniards being advised -of his arrival and what he had done in Florida, sent a large ship and -eighteen launches to surprise and capture him. This formidable fleet -arrived in the roadstead of La Rochelle the very day of his departure.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_065" id="page_065"></a>{65}</span></p> - -<p>The head of De Gourges was demanded and a price set upon it by the King -of Spain, but, though his acts were repudiated by the French king, he -was protected and concealed by Marigny, President of the Council, and by -the Receiver of Vacquieulx, until, after a time, he was the recipient of -marked honors at the French court and died in 1582, “to the great grief -of such as knew him.”</p> - -<p>“That De Gourges deserves censure, cannot be denied; but there will -always exist an admiration for his courage and intrepid valor, with a -sympathy for the bitter provocation under which he acted, both personal -and national; a sympathy not shared with Menendez, who visited his wrath -upon the religious opinions of men, while De Gourges was the -unauthorized avenger of undoubted crime and inhumanity. Both acted in -violation of the pure spirit of that Christianity which they alike -professed to revere under the same form.”<a name="FNanchor_8_8" id="FNanchor_8_8"></a><a href="#Footnote_8_8" class="fnanchor">[8]</a></p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_066" id="page_066"></a>{66}</span></p> - -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X.</h2> - -<div class="blockquot"><p>RETURN OF MENENDEZ.—ATTEMPT TO CHRISTIANIZE THE INDIANS.—ATTACK -UPON ST. AUGUSTINE BY SIR FRANCIS DRAKE.—MURDER OF THE FRIARS.</p></div> - -<p>While these events were transpiring Menendez had completed his -equipment, and sailed with a fresh supply of men and means for his -colonies in Florida. His first information of the disaster which had -overtaken his posts on the St. Johns was received after he arrived at -St. Augustine. So humiliating a disaster as the capture of three of his -forts well fortified and garrisoned with four hundred trained men, was -the occasion of no little mortification and vexation to this gallant -knight, especially since the victors were the avengers of the former -colonists, and the forces that accomplished the affair were so greatly -outnumbered by his soldiers, who were also well defended by strong -forts. To add to the discouragement the condition of the colony at St. -Augustine was found to be most distressing. The garrison was nearly -naked, the colonists half starved, and the attacks of the Indians -growing more frequent and reckless as the weakness and despondency of -the Spaniards became more apparent. The intrepid and indomitable spirit -of Menendez did not bend under these obstacles and reverses which would -have crushed a nature of ordinary mold. His extraordinary and -comprehensive genius opened a way, in the midst of almost superhuman -difficulties, for the maintenance of<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_067" id="page_067"></a>{67}</span> his colony and the extension of -the Catholic faith, the objects to which his life was now devoted. -Perceiving the insecurity of the garrisons at a distance from each other -and the principal post, he wisely concluded to preserve his forces -entire at St. Augustine, and thus maintain the colony and a base of -operations. The spread of the Catholic faith he determined to secure by -inducing the different tribes of Indians to receive and support one or -more missionaries or teachers. At the earnest solicitation of Menendez -large numbers of priests, friars, and brothers of the various religious -orders of the Catholic Church had been sent to Florida by the King of -Spain. Mission-houses were built all over the country from the Florida -capes on the south to the Chesapeake on the north and the Mississippi on -the west, to which these teachers, being mostly Franciscans, were sent. -By the mildness of their manners, the promises of future joys and -rewards which their teachings declared, and the interest excited by the -introduction of the arts of civilized life, they gained a powerful -ascendency over the native tribes, that promised at one period the -conversion of the whole North American Indian race to the religion and -customs of their Christian teachers. This would have been an achievement -that would have amply compensated for all the efforts, treasure, and -lives expended by the Europeans in the conquest of the New World. In -fact it would have been a wonderful revolution that might well have been -considered a miraculous dispensation of Providence.</p> - -<p>It is due to the grandly comprehensive conception of Menendez that there -was initiated this plan of mission stations through the Floridas, which -so nearly accomplished this happy result. That the ultimate success of -the efforts to Christianize the Indians was not attained was probably -owing to the political changes that occurred<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_068" id="page_068"></a>{68}</span> in Europe in the -eighteenth century. In both France and Spain the Jesuits fell into -disgrace, and the most rigorous measures of suppression and banishment -were adopted against them. The Jesuit missions in Florida shared the -fate of their order in the Old World, and thus was the encouraging -prospect of Christianizing the Indians swept away forever.</p> - -<p>Under Menendez and his immediate successors whom he named and who -followed his counsels were founded those missionary establishments, -whose ruins have been at a late period a subject of curious -investigation throughout Middle Florida. Romans (“History of Florida,” -New York, 1775) states that in his time there was an old bell of one of -these mission houses lying in the fields near Alachua. Hon. Wilkinson -Call, United States Senator from Florida, who is somewhat of an -antiquarian, has informed the writer that near his birthplace in Leon -County are to be found the ruins of another of these Spanish missions. -The early inhabitants of the region being filled with superstition and a -belief that the ruins were the remains of an establishment of the -buccaneers, threw the bell into a neighboring pond, from which it has -been rescued within a late period.</p> - -<p>Menendez, finding that the interests of the colony were neglected at the -Spanish Court, and that the maintenance of the colony was daily -impoverishing himself, resolved to return permanently to Spain, where he -hoped that his influence would be able to accomplish more benefit to the -undertaking in Florida than could be expected to accrue from his -presence in the territory. Leaving the province under the command of his -nephew, Don Pedro Menendez, he sailed for Spain in 1572. Upon his -arrival all the honors of the court were lavished upon him, and his -counsels were eagerly sought in the various affairs of state.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_069" id="page_069"></a>{69}</span> He was -not destined to enjoy his honors long, nor to reap new laurels in the -European wars of the Spanish crown. In the midst of his glory his career -was suddenly ended by his death from a fever, in 1574. His rank and -memory are perpetuated in the Church of St. Nicholas, at Avilès, by a -monument, on which is inscribed the following epitaph:</p> - -<p>“Here lies buried the illustrious Captain Pedro Menendez de Avilès, a -native of this City, Adelantado of the Province of Florida, Knight -Commander of Santa Cruz, of the Order of Santiago, and Captain General -of the Oceanic Seas, and of the Armada which his Royal Highness -collected at Santander in the year 1574, where he died on the 17th of -September, of that year, in the fifty-fifth year of his age.”</p> - -<p>Following out the instructions of Menendez, De las Alas, now governor of -Florida, assembled a council from the different missions in the province -for the purpose of considering methods of extending the Catholic faith. -In pursuance of the advice of this council embassies were sent to all -the tribes of Indians for several hundred miles around St. Augustine.</p> - -<p>Spanish garrisons and many Spanish monks to teach the Indians had -already been received into the towns east of the Appalachicola River. In -1583 the Chickasaws, Tocoposcas, Apacas, Tamaicas, Apiscas and Alabamas, -received the missionaries. At this period the Catholic faith was -recognized as far west as the Mississippi, and as far north as the -mountains of Georgia.</p> - -<p>The Franciscans and Dominicans had been the first to represent the monks -in the New World. Afterward came the Fathers of Mercy, the Augustines, -and the Jesuits.</p> - -<p>Although Florida was included in the diocese of the Bishop<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_070" id="page_070"></a>{70}</span> of Cuba, it -was decided to establish a convent of the Order of St. Francis at St. -Augustine. I find the name originally given this convent was the -“Conception of Our Lady,” though it is generally referred to as St. -Helena.</p> - -<p>This name St. Helena was applied to all the establishments throughout -the province, of which the great Franciscan house at St. Augustine was -to be the center.</p> - -<p>Sailing in September, 1585, there arrived soon after in the West Indies -a fleet of twenty-six vessels which had been fitted out by private -persons in England to cruise against the Spanish commerce, and placed -under the command of Sir Francis Drake, with the vice-admirals Frobisher -and Knolles. After sacking St. Jago, raising a contribution of -twenty-five thousand ducats on St. Domingo, and doing great injury to -the Spanish shipping in the Caribbean Seas, they steered for Florida on -their homeward voyage. Passing up the coast when abreast Anastatia -Island, on the 8th of May, 1586, they sighted a tower or look-out -station on the shore. Satisfied that it was some Spanish station the -admiral ordered the boats manned and landed a body of troops on the -island. Advancing toward the look-out, they perceived across the bay a -fort, and further up a town built of wood.</p> - -<p>In defiance of King Philip’s order prohibiting foreigners, on pain of -death, from setting foot in the province of Florida, the admiral sent -General Carlisle, of the land forces, with a small body of soldiers to -enter the town.</p> - -<p>The sentinel on the island had probably retreated to the fort, as the -Spaniards, without parley, opened fire upon the English boat as soon as -it came within range of their guns. Perceiving that the Spaniards -intended to oppose his landing, and having too<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_071" id="page_071"></a>{71}</span> small a force to make an -attack upon the fort, General Carlisle withdrew to the vessels which -were anchored off the bar. That evening a small boat was observed -approaching the fleet from across the bay. As the boat came near, the -music of a fife was heard, and the breeze bore to the ears of the -English the familiar notes of the Prince of Orange’s march. The fifer -proved to be a French musician who had been captured, probably with -Ribault’s men, and who had taken advantage of the panic which the -presence of the English fleet was then causing, to make his escape. He -reported that the fort had been abandoned, and offered to conduct the -English to the town. In the morning Sir Francis crossed the bay, and -finding the fort deserted, as the Frenchman had reported, he took -possession of the same and hoisted the English flag. The fort at that -time was called San Juan de Pinos, and was but a rude structure built of -logs and earth, and without a ditch. The palisades were built of cabbage -palmettoes driven in the ground. The platforms were constructed by -laying the bodies of pine trees horizontally on each other, and filling -an intervening space with earth well rammed. Upon these platforms were -mounted fourteen brass cannon, of what caliber is not mentioned.</p> - -<p>The garrison numbered one hundred and fifty soldiers. Their retreat had -been so precipitous that they neglected to remove the paymaster’s funds, -and a chest containing ten thousand dollars in silver fell into the -hands of the English. It is to be hoped that this unsoldierly conduct -met with exemplary correction at the hands of the <i>corregidors</i>, after -the British sailed away.</p> - -<p>“Whether the massive, iron-bound mahogany chest still (1858) preserved -in the old fort is the same which fell into the hands of<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_072" id="page_072"></a>{72}</span> Drake, is a -question for antiquarians to decide; its ancient appearance might well -justify the supposition.”<a name="FNanchor_9_9" id="FNanchor_9_9"></a><a href="#Footnote_9_9" class="fnanchor">[9]</a></p> - -<p>The next day the English marched toward the town; but it is said that -they were unable to proceed by land, owing to heavy rains having lately -fallen, and therefore returned to the fort and embarked in boats. -Proceeding up the sound, as the boats approached the town, the Spaniards -made a show of resistance; but, on the first discharge from the British -marines, they fled into the country, leaving the town at the mercy of -the invader. After pillaging the town and destroying the gardens, Sir -Francis Drake made no further delay, but continued on his voyage to -England. The Spanish account says he burned the town in revenge for the -killing of his sergeant-major. The place and this attack were considered -of so much importance, that after the arrival of Sir Francis in England, -an engraving of “Drake’s descent upon St. Augustine” was made, which -“represents an octagonal fort between two streams; at the distance of -half a mile, another stream; beyond that the town with a look-out and -two religious houses, one of which is a church and the other probably -the house of the Franciscans, who had shortly before established a house -of their order there. The town contains three squares lengthwise and -four in width, with gardens on the west side.</p> - -<p>“Some doubt has been thrown on the actual site of the first settlement -by this account; but I think it probably stood considerably to the south -of the present public square, between the barracks<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_073" id="page_073"></a>{73}</span> and the -powder-house. Perhaps Maria Sanchez (Santa Maria) Creek may have then -communicated with the bay near its present head, in wet weather and at -high tides isolating the fort from the town. The present north ditch may -have been the bed of a tide creek, and thus would correspond to the -appearance presented by the sketch. It is well known that the north end -of the city has been built at a much later period than the southern, and -that the now vacant space below the barracks was once occupied with -buildings. Buildings and fields are shown on Anastatia Island, opposite -the town. The relative position of the town, with reference to the -entrance of the harbor, is correctly shown on the plan, and there seems -no sufficient ground to doubt the identity of the present town with the -ancient locality.”<a name="FNanchor_10_10" id="FNanchor_10_10"></a><a href="#Footnote_10_10" class="fnanchor">[10]</a></p> - -<p>I have thought that the first town may have been built on the more -western of the two peninsulas lying between Santa Maria Creek and St. -Sebastian River. This would correspond with the plan published by Drake, -and if we assume that the town, being built of wood, was entirely -destroyed by Drake, and afterward rebuilt on its present site, the -statement of Romans finds confirmation, that the first site, having been -found ineligible, the location was changed to its present situation. At -the time of Drake’s invasion the town was said to be rapidly growing, -and to have contained a church, a hall for the judges of Residencia, and -other public buildings.</p> - -<p>The Spanish governor (Don Pedro Menendez, a nephew of the founder) set -himself diligently to work to rebuild the town. In the prosecution of -this work, a considerable pecuniary assistance was received from Spain -and Cuba, and it is<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_074" id="page_074"></a>{74}</span> probable that the first stone buildings were -erected about this period.</p> - -<p>Much attention was at this time devoted to the temporal and spiritual -welfare of the Indians. Father Rogel, who had come to Florida with the -Adelantado Pedro Menendez, had learned the Indian language, and at least -one of the Indians had been taken to Spain, and instructed in the -Spanish language and the tenets of the Church. The Indians were -considered desirable neighbors, and were encouraged to dwell near the -castle, and even within the city. On a map drawn as early as 1638 the -spot now occupied by the old Catholic cemetery near the head of Tolomato -Street is marked “Hermitage of our Lady of Guadalupe, with the territory -occupied by the Indians of the town Tolomato.” Large numbers of -Franciscan missionaries continued to arrive at St. Augustine, and -adventurous monks, who had pined in their convents in the Old World for -more work to do, found room for their energies in Florida, as the -adventurous soldiers had done before them.</p> - -<p>Early in the seventeenth century one of these Franciscans wrote a book -called “La Doctrina Cristiana” in the Yemassee dialect. This volume, -which is said to have been the first book written in the language of any -of the North American Indians, has received an extended notice at the -hands of Buckingham Smith, Esq. The labors of the missionaries were not -without difficulties and discouragements, nor free from dangers. Toward -the close of the sixteenth and at the beginning of the seventeenth -century there were several of the worthy fathers who sacrificed their -lives in noble efforts to instruct the Indians.</p> - -<p>Padre Martinez, accompanied by two other learned and pious priests, -arrived off the coast in a small vessel from Spain. Father<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_075" id="page_075"></a>{75}</span> Martinez, -being blown ashore while reconnoitering the coast in a small boat, was -murdered by the Indians of Fort George Island. His companions taking -alarm at the fate of their brother returned at once to Cuba.</p> - -<p>In 1598 a most cruel and unprovoked assault was made by the Indians upon -two pious fathers within sight of the castle at St. Augustine. Besides -the Indian village near the gates there was another Indian town about a -quarter of a mile north of the castle, situated on the creek called Cano -de la Leche. The Spaniards called the place Nombre de Dios, and until -after the English possession of Florida (1763-1784) there stood a stone -chapel on the spot called “Nostra Senora de la Leche.” This chapel was -used by the English as a hospital, and fell into disuse and neglect -after the Indian tribes ceased to reside peacefully in the vicinity of -the town. As it was neither safe nor convenient for the inhabitants of -the city to worship there, the vestments which had been given to the -chapel by the King of Spain were removed. The crucifix taken from it is -yet preserved in the cathedral at St. Augustine. The ground on which -this chapel stood is still owned by the Catholic Church, and a new -chapel was built in 1874 by Bishop Verot on the ruins of the old church; -but the severe gale of 1878 unroofed this, and at present only two of -the coquina walls are standing. The location is immediately adjoining on -the east the grounds of General Dent’s cottage and young orange grove on -the right, as you go out of the city gates by the shell road. The name -of the Indian village here located was called Topiqui.</p> - -<p>Father Pedro de Corpa had established a chapel and mission at Tolomato, -and Father Bias Rodriguez another at Topiqui. Among the pupils at -Tolomato was the son of the chief of<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_076" id="page_076"></a>{76}</span> Guale, a province embraced by what -is now called Amelia Island. This young chief was too full of animal -spirits and the wild Indian nature to readily adopt habits required by -the Franciscans. Having repeatedly offended against the proprieties of -the mission, Father Corpa was compelled to publicly censure his conduct. -The high spirit of the young chief rebelled at this reproof, and he at -once withdrew from the mission. The good priest anticipated no evil and -sought no protection. Not so the young chief. His heart was full of -bitterness. Gathering a band of warriors from his own nation, he -returned to St. Augustine determined on revenge. Approaching Tolomato in -the dusk of evening, he burst into the chapel, and murdered Father Corpa -at the altar. The Indians then cut off the worthy father’s head and set -it upon a pole, while his body was cast into the woods and never found. -The young chief urged that an end should be made of all the missionaries -in the province, saying that the friars had heaped upon the Indians -injuries, and robbed them of their liberty and customs, while promising -them all manner of good things, of which none were as yet received; and -thus they were compelled to labor and be deprived of all the pleasures -which their ancestors enjoyed, in the hopes of receiving heaven.</p> - -<p>The Indians of Tolomato were grieved at the death of their teacher, and -urged the young chief to fly from the punishment which the Spanish -governor would surely inflict. He replied that the Spaniards desired to -make them all slaves, and that the penalty for the death of one priest -was as severe as for the destruction of the whole body. Thus urged, they -followed their leader to the village of Topiqui, where they seized -Father Rodriguez, and informing him of the death of Father Corpa, -declared that the same fate awaited him. In vain did the pious<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_077" id="page_077"></a>{77}</span> friar -reason, in vain did he supplicate them not to commit so foolish a sin. -The arguments and tears of the priest were of no avail. Finding the -Indians determined to take his life, he begged the privilege of saying a -last mass. “The permission was given, and there for the last time the -worthy father put on his robes, which might well be termed his robes of -sacrifice. The wild and savage crowd, thirsting for his blood, reclined -upon the floor, and looked on in sullen silence, awaiting the conclusion -of the rites. The priest alone, standing before the altar, proceeded -with this most sad and solemn mass, then cast his eyes to heaven and -knelt in private supplication, where the next moment he fell under the -blows of his cruel foes, bespattering the altar at which he ministered -with his own life’s blood. His crushed remains were thrown into the -fields, that they might serve for the fowls of the air or the beasts of -the forests; but not one would approach them except a dog, which, -rushing forward to lay hold upon the body, fell dead upon the spot, says -the ancient chronicle; and an old Christian Indian, recognizing it, gave -it sepulture in the forest.”<a name="FNanchor_11_11" id="FNanchor_11_11"></a><a href="#Footnote_11_11" class="fnanchor">[11]</a></p> - -<p>Other missions also were destroyed by this mad band of savages, but the -zeal of the Franciscans was unabated, and they continued for several -years to make many converts among the Indians.</p> - -<p>In 1611 the prelate St. Francisco Marroz, “custodio from the convent of -St. Francisco of the Havanna, together with the St. Helena,” Fr. Miguel -de Annon, and Fr. Pedro de Chocas, fell martyrs by the hands of the -Indians, who are said to have pillaged the town after having driven the -inhabitants to seek protection under the guns of the fort or stockade.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_078" id="page_078"></a>{78}</span></p> - -<p>The now-apparent danger of a total destruction of the settlement by the -Indians, who had begun to learn their own strength and the weakness of -the Spaniards, opened the eyes of the governor to the necessity of more -effective defense of the town. The plan of defense, embracing the castle -and lines of stockades at both ends of the town with stone bastions, was -initiated in the early part of the seventeenth century, though not -completed for many years.</p> - -<p>In 1640 many Apalachian Indians were brought to St. Augustine, and -compelled to labor on the fort and at other works of defense. These -Indians were nominally hostages for the allegiance of a very numerous -tribe who lived in Middle Florida, and had made numerous ravages on the -Spanish missions between 1635 and 1638. Finding peaceful measures of no -avail, the Spaniards marched against them, and, after several victories, -brought away a large number of captives. These were kept steadily at -work until 1702, when they were released through the efforts of the -Franciscan friars. This remission, however, was granted by the Spanish -crown only during the peaceful conduct of their tribe, and until their -services should again be required. It does not appear that the -Apalachians ever again labored on the fort.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_079" id="page_079"></a>{79}</span></p> - -<h2>[1655-1737.]<br /><br /> -<a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI.</h2> - -<div class="blockquot"><p>PLUNDER OF THE TOWN BY CAPTAIN DAVIS.—REMOVAL Of THE YEMASSEE -INDIANS.—CONSTRUCTION OF THE FORT.—BUILDING OF THE FIRST -SEA-WALL.—ATTACKS OF GOVERNOR MOORE AND COLONEL PALMER.</p></div> - -<p>The town of St. Augustine had continued to grow, and ninety years after -its foundation was said to contain three hundred householders. This -statement may be correct, as the town was afterward partly burned -(1702), though Romans, more than a hundred years later, says there were -not three hundred houses in his time.</p> - -<p>The parish church at this period (1655) was said to have been built of -wood, as the bishop of the diocese (Cuba and Florida) was unable to -provide a better structure, his income being less than five hundred -dollars per annum. In 1771 De Brahm says the churches were all built of -stone. The city was allowed during the latter part of the seventeenth -century a vicar, a parochial curate, and a superior sacristan, and a -chaplain was attached to the fort. The convent of St. Francis was in a -prosperous condition, having under its charge fifty brethren, greatly -respected and very zealous for the conversion of the Indians.</p> - -<p>In 1665 Captain Davis, an English buccaneer, sailed from the West Indies -along the Florida coast for the purpose of intercepting the Spanish -treasure fleet returning from Mexico. While waiting their coming he -plundered St. Augustine as a diversion, no opposition being made by the -inhabitants, who retired into the<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_080" id="page_080"></a>{80}</span> fort to assist the garrison of two -hundred men in defending this structure. The castle was at that time an -octagon flanked by two round towers.</p> - -<p>In 1584 Captains Barlow and Armada, by the authority of Sir Walter -Raleigh, had taken possession of the rivers and lands of the northern -coast of Florida (South Carolina). As late as 1663 England claimed -Florida as a part of the Carolinas, and in the right acquired by Henry -VII. from its discovery by Cabot. In 1670 an English colony was -established near Beaufort, South Carolina. The Spaniards resented this -encroachment upon their territory, and in 1675 projected an attack upon -the South Carolina colony, which was unsuccessful. These attacks and -counter-attacks between the Spanish and English continued until the -Spanish evacuation in 1763.</p> - -<p>In 1680 Don Juan Marquez de Cabrera, having been appointed governor, -entered vigorously upon the work of strengthening the defenses of the -town and extending the work of the missions.</p> - -<p>Soon after entering upon his duties the governor became annoyed at the -hostile conduct, either real or fancied, of Chief Nichosatly of the -Yemassees. This tribe of Indians was very powerful, and possessed many -flourishing towns in Florida, lying adjacent to the English settlements -on the north.</p> - -<p>Cabrera accused him of rendering aid to the British settlers, contrary -to his duties as a subject of the King of Spain.</p> - -<p>Nichosatly denied having assisted the English, and professed loyalty to -the Spaniards and the Catholic religion.</p> - -<p>Cabrera was unwilling to trust his assurances, and condemned him to be -publicly executed as a traitor. This conduct was as extraordinary as was -that of the Indian; for it is said that he exhibited a remarkable -Christian temper, forgiving his enemies, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_081" id="page_081"></a>{81}</span> exhorting his friends not -to avenge his death. This advice was not followed, unfortunately for the -Spanish interests. The English used this injury to excite the Yemassees -to a fierce war, and the Spaniards were soon driven from all their -settlements north of the St. Johns River. Cabrera was soon after -recalled in disgrace by the King of Spain, but the evil he had done was -irreparable, and from this time the Spanish influence among the Indians -began to decline.</p> - -<p>Governor Cabrera had accumulated a large quantity of material, -consisting of stone, oyster-shell lime, cement, timber, and iron for the -prosecution of the work on the fort. His successors continued to collect -supplies as fast as their means would allow. From 1693 to 1701 the -governor, Laureano de Torrez-y-Ayala, kept constantly in operation two -lime-kilns. He also had thirty stone-cutters employed in getting out the -stone from the quarries on Anastatia Island, and eight yokes of oxen -hauling the coquina to the landing on Quarry Creek.</p> - -<p>In 1687 Don Juan de Aila volunteered to go to Spain and procure for the -colony the assistance of men and supplies, of which it stood in great -need. This he did, providing his own vessel, and, as a reward for his -efforts, the Spanish crown granted him a permit to import merchandise -free of duty, and also to carry with him twelve negro slaves. “By a -mischance, he was only able to carry one negro there, with the troops -and other cargo, and was received in the city with universal joy. This -was the first occasion of the reception of African slaves.”<a name="FNanchor_12_12" id="FNanchor_12_12"></a><a href="#Footnote_12_12" class="fnanchor">[12]</a></p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_082" id="page_082"></a>{82}</span></p> - -<p>The Count de Galvez, Viceroy of New Spain (Mexico including Florida) -seems to have felt great interest in the Spanish settlement of St. -Augustine. Upon his recommendation the council of the Indies -appropriated in 1691 ten thousand dollars for building a sea-wall from -the castle to the city, and two years after a further sum of six -thousand dollars for building a look-out.</p> - -<p>The work upon the sea-wall had already been begun by the governor, Don -Diego de Quiroga-y-Lozada, with what means the local authorities and -citizens could supply.</p> - -<p>In 1690, finding the sea was making great encroachments, and threatened -to undermine the houses, having washed with great force and effect upon -the light sands of the water-front, and even up to the very dwellings, -the governor called a meeting of the chief citizens of the town to take -the subject under consideration. It was decided by the chief men that, -in order to prevent the total loss of the great sums that had already -been invested in the fort and other defenses of the town, and to protect -the place from gradual destruction, and being unfitted for habitation, -it was necessary to build a wall from the glacis of the fort to the -public square on the north of the city, which should be a defense -against the force of the sea. Two thousand dollars were contributed, of -which the soldiers are said to have donated seventeen hundred, although -their wages were six years in arrears.</p> - -<p>The wall, which was begun at this time, was a slight structure, and -extended only to the present basin in front of the plaza. To one who has -seen the water, in severe north-easters, dashing over the present -sea-wall, it seems strange that the Spaniards had not built a more -extensive and efficacious protection against the sea for their -metropolitan town in North America. One of the old<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_083" id="page_083"></a>{83}</span> citizens informs me -that the tide rose so high during a severe storm in the fall of 1811, -that boats passed freely over the streets, and the inhabitants were all -obliged to withdraw from the lower story of the houses.</p> - -<p>In 1693, Governor Don Laureano de Torrez received another thousand -dollars contributed out of their wages by the soldiers, and also further -assistance from the home government, with which he continued the -building of the sea-wall, and the work on the fort. It is probably about -this time that the Mexican convicts were employed in the construction of -the castle. At one time there was said to have been one hundred and -forty of these convicts in service at St. Augustine.</p> - -<p>For several years the Spaniards had greatly harassed the English -settlers in the Carolinas, having made incursions in 1675, and again in -1681, and, as a fixed policy, incited the Indians to make inroads to -ravage the unprotected settlements, and carry off plunder, especially -negroes. Many demands were made on the Spanish authorities for the -negroes thus carried away, and also those who escaped; but the Spaniards -invariably refused to surrender the slaves, alleging that the King of -Spain felt it his duty to keep the negroes under the influence of the -Catholic religion.</p> - -<p>In 1702 Governor Moore of South Carolina determined to retaliate upon -the Spaniards for their conduct toward the English, by the capture of -the town of St. Augustine. He induced the legislature to vote him aid to -the extent of two thousand pounds sterling, and to authorize the -enlistment of six hundred volunteers, and an equal number of Creek and -Yemassee Indians. Impressing a number of merchant ships into service as -transports, the troops were taken to Port Royal as a rendezvous, where -Governor Moore joined them in September of the same year. Colonel<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_084" id="page_084"></a>{84}</span> -Daniel, who is described as the life of the expedition, was made second -in command, and ordered to proceed through the inland passages of the -St. Johns River, and thence to attack St. Augustine by land, while the -governor should enter the harbor and attack the city from his ships. The -Spaniards, having notice of the advance, retired into the castle with -their valuables, and a store of provisions to maintain them for four -months. Colonel Daniel arrived behind the town before Governor Moore’s -fleet came to the harbor, and meeting with no resistance, entered at -once and secured a considerable plunder which the inhabitants had been -unable to remove. The next day Governor Moore arrived and entered upon a -regular siege, so that the Spaniards were obliged to lie quietly within -the walls of the castle. Moore, finding that his cannon were too light -to effect a breach in the walls of the fort, sent a vessel to Jamaica -for guns of a larger caliber. This vessel not returning, he sent Colonel -Daniel in a second on the same errand. While his lieutenant was thus -absent there appeared in sight two Spanish vessels, one of twenty-two -and the other of sixteen guns. At sight of these Moore was stricken with -such a panic that he abandoned his ships and fled across the country to -Charleston. He is said, however, to have first burned the town (in part -only, it is most likely), and to have previously sent to Jamaica the -church plate and other costly church ornaments and utensils. This is -quite likely, as the English troops occupied the parish church -immediately on their entrance into the town.</p> - -<p>Colonel Daniel secured the munitions for which he was sent, and promptly -returned to St. Augustine, rejoicing in the thought that the place was -now in their power. Entering the harbor he first learned of Moore’s -retreat upon being chased by the Spanish ships, from which he narrowly -escaped.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_085" id="page_085"></a>{85}</span></p> - -<p>This expedition cost the English colony six thousand pounds, for which -they received only disgrace, having accomplished nothing but the -imprisonment of the Spaniards for a period of three months. At the -termination of the siege, the inhabitants at once applied themselves to -repairing and rebuilding their houses, and the governor, Don Joseph de -Zuñiga, received liberal aid from Spain in rebuilding and strengthening -the town.</p> - -<p>In 1706 the French and Spaniards under Mons. La Febour entered the -harbor of St. Augustine on their way to attack Charleston. Taking a part -of the garrison of the fort they proceeded on their voyage, but were -obliged to retreat without accomplishing anything.</p> - -<p>In 1717 the Spanish governor, Don Juan de Ayola y Escobar, procured a -general combination of the Yemassee, Creek, Apalache, Congaree, Catauba, -and Cherokee Indians, against the English settlements in Carolina.</p> - -<p>A year after Don Antonio de Benavuedi y Malina, having been appointed -governor, put a stop to the Indian hostilities against the English.</p> - -<p>He seems to have entertained a very unfavorable opinion of the Indians, -which he exhibited in an unreasonable decree against the Yemassees, -exiling this tribe to a distance six leagues south of St. Augustine. The -Yemassees remonstrated with the new governor against this order; stating -to him that although at one time they had joined the English, after the -execution of their Chief Nichosatly, yet they had since repented of that -fault, and fought against them in behalf of the Spaniards; that it would -be a grievous act to drive them from their fields of corn, and their -houses, while the English were their enemies; that they revered the -Catholic king and the holy Church, and desired<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_086" id="page_086"></a>{86}</span> to have its rites -administered to them, and wished to live in peace.</p> - -<p>The governor was obdurate, and ordered Captain Ortagas to execute his -order with the troops. Thus this powerful nation, abandoning their -fields almost ripe for harvest, and many cattle and hogs, were compelled -to make new homes in the wilderness. It is said that many women, -children, and infirm persons were left on Amelia Island; that the -English killed four hundred when they found that the Indians were -abandoning the country; and that of the three thousand who had resided -between St. Augustine and the St. Mary’s River, at the end of a year -from their removal, not one-third had survived the vengeance of their -enemies and hunger and disease. The removal of this tribe of Indians was -impolitic on the part of the Spaniards, as the English soon after took -possession of their lands, which lay between the English and Spanish -settlements.</p> - -<p>In 1725 the disputes between the English and Spaniards culminated in -hostilities. The Spaniards charged the English with intruding on their -lands, and the English retorted that the Spaniards had enticed away -their negroes and incited the Indians against their settlements. The -Spanish governor recalled the Yemassees, and having armed and equipped a -body of warriors under their chief Mocano, sent them into Georgia, where -they committed a general massacre.</p> - -<p>Colonel Palmer of that colony raised a body of three hundred militia, -and entered Florida, burning and destroying every Spanish and Indian -settlement to the very gates of St. Augustine. The Spanish inhabitants -of the country and town fled into the fort for safety; but, with -execrable meanness, excluded the poor Indians, who were nearly all -killed or made prisoners. The<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_087" id="page_087"></a>{87}</span> Spaniards saved only what could be -protected by the guns of the fort, which was then quite a formidable -work.</p> - -<p>The chapel of Nostra Senora de la Leche, the location of which has been -described, was plundered by some of the soldiers. They stripped it of -the gold and silver vessels, and taking the infant image from the arms -of the figure of the Virgin Mary, brought it to Colonel Palmer, who was -encamped two miles north of the city gates. This piece of sacrilege, -however, was displeasing to the commander, who told the soldiers that -the Spaniards would one day be revenged upon them. Having accomplished -all he could hope from his small force, Colonel Palmer retired with a -great booty of cattle and other plunder.</p> - -<p>In 1737 Governor Don Manuel de Monteano, soon after taking command of -the province, made the following report to the Governor-general of Cuba: -“The fort of this place is its only defense; it has no casemates for the -shelter of the men, nor the necessary elevation of the counter-scarp, -nor covert ways, nor ravelins to the curtains, nor other exterior works, -that could give time for a long defense; but it is thus naked outside, -as it is without soul within, for there are no cannon that could be -fired twenty-four hours.” The representations of the governor received -prompt attention at the Spanish Court, where it had now become -recognized that the Spanish possessions in America were endangered, and -unless St. Augustine was maintained, they would be irrecoverably lost.</p> - -<p>Large appropriations of money were sent, and a garrison of seven hundred -regular troops, and a number of new cannon assigned to the castle. With -the means thus provided, the governor applied himself with great energy -and skill in putting the fort in an excellent state of defense. The -superintendence<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_088" id="page_088"></a>{88}</span> of the work was assigned to Don Antonio de Arredondo, -an officer who ranked well among engineers. Bomb-proofs were -constructed, a covered way made, the ramparts heightened and casemated, -and redoubts extended across either end of the town, in which there were -ten salient angles.<a name="FNanchor_13_13" id="FNanchor_13_13"></a><a href="#Footnote_13_13" class="fnanchor">[13]</a></p> - -<p>Romans states that two of these salient angles or bastions, built of -stone, stood in the southern line of redoubts, but were broken down by -the English, and the material used for the foundation of the new -barracks. From the statements of old residents, I am satisfied that one -or more stood near the present saw-mills, and commanded the approach by -the old road across the marshes of the St. Sebastian.</p> - -<p>It is probable that the credit is due Don Arredondo for the symmetry and -beauty of outline in the general design of the fort, and also for the -perfection of the lines, curves, and angles in the masonry. The noble -conception and perfection of detail throughout the work demonstrates the -engineer to have been a man of excellent abilities, and proficient in -the higher mathematics, “one of the sublimest realms of human thought.”</p> - -<p>Some of the curves in the masonry within the casemates are beautiful -pieces of design. The compound circular and elliptic arch, or -three-centered circular arch, which supports the incline leading from -the terre-plein to the court, is said to have presented a problem too -difficult for the United States engineer in charge of the repairs after -the change of flags. It will be seen that the north side of the arch -having fallen has been patched with a rectilinear wall, and the symmetry -of the elegant lines destroyed.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_089" id="page_089"></a>{89}</span></p> - -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII.</h2> - -<div class="blockquot"><p>OGLETHORPE’S ATTACK.—BOMBARDMENT OF THE FORT AND TOWN.—CAPTURE OF -THE HIGHLANDERS AT FORT MOSA.—OLD FORT AT MATANZAS.—MONTEANO’S -INVASION OF GEORGIA.</p></div> - -<p>In 1740 Governor Oglethorpe of Georgia, being encouraged by King George -II., determined to capture St. Augustine, and thus drive the Spaniards -from Florida. At his request the Carolina colonies sent him a body of -four hundred troops under Colonel Vanderdussen. He also equipped a body -of Creek Indians, and in May had rendezvoused at the mouth of the St. -Johns River a force of two thousand men. With a portion of this force he -attacked a small fort called Diego, situated on what is now known as -Diego Plains (called by the inhabitants Dago), twenty-five miles north -of St. Augustine, then the estate of Don Diego de Spinosa. The remains -of this fort and several cannon were to be seen until a late date.</p> - -<p>Having taken the fort after a slight resistance, he left the same in -charge of Lieutenant Dunbar, and returned to the St. Johns River to -await the arrival of more troops, and to allow Commodore Price, R. N., -to blockade the harbor of St. Augustine with his fleet, consisting of -four vessels of twenty guns each.</p> - -<p>From the prisoners captured at Diego it was learned that the Spaniards -had lately received a reinforcement of six half galleys, armed with -several long brass nine-pounders, and two sloops<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_090" id="page_090"></a>{90}</span> loaded with -provisions, besides which all the cattle in the neighborhood had been -driven into town. The prisoners, he says, “agree that there are fifty -pieces of cannon in the castle, several of which are of brass, from -twelve to forty-eight pounds. It has four bastions. The walls are of -stone and casemated. The internal square is sixty yards. The ditch is -forty feet wide and twelve feet deep, six of which are sometimes filled -with water. The counter-scarp is faced with stone. They have lately made -a covered way by embanking four thousand posts. The town is fortified -with an intrenchment, salient angles, and redoubts, which inclose about -half a mile in length and a quarter of a mile in width. The inhabitants -and garrison, men, women, and children amount to above two thousand five -hundred. For the garrison the king pays eight companies, sent from Spain -two years since, fifty-three men each; three companies of foot and one -of artillery of the old garrison, and one troop of horse, one hundred -each.”</p> - -<p>This estimate would make the garrison about nine hundred and twenty-four -men, which was probably within the whole number of fighting men, as -another account says there were in the town at the time, the seven -hundred regulars assigned from Spain, two companies of horse, and four -companies of negroes, besides Indians. These negroes were probably free -men, as it is elsewhere stated that they had their own officers, and -though armed, by the governor, provided themselves.</p> - -<p>Oglethorpe having been joined by more troops marched across the country, -ordering the forces at Diego to advance as far as Fort Mosa, two miles -north of St. Augustine, while he made an attack on the fort at Picolata. -This fort was called St. Francis de Poppa, and commanded the approaches -from West Florida and Mexico, and the ferry across the St. Johns River. -Its remains<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_091" id="page_091"></a>{91}</span> existed until a short time since, and even yet the ditch -can be traced upon the grounds of Mr. Michael Usina. If the testimony of -the old residents can be relied upon, Forbes and Vignoles in their -histories have fallen into error as to the location of this old Spanish -fortification, describing it as on the west side of the river, while the -old citizens call the fort at Picolata “Fort Poppa.”</p> - -<p>Forbes says Picolata’s ancient fort was built by the “Spaniards with -square towers thirty feet high and a deep ditch about it, which is now -partly filled up. The stone was brought from Anastatia Island. On the -opposite side is Fort Poppa, with shallow intrenchments twenty yards -square and as many from the river. A small distance back is another -turret of the same size, and some groves of orange trees and oaks.”</p> - -<p>Vignoles’ description (1823) is as follows: “Of the old blockhouse of -Picolata nothing remains except two of the shattered walls, through -which loop-holes and <i>meutrières</i> are pierced. It stands on a low bluff, -and is half concealed by the luxuriant branches of surrounding trees. It -reminds the visitor who views it from the river of the deserted -castellated residence of some ancient feudal lord. Opposite is Fort -Poppa, of which scarce a vestige remains.”</p> - -<p>William Bartram, in his “Travels through Florida,” published in -Philadelphia, 1791, gives an interesting description of this fort which -I will also quote, as I find all knowledge of these old relics is fast -being effaced from memory and accessible records. Describing his sail up -the St. Johns River, he says: “At noon I came abreast of Fort Picolata, -where, being desirous of gaining yet further intelligence [about it], I -landed, but to my disappointment found the fort dismantled. This -fortress is very ancient and was built by the Spaniards. It is a square -tower, thirty feet high,<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_092" id="page_092"></a>{92}</span> pierced with loop-holes and surrounded with a -deep ditch. The upper story is open on each side, with battlements -supporting a cupola or roof. These battlements were formerly mounted -with eight four-pounders, two on each side.</p> - -<p>“The work was constructed with hewn stone, cemented with lime. The stone -was cut out of the quarries on St. Anastatia Island, opposite St. -Augustine.” Williams calls the fort on the west side of the river Fort -“San Fernando.”</p> - -<p>Oglethorpe captured the Fort at Picolata without difficulty, and after -considerable delay advanced his whole force upon St. Augustine. The -fleet, which had by this time arrived, was moored across the harbor, and -one vessel stationed off the mouth of Matanzas River, to prevent the -arrival of supplies from that quarter. A company of eighty Scotch -settlers from Georgia, all dressed in Highland costume, together with -forty Indians, were stationed at Fort Mosa, under Colonel Palmer, with -orders to avoid a battle, but to be vigilant in scouring the country, to -intercept all supplies, and to encamp every night at a different place. -Colonel Vanderdussen, who had marched from the St. Johns River by the -beach, was ordered to build a battery at Point Quartell (north beach), -while Oglethorpe, with a regiment of Georgians and the main body of the -Indians, landed on Anastatia Island, and began the construction of a -battery at the north end of the main island. Aware that his force was -too small to carry an assault on the castle, to which the inhabitants -and forces had all retired, Oglethorpe determined to reduce the fort by -bombardment, while he cut off all supplies by a blockade. The site of -the first battery constructed on the island has long since become the -channel of the river. The high ridge to the west of the lighthouse, on -which Mr. Aspinwall has lately built a small building, probably -extended<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_093" id="page_093"></a>{93}</span> at least half a mile north of the present shore line. It was -on this ridge that Oglethorpe built his first battery, and having -mounted in it several eighteen-pound cannon, he sent a message to the -Spanish governor summoning him to surrender.</p> - -<p>The governor, Don Manuel de Monteano, a very brave and efficient -officer, replied that he would be pleased to shake hands with General -Oglethorpe in the fort. The general, being indignant at such a reply, -opened fire upon the place, which was kept up with spirit, and many -shells were thrown into the town, causing the citizens to seek shelter -within the walls of the castle. The Spaniards replied with the cannon in -the fort, and also diverted the attention of the British with the -maneuvers of the six galleys with their batteries of nine-pounders. -Captain Warren, a brave officer from the fleet, offered to lead an -attack on these galleys in the night; but it was decided that the plan -was too dangerous, as the galleys lay at night under the guns of the -fort, where the water was too shoal to bring up any large vessels to -cover the attacking party. Finding the distance too great for his fire -to injure the fort, Oglethorpe began the construction of a second -battery on the marsh of the island, nearer the town. This battery was -called Battery Poza, and mounted four eighteen-pound cannon. The remains -of this battery are still to be seen. It is located on an island in the -marsh, and reached from the bay by ascending a small creek, navigable -for boats at half tide. Oglethorpe is said to have buried an -eighteen-pound cannon in this battery when the siege was raised, which -may yet be beneath the sand of the redoubts.</p> - -<p>While engaged in the construction of Battery Poza, the fire of the -British was somewhat relaxed. Observing this, Governor Monteano sent out -a detachment of three hundred men and a<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_094" id="page_094"></a>{94}</span> party of Yemassee Indians, to -attack Colonel Palmer at Fort Mosa. It is said the sally was made on the -night of the king’s birthday, and that the British were found drinking -and carousing. The former statement is incorrect, though the latter may -be true. Colonel Palmer was a brave and able officer, but he seems to -have had Scotch obstinacy, united with undisciplined men, to render his -authority nugatory.</p> - -<p>The camp was surprised and the Highlanders quickly overcome after -Colonel Palmer was slain and the soldiers who were vigilant had been -killed or made their escape. There was a tradition that Colonel Palmer -was killed by Wakona, the Yemassee chief, on the spot where the soldiers -had brought him the infant image fifteen years before.</p> - -<p>This loss was a severe blow to the expedition, not so much from the loss -of the men, but its effect was to depress the spirits of the command and -to greatly discourage the Indians, who soon after found an excuse to -withdraw. A Cherokee having killed a Spaniard, cut off his head and -brought it to Oglethorpe, who spurned the Indian and called him a -barbarous dog. This rebuff was made a pretext by the Indians for their -desertion, and, without making known their intentions, soon after they -were gone.</p> - -<p>Meantime the bombardment continued; but it was found that, even from the -nearest battery, the shot produced little effect upon the walls of the -castle. The siege, which was commenced on the 13th of June, had now -continued into July, with only disastrous results. The soldiers began to -wilt under the extreme heat, and complain of the annoyance of the -sandflies and mosquitoes. To add to the difficulty sickness appeared, -and the men, never under very good control, began to desert in squads, -and return across the country to their homes. The commodore, finding his -provisions<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_095" id="page_095"></a>{95}</span> becoming short, and fearing the autumn gales, was unwilling -to remain longer on the station. The ship at Matanzas had already -withdrawn. The inlet being unguarded, the Spaniards soon succeeded in -bringing in a large supply of provisions, of which they now stood in -great need. Learning that the Spaniards had received succor, the troops -lost all hope, and the siege was soon after raised.</p> - -<p>It would seem, from the accounts of this blockade and the fact that -supplies were brought in at Matanzas Inlet, that the old fort at -Matanzas was not then standing. If this is the case, it must have been -constructed immediately after Oglethorpe’s departure, as the Spaniards -had had a garrison in it before the English occupation, as will be seen -from the following extract from Romans: “Twenty miles south [of St. -Augustine] is the look-out or fort of Matanca, on a marshy island -commanding the entrance of Matanca, which lays opposite to it. This fort -is to be seen at a distance of about five leagues. It is of very little -strength, nor need it be otherwise, as there is scarce eight feet of -water on this bar at the best of times. The Spaniards kept a lieutenant -in command here; the English a sergeant. Between two or three miles from -this inlet or bar is another of still less note, called El Penon. -Matanca Bar is known from the sea by the fort, which shows white in a -clear day, when the inlet bears west, three leagues off.”</p> - -<p>I have been unable to find out at what date this fort was constructed. -The natural features have greatly changed since the time of Romans even. -The island has been very much washed away by the current, and will soon -cease to exist at all. The bar, which must have been nearly opposite the -island, has gradually worked south until now it is nearly half a mile -below the fort, and a high sand ridge, a part of Anastatia Island, is -between the fort<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_096" id="page_096"></a>{96}</span> and the ocean, so that, instead of being visible three -leagues at sea, the fort, probably, would not be seen from the ocean at -all.<a name="FNanchor_14_14" id="FNanchor_14_14"></a><a href="#Footnote_14_14" class="fnanchor">[14]</a> Soundings on Matanzas Bar are now given as one fathom. Fort -Mosa, where Colonel Palmer was killed, was built by the negro refugees -from the British colonies, and was often called the Negro Fort. It was a -square earthwork with four bastions, containing a well and a house with -a look-out, and surrounded with a ditch. The walls of a stone house are -still standing near the location of this fort, at a place called by the -town’s people “Moses,” north of Mr. Hildreth’s grounds.</p> - -<p>Oglethorpe was greatly blamed at the time for his failure to take St. -Augustine, but it is evident that the town was well protected. The north -side of the peninsula, on which the town is built, was defended by the -fort, about which, for a space of fifteen hundred yards, a clear space -was maintained by the Spanish governors, and also by the ditch and -redoubt with salient angles running from the fort to the St. Sebastian -River; upon the east side of the town the galleys and the guns of the -fort could prevent a landing, as the water upon the bar was too shoal to -admit the passage of the English ships; upon the south was a line of -redoubts again with cannon, and a water front for the approach of the -galleys, while upon the west was the long stretch of boggy marshes -extending for a quarter of a mile to the St. Sebastian River. No place -could be better situated for defense. Had the blockade been efficient -and long-continued the town must have surrendered as there was a large -population to feed besides the garrison, and the very advantages of the -place for defense rendered it difficult to bring in supplies.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_097" id="page_097"></a>{97}</span></p> - -<p>Governor Monteano was constantly sending messages to Cuba, by the way of -West Florida and the Keys, for succor of provisions, and was said to -have received supplies from a vessel which arrived at Mosquito Inlet, -while the harbor of Matanzas was yet blockaded.</p> - -<p>The siege was abandoned on the 10th of July. During the bombardment one -hundred and fifty-three shells fell in the town, but occasioned no loss -of life, and did very little damage. That the fire from the batteries -was very ineffectual is evident from an inspection of the shot-holes in -the walls of the old fort made by the guns of Oglethorpe’s batteries -which are still visible. I have counted eight indentations on the -eastern face of the main fort, and two on the south-east bastion. Their -penetration was barely sufficient to bury the solid shot, while the -shell do not appear to have done any injury, thus exhibiting an -ineffectiveness of the artillery which seems remarkable, as there were -said to have been thirty mortars large and small, and ten eighteen-pound -cannon in the different batteries erected by Oglethorpe, of which the -farthest was not more than three-quarters of a mile distant.</p> - -<p>This attack of Oglethorpe seems to have demonstrated to the Spanish -crown the likelihood of an English occupation of their possessions in -Florida. The following year large reinforcements were sent to Governor -Monteano, with instructions to improve the defenses of the town in every -possible way.</p> - -<p>Finding the British colonists did not renew their attack on the town as -he had anticipated, Monteano advised an invasion of Georgia and South -Carolina. Accordingly an army of two thousand men was raised in Cuba, -which, being dispatched to St. Augustine, was placed under the command -of Governor Monteano. To this force the governor added one thousand men -from the garrison<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_098" id="page_098"></a>{98}</span> of the town, including a regiment of negroes, whose -officers are said to have dressed, ranked, and associated with the -Spanish officers without reserve.<a name="FNanchor_15_15" id="FNanchor_15_15"></a><a href="#Footnote_15_15" class="fnanchor">[15]</a></p> - -<p>With this force Monteano entered upon the invasion of Georgia; but, -being opposed by Oglethorpe with great energy and skill, was entirely -unsuccessful, and the expedition retired to St. Augustine. From thence -the forces returned to Cuba, where the governor was imprisoned and tried -for misconduct, though acquitted of the charges.</p> - -<p>In the next year Oglethorpe endeavored to retaliate upon the Spaniards, -and get possession of St. Augustine by a sudden attack which should take -the town by surprise. He is said to have approached with such celerity -and secresy that he arrived within sight of the town without exciting an -alarm. Here he captured a small body of troops acting as a guard to the -king’s workmen. This capture defeated the success of his surprise, for, -the absence of the guard being noticed, a body of horsemen were sent out -to learn the cause of their detention, and the forces of Oglethorpe were -discovered in time to close the city gates and prepare the garrison. -Oglethorpe was unwilling to risk an assault on the town, and retired -into Georgia, after spending two months in attempting to provoke the -Spaniards to a fight without the walls of the town. During this time his -troops completely devastated the surrounding country.</p> - -<p>Up to about this period there had existed an Indian village near the -site of Fort Mosa (or Moosa) called Macarizi. It was probably located on -a creek now called “Baya’s Creek,” about two miles north of the city, -though the Franciscan Father Ayeta,<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_099" id="page_099"></a>{99}</span> in his “La Verdad Defendida,” p. -215, says that Macarizi and Nombre de Dios (Topiqui) were the same.</p> - -<p>Soon after Oglethorpe retired Governor Monteano furnished arms and -ammunition to one Pedro Christano, a Spanish Indian chief among the -Yemassees, and incited incursions against the British colonists in -Georgia. These were continued under the encouragement of the Spaniards -until the settlements south of St. Simonds Island were entirely broken -up. These hostilities, which had continued since 1725, were mutually -suspended under the treaty which was concluded between England and Spain -in 1748, but marauding expeditions were again entered upon in 1755. The -Spanish ambassador at London, having obtained from the court of St. -James an order commanding the English settlers to retire from the -territory of Florida, the new governor, Don Alonzo Fernandez de Herreda, -sent a company of dragoons to hasten the obedience of the English -colonists. Upon a summons the English agreed to retire, but they never -did so, and the next year, 1763, the provinces of the Floridas were -ceded to Great Britain in exchange for Havana and the western portion of -Cuba, which had been captured from the Spanish. This treaty was -concluded on the 3d of November, 1762, and ratified February 10th, -1763.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_100" id="page_100"></a>{100}</span></p> - -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII.</h2> - -<div class="blockquot"><p>THE TOWN WHEN DELIVERED TO THE ENGLISH.—FORT SAN JUAN DE -PINOS.—ST. AUGUSTINE AS DESCRIBED BY THE ENGLISH WRITERS 1765 TO -1775.</p></div> - -<p>Before the cession of the province, the fort had been completed, and -presented, at the time it was delivered to the English, very much the -same appearance as now. Many of the casemates had platforms about seven -feet from the floor for sleeping apartments. The moat was about four -feet deeper than at present, and the water battery was built in such a -manner that the guns were mounted upon it instead of behind it, as at -present. The high banks of sand on the north, west, and south sides of -the fort have been placed there in recent times as a protection from the -shot of modern guns, which would soon make a breach through almost any -thickness of coquina wall. The fortress occupies about four acres of -ground, and mounts one hundred guns, requiring a garrison of a thousand -soldiers, though a much larger number have, on several occasions, been -its garrison. Its site was well chosen for the protection of the town in -the days when it was built, as its guns command the whole harbor and -inlet from the sea, as also the whole peninsula to the south, upon which -the town is built, the land approach from the north, and the marshes -west of the town. Various dates have been assigned as the period at -which the work on this fort was commenced, but of this date there is no -record in this country, if there is in Spain. At the<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_101" id="page_101"></a>{101}</span> time of Drake’s -attack, 1586, there was an octagonal fort on or about the site of the -present structure, which was built of logs and earth. In 1638, or -thereabouts, the Apalachians were set to work on the fortifications of -the town, and, as Menendez had applied himself to strengthening the -defenses of the town after the attack of De Gourges, 1567, it is -probable that this fort had been commenced before the beginning of the -seventeenth century. That the Spaniards had then begun to use coquina as -a building stone is to be inferred from a statement of Romans, that, in -his time, one of the old houses of the town bore the date 1571. The name -of the wooden fort was San Juan de Pinos, and the present fort bore the -name St. John for many years. It is supposed that the old wooden -structure stood near the north-west bastion, which was probably called -St. John, while the south-east was named for St. Peter, the south-west -was called St. Augustine, and the north-east St. Paul.</p> - -<p>It is uncertain when the name St. Mark’s was first applied to the -castle, though probably during the English occupation, 1663-1684. The -fort, doubtless, acquired the name from that applied to the present -north river, which was called by the Spaniards St. Mark’s River, at the -mouth of which the fort is located. It is probably the oldest -fortification now standing in the United States, and certainly the -oldest which is yet in a good state of preservation. From the date at -which the Apalachians began work, until the year in which the -fortification was declared finished and the commemorative tablet -erected, the period during which it was being built is one hundred and -eighteen years. It has now been a century and a quarter since this -magnificent old structure, representing the grandest military -architecture of the middle ages, was completed, and two centuries and a -half since its inception.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_102" id="page_102"></a>{102}</span></p> - -<p>What a strange and eventful history is connected with its stone walls, -its deep ditch, its frowning battlements, its dismal dungeon, and damp -casemates, in the midst of which, on the north side, is its chapel with -raised altar, built into the masonry, and holy water niches in the walls -of the casemates.</p> - -<p>Those who have read this history thus far will have noted the laying of -its foundations by the hands of those zealous and bigoted Catholics who -had exterminated a settlement of the subjects of a friendly nation, lest -they should spread among the barbarous Indians heretical doctrines; the -accretion of its rising walls under the hands of the unfortunate -Indians, who had been loath to accept the Christian teachers and -doctrine that had been forced upon them by these expungers of heresy, -until, with the aid of convicts and king’s workmen, the work was -completed, to stand the defense of the Spanish possessions in Florida, -the protection of fugitive slaves, depredating Indians, Spanish -pensioners and adventurers, and the prison of many wretched Indians and -whites who had fallen under the displeasure of a Spanish autocrat. For -almost two hundred years the Spanish ensign had been uninterruptedly -displayed from the site of this fort, when, by the treaty of 1762, it -was yielded to the British, and the cross of St. George displayed from -its battlements.</p> - -<p>The year after his arrival in Florida, Governor Hereda sculptured, in -alto-relievo, the Spanish coat of arms over the entrance of the fort. -The tablet upon which the design is impressed is made of cement, and let -into the walls of the fort. The inscription on the tablet beneath the -coat of arms is as follows:</p> - -<div class="blockquot2"><p>“REYNANDO EN ESPANA EL SEN<sup>N</sup> DON FERNANDO SEXTO Y SIENDO GOV<sup>R</sup> -Y CAP<sup>N</sup> DE ES<sup>A</sup> C<sup>D</sup> SA<sup>N</sup><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_103" id="page_103"></a>{103}</span> AUG<sup>N</sup> DE LA FLORIDA Y SUS -PROV<sup>A</sup> EL MARISCAL DE CAMPO D<sup>N</sup> ALONZO FERN<sup>DO</sup> HERADA ASI -CONCLUIO ESTE CASTILLO EL AN OD 1756 DRI<sup>G</sup>ENDO LAS OBRAS EL CAP. -INGN<sup>RO</sup> DN PEDRO DE BROZAS Y GARAY.”</p></div> - -<p class="c"><span class="smcap">Translation</span>:</p> - -<div class="blockquot2"><p>“<i>Don Ferdinand the VI, being King of Spain, and the Field Marshal -Don Alonzo Fernando Hereda being Governor and Captain General of -this place, St. Augustine of Florida, and its province, this Fort -was finished in the year 1756. The works were directed by the -Captain Engineer, Don Pedro de Brazas Y Garay.</i>”<a name="FNanchor_16_16" id="FNanchor_16_16"></a><a href="#Footnote_16_16" class="fnanchor">[16]</a></p></div> - -<p>An alto-relievo coat of arms, upon a cement tablet, was also placed upon -the lunette, but vandal relic hunters have disfigured this tablet most -aggravatingly. In the top of this tablet there is an oval-shaped hollow, -which looks as if it might have been worn by the handle of a spear, or -small staff of a standard. It is possible that the sentry has stood upon -this wall, resting his lance on the top of this tablet for years, until -this hollow has been worn three inches or more in depth, and so -perfectly smooth as to have a polish over the surface of the depression.</p> - -<p>Every part of this old work should be protected and preserved by the -United States, whose property it is. With proper care, and moderate -repairs from time to time, this old structure will yet remain for ages a -grand old relic of medieval architecture, and a monument of the first -settlement of this country by our<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_104" id="page_104"></a>{104}</span> European ancestors. The sum of thirty -millions of dollars is said to have been expended by the Spaniards in -the construction of this fortification; a sum so vast that, when the -amount was read to King Ferdinand VI., he is reported to have turned to -his secretary, and exclaimed, “What! Is the fort built of solid -dollars?”</p> - -<p>“Of its legends connected with the dark chambers and prison vaults, the -chains, the instruments of torture, the skeletons walled in, its closed -and hidden recesses, of Coacouchee’s escape, and many another tale, -there is much to say; but it is better said within the grim walls, where -the eye and the imagination can go together in weaving a web of mystery -and awe over its sad associations, to the music of the grating bolt, the -echoing tread, and the clanking chain.”<a name="FNanchor_17_17" id="FNanchor_17_17"></a><a href="#Footnote_17_17" class="fnanchor">[17]</a></p> - -<p>I have heard from native residents that tales of skeletons, etc., were -never heard until after the late war; which assertion the above -quotation from Fairbanks’ History, published in 1858, will disprove.<a name="FNanchor_18_18" id="FNanchor_18_18"></a><a href="#Footnote_18_18" class="fnanchor">[18]</a></p> - -<p>The appearance and condition of the town at the time of the English -possession has been described by several writers, whose quaintness of -style adds to the inherent interest of the subject.</p> - -<p>The English surveyor-general, De Brahm, describes the place as follows:</p> - -<p>“At the time the Spaniards left the town, all the gardens were well -stocked with fruit trees, viz.: figs, guavas, plantain, pomegranates, -lemons, limes, citrons, shadock, bergamot, China and Seville oranges, -the latter full of fruit throughout the whole winter season. The town is -three quarters of a mile in length, but<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_105" id="page_105"></a>{105}</span> not a quarter wide; had four -churches ornamentally built with stone in the Spanish taste, of which -one within and one without the town exist. One is pulled down; that is -the German church, but the steeple is preserved as an ornament to the -town; and the other, viz., the convent-church and convent in town, is -taken in the body of the barracks. All the houses are built of masonry; -their entrances are shaded by piazzas, supported by Tuscan pillars or -pilasters against the south sun. The houses have to the east windows -projecting sixteen or eighteen inches into the street, very wide and -proportionally high. On the west side, their windows are commonly very -small, and no opening of any kind on the north, on which side they have -double walls six or eight feet asunder, forming a kind of gallery which -answers for cellars and pantries. Before most of the entrances were -arbors of vines, producing plenty and very good grapes. No house has any -chimney or fireplace; the Spaniards made use of stone urns, filled them -with coals left in their kitchens in the afternoon, and set them at -sunset in their bedrooms to defend themselves against those winter -seasons which required such care. The governor’s residence has on both -sides piazzas, viz., a double one on the south, and a single one to the -north; also a Belvidere and a grand portico decorated with Doric pillars -and entablatures. On the north end of the town is a casemated fort, with -four bastions, a ravelin, counterscarp, and a glacis built with quarried -shell-stones, and constructed according to the rudiments of Marechal de -Vauban. This fort commands the road of the bay, the town, its environs, -and both Tolomato Stream and Matanzas Creek. The soil in the gardens and -environs of the town is chiefly sandy and marshy. The Spaniards seem to -have had a notion of manuring their land with shells one foot deep.”<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_106" id="page_106"></a>{106}</span></p> - -<p>In 1770, according to De Brahm, the inhabitants of St. Augustine and -vicinity numbered 288 householders exclusive of women and children, of -whom 31 were storekeepers and traders; 3 haberdashers, 15 innkeepers, 45 -artificers and mechanics, 110 planters, 4 hunters, 6 cow-keepers, 11 -overseers, 12 draftsmen in the employ of the government, besides -mathematicians; 58 had left the province, and 28 had died, of whom 4 -were killed acting as constables, and two hanged for piracy.<a name="FNanchor_19_19" id="FNanchor_19_19"></a><a href="#Footnote_19_19" class="fnanchor">[19]</a></p> - -<p>Another account says that at the time of the evacuation by the -Spaniards, the town contained a garrison of 2,500 men, and a population -of 3,200, who were of all colors, whites, negroes, mulattoes, Indians, -etc. This estimate probably included the surrounding country as well as -the town, as Romans a few years later made the number residing within -the city much smaller. He says: “The town has, by all writers, till Dr. -Stork’s time, been said to lay at the foot of a hill; so far from the -truth is this, that it is almost surrounded by water, and the remains of -the line drawn from the harbor to St. Sebastian Creek, a fourth of a -mile north of the fort, in which line stands a fortified gate called the -Barrier Gate, is the only rising ground near it; this line had a ditch, -and its fortification was pretty regular; about a mile and a half beyond -this are the remains of another fortified line, which had a kind of -look-out or advanced guard of stoccadoes at its western extremity on St. -Sebastian Creek, and Fort Mossa at its eastern end; besides these the -town has been fortified with a<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_107" id="page_107"></a>{107}</span> slight but regular line of -circumvallation and a ditch. The town is half a mile in length, and its -southern line had two bastions of stone, one of which (if not both) are -broken down, and the materials used for the building of the foundation -of the barracks; the ditch and parapet are planted with a species of -agave, which by its points is well fitted to keep out cattle.<a name="FNanchor_20_20" id="FNanchor_20_20"></a><a href="#Footnote_20_20" class="fnanchor">[20]</a> Dr. -Stork has raised this into a fortification against the savages, and -magnified it into a chevaux de frize. The town is very ill built, the -streets being all, except one, crooked and narrow. The date on one of -the houses I remember to be 1571; these are of stone, mostly -flat-roofed, heavy, and look badly. Till the arrival of the English, -neither glass windows nor chimneys were known here, the lower windows -had all a projecting frame of wooden rails before them. The governor’s -house is a heavy, unsightly pile, but well contrived for the climate; at -its north-west side it has a kind of tower; this serves for a look-out. -There were three suburbs in the time of the Spaniards, but all destroyed -before my acquaintance with the place, except the church of the Indian -town to the north, now converted into an hospital. Dr. Stork says the -steeple of this church is of good workmanship, though built by the -Indians, neither of which assertions is true. The steeple of the German -chapel to the west of the town likewise remains.<a name="FNanchor_21_21" id="FNanchor_21_21"></a><a href="#Footnote_21_21" class="fnanchor">[21]</a></p> - -<p>“The parish church in the town is a wretched building, and now almost a -heap of ruins; the parade before the governor’s<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_108" id="page_108"></a>{108}</span> house is nearly in the -middle of the town, and has a very fine effect; there are two rows of -orange trees planted by order of Governor Grant, which make a fine walk -on each side of it; the sandy streets are hardened by lime and oyster -shells. Dr. Stork says there were nine hundred houses at the time of the -Spanish evacuation, and 3,200 inhabitants. In my time there were not -three hundred houses, and at most a thousand inhabitants; these, a few -excepted, I found to be a kind of outcast and scum of the earth; to keep -them such their ill form of government does not a little contribute. A -letter dated May 27th, 1774, says this town is now truly become a heap -of ruins—a fit receptacle for the wretches of inhabitants.”<a name="FNanchor_22_22" id="FNanchor_22_22"></a><a href="#Footnote_22_22" class="fnanchor">[22]</a></p> - -<p>This sweeping condemnation of the whole population of the town would -seem to be exceedingly unjust and unbecoming a historian.</p> - -<p>Major Ogilvie of the British army received the town from the Spaniards, -and immediately entered upon an administration of the affairs of the -province which was most unreasonable and impolitic. “Major Ogilvie, in -taking possession of the eastern province, by his impolitic behavior -caused all the Spaniards to remove to Havana, which was a deadly wound -to the province, never to be cured again.”</p> - -<p>So oppressive was the course of this commander, that it was said that -not more than five of the Spanish inhabitants consented to remain in the -province, and only by the efforts of the officer in command were the -Spaniards prevented from destroying every house and building in the -town. The governor did destroy his garden, which had been stocked with -rare ornamental plants, trees, and flowers.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_109" id="page_109"></a>{109}</span></p> - -<p>By the articles of peace the King of Great Britain guaranteed “the -liberty of the Catholic religion,” but the prejudices of the Spaniards -were deeply rooted, and the transfer of the territory was distasteful -beyond measure. Governor James Grant was sent out from England to take -charge of the province, and immediately, upon relieving Major Ogilvie, -issued a proclamation dated October 7th, 1763, intended to conciliate -and retain those Spaniards who had not withdrawn, and recall those who -had, as well as to encourage persons in England to remove to Florida.</p> - -<p>Governor Grant had been high in command at the capture of Havana. His -administration of a country hitherto the seat of war between the -aborigines, the original settlers, and their British neighbors, was not -without many difficulties; but his management of affairs was generally -very satisfactory, and showed much policy and executive ability. It was -said of him that, hearing of any coolness between those about him, they -were brought together at his table (always well provided) and reconciled -before they were allowed to leave it. His conduct was not exempt from -unfriendly criticism, however, and it was charged that he would not -allow the transfer of Spanish landed interest to be good, although -mentioned in the treaty; “that he reigned supreme without control, even -in peace, notwithstanding the frequent murmurs of the people and the -presentments of the grand juries, occasioned by his not calling an -assembly, which they thought was a duty incumbent upon him. There was -also a complaint of the contingent money, of five thousand pounds per -annum for seven years, not being so very visibly expended on highways, -bridges, ferries, and such other necessary things as the people would -have wished.”<a name="FNanchor_23_23" id="FNanchor_23_23"></a><a href="#Footnote_23_23" class="fnanchor">[23]</a></p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_110" id="page_110"></a>{110}</span></p> - -<p>The Spaniards attempted to illegally transfer, and, in fact, did sell -the whole of their property in St. Augustine to a few British subjects -for a nominal sum. It was probably this class of conveyances that -Governor Grant refused to recognize. The complaint as to the building of -roads, etc., must have been without foundation, as under Governor Grant -were constructed all those public roads, since known as the King’s -Roads, running from New Smyrna to St. Augustine, and thence to -Jacksonville and the St. Mary’s River. These roads were all turnpiked -upon the line of surveyed routes, and are to-day the best roads in the -State.</p> - -<p>Under Governor Grant the British built at St. Augustine very extensive -barracks, which were soon afterward burned. Romans thus criticises the -policy of the governor in expending so large sums on military works: -“The bar of this harbor is a perpetual obstruction to St. Augustine -becoming a place of any great trade, and alone is security enough -against enemies; so that I see but little occasion for so much -fortification as the Spaniards had here, especially as a little look-out -called Mossa, at a small distance north of the town, proved sufficient -to repel General Oglethorpe with the most formidable armament ever -intended against St. Augustine. However, there was much more propriety -in the Spaniards having a fort in the modern taste of military -architecture—of a regular quadrilateral form, with four bastions, a -wide ditch, a covered way, a glacis, a ravelin to defend the gate, -places of arms and bomb-proofs, with a casemating all round, etc., etc., -for a defense against savages—than there was in raising such a -stupendous pile of buildings as the new barracks by the English, which -are large enough to contain five regiments, when it is a matter of grave -doubt whether it will ever be a necessity to keep one whole<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_111" id="page_111"></a>{111}</span> regiment -here. To mend this matter, the great barrack was built with materials -brought to St. Augustine from New York, far inferior in value to those -found on the spot, yet the freight alone amounted to more than their -value when landed, so that people can hardly help thinking that the -contrivers of all this, having a sum of money to throw away, found it -necessary to fill some parasite’s pockets. This fort and barrack, -however, add not a little to the beauty of the prospect,” as one -approaches the town from the water.</p> - -<p>When the old light-house was built I have been unable to discover. Under -Governor Grant it was raised by a timber construction, and had a cannon -planted on it, which was fired as soon as the flag was hoisted to notify -the inhabitants and pilots that a vessel was approaching. It had two -flagstaffs, one to the north and one to the south, on either of which -the flag was hoisted as the vessel was approaching from the north or -south.</p> - -<p>It is possible that the old light-house was constructed in 1693, with -the proceeds of the six thousand dollars appropriated by the Council of -the Indies, for “building a tower as a look-out.” The Spaniards kept a -detachment of troops stationed there, and the tower and adjoining chapel -were inclosed with a high and thick stone wall, pierced with loop-holes, -and having a salient angle to protect the gate. Romans describes it, in -his time, as follows: “About half a mile from the north end of the -island [Anastatia] is a heavy stone building serving for a look-out. A -small detachment of troops is kept here, and by signals from hence the -inhabitants are given to understand what kind of, and how many vessels -are approaching the harbor, either from the north or from the south. In -the year 1770, fifty feet of timber framework were added to its former -height, as was likewise a mast or flagstaff<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_112" id="page_112"></a>{112}</span> forty-seven feet long; but -this last, proving too weighty, endangered the building, and was soon -taken down.”<a name="FNanchor_24_24" id="FNanchor_24_24"></a><a href="#Footnote_24_24" class="fnanchor">[24]</a> This old structure was repaired and a house for the -light-keeper built in 1823, by Elias Wallen, a contractor, who was also -employed upon the repairs made to the old “Governor’s House.”</p> - -<p>The coquina ledge upon which it was built has of late years been rapidly -washing away by the action of the tides, and dashing of the waves, which -during the annual north-east storms are sometimes of considerable force. -A storm washed away the foundations of the tower, and it fell with a -crash on Sunday, the 20th of June, 1880. Thus has gone forever one of -St. Augustine’s most interesting old landmarks.<a name="FNanchor_25_25" id="FNanchor_25_25"></a><a href="#Footnote_25_25" class="fnanchor">[25]</a></p> - -<p>The English built a bridge across the St. Sebastian River upon the old -road leading over the marshes, which approached the town near the -saw-mills. From some defect in construction, this bridge did not remain -long. They then established a ferry, and appointed a ferry-keeper with a -salary of fifty pounds sterling per annum. The inhabitants paid nothing -for crossing except after dark.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_113" id="page_113"></a>{113}</span></p> - -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV.</h2> - -<div class="blockquot"><p>THE SETTLEMENT OF NEW SMYRNA BY THE ANCESTORS OF A MAJORITY OF THE -PRESENT POPULATION OF ST. AUGUSTINE.—THE HARDSHIPS ENDURED BY -THESE MINORCAN AND GREEK COLONISTS.—THEIR REMOVAL TO ST. AUGUSTINE -UNDER THE PROTECTION OF THE ENGLISH GOVERNOR.</p></div> - -<p>The proclamation of Governor Grant, and the accounts which had gone -abroad of the advantages of the province, and the liberal policy adopted -by the British in the treatment of colonists, induced some wealthy -planters from the Carolinas to remove to Florida, and several noblemen -of England also solicited grants of land in the province. Among the -noblemen who secured grants of land in Florida were Lords Hawke, Egmont, -Grenville, and Hillsborough, Sir William Duncan, and Dennys Rolle, the -father of Lord Rolle. Sir William Duncan was a partner with Dr. Turnbull -in importing a large number of Europeans for the cultivation of their -lands south of St. Augustine, on the Halifax River. The persons whom -these two gentlemen then induced to come to Florida are the ancestors of -a large majority of the resident population of St. Augustine at the -present day. In the early accounts of the place I am satisfied that -gross injustice was done to these people in a reckless condemnation of -the whole community. I have myself heard their descendants unreasonably -censured, and their characters severely criticised. These unfavorable<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_114" id="page_114"></a>{114}</span> -opinions were doubtless generated by the unfortunate position in which -these immigrants found themselves. Friendless in a strange land, -speaking a different language from the remainder of the inhabitants, and -of a different religious belief, it was but natural that they should -mingle but little with the English residents, especially after they had -experienced such unjust treatment at the hands of one of the most -influential of the principal men of the colony. The reader will -understand the position of these Minorcans and Greeks, and the feelings -they must have entertained toward the great men of the colony, after -reading Romans’s account of the hardships they were forced to undergo, -and the difficulty they had in breaking their onerous contract. Romans -says: “The situation of the town, or settlement, made by Dr. Turnbull is -called New Smyrna from the place of the doctor’s lady’s nativity. About -fifteen hundred people, men, women, and children, were deluded away from -their native country, where they lived at home in the plentiful -corn-fields and vineyards of Greece and Italy, to this place, where, -instead of plenty, they found want in the last degree; instead of -promised fields, a dreary wilderness; instead of a grateful, fertile -soil, a barren, arid sand, and in addition to their misery were obliged -to indent themselves, their wives and children for many years to a man -who had the most sanguine expectations of transplanting bashawship from -the Levant. The better to effect his purpose, he granted them a pitiful -portion of land for ten years upon the plan of the feudal system. This -being improved, and just rendered fit for cultivation, at the end of -that term it again reverts to the original grantor, and the grantee may, -if he chooses, begin a new state of vassalage for ten years more. Many -were denied even such grants as these, and were obliged to work at tasks -in the field.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_115" id="page_115"></a>{115}</span> Their provisions were, at the best of times, only a quart -of maize per day, and two ounces of pork per week. This might have -sufficed with the help of fish, which abounded in this lagoon; but they -were denied the liberty of fishing, and, lest they should not labor -enough, inhuman taskmasters were set over them, and instead of allowing -each family to do with their homely fare as they pleased, they were -forced to join altogether in one mess, and at the beat of a vile drum to -come to one common copper, from whence their hominy was ladled out to -them; even this coarse and scanty meal was, through careless management, -rendered still more coarse, and, through the knavery of a providetor and -the pilfering of a hungry cook, still more scanty. Masters of vessels -were forewarned from giving any of them a piece of bread or meat. -Imagine to yourself an African—one of a class of men whose hearts are -generally callous against the softer feelings—melted with the wants of -these wretches, giving them a piece of venison, of which he caught what -he pleased, and for this charitable act disgraced, and, in course of -time, used so severely that the unusual servitude soon released him to a -happier state. Again, behold a man obliged to whip his own wife for -pilfering bread to relieve his helpless family; then think of a time -when the small allowance was reduced to half, and see some brave, -generous seamen charitably sharing their own allowance with some of -these wretches, the merciful tars suffering abuse for their generosity, -and the miserable objects of their ill-timed pity undergoing bodily -punishment for satisfying the cravings of a long-disappointed appetite, -and you may form some judgment of the manner in which New Smyrna was -settled. Before I leave this subject I will relate the insurrection to -which those unhappy people at New Smyrna were obliged to have recourse, -and which<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_116" id="page_116"></a>{116}</span> the great ones styled rebellion. In the year 1769, at a time -when the unparalleled severities of their taskmasters, particularly one -Cutter (who had been made a justice of the peace, with no other view -than to enable him to execute his barbarities on a larger extent and -with greater appearance of authority) had drove these wretches to -despair, they resolved to escape to the Havannah. To execute this they -broke into the provision stores and seized on some craft lying in the -harbor, but were prevented from taking others by the care of the -misters. Destitute of any man fit for the important post of leader, -their proceedings were all confused, and an Italian of very bad -principles, but of so much note that he had formerly been admitted to -the overseer’s table, assumed a kind of command; they thought themselves -secure where they were, and this occasioned a delay till a detachment of -the Ninth Regiment had time to arrive, to whom they submitted, except -one boatful, which escaped to the Florida Keys and were taken up by a -Providence man. Many were the victims destined to punishment; as I was -one of the grand jury which sat fifteen days on this business, I had an -opportunity of canvassing it well; but the accusations were of so small -account that we found only five bills: one of these was against a man -for maiming the above said Cutter, whom it seems they had pitched upon -as the principal object of their resentment, <i>and curtailed his ear and -two of his fingers</i>; another for shooting a cow, which, being a capital -crime in England, the law making it such was here extended to this -province; the others were against the leader and two more for the -burglary committed on the provision store. The distress of the sufferers -touched us so that we almost unanimously wished for some happy -circumstances that might justify our rejecting all the bills, except -that against the chief who was a villain. One man<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_117" id="page_117"></a>{117}</span> was brought before us -three or four times, and, at last, was joined in one accusation with the -person who maimed Cutter; yet, no evidence of weight appearing against -him, I had an opportunity to remark, by the appearance of some faces in -court, that he had been marked, and that the grand jury disappointed the -expectations of more than one great man. Governor Grant pardoned two, -and a third was obliged to be the executioner of the remaining two. On -this occasion I saw one of the most moving scenes I ever experienced; -long and obstinate was the struggle of this man’s mind, who repeatedly -called out that he chose to die rather than be the executioner of his -friends in distress; this not a little perplexed Mr. Woolridge, the -sheriff, till at length the entreaties of the victims themselves put an -end to the conflict in his breast, by encouraging him to act. Now we -beheld a man thus compelled to mount the ladder, take leave of his -friends in the most moving manner, kissing them the moment before he -committed them to an ignominious death. Cutter some time after died a -lingering death, having experienced besides his wounds the terrors of a -coward in power overtaken by vengeance.”<a name="FNanchor_26_26" id="FNanchor_26_26"></a><a href="#Footnote_26_26" class="fnanchor">[26]</a></p> - -<p>The original agreement made with the immigrants before leaving the -Mediterranean was much more favorable to them than Romans describes it. -At the end of three years each head of a family was to have fifty acres -of land and twenty-five for each child of his family. This contract was -not adhered to on the part of the proprietors, and it was not until, by -the authority of the courts, they had secured their freedom from the -exactions imposed upon them that any disposition was shown to deed them -lands in severalty. After the suppression of this attempt to escape,<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_118" id="page_118"></a>{118}</span> -these people continued to cultivate the lands as before, and large crops -of indigo were produced by their labor. Meantime the hardships and -injustice practiced against them continued, until, in 1776, nine years -from their landing in Florida, their number had been reduced by -sickness, exposure, and cruel treatment from fourteen hundred to six -hundred.</p> - -<p>At that time it happened that some gentlemen visiting New Smyrna from -St. Augustine were heard to remark that if these people knew their -rights they never would submit to such treatment, and that the governor -ought to protect them. This remark was noted by an intelligent boy who -told it to his mother, upon whom it made such an impression that she -could not cease to think and plan how, in some way, their condition -might be represented to the governor. Finally, she decided to call a -council of the leading men among her people. They assembled soon after -in the night, and devised a plan of reaching the governor. Three of the -most resolute and competent of their number were selected to make the -attempt to reach St. Augustine and lay before the governor a report of -their condition. In order to account for their absence they asked to be -given a long task, or an extra amount of work to be done in a specified -time, and if they should complete the work in advance, the intervening -time should be their own to go down the coast and catch turtle. This was -granted them as a special favor. Having finished their task by the -assistance of their friends so as to have several days at their -disposal, the three brave men set out along the beach for St. Augustine. -The names of these men, most worthy of remembrance, were Pellicier, -Llambias, and Genopley. Starting at night they reached and swam Matanzas -Inlet the next morning, and arrived at St. Augustine by sundown of the -same day. After inquiry they<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_119" id="page_119"></a>{119}</span> decided to make a statement of their case -to Mr. Young, the attorney-general of the province. No better man could -have been selected to represent the cause of the oppressed. They made -known to him their condition, the terms of their original contract, and -the manner in which they had been treated. Mr. Young promised to present -their case to the governor, and assured them if their statements could -be proved, the governor would at once release them from the indentures -by which Turnbull claimed to control them. He advised them to return to -Smyrna and bring to St. Augustine all who wished to leave New Smyrna, -and the service of Turnbull. “The envoys returned with the glad tidings -that their chains were broken and that protection awaited them. Turnbull -was absent, but they feared the overseers, whose cruelty they dreaded. -They met in secret and chose for their leader Mr. Pellicier, who was -head carpenter. The women and children with the old men were placed in -the center, and the stoutest men armed with wooden spears were placed in -front and rear. In this order they set off, like the children of Israel, -from a place that had proved an Egypt to them. So secretly had they -conducted the transaction, that they proceeded some miles before the -overseer discovered that the place was deserted. He rode after the -fugitives and overtook them before they reached St. Augustine, and used -every exertion to persuade them to return, but in vain. On the third day -they reached St. Augustine, where provisions were served out to them by -order of the governor. Their case was tried before the judges, where -they were honestly defended by their friend the attorney-general. -Turnbull could show no cause for detaining them, and their freedom was -fully established. Lands were offered them at New Smyrna, but they -suspected some trick was on foot to get them<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_120" id="page_120"></a>{120}</span> into Turnbull’s hands, and -besides they detested the place where they had suffered so much. Lands -were therefore assigned them in the north part of the city, where they -have built houses and cultivated their gardens to this day. Some by -industry have acquired large estates: they at this time form a -respectable part of the population of the city.”<a name="FNanchor_27_27" id="FNanchor_27_27"></a><a href="#Footnote_27_27" class="fnanchor">[27]</a></p> - -<p>It will be seen by the date of their removal to St. Augustine that the -unfavorable comments of Romans and the Englishman whose letter he quotes -upon the population of the town at the cession to Great Britain, could -not have referred to the immigrants who came over under contract with -Turnbull. It will also be seen that Williams speaks in very -complimentary terms of these people and their descendants. I am pleased -to quote from an earlier account a very favorable, and, as I believe, a -very just tribute to the worth of these Minorcan and Greek settlers and -their children. Forbes, in his sketches, says: “They settled in St. -Augustine, where their descendants form a numerous, industrious, and -virtuous body of people, distinct alike from the indolent character of -the Spaniards and the rapacious habits of some of the strangers who have -visited the city since the exchange of flags. In their duties as small -farmers, hunters, fishermen, and other laborious but useful occupations, -they contribute more to the real stability of society than any other -class of people: generally temperate in their mode of life and strict in -their moral integrity, they do not yield the palm to the denizens of the -land of steady habits. Crime is almost unknown among them; speaking -their native tongue, they move about distinguished by a primitive -simplicity and purity as remarkable as their speech.”<a name="FNanchor_28_28" id="FNanchor_28_28"></a><a href="#Footnote_28_28" class="fnanchor">[28]</a></p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_121" id="page_121"></a>{121}</span></p> - -<p>Many of the older citizens now living remember the palmetto houses which -used to stand in the northern part of the town, built by the people who -came up from Smyrna. By their frugality and industry the descendants of -those who settled at Smyrna have replaced these palmetto huts with -comfortable cottages, and many among them have acquired considerable -wealth, and taken rank among the most respected and successful citizens -of the town.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_122" id="page_122"></a>{122}</span></p> - -<h2>[1771.]<br /><br /> -<a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV"></a>CHAPTER XV.</h2> - -<div class="blockquot"><p>ADMINISTRATION OF LIEUT.-GOVERNOR MOULTRIE.—DEMAND OF THE PEOPLE -FOR THE RIGHTS OF ENGLISHMEN.—GOVERNOR TONYN BURNING THE EFFIGIES -OF ADAMS AND HANCOCK.—COLONIAL INSURGENTS CONFINED IN THE -FORT.—ASSEMBLING OF THE FIRST LEGISLATURE.—COMMERCE OF ST. -AUGUSTINE UNDER THE ENGLISH.—RECESSION OF THE PROVINCE TO SPAIN.</p></div> - -<p>Governor Grant’s administration lasted until 1771, when he returned to -England suffering in health. Upon his departure the province was under -the authority of Hon. John Moultrie, the lieut.-governor, for a period -of three years. The spirit of liberty, which was making itself felt -throughout the British provinces at the North at this time, was here in -Florida exciting in the breasts of those born under the British flag a -determination to demand the rights granted by the Magna Charta. Urged by -leading men in the council, the grand jury made presentments setting -forth the rights of the inhabitants of the province to a representative -government. These presentments the lieut.-governor disregarded, but -finally yielded so far as to consent to the formation of a legislature -which should be elected and meet every three years. The freeholders were -inflexible in their determination to have annual sessions of their -representatives, and continued without representation rather than to -yield. The chief justice, William Drayton,<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_123" id="page_123"></a>{123}</span> a gentleman of talents and -great professional knowledge, being unwilling to yield to the -pretensions of the lieut.-governor, was suspended from his office, and -the Rev. John Forbes, an assistant judge, was appointed to the vacancy -by Lieut.-Governor Moultrie. It was charged against Mr. Forbes that his -sympathies were with the Americans of the northern colonies. The -confirmation of his appointment was therefore rejected and a chief -justice sent from England.</p> - -<p>In March, 1774, a new governor arrived from England. This gentleman was -Colonel Patrick Tonyn, a <i>protegé</i> of Lord Marchmont, and very zealous -for the royal cause. He at once issued a proclamation inviting the -inhabitants of the provinces to the North, who were attached to the -crown, to remove with their property to Florida. This invitation was -accepted by a considerable number of royalists. In 1776 Governor Tonyn -issued another proclamation inviting the inhabitants of the towns on the -St. Johns, and of the Musquitoes, to assemble and co-operate with the -king’s troops in resisting the “perfidious insinuations” of the -neighboring colonists, and to prevent any more men from joining their -“traitorous neighbors.” This was met by a counter proclamation by -President Batton Gwinnet, of Georgia, who encouraged the belief that the -God of “armies had appeared so remarkably in favor of liberty, that the -period could not be far distant when the enemies of America would be -clothed with everlasting shame and dishonor.” Governor Tonyn issued -commissions to privateers, and held a council of the Indians to secure -their alliance against the patriots of the neighboring colonies.</p> - -<p>Upon the receipt of news of the Declaration of Independence of the -American colonies, the royalists showed their zeal for the king by -burning the effigies of John Hancock and Samuel Adams<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_124" id="page_124"></a>{124}</span> on the plaza, -near where the constitutional monument now stands. In 1775 some -privateers from Carolina captured the brig <i>Betsy</i> off the bar, and -unloaded her in sight of the garrison, giving to the captain a bill -signed “Clement Lamprière,” and drawn on Miles Brewton, at Charleston, -for one thousand pounds sterling. The cargo consisted of one hundred and -eleven barrels of powder sent from London, and the capture was a great -mortification to the new governor.</p> - -<p>During the early years of the struggle between the American colonies and -the mother country, St. Augustine was the British point of rendezvous -and an asylum for the royalists. From Georgia and Carolina there were -said to have been seven thousand royalists and slaves who moved to -Florida during these years. So hazardous to the colonial interests had -the British possession of St. Augustine become, that Governor Houston, -of Georgia, urged upon General Howe to attack the place in the spring of -1778. This expedition was never undertaken, though Colonel Fuser, of the -Sixtieth Regiment, issued a proclamation on June 27th, 1778, commanding -all those who had not entered the militia to join him, as “the rebels -might be expected every instant.”</p> - -<p>The inhabitants of the province, while willing to fight for the king, -still demanded the establishment of a representative government. -Governor Tonyn, in a letter to Lord George St. German, Secretary of -State, says: “I perceive the cry for a provincial legislature to remedy -local inconveniences is as loud as ever, and suggestions are thrown out -that, without it, people’s property is not secure, and that they must -live in a country where they can enjoy to their utmost extent the -advantages of the British Constitution and laws formed with their -consent. But mention the<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_125" id="page_125"></a>{125}</span> expediency, propriety, reasonableness, -justice, and gratitude of imposing taxes for the expenses of the -government, they are all silent, or so exceedingly poor as not to be -able to pay the least farthing.”</p> - -<p>In 1780 Governor Tonyn repaired both lines of defense about the town, -strengthened the fortifications, and added several new works. The -inhabitants complained bitterly that the burdens of the public defense -fell upon them, as their negroes were kept for several months employed -upon the king’s works. The governor seems to have considered that -loyalty to the king was not to be expected from his new subjects in -Florida, or at least was to be found only among Protestants. Writing of -the militia, he says: “There are several Minorcans, and I have my doubts -as to their loyalty, being of Spanish and French extraction, and of the -Roman Catholic religion.”</p> - -<p>About this time the British, having captured Charleston, seized a number -of the most influential men of South Carolina, in violation of their -parole, and sent them to St. Augustine, where they remained until -exchanged in 1781. All of the number, except General Gadsden, accepted a -second parole, after arriving at St. Augustine. Gadsden, refusing to -receive pledges at the hands of those who had already broken them, was -confined for nearly a year in the fort. These prisoners were often -threatened with the fate due to defeated rebels, and perhaps were taken -to view the gallows at the north-east corner of the court-yard in the -fort, said to have been erected by the British.<a name="FNanchor_29_29" id="FNanchor_29_29"></a><a href="#Footnote_29_29" class="fnanchor">[29]</a></p> - -<p>The pressure upon the governor, urging him to permit the enjoyment of -the rights of representation granted by the king’s<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_126" id="page_126"></a>{126}</span> charter, had now -become so forcible that, in 1781, a General Assembly was called, -consisting of an Upper and a Lower House. The former was probably -composed of the crown officers, and the latter of those elected by the -freeholders.</p> - -<p>March 17th, 1781, the first Assembly met. Though Florida had been -settled more than two hundred years, never before had the citizens been -allowed to assemble and enact a law. The governor, in his address upon -the assembling of the two Houses, was inclined to be sarcastic. He -announced that the “king and Parliament,” with astonishing “and -unprecedented condescension,” relinquished their right of taxation, -provided the Legislature made due provision for defraying the expenses -of the government, and this when the whole sum raised by taxation did -not amount to the salary of the king’s treasurer. The principal source -of revenue was said to be from licenses to sell liquors.</p> - -<p>In 1781 an event occurred most damaging to the material advancement of -the province. This was an order from Sir Guy Carleton, H. B. M., -Commander-in-chief in America, to General Leslie, in Carolina, to -evacuate the province of East Florida with all his troops and such -loyalists as wished. The inhabitants at once sent the most urgent -protests against this harsh and unreasonable order, appealing to the -governor and the king, by whom it was soon after revoked.</p> - -<p>It was at the hands of an expedition fitted out at St. Augustine that -Great Britain obtained possession of the Bahama Islands, which she still -holds. In 1783, Colonel Devereux, with two twelve-gun vessels, and a -small force of men, made a sudden attack and captured the town of -Nassau, with the Spanish garrison and governor.</p> - -<p>During the latter part of the British possession the exports<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_127" id="page_127"></a>{127}</span> of rum, -sugar, molasses, indigo, and lumber had become considerable. As early as -1770 the records of the Custom-House showed the entry of fifty schooners -and sloops from the northern provinces and the West Indies, beside -several square-rigged vessels from London and Liverpool. In 1771 the -imports were: 54 pipes of Madeira wine, 170 puncheons of rum, 1,660 -barrels of flour, 1,000 barrels of beef and pork, 339 firkins of butter, -and 11,000 pounds of loaf sugar. These cargoes were brought in -twenty-nine vessels, of which five were from London. There were also -imported about 1,000 negroes, of whom 119 were from Africa.</p> - -<p>The average annual expenses of East Florida, while under the British -flag, were £122,660 sterling, without including the pay of the army or -navy. In 1778, a period of the greatest prosperity reached under the -British flag, the whole value of the exports was only £48,000 sterling, -or a little more than one-third of the expenses of the province.</p> - -<p>Through the exertions of the Anglo-Saxon settlers, who had brought to -the province their advanced ideas of government, agriculture, and -commerce, Florida was just entering upon a career of prosperity, when it -was again ceded to Spain. These constant changes, necessitating the -transfer of property to the subjects of the ruling sovereign, would, of -themselves, have prevented any considerable improvement in the material -wealth of the province; but the treaty between Great Britain and Spain -so far neglected to provide for the interests of the British subjects -who had settled in Florida, that the only stipulation relating to them -was one allowing them the privilege of removing within eighteen months -from the time of the ratification. Whatever real property was not sold -to Spanish subjects, at the end of this period, was to become the<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_128" id="page_128"></a>{128}</span> -property of the Spanish Crown. Under the British there had settled in -the town of St. Augustine a large number of half-pay officers of the -British Government, who, with others possessing certain incomes, had -greatly improved the place. It is said that those conversant with the -place in 1784, spoke highly of the beauty of the gardens, the neatness -of the houses, and the air of cheerfulness and comfort that seemed -during the preceding period to have been thrown over the town. Florida -was literally deserted by its British subjects upon the change of flags. -Vignoles says: “Perhaps no such other general emigration of the -inhabitants of a country, amicably transferred to another government, -ever occurred.” Among the British subjects, who remained and transferred -their allegiance to Spain, were several families whose descendants are -still living in Florida.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_129" id="page_129"></a>{129}</span></p> - -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI"></a>CHAPTER XVI.</h2> - -<div class="blockquot"><p>RETURN OF THE SPANIARDS.—COMPLETION OF THE CATHEDRAL.—THE OLDEST -CHURCH BELL IN AMERICA.—THE GOVERNOR’S DESIRE TO PEOPLE THE -PROVINCE WITH IRISH CATHOLICS.—SOME OFFICIAL ORDERS EXHIBITING THE -CUSTOMS OF THE SPANIARDS.—UNJUSTIFIABLE INTERFERENCE OF THE UNITED -STATES, DURING THE “PATRIOT WAR.”—FLORIDA AN UNPROFITABLE -POSSESSION.—ERECTION OF THE MONUMENT TO THE SPANISH CONSTITUTION.</p></div> - -<p>In June, 1784, Governor Zespedes took possession of St. Augustine, in -the name of “his most Catholic Majesty.” The British Government had -provided a fleet of transports to convey its subjects, and from the St. -Johns River and the St. Mary’s they sailed for the American colonies and -the British dominions.</p> - -<p>With the Spanish flag returned to St. Augustine the numerous company of -salaried officials and crown-pensioners holding sinecure offices, and -contributing nothing to the improvement of the place, and nothing to its -existence but their presence. This large portion of the inhabitants, -dependent upon the crown, did not always receive punctual payment of -their salaries; but, with their daily allowance of rations in kind, they -were enabled to exist. They generally occupied the houses belonging to -the crown, which were numerous, and the rent required was but<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_130" id="page_130"></a>{130}</span> nominal. -In 1764, a large number of lots in the town had been sold in confidence -to Jesse Fish, a British subject, to prevent their being forfeited to -the crown at the expiration of the period allowed by the treaty between -Great Britain and Spain for the disposal of private property. This sale -was not recognized as valid by the Spanish authorities upon their -return, and one hundred and eighty-five lots were thus forfeited to the -King of Spain. These lots were soon after sold at auction, on terms very -favorable to the purchasers.</p> - -<p>Upon the return of the Spaniards they at once devoted their energies to -completing their house of worship. At the change of flags (1763) the -walls of the present cathedral had been erected, and, to prevent the -property from becoming forfeited to the British Government, the lot and -unfinished structure were deeded to Jesse Fish for one hundred dollars. -The deed was a trust deed, and, upon the return of the Spaniards, the -property was reconveyed by Mr. Fish to the Rev. Thomas Hassett, -Vicar-General of Florida. The old parish church, which stood on the lot -now belonging to the Episcopal parish, and west of their church edifice, -had during the English possession been used as a courthouse. This old -church was called “Our Lady of the Angels,” and was built of stone, -being probably the second church erected in the town by the Spaniards. -The Spanish governor, immediately on taking possession, had fitted up -this old church for worship, for which the second story was assigned, -while on the first floor were rooms used for a guard, a temporary jail, -and for storing provisions, all of which uses would seem more -appropriate to the castle. Where the first wooden church stood I have -been unable to learn, though there is some rather obscure evidence that -it was near the present residence of Mr. Howard, on<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_131" id="page_131"></a>{131}</span> St. George Street. -How long the walls of the cathedral had been standing, before the change -of flags, is unknown. In 1703 the king decreed an appropriation of -$20,000 for the repair of the churches of St. Augustine injured by -Colonel Daniel. In 1720 the crown sent $20,000 more, and in 1723 issued -a decree to procure at once workmen and repair the convent, the church, -and the walls of the city. In 1790 the king decreed the application of -the rent from ten lots in Havana to finish the church. The inhabitants -were urged to contribute in work or money; and it is said that they -brought in poultry, which was very scarce, and donated the proceeds of -the sales of their chickens, which then sold at a dollar apiece. The two -old churches—“Nostra Senora de la Leche,” and “Our Lady of the -Angels”—were torn down, and the materials sold for the benefit of the -new church, as well as such ornaments as were salable. From these -sources it was reported to the Bishop of Cuba that the following amounts -had been obtained: From the ornaments of the old churches, $3,978; from -donations offered by “these wretched inhabitants,” $850; the value of -the stone in the two old and dilapidated churches, $800—a total of -$5,628. To this amount the government applied revenues which amounted to -$11,000. It was not long after the means were secured before the edifice -was completed. It was blessed Dec. 8th, 1791. This new church, now -called the cathedral, was constructed under the supervision of Don -Mariana de la Roque, and presents a very pleasing architectural aspect. -The front wall is carried above the roof, making a section of a -bell-shaped cone, in excellent proportion and graceful curvature. The -front entrance is supported by a circular arch, and upon each side stand -two massive Doric columns supporting the entablature. The roof is -supported by trusses, so that the<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_132" id="page_132"></a>{132}</span> whole auditorium is free from columns -except two large stone pillars, which support the gallery immediately -over the entrance, and thus form the vestibule. From the center of the -ceiling hangs a unique chandelier, in which has been kept burning the -sacred flame almost without intermission for nearly a hundred years. -Near the vestibule, upon the left as you enter the church, is the sacred -crucifix belonging to the early chapel of Nra. Sra. de la Leche. It is -said that another ornament of this early chapel, a statue representing -the blessed Virgin watching from the church over the camp of the new -believers in her Son’s divinity, is in the convent of St. Teresa, at -Havana. A very interesting document is probably in the possession of the -church in Cuba, which is an inventory taken under a decree, issued Feb -6, 1764, by Morel, Bishop of Santa Cruz, enumerating all the ornaments, -altars, effigies, bells, and jewels belonging to the churches and -religious associations of St. Augustine. This inventory and much of the -property was taken to Cuba in a schooner called <i>Our Lady of the Light</i>. -From this record it might be possible to learn something of the history -of the bells in the belfry of the cathedral. Of these there are four -hanging in separate niches cut in the wall of the elevated front, three -in niches having their floors upon the same plane, but the two outer -ones are constructed of a less height than the center niche in which -hangs the largest bell; the fourth is a small bell in a corresponding -niche above the other three. I have always thought that one of these -bells might have been used in the English church, though there is no -record of it. The bell in the westerly niche, though the best in -appearance, and having the brightest color, is probably the oldest bell -upon this continent. The following inscription is cast upon its exterior -surface:<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_133" id="page_133"></a>{133}</span></p> - -<p class="hgec">✝</p> - -<p class="c"> -SANCTE JOSEPH<br /> -<br /> -ORA PRO NOBIS<br /> -<br /> -D 1682<br /> -</p> - -<p>The other bells have inscriptions cast upon them, but no date. The small -bell in the upper niche was placed there about fifty years ago, having -been presented to the church by Don Geronimo Alverez, the same who was -alcalde (mayor) when the monument was built. An interesting anecdote is -told of this man, showing the power he possessed in the town. It is said -that, soon after the change of flags, a funeral procession approached -the church followed by pall-bearers decorated with a white sash, a -custom then first introduced, which is still retained. At the entrance -to the church they were met by this valiant but ignorant don, who -fiercely brandished a staff, and declared that not one of the impious -Freemasons should cross the threshold of the church except over his dead -body. Argument was unavailing, and the ceremony at the church was -necessarily dispensed with on that occasion, though the precaution was -taken to inform the old gentleman, before the next funeral, that the -sash was but a badge of mourning, and not the trappings of the devil.</p> - -<p>The cathedral is one of the most ornamental and interesting structures -in the town, and it is to be hoped that the revenues of<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_134" id="page_134"></a>{134}</span> the church may -be sufficient to keep it in perfect preservation. At present it needs -repairs.<a name="FNanchor_30_30" id="FNanchor_30_30"></a><a href="#Footnote_30_30" class="fnanchor">[30]</a></p> - -<p>May 15th, 1792, the large barracks built by the British were burned. The -lower story, only, was built of brick, the upper being of wood, while -the porches on all sides were supported by stone pillars. After the -destruction of these barracks, the Spanish governor made use of the -convent of “The Conception of Our Lady,” or St. Francis, as it was -afterward called, for the accommodation of his troops. It has ever since -been used for military purposes, though it still bears the canonized -name Francis.</p> - -<p>Finding that the Minorcans were unable to receive the full benefit from -the teachings of the priests because of their inability to understand -the Spanish language, the Vicar-General asked that there might be sent -to St. Augustine a priest conversant with the language of this large -proportion of his flock. In 1795, agreeably to this request, Friar -McAfry Catalan, an Irish priest speaking the Minorcan language, arrived -in St. Augustine. The Spanish governor, Don Juan Nepomuseno Quesada, -made great efforts to settle the province, and allowed many -extraordinary privileges, such as were not enjoyed in any other part of -the Spanish dominions. In 1792 Florida was opened to general emigration -without exception of country or creed. It was rapidly progressing to -importance under this wise policy, when the Spanish Minister, growing -jealous of the republican spirit of the new colonists, closed the gates -against American citizens about the year 1804. Quesada, however, -endeavored to procure a large Irish emigration, and wrote to Las Casas, -Governor of Cuba, asking<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_135" id="page_135"></a>{135}</span> that the government would aid those of Irish -nationality and Catholic faith to settle in the province. The governor -replied that no settlers should be admitted to Florida unless they paid -their own transportation and maintained themselves. He instructed -Quesada to afford no other assistance than “lands, protection, good -treatment, and no molestation in matters of religion, although there -shall be no other public worship but Catholic.” He also referred him to -the “Law of the Indies.” By this law lands were granted to new settlers, -“making a distinction between gentlemen and peasants.” A peasant’s -portion was a town lot fifty by one hundred feet—arable land, capable -of producing one hundred fanegas (bushels) of wheat and ten of Indian -corn, with as much land as two oxen can plow in a day for the raising of -esculent roots; also pasture-land for eight breeding sows, twenty cows, -five mares, one hundred sheep, and twenty goats.</p> - -<p>A gentleman’s portion was a lot in town one hundred by two hundred feet, -and, of all the remainder, five times a peasant’s portion. Many grants -were made under this law by Governor Quesada, and the patents issued by -him are the foundation of many titles of lands in the vicinity of St. -Augustine.</p> - -<p>At this time there were many customs, ordinances, and habits of life -existing in this old town of which no record or chronicle now remains. -One most respectable gentleman of the place has mentioned to the author -that his mother was married to three different husbands in the space of -two years. This would seem a very strange proceeding at the present day, -but can be readily understood when we learn that, a hundred years ago, -the women of this town were obliged to marry for protection. The -following are some of the orders issued September 2d, 1790, by the -Spanish<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_136" id="page_136"></a>{136}</span> governor: Order No. 12 prohibits all women under the age of -forty (whether widows or single) from living otherwise than under the -immediate protection of their parents or relations. Order No. 23 -forbidding masters or supercargoes of vessels from selling their cargoes -by wholesale without having first exposed the same for sale at retail -eight days previously to the public. Order No. 25 prohibiting persons -from galloping horses through the streets, and dogs from going at large -except hounds and pointers. Order No. 27 prohibiting persons from -walking the streets after nine o’clock at night without a lantern with a -light therein. Another order prohibited the owners of billiard tables -from admitting tradesmen, laborers, domestics, and boys on working days.</p> - -<p>There were few events worth recording which happened under the Spanish -rule after 1800, or at least that are of interest to the general reader. -Just after the recession the Indians attacked the settlements, and -burned Bella Vista, the country seat of Governor Moultrie, seven miles -south of St. Augustine. These Indian contests continued during the whole -succeeding period up to the change of flags, and were then transferred -to the Americans. The Indians were in almost every instance incited by -white men, or goaded to desperation by the deceptions of their white -neighbors, who were ever attempting to either make slaves of the Indians -or procure what negro slaves were owned by them. Just before the cession -of Florida to the United States, there were said to be about a thousand -Indians in the vicinity of St. Augustine. These obtained a living by -hunting, raising herds of cattle, and crops of corn, and bringing wood -into St. Augustine. This they were said to carry in bundles on their -backs. About this time they were all nearly starved by the trickery of -some unprincipled residents of St. Augustine. At the period when the -attention of themselves<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_137" id="page_137"></a>{137}</span> and their negro slaves was directed to the -cultivation of their crops a few worthless wretches, for the purpose of -alarming the Indians, and inducing them to sell their slaves for almost -nothing, went among the nation and spread the report that two thousand -men under General Jackson were coming to expel them from their lands and -carry away their slaves and cattle. This form of imposition had before -proved successful, and did in this case. The Indians upon this abandoned -their lands and sold their slaves, but before the next season -experienced great suffering from want, while the unprincipled -speculators having gratified their avarice were indifferent to the needs -of the poor savages.</p> - -<p>In January, 1811, President Monroe appointed George Matthews and John -McKee commissioners, with power to occupy the Floridas with force, -“should there be room to entertain a suspicion that a design existed in -any other power to occupy the provinces.” In pursuance of these -instructions, which at this day must be considered simply extraordinary, -one of the commissioners came to St. Augustine, and made a proposition -to the Spanish governor to surrender the province to the United States, -which was of course refused. Thereupon it was given out that the United -States intended to occupy the province, and those whose interest would -be served endeavored to bring such a result about by every means in -their power. This was the period of the embargo in the United States. -The port of Fernandina affording deep water, and a convenient point for -shipping American productions, and being under the Spanish flag, became -the resort for a large fleet of vessels. This was of course obnoxious to -the United States authorities, who offered every encouragement to a -large class of citizens who were anxious to escape from the Spanish -rule.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_138" id="page_138"></a>{138}</span></p> - -<p>In March, 1812, a large number of these individuals organized a -provisional government, and soon after, with the help of Commodore -Campbell, United States Navy, obtained the capitulation of the town and -fort on Amelia Island. Still encouraged, and led by citizens and -officers of the United States, these men, styling themselves patriots, -began a march toward St. Augustine, and taking possession of the old -Fort Mosa, invested the place. From this place they were dislodged by a -Spanish gun-boat, but they still hovered about the town and cut off all -supplies. It is said that the courage and activity of a company of -negroes commanded by a free black, named Prince, alone saved the people -of the town from starvation. At this period a barrel of corn sold for -sixteen dollars. At the same time the Indians were urged to attack the -Americans and “patriots,” and for the space of a year there was a -constant strife between these parties throughout Florida. In May, 1813, -President Monroe, seeing that he had gone too far in incroaching upon -the territory of a friendly nation, withdrew the American troops from -Florida. These incursions under American protection in East Florida, -like General Jackson’s unhesitating course in attacking the British on -Spanish territory in West Florida, plainly showed the King of Spain how -precarious and unreliable was the tenure of his sovereignty. The Spanish -nation had held the territory of Florida for two hundred and fifty -years, constantly yielding to the French and English portions adjacent -originally claimed by Spain. The great hopes of wealth and a vast -revenue from the province had never been realized; but, on the contrary, -vast outlays had constantly been required, which were supplied by the -more prosperous provinces and the home government. In 1811, Governor -Estrada writes to the Captain-General of Cuba, that the $140,013 and 4 -reals allowed annually<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_139" id="page_139"></a>{139}</span> for salaries was urgently needed; also that -there were no funds wherewith to pay “the annual presents of the -Indians, the payments due invalids, Florida pensioners and settlers, who -receive a daily pension and charity, whose outcries are so continual -that the most obdurate heart would melt at them with compassion.”</p> - -<p>Under these circumstances it was but natural that the King of Spain -should be willing to rid himself of this so very unprofitable province. -The United States, upon the other hand, were anxious to obtain the -possession of the peninsula to complete their coast line.</p> - -<p>In 1819 a treaty of amity was concluded between his Catholic Majesty and -the United States, whereby the two Floridas were ceded to the latter -power as an indemnity for damages estimated at five million dollars. -This treaty was dated February 22d, 1819, and ratified February 22d, -1821.</p> - -<p>Seven years before the cession the Spanish Cortes had issued an order to -the authorities of all the Spanish colonies to erect in some public -place of their principal town a monument as a memorial of the liberal -constitution which had been granted to Spain and her provinces. -Accordingly, the City Council of St. Augustine, probably with the -crown’s funds, erected upon the public square a monument to commemorate -a grant of the privilege of representation, which the people of the -province never even asked for, much less enjoyed. At the east end of the -public square, or “Plaza de la Constitucion,” as it is now called, there -stood, in Spanish times, the government drug store, two private houses -used as dwellings, a bar-room, and the town market. Adjoining the market -was a bell-tower, and the guard in front of the public jail, which stood -where the St Augustine Hotel now<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_140" id="page_140"></a>{140}</span> is, used to strike the bell in the -tower to mark the hours, which were counted with the old-fashioned -sand-glass standing within the tower under the supervision of the guard. -As these buildings occupied about a fourth part of the present plaza, -the monument, though now situated toward the western side of the square, -then stood in the center of the inclosure. Soon after its completion, -the Spanish government issued orders that all monuments erected to the -constitution throughout its realms should be razed. The citizens of St. -Augustine were much grieved to think of losing their monument, which was -considered a great ornament to the public park, and appealed to the -governor and principal men to allow the decree to be disregarded. It was -finally decided to allow the monument to stand without the inscription. -The citizens accordingly removed the marble tablets upon which the -inscriptions had been engraved, and placed them in concealment, where -they remained until 1818, when they were restored without opposition. -This monument is the only one in existence commemorative of the Spanish -constitution of 1812. It is twenty feet high, standing upon a foundation -of granite with a square pedestal, from which the shaft rises in a -curve, and thence tapers with rectilinear surfaces to its top, which is -surmounted by a cannon-ball. It is constructed of coquina, and its -surface is cemented and kept whitewashed, except the ball upon the -summit, which is painted black. Don Geronimo Alvarez was alcalde at the -time it was erected. Upon three of the four sides there is set in the -masonry a small marble tablet bearing the inscription, “Plaza de la -Constitucion.” Upon the east side is the large marble tablet upon which -is engraved the following:<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_141" id="page_141"></a>{141}</span></p> - -<p class="c"> -<i>Plaza de la<br /> -Constitucion.<br /> -Promulga en esta Ciudad<br /> -de San Agustin de la Florida<br /> -Oriental en 17 de Octubre de<br /> -1812 siendo Gobernador el<br /> -Brigadier Don Sebastian<br /> -Kindalem Cuba Here<br /> -del order de Santiago.<br /> -Peira eterna memoria<br /> -El Ayuntamiento Constitucional<br /> -Erigioeste Obelisco<br /> -dirigido por Don Fernando<br /> -de la Plaza</i><a name="FNanchor_31_31" id="FNanchor_31_31"></a><a href="#Footnote_31_31" class="fnanchor">[31]</a><br /> -<i>Arredondo el Joven<br /> -Regidor De cano y<br /> -Don Franciscor Robira<br /> -Procurador Sindico.<br /> -Año de 1813</i><br /> -</p> - -<p class="c"><span class="smcap">Translation.</span></p> - -<p>Plaza of the Constitution, promulgated in the city of St. Augustine, -East Florida, on the 17th day of October, the year 1812. Being then -Governor the Brigadier Don Sebastian Kindalem, Knight of the order of -San Diego.</p> - -<p class="c"> -FOR ETERNAL REMEMBRANCE,<br /> -</p> - -<p>the Constitutional City Council erected this monument under the -supervision of Don Fernando de la Maza Arredondo, the young<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_142" id="page_142"></a>{142}</span> municipal -officer, oldest member of the corporation, and Don Franciscor Robira, -Attorney and Recorder.</p> - -<p>Immediately under the date there is cut in the marble tablet the Masonic -emblem of the square and compass. The reader can readily believe that -the City Council of St. Augustine in 1813 were all too good Catholics to -be responsible for this symbol of Masonry. The history of that piece of -vandalism is said to be as follows: Soon after the close of the war of -the Rebellion, the “young bloods” amused themselves by endeavoring to -create an alarm in the mind of the United States commandant, and, by -executing a series of cabalistic marks at different localities -throughout the town, to convey the impression that a secret society was -in existence, and about to do some act contrary to the peace and dignity -of the United States. Besides other marks and notices posted upon -private and public buildings about the town this square and compass was -one night cut upon the tablet of the Spanish monument, where it will -remain as long as the tablet exists, an anomaly, without this -explanation.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_143" id="page_143"></a>{143}</span></p> - -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII"></a>CHAPTER XVII.</h2> - -<div class="blockquot"><p>FLORIDA CEDED TO THE UNITED STATES.—ATTEMPT OF THE SPANISH -GOVERNOR TO CARRY AWAY THE RECORDS.—DESCRIPTION OF ST. AUGUSTINE -WHEN TRANSFERRED.—POPULATION IN 1830.—TOWN DURING THE INDIAN -WAR.—OSCEOLA AND COA-COU-CHE.—A TRUE ACCOUNT OF THE DUNGEON IN -THE OLD FORT, AND THE IRON CAGES.—THE INDIANS BROUGHT TO ST. -AUGUSTINE IN 1875.</p></div> - -<p>East Florida was delivered by Governor Coppinger to Lieut. Rob. Butler, -U. S. A., on the 10th of July, 1821. It had been intended to have the -transfer take place on the anniversary of the declaration of American -Independence; but the Spaniards, feeling no particular regard for the -4th of July, made no efforts to hasten the settlement of the -preliminaries, and were therefore unprepared to turn over the province -until the tenth of the month.</p> - -<p>On the 30th of March, 1822, Congress passed an act incorporating into a -territory the two Floridas, and authorizing a legislative council and a -superior court, which were to meet alternately at Pensacola and St. -Augustine. William P. Duval was appointed the first governor, to hold -his office for three years. It is an interesting fact that among those -who were saved with Laudonnère at the massacre of the French Huguenots -was one “Francis Duval of Rouen, son of him of the Iron Crown of Rouen.”</p> - -<p>General Jackson had been compelled to imprison the Spanish governor of -West Florida for refusing to deliver certain papers that were considered -indispensable. Fearing that the attempt<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_144" id="page_144"></a>{144}</span> would be made by the Governor -of East Florida to carry away papers which should be delivered with the -territory, General Jackson sent Captain J. R. Hanham from Pensacola to -demand such papers and records as properly belonged to the Americans -after the change of flags. Captain Hanham made the journey across the -State—a distance of 600 miles—in seventeen days. He arrived none too -soon, as the vessel was then in the harbor upon which it was intended to -send papers and archives sufficient to fill eleven large boxes. After -Governor Coppinger had refused to deliver these, Captain Hanham forced a -room in the government house and seized the boxes, which had already -been packed with the papers ready for shipment. Other valuable papers -were shipped and lost on the passage to Havana, some say destroyed by -pirates, others by the wreck of the vessel.</p> - -<p>In 1823 St. Augustine witnessed for the second time the assembly of a -legislative body, the second session of the territorial council being -held that year in the government house. In the same year a treaty was -concluded at Moultrie Creek, seven miles south of the city, with the -Indian tribes of Florida, in which they agreed to surrender all their -lands in the territory. It is needless to say that this treaty was never -executed.</p> - -<p>Forbes’s “Sketches,” published the year of the cession, gives an -interesting account of the condition of St. Augustine at the end of the -Spanish possession. It is related in these words: “The town, built in -Spanish manner, forms an oblong square, or parallelogram; the streets -are regularly laid out, but the buildings have not been put up to -conform strictly to that rule. The streets are generally so narrow as to -admit with difficulty carriages to pass each other. To make up for this -inconvenience they have a terrace foundation, and, being shaded, renders -the walking very<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_145" id="page_145"></a>{145}</span> agreeable. The houses are built generally of a -freestone peculiar to the country, which, with the aid of an outer coat -of plaster, has a handsome and durable effect. They are only two stories -high, thick walls with spacious entries, large doors, windows, and -balconies, and a garden lot to each, more commonly stocked with orange -and fig trees, interspersed with grape-vines and flowers. On entering -this old town from the sea, the grandeur of the Castle of Fort St. -Mark’s presents itself, and imposes a degree of respect upon travelers -upon seeing a fort forty feet high, in the modern taste of military -architecture, commanding the entrance. The works are bronzed and -squamated by age, but will, with some American ingenuity, be justly -deemed one of the handsomest in the western hemisphere. It mounts sixty -guns of twenty-four pounds, of which sixteen are bronze, and is -calculated to contain one thousand men for action; with which, and the -courage such a fort should inspire, it is capable of a noble defense, -having in old times resisted some formidable attacks. It is not liable -to be shattered by balls, nor does it expose its defenders to the fatal -effects of storms [stormings]. From the castle, southward, are the -remains of a stone wall trenching its glacis, built to prevent the -incroachment of the sea; along this is a very pleasant walk as far as -the market-place, which is opposite the old Government House in the -center of the town, and separated from it by an oblong square called the -parade, on which there is a Roman Catholic church of modern construction -and quite ornamental. In front of this there formerly stood a handsome -and spacious edifice, built in modern style by Lieut.-Governor Moultrie -for a State-house, which was not completed. For want of an exterior coat -of plaster it has crumbled to pieces, leaving not a single vestige of -its former splendor.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_146" id="page_146"></a>{146}</span></p> - -<p>“The old Government House, now much decayed, is occupied as a barrack -for the Royal Artillery. It leaves the marks of a heavy pile of -buildings in the Spanish style, having balconies in front, galleries and -areas on both sides, with several irregular additions well contrived for -the climate. Among these was an outlook built by Governor Grant, on the -western summit of the main building, which commanded a full view of the -sea-coast and surrounding country. The garden attached to the Government -House is surrounded by a stone wall; it was formerly laid out with great -taste, and stocked with most of the exotic and indigenous plants common -to the tropics and the Middle States, such as the pomegranate, plantain, -pineapple, papau, olive, and sugar-cane. The orange and lemon trees here -grow to large size, and produce better fruit than they do in Spain and -Portugal.</p> - -<p>“From the square environed by orange trees the streets extend -southwardly to some stone buildings, one of which was formerly a -Franciscan convent, now converted into a jail, but under the British was -used as barracks. In addition they constructed the very large and -handsome buildings, four stories high, of wood, with materials brought -from New York and intended for Pensacola, but detained by Governor -Grant. These barracks at the southern extremity of the peninsula in -which the town is built formed an elegant appendage to it, but were -burned and now exhibit only the stack of chimneys. In a course westward -from these vestiges of royalty are streets leading to a bridge formerly -of wood but now of stone, crossing a small creek running parallel with -the sea, on the east side, and St. Sebastian on the west. Over this are -several valuable and highly improved orange groves and several redoubts, -forming the south and western lines of fortification. Near the bridge, -in the same street as the Government<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_147" id="page_147"></a>{147}</span> House, is the burying-ground of -the Protestants, where stood an Episcopal church with a handsome -steeple, not a vestige of which remains.</p> - -<p>“Before the entrance of some of the houses built by the Spaniards rises -a portico of stone arches, the roofs of which are commonly flat. There -are nearly one thousand houses of all descriptions in the town, which is -about three-quarters of a mile in length by one-quarter in breadth. As -it is built upon a point of land it is in some degree insulated by the -conflux of Matanzas River and St. Sebastian Creek, by which means the -egress by land must be by the northern gates, and by a bridge and -causeway in a western direction. The whole forms a very picturesque -piece of scenery, being surrounded by orange groves and kitchen gardens. -Within the first line [of redoubts upon the north] was a small -settlement of Germans, with a church of their own, on St. Mark’s River: -within the same was an Indian town, with a church also; but it must be -regretted that nothing of these remains, as they serve if not as temples -certainly as ornamental relics.</p> - -<p>“The governor has given the land belonging to this township as glebe -land to the parish church, which will no doubt be confirmed by the -American Government in its liberal appropriations for religious -purposes. The harbor of St. Augustine would be one of the best in the -world were it not for the bar, which admits vessels drawing not more -than six feet with safety. It is surrounded by breakers which are not as -dangerous as they appear. There is a roadstead on the north side of the -bar with good anchorage for vessels drawing too much water to enter the -harbor. [A part of Anastatia Island] is known as Fish’s Island, and from -the hospitality of Mr. Jesse Fish, one of the oldest inhabitants<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_148" id="page_148"></a>{148}</span> of the -province, is remarkable for the date and olive trees, the flavor of the -oranges, and the cultivation of his garden.”<a name="FNanchor_32_32" id="FNanchor_32_32"></a><a href="#Footnote_32_32" class="fnanchor">[32]</a></p> - -<p>The location of the Protestant cemetery as here described is confusing, -being located near “this bridge, in the same street as the Government -House.” Probably the text should read, in the same street as the Convent -House, which would place the Episcopal church and cemetery near the -southern end of St. George Street.</p> - -<p>Another account, published about the same period as Forbes’s, gives the -following picture of the town: “Somewhat more than half way between the -fort and the south end of the western peninsula a stone causeway and -wooden bridge crosses Mari-Sanchez (Santa Maria) Creek, and connects the -two portions or precincts of the town. It is to the north of this -causeway that the principal part of the buildings are placed, forming a -parallelogram somewhat more than a quarter of a mile wide from east to -west, and three-quarters in length from north to south. The neck of land -(on which the town is built) is divided into two peninsulas by -Mari-Sanchez (Santa Maria) Creek, running parallel to the harbor, but -heading in some low lands within the lines. It is on the eastern -peninsula alone that the town is built, the western one being occupied -by kitchen gardens, corn fields, orange groves, and pasture grounds. The -houses on the side of the harbor are chiefly of stone, having only one -story above the ground floor: these latter are invariably laid with a -coat of tabia, a mixture of sand and shells, and are scarcely ever used -but as store rooms, the families living in the upper stories.<a name="FNanchor_33_33" id="FNanchor_33_33"></a><a href="#Footnote_33_33" class="fnanchor">[33]</a></p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_149" id="page_149"></a>{149}</span></p> - -<p>“The dwellings on the back streets with few exceptions, particularly in -the north-west quarter, have but the ground floor, and are generally -built of wood, though stone ones are common, but almost all are laid -with tabia flooring.”<a name="FNanchor_34_34" id="FNanchor_34_34"></a><a href="#Footnote_34_34" class="fnanchor">[34]</a></p> - -<p>At the census of 1830 St. Augustine and environs contained four thousand -inhabitants, of whom eight hundred and forty-four were free blacks. The -large number of free persons of color is accounted for by the fact that -St. Augustine under the Spanish had been an asylum for all the runaway -slaves from the neighboring colonies. They had been formed into a -military company, and after the “patriot war” of 1812 to 1816 lands had -been donated to them for their services. It was also said that those -born in the province were registered from their birth, and a severe -penalty imposed upon any master of a vessel who should attempt to carry -any of them away.</p> - -<p>In 1822 an attempt was made to deprive the Roman Catholics of the -cathedral. A petition of the inhabitants was thereupon presented to -Congress, and that body passed an act on February 8, 1827, granting and -confirming to the Catholic society of St. Augustine the building and -grounds where they now worship.</p> - -<p>In 1821 Rev. Andrew Fowler, a missionary from Charleston, South -Carolina, organized the present Episcopal parish. The corner-stone of -the present church edifice was laid by the Rev. Edward Phillips on the -23d of June, 1825, and the building was consecrated by Bishop Bowen of -South Carolina in the year 1833. The church is a small and plain -structure, but in very good taste, and ornamented with a steeple. It is -built of coquina, and from its location fronting the plaza, is one of -the most noticeable buildings in the city.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_150" id="page_150"></a>{150}</span></p> - -<p>The Presbyterian church, though built later, 1830, has a less modern -appearance. This church, which was fitted in quite the old-fashioned -style, with high-backed pews facing the entrance doors between which was -the pulpit, underwent a remodeling of the interior in 1879.</p> - -<p>By act of Congress dated March 30, 1823, East and West Florida were -united as one territory. Florida was admitted into the Union as a State, -March 3d, 1845.</p> - -<p>In 1830 there was quite a spirit of speculation rife in the old city. A -canal into the St. Johns River and another between the Halifax and -Matanzas rivers, also a railway to Picolata were projected, and sanguine -people fully expected to see these projects completed immediately. To -this day the railway alone has been completed, and is barely able to pay -a dividend to its stockholders with a tariff of two dollars for a -carriage of fifteen miles. All the other projects are still being talked -of.</p> - -<p>One of the bubbles of the speculation of this period was a new and large -city to be built north of the fort. Peter Sken Smith, a gentleman of -some means, erected the frame of a large hotel on grounds outside of the -city gate, and there were also built there several houses and stores, a -market, and a wharf. Judge Douglass, the first judge of the territory, -entered largely into the business of raising the silk-worm. He set out a -large number of mulberry trees and built a large building on his -plantation called Macarasi, or more commonly Macariz, situated just -beyond the end of the shell road, which gave to the place the general -appellation of the “Cocoonery.” Judge Douglass has been ridiculed for -yielding to the “silk-growing fever,” but the enterprise which was so -disastrous to him and others will one day become a lucrative business -for many in the mild climate of Florida.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_151" id="page_151"></a>{151}</span></p> - -<p>The large and handsome residence on the lot adjoining the Episcopal -church, now owned by L. H. Tyler, Esq., was built by Peter Sken Smith, -in 1833. The artisans and much of the materials were brought from the -North, and the sum of forty thousand dollars was said to have been -invested on the house and furniture. Shortly after the house was for -sale at less than two thousand dollars.</p> - -<p>The plaza was inclosed about this time, and the cannon placed at the -corners. The old guns yet to be seen about the city were used by several -private citizens to ornament the corners of the streets upon which their -lots fronted. In a cut published thirty years ago showing the plaza, -etc., the date-palms in Mr. Tyler’s yard appear to reach to an altitude -almost the same as at present, showing the extreme slowness of their -upward growth.</p> - -<p>St. Augustine, immediately after it came under the jurisdiction of the -United States, began to receive a most desirable addition to its -population in a class of Americans of culture and means, who had long -desired to avail themselves of the benefits and delights of its climate, -but had hesitated about becoming citizens of the place under Spanish -rule. I have heard old citizens say that there was no town of its size -in the country where there were so many persons of refined tastes and -independent means as in St. Augustine at that time. The Indian war soon -after brought to St. Augustine a large addition to its population. This -consisted mostly of the military, both regulars and militia, of Florida -and the neighboring States, and the many officers, agents, and attachés -of the government. It was the government headquarters and a depot of -supplies, and for a season was full of bustle, excitement, and more -activity than it has ever experienced since.</p> - -<p>The incidents of that war would be out of place in a history of<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_152" id="page_152"></a>{152}</span> St. -Augustine. Two of the principal characters of that exciting time were, -however, brought to St. Augustine, and, with about three hundred other -Creeks and Seminoles, confined in Fort Marion. Osceola, a young chief of -the Mickasookie tribe, of great daring, considerable education, and -great natural abilities, inherited with the Caucasian blood derived from -his father, was for some time confined at St. Augustine, and afterwards -removed to Fort Moultrie, in Charleston Harbor, where his body is now -buried. Though captured through a base trick, Osceola had, through a -sullen sense of honor, refused to escape from Fort Marion with Wild Cat. -It was said that he died of a broken heart when he learned the fate of -his nation, and the intention of the government to remove the remnant of -the Seminoles west of the Mississippi.</p> - -<p>The casemate in the south-west bastion of the fort has been rendered -famous by the escape of a body of Indians, including the famous -Coa-cou-che. This Indian, also called Wild Cat, was the youngest son of -Philip, a great chief among the Seminoles. He was a man of great -courage, of an adventurous disposition, and savage nature, lacking the -intellectual abilities of Osceola, but possessing great influence among -his nation. Like most of the young chiefs, he was bitterly opposed to -the execution of the treaty signed by the older chiefs, by which the -Seminoles agreed to remove west of the Mississippi. At an interview -immediately before the breaking out of hostilities, Colonel Harney -observed to him that unless the Seminoles removed according to the -treaty the whites would exterminate them. To this Coa-cou-che replied, -that Iste-chatte (the Indian) did not understand that word. The Great -Spirit he knew might exterminate them, but the pale-faces could not; -else, why had they not done it before?<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_153" id="page_153"></a>{153}</span></p> - -<p>During the war this young chief was captured and placed under guard in -Fort Marion. It is reported that he was at first confined in one of the -close cells, and, in order to be removed to a casemate which had an -embrasure through which he had planned to escape, he complained of the -dampness of his cell and feigned sickness. This, like many other -incidents connected with his escape, is probably fictitious. There were -at the time a considerable number of Indians confined in the fort, and -unless they showed themselves querulous and dangerous, they were all -allowed the freedom of the court during the day, and confined at night -in the several casemates. It is probable that Coa-cou-che chose the -casemate in the south-west bastion from which to make his escape, -because of a platform which is in that casemate. This platform is raised -some five feet from the floor, and built of masonry directly under the -embrasure through which he escaped. This opening had been constructed -high up in the outer wall of the casemate to admit light and air. It is -thirteen feet above the floor, and eight feet above the platform, which -had probably been constructed for the convenience and dignity of the -judges, who doubtless used this casemate as a judgment room. The -aperture is about two feet high by nine inches wide, and some eighteen -feet above the surface of the ground at the foot of the wall within the -moat. It is said that as he took his airing upon the terre-plein the -evening before his escape, Coa-cou-che lingered longer than usual, -gazing far out into the west as the sun went down, probably thinking -that ere another sunset he would be beyond the limit of his farthest -vision, enjoying the freedom of his native forests. That night he -squeezed his body, said to have been attenuated by voluntary abstinence -from food, through the <span class="pagenum"><a name="page_154" id="page_154"></a>{154}</span>embrasure in the wall, and silently dropped into -the moat at the foot of the bastion. The moat was dry, and the station -of every guard was well known to the Indian, so that escape was no -longer difficult. Coa-cou-che immediately joined his nation, but was -afterwards captured and sent west. He was recalled by General Worth, and -used to secure the submission of his tribe. General Worth declared to -him that if his people were not at Tampa on a certain day he would hang -from the yard of the vessel on which he had returned, and was then -confined. This message he was ordered to send to his people by Indian -runners furnished by the general. He was directed to deliver to the -messengers twenty twigs, one for each day, and to make it known to his -people that when the last twig in the hands of the messenger was broken, -so would the cords which bound his life to earth be snapped asunder -unless they were all at the general’s camp prepared to depart to the -reservation provided for them at the west. The struggle in the mind of -Coa-cou-che was severe, but his love of life was strong. He sent by the -messenger his entreaties that his people should appear at the time and -place designated, and take up their abode in the prairies of the west. -Desiring to impress upon his people that this was the will of the Great -Spirit, with consummate policy he directed the messenger to relate to -them this, Coa-cou-che’s dream: “The day and manner of my death are -given out so that whatever I may encounter, I fear nothing. The spirits -of the Seminoles protect me; and the spirit of my twin-sister who died -many years ago watches over me; when I am laid in the earth I shall go -to live with her. She died suddenly. I was out hunting, and when seated -by my campfire alone I heard a strange noise—a voice that told me to go -to her. The camp was some distance off, but I took my wife and started. -The night was dark and gloomy; the wolves howled about me. I went from -hommock<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_155" id="page_155"></a>{155}</span> to hommock, sounds came often to my ear. I thought she was -speaking to me. At daylight I reached the camp, but she was dead. I sat -down alone under the long gray moss of the trees, when I heard strange -sounds again. I felt myself moving, and went along into a new country -where all was bright and beautiful. I saw clear water ponds, rivers, and -prairies upon which the sun never set. All was green; the grass grew -high, and the deer stood in the midst looking at me. I then saw a small -white cloud approaching, and when just before me, out of it came my -twin-sister dressed in white, and covered with bright silver ornaments. -Her long black hair which I had often braided fell down upon her back. -She clasped me around the neck and said, ‘Coa-cou-che, Coa-cou-che.’ I -shook with fear; I knew her voice, but could not speak. With one hand -she gave me a string of white beads; in the other she held a cup -sparkling with pure water; as I drank she sang the peace song of the -Seminoles, and danced around me. She had silver bells upon her feet -which made a loud sweet noise. Taking from her bosom something, she laid -it before me, when a bright blaze streamed above us. She took me by the -hand and said, ‘All is peace.’ I wanted to ask for others, but she shook -her head, stepped into the cloud, and was gone. All was silent. I felt -myself sinking until I reached the earth when I met my brother, -Chilka.”<a name="FNanchor_35_35" id="FNanchor_35_35"></a><a href="#Footnote_35_35" class="fnanchor">[35]</a></p> - -<p>Coa-cou-che’s appeal was successful. The messengers returned with the -whole remnant of the tribe three days before the expiration of the time. -They all embarked and took up their residence on the prairies, where the -sun never sets and the grass grows high. It was not a field in which -Coa-cou-che could distinguish<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_156" id="page_156"></a>{156}</span> himself, and from this time his name was -never heard, except in connection with his past exploits in Florida.</p> - -<p>Soon after the United States took possession of St. Augustine, the -government began to make extensive improvements in and about the town. -The barracks were immediately remodeled, and built as they are at -present. The fort, which had become much dilapidated, was repaired and -fitted for a garrison. It was while this work was being prosecuted that -the cell under the north-east bastion was discovered, which has ever -since been associated with the Huguenot massacre and the Spanish -Inquisition, in annual editions of guide-books and tourists’ letters. It -is constantly designated as “the Dungeon,” and, lest I should not be -understood in referring to it as a cell, I shall also call it a dungeon, -in explaining how it was found and what it did not contain. For some -reason unexplained by any record left by the Spaniards, the terre-plein, -near the north-east bastion, had been built upon large wooden beams. At -the time the Americans took possession of the fort they found the last -casemate, fronting on the court on the east side, filled with the -coquina floor of the terre-plein, which had fallen in, as the timbers -supporting it had rotted. Naturally, this half-filled casemate had -become the place of deposit for all rubbish accumulated upon any part of -the works. In the course of repairs the rubbish was cleared out of the -casemate, and the entrance into the adjoining cell exposed. Entering -this cell, and examining the masonry for anticipated repairs, the -engineer in charge, said to be Lieutenant Tuttle, U. S. A., discovered a -newness of appearance about a small portion of the masonry of the north -wall. Under his instruction a mason cut out this newer stone-work and -found that the small arch, under which those who now enter the “dungeon” -crawl, had been<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_157" id="page_157"></a>{157}</span> walled up. Why the entrance had thus been filled with -masonry is unknown, but it is extremely unlikely that it was done to -insure the perpetual captivity and death of a human being. The engineer -and mason entered the cell, and made an examination of the interior with -the light of a candle. Near the entrance were the remains of a fire, the -ashes and bits of pine wood burned off toward the center of the pile in -which they had been consumed. Upon the side of the cell was a rusty -staple, with about three links of chain attached thereto. Near the wall, -on the west side of the cell, were a few bones. Finding these very -rotten, and crumbling to pieces under his touch, the engineer spread his -handkerchief upon the floor and brushed very gently the few fragments of -bone into it. These were shown the surgeon then stationed at the post, -who said they might be human bones, but were so badly crumbled and -decayed he could not determine definitely. Nothing else was found in the -cell.<a name="FNanchor_36_36" id="FNanchor_36_36"></a><a href="#Footnote_36_36" class="fnanchor">[36]</a> The iron cages, which have been described as a part of the -fixtures of this terrible dungeon, and which it has been said contained -human bones, appear upon the united testimony of old inhabitants to have -been found outside of the city gates entirely empty. It is said that, in -1822, a Mr. Deever, a butcher, while digging post holes on the grounds -opposite to those now owned by Mr. Kingsland, just north of the city -gates, came upon the cages and dug them up. One of them was made use of -in his workshop by Mr. Bartolo Oliveros, a locksmith. The other one was -allowed by Mr. Deever to lie near the city gate until it was -appropriated by some unknown party. The cages are described as having -had much the<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_158" id="page_158"></a>{158}</span> shape of a coffin; and the tradition is, that a human -being had been placed in each, the solid bands of iron riveted about his -body, and, after life had been extinguished by the horrible torture of -starvation, cages and corpses had been buried in the “scrub” then -covering the ground north of the gate. Doubtless these cages were used -for the punishment of criminals condemned for some heinous crime; but -whether they were introduced by the Spaniards or English is not known. -An old gentleman, Mr. Christobal Bravo, tells me his mother has related -to him that she had seen, during the English possession, these cages, or -similar ones, suspended at the gates of the city, with criminals -incarcerated therein. In the face of the facts it is feared that St. -Augustine must lose much of the romance and melancholy interest excited -by the stories of Spanish cruelty and torture. It is very probable that -this inner cell at the fort was used as a place of confinement for -criminals, and it is possible that some may have died therein. In fact, -it was so reported and generally believed at the time the poet Bryant -visited St. Augustine in 1843. Fairbanks, on page 157 of his “History -and Antiquities of St. Augustine,” published in 1858, refers to the -instruments of torture and skeletons walled in the old fort.</p> - -<p>The account, as recited by the “Old Sergeant,” Mr. McGuire, -ordnance-sergeant, U. S. A., gives the current legend connected with the -dungeon. The sergeant alone can do justice to the narrative, in presence -of an appreciative audience clustered around his smoking torch under the -vaulted arch of the grim, damp cell. No pen can transcribe the -sergeant’s Irish brogue, or his periods, his tones, and his inimitable -expression of countenance, which seems to evince a combination of honest -doubt and wishful credence in the melancholy tale of Spanish barbarity, -which has<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_159" id="page_159"></a>{159}</span> proved so remunerative to himself, and so acceptable to the -novelty hunting tourist. While the sergeant’s lamp holds out to burn, no -visitor to St. Augustine should fail to hear his tale, “Just as it was -told to me,” as he is particular to explain.</p> - -<p>In the spring of 1875 a body of Comanche, Kiowa, and Cheyenne chiefs -were removed from the West by order of the government, and sent to St. -Augustine. These Indians were, at first, confined within the old fort, -under a guard furnished from the post at St. Francis Barracks. They had -been sent under the charge of Captain Pratt, of the Tenth U. S. Cavalry. -The selection of this officer was a most fortunate choice. Through his -indubitable faith in the possibility of developing the better nature of -the Indian, together with his unwearied perseverance under difficulties -that none but a missionary among the depraved races of men can realize, -by his great tact and his patience he succeeded in demonstrating that, -by proper methods and efforts, the Indian problem is capable of a -satisfactory solution. Under the system adopted by Captain Pratt the -guard was soon dispensed with, and the Indians treated very much as if -they were a company of enlisted soldiers. They walked the streets, -attended the churches, and had their school, with no other restraint or -hindrance than is imposed upon soldiers. They soon acted as their own -guard day and night, assumed the dress of a soldier, and many of the -manners and habits of the white man. After remaining at St. Augustine -for about two years, a portion of the company were sent to the Hampton, -Va. school, and the remainder were returned to their native tribes, -where they must yet exert a powerful influence for the advance of -civilization.</p> - -<p>It is a remarkable coincidence that the first practical demonstration<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_160" id="page_160"></a>{160}</span> -of the ability of the government to elevate and civilize the Indian, and -the first advance in a rational method of making citizens of the remnant -of our aboriginal population, was inaugurated at St. Augustine. The evil -in the nature of the Caucasian who first landed in America, upon the -shores of Florida, has proved a curse and a blight to the red man. The -gratifying success that crowned the philanthropic policy inaugurated by -the government among the representatives of the Indian race, while -prisoners at St. Augustine, will, it is to be hoped, be the harbinger of -the speedy civilization of the whole of the Indian race existing in -America.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_161" id="page_161"></a>{161}</span></p> - -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVIII" id="CHAPTER_XVIII"></a>CHAPTER XVIII.</h2> - -<div class="blockquot"><p>ST. AUGUSTINE AS IT USED TO BE.—CUSTOMS.—THE OLDEST STRUCTURE IN -THE UNITED STATES.—PRESENT POPULATION.—OBJECTS OF -INTEREST.—BUILDINGS ANCIENT AND MODERN.—ST. AUGUSTINE DURING THE -REBELLION.—CLIMATE.—ADVANTAGES AS A HEALTH RESORT.</p></div> - -<p>In February, 1835, an unprecedented depression of temperature destroyed -the orange trees which embosomed the town and rendered the place -exceedingly attractive. The deep green foliage concealed the dingy and -often unsightly buildings. The fragrance of the blossoms in spring was -almost overpowering, and was said to be perceptible far out to sea. The -income of the people of the town derived from the sale of their oranges -was not far from seventy-five thousand dollars annually, and the crop -that was yearly sent from St. Augustine in sailing vessels exceeded -three million oranges. One orange tree upon the plaza is reported to -have borne twelve thousand oranges. In 1829, Mr. A. Alverez picked from -one tree in his garden six thousand five hundred oranges, and it is -recorded that “an old citizen picked from one tree eight thousand of the -golden apples. The Minorcan population of St. Augustine had been -accustomed to depend on the produce of their little groves of eight or -ten trees, to purchase their coffee, sugar, and other necessaries from -the stores; they were left without resource. The wild groves suffered -equally with those cultivated. The town of St. Augustine, that -heretofore<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_162" id="page_162"></a>{162}</span> appeared like a rustic village, its white houses peeping -from the clustered boughs and golden fruit of their favorite tree, -beneath whose shade the foreign invalid cooled his fevered limbs, and -imbibed health from the fragrant air, how is she fallen! Dry, unsightly -poles, with ragged bark, stick up around her dwellings, and where the -mocking bird once delighted to build her nest, and tune her lovely song, -owls now hoot at night, and sterile winds whistle through the leafless -branches. Never was a place more desolate.”<a name="FNanchor_37_37" id="FNanchor_37_37"></a><a href="#Footnote_37_37" class="fnanchor">[37]</a></p> - -<p>Many of the trees had attained a very large size and great age. A large -number sent out sprouts from the roots, and if undisturbed, many groves -would have borne profitable crops in a few years. The scale insect, -however, made its appearance in 1842 in countless multitudes, blighting -the groves throughout Florida. For twenty years it was a constant -struggle, on the part of the few who retained their faith in the success -of orange culture, to rid their groves of this destructive insect. -Finally, nature provided in some way an exterminator of the insect, and -from that time there has been no serious drawback to the culture of -oranges in Florida. Williams describes the inhabitants at this time as -“a temperate, quiet, and rather indolent people; affectionate and -friendly to each other, and kind to the few slaves they held. They -mostly kept little stores, cultivated small groves or gardens, and -followed fishing and hunting.” Posey balls, masquerades, and sherivarees -were their principal diversions.</p> - -<p>The posey dance of St. Augustine was introduced in the following manner: -“The females of a family, no matter what their rank or station in life -may be, erect in a room of their house a<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_163" id="page_163"></a>{163}</span> neat little altar, lit up with -candles, and dressed with pots and festoons of flowers. This is -understood by the gentlemen as a polite invitation to call and admire -the taste of the fair architects. It is continued for several successive -evenings; in the meantime the lady selects from her visitors some happy -beau, whom she delights to honor, and presents him with a bouquet of -choice flowers. His gallantry is then put to the test; should he choose -to decline the proffered honor, he has only to pay the expenses of -lighting up the altar. But if he accepts the full dignity offered him, -he is king of the ball, which shortly succeeds, and the posey lass -becomes queen, as a matter of course. The posey ball is a mixed -assembly. People of all ranks meet here on a level, yet they are -conducted with the nicest decorum, and even with politeness and grace.</p> - -<p>“Sherivarees are parties of idle people, who dress themselves in -grotesque masquerade, whenever a widow or widower is married. They often -parade about the streets and play buffoon tricks for two or three days; -haunting the residence of the new married pair, and disturbing the whole -city with noise and riot.</p> - -<p>“The carnival is a scene of masquerading, which was formerly celebrated -by the Spanish and Minorcan populations with much taste and gayety; but -since the introduction of an American population, it has during the -whole winter season been prostituted to cover drunken revels, and to -pass the basest objects of society into the abodes of respectable -people, to the great annoyance of the civil part of the community.”<a name="FNanchor_38_38" id="FNanchor_38_38"></a><a href="#Footnote_38_38" class="fnanchor">[38]</a></p> - -<p>These and other customs have long since ceased to exist, and many are -already forgotten. One of these was “shooting the<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_164" id="page_164"></a>{164}</span> Jews,” originally a -religious ceremony, but afterwards a diversion. For many years it was -the custom to hang effigies at the street corners and upon the plaza on -the evening of Good Friday. When the bells in the cathedral, which are -never rung during Good Friday, began on Saturday morning at ten o’clock -to ring the Hallelujah, crowds of men in the streets commenced to shoot -with guns and pistols at the hanging effigies. This was continued until -some unerring marksman severed the cord about the neck of the image, or -perhaps it was riddled and shredded by the fusilade.</p> - -<p>The Spanish veil was until a late period the only covering for the head -worn by the ladies of the town. A lady now living has described the -disapproval manifested at the appearance of the first bonnet in church. -Great indignation was expressed, and loud protests against the insult -offered to the church and congregation by this supposed exhibition of -ill-breeding and irreverence.</p> - -<p>In the memory of those now living wheeled vehicles within the gates were -first allowed. Before that time all moving of goods was done in packs. -The narrow streets without sidewalks evidently were not intended for the -passage of carts and carriages. Saddle-horses were common, but their -path was the center of the street, which was rendered hard and smooth -with pounded coquina, and kept so neat that the ladies wore on their -feet only the thinnest of slippers.</p> - -<p>One of the ancient customs brought from the island of Minorca is yet -continued.</p> - -<p>On the night before Easter Sunday the young men go about the city in -parties serenading. Approaching the dwelling of some one whom they wish -to favor with their song, or from whom they<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_165" id="page_165"></a>{165}</span> expect the favors asked in -their rhyme, they knock gently upon the window. If their visit is -welcome they are answered by a knock from within, and at once begin the -following song said to be in the Mahonese dialect:</p> - -<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary=""> - -<tr class="c"><td>“US GOIS.</td> - -<td>[<span class="smcap">Translation</span>.] <br />“THE STANZAS.</td></tr> -<tr><td> </td></tr> - -<tr><td>“Disciarem lu dol<br /> -Cantarem aub’ alagria,<br /> -Y n’arem a dá<br /> -Las pascuas a Maria.<br /> - O Maria!</td> - -<td>“Let us leave off mourning,<br /> -Let us sing with joy,<br /> -Let us go and give<br /> -Our salutation to Mary.<br /> - O Mary!</td></tr> -<tr><td> </td></tr> - -<tr><td> -“San Gabriel<br /> -Qui portaba la ambasciada<br /> -Des nostro rey del cel,<br /> -Estaran vos preñada.<br /> -Ya omitiada<br /> -Tuao vais aqui serventa,<br /> -Fia del Deo contenta,<br /> -Para fa lo que el vol.<br /> - Disciarem lu dol, etc.</td> - -<td> -“Saint Gabriel<br /> -Brought the tidings<br /> -That the King of Heaven<br /> -Thou hadst conceived.<br /> -Thou wert humble.<br /> -Behold, here is the handmaid,<br /> -Daughter of God, content<br /> -To do what he will!<br /> - Chorus.—Let us leave off mourning, etc.</td></tr> -<tr><td> </td></tr> - -<tr><td>“Y a milla nit<br /> -Pariguero vos regina—<br /> -A un Deo infinit—<br /> -Dintra una establina.<br /> -Y a milla dia,<br /> -Que los angels von cantant<br /> -Par y abondant,<br /> -De la gloria de Deo sol.<br /> - Disciarem lu dol, etc.</td> - -<td>“And at midnight<br /> -She gave birth to the child—<br /> -The infinite God—<br /> -In a stable.<br /> -At mid-day,<br /> -The angels go singing<br /> -Peace and abundance,<br /> -And glory to God alone.<br /> - Chorus.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_166" id="page_166"></a>{166}</span> -</td></tr> -<tr><td> </td></tr> - -<tr><td>“Y a Libalem,<br /> -Alla la terra santa,<br /> -Nus nat Jesus,<br /> -Aub’ alagria tanta;<br /> -Infant petit<br /> -Que tot lu mon salvaria.<br /> -Y ningu y bastaria<br /> -Nu mes un Deo sol.<br /> - Disciaremisciarem lu dol, etc.</td><td> -“In Bethlehem,<br /> -In the Holy Land,<br /> -Was born the Saviour,<br /> -With great joy;<br /> -The little child<br /> -Who all the world would save,<br /> -Which no one could accomplish<br /> -But God alone.<br /> - Chorus.</td></tr> -<tr><td> </td></tr> - -<tr><td>“Cuant de Orion lus<br /> -Tres reys la stralla veran,<br /> -Deo omnipotent<br /> -Adora lo vingaran.<br /> -Un present inferan<br /> -De mil encens y or,<br /> -A lu benuit seño,<br /> -Que conesce cual se vol.<br /> - Disciarem lu dol, etc.</td> - -<td>“When in the East<br /> -Three kings the star did see,<br /> -God omnipotent<br /> -To adore they came.<br /> -A present they made him<br /> -Of myrrh and gold,<br /> -To the blessed Saviour,<br /> -Who knows every one.<br /> - Chorus. -</td></tr> -<tr><td> </td></tr> - -<tr><td>“Tot fu gayant<br /> -Para cumplé la prumas,<br /> -Y lu Esperit sant<br /> -De un angel fau gramas,<br /> -Gran foc ences,<br /> -Que crama lu curagia.<br /> -Damos da lenguagia<br /> -Para fe lo que Deo vol.<br /> - Disciarem lu dol, etc. -</td> - -<td>“All burning with zeal<br /> -To accomplish the promises,<br /> -The Holy Spirit<br /> -From an angel was sent forth.<br /> -A great fire was kindled,<br /> -And courage inflamed him.<br /> -God give us language<br /> -To do thy will.<br /> - Chorus.</td></tr> -<tr><td> </td></tr> - -<tr><td>“Cuant trespasá<br /> -De quest mon nostra Señora,<br /> -Al cel s’ empugia.<br /> -Sun fil la matescia ora,<br /> -O, Emperadora!<br /> -Que del cel san eligida,<br /> -Lu rosa florida,<br /> -Mé resplenden que un sol.<br /> - Disciarem lu dol, etc.</td> - -<td> -“When we have passed<br /> -From this world, our Lady,<br /> -To heaven we are raised.<br /> -Your Son, at the same hour,<br /> -O Queen,<br /> -Who art of Heaven the choicest<br /> -Blooming rose!<br /> -More brilliant than the sun.<br /> - Chorus. -</td></tr> -<tr><td> </td></tr> - -<tr><td>“Y el tercer groin<br /> -Que Jesus resunta,<br /> -Deo y aboroma,<br /> -Que la mort triumfa.<br /> -De alli se ballá<br /> -Para perldra Lucife<br /> -An tot a sen pendá,<br /> -Que de nostro ser al sol.<br /> - Disciarem lu dol,” etc.</td> - -<td> -On the third day<br /> -Our Jesus arose,<br /> -The celestial God<br /> -Over death triumphant.<br /> -From hence he has gone<br /> -To overcome Satan<br /> -Throughout the whole world.<br /> -Our protector and guide.<br /> - Chorus. -</td></tr> -<tr><td> </td></tr> -</table> - -<p>After this hymn the following stanzas, soliciting the customary gifts of -cakes or eggs, are sung:</p> - -<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary=""> -<tr valign="top"> -<td>“Lu cet gois vam cantant,<br /> -Regina celestial.<br /> -Damos pan y alagria!<br /> -Yabonas festas tingan;<br /> -Y vos da sus bonas festas,<br /> -Damos dinés de sus nous,<br /> -Sempre tarem lus neans Uestas<br /> -Para recibi un grapat de nes.<br /> -Y, el giorn de pascua florida<br /> -Alagramos y, giuntament.<br /> -As qui es mort par dar nos vida; <br /> -Y via glorosiamente,<br /> -A questa casa está empedrada,<br /> -Bien halla que la empedro.<br /> -San amo de aquesta casa<br /> -Baldria duná un do,<br /> -Formagiada o empanada.<br /> -Cucutta a flao,<br /> -Cual se val casa sue grada,<br /> -Sol que no rue digas que no.”<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_168" id="page_168"></a>{168}</span> - -</td> - -<td>“These seven stanzas sung,<br /> -Celestial queen<br /> -Give us peace and joy!<br /> -May you enjoy a good feast;<br /> -We wish a happy time,<br /> -Give us of your bounty.<br /> -We always have our hands ready<br /> -Thy bounty to receive.<br /> -Let us now the Easter feast<br /> -Together enjoy.<br /> -He died to save us;<br /> -Let us be joyful.<br /> -This house is walled round,<br /> -Blessed be he who walled it about.<br /> -The owner of this house<br /> -Ought to give us a token,<br /> -Either a cake or a tart.<br /> -We like anything,<br /> -So you say not no.”<br /> -* * * * * *</td> -</tr> -</table> - -<p>The shutters are then opened by the people within, and a supply of cakes -or other pastry is dropped into a bag carried by one of the party, who -acknowledge the gift in the following lines, and then depart:</p> - -<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary=""> - -<tr valign="top"><td>“Aquesta casa reta empedrada, <br /> -Empedrada de cuastro vens,<br /> -Sun amo de aquesta casa,<br /> -Es omo de compliment.”</td> - -<td>“This house is walled round,<br /> -Walled round on four sides.<br /> -The owner of this house<br /> -Is a polite gentleman.”</td></tr> -</table> - -<p>If nothing is given, the last line reads thus:</p> - -<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary=""> - -<tr valign="top"><td>“No es homo de compliment.” </td> - -<td>“Is not a polite gentleman.”</td></tr> -</table> - -<p>This song is repeated throughout the city until midnight. To the -listener it has a peculiar fascination like some of the tunes from -popular operas, keeping one awake to listen to its strains, even after -many repetitions have rendered the singing monotonous.</p> - -<p>The walls of the United States barracks are probably the oldest -structures in the place. An old house on Hospital Street, torn down in -1871, when Mr. Pendleton built a very pretty cottage upon the same -ground, was said by old residents to have been the oldest house in the -town. The former residence of the attorney-general during the English -possession stood just south of the Worth House on the corner of Bay and -Green Streets. This was a very old structure, though built in too costly -a manner to have been one of the earliest buildings, one of which in -English<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_169" id="page_169"></a>{169}</span> times still bore the date 1571. The house was built by a -Spaniard named Ysnada. Its beams were made of a wood brought from Cuba, -which resembled our royal palm in being susceptible of taking a high -polish. The staircases, wainscoting, and panels were of lignum vitæ. For -many years the house stood in too dilapidated a condition for occupancy. -Finally the wood was torn out by curiosity hunters and dealers, and made -into canes and other mementoes of “the oldest house in St. Augustine.”</p> - -<p>The present sea-wall was built between 1835 and 1843, under the -superintendence of Colonel Dancey, now living at his orange grove called -Buena Vista, on the St. Johns River. He was then a captain in the U. S. -Army. The wall is ten feet above low-water mark, seven feet thick at the -base, and three feet wide on top, capped with granite, and extends along -the whole front of the city, from the old fort on the north to the -barracks on the south, about three-quarters of a mile in length. -Opposite the plaza the wall forms a basin for small boats. Under Colonel -Dancey the government spent three appropriations of fifty thousand -dollars each, having spent twenty thousand dollars previously in -preparation for the work. Captain Benham spent two appropriations of -fifty thousand dollars each in covering the wall with granite slabs, as -it was found that the coquina was rapidly wearing away under the tread -of pedestrians using the wall as a promenade. Much of the pleasure of -this otherwise delightful promenade is marred by the narrowness of the -curbing, making the passing difficult. This feature is said to be -unobjectionable to lovers, who are credited with the opinion that to see -St. Augustine aright it is necessary to promenade the sea-wall by -moonlight, viewing the rippling waters of the bay, with the roar of the -surf on the neighboring beach as an interlude to the sweeter<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_170" id="page_170"></a>{170}</span> music of -their own voices. Colonel Dancey built the present causeway leading to -the depot in 1837 at the expense of the United States. His successor, -Captain Benham, superintended the construction of the water battery at -the fort, and other repairs made to the property of the United States -within the city.</p> - -<p>Under the dominion of the United States, St. Augustine soon became a -health and pleasure resort. Without manufactures, with, as yet, no -products of agriculture for export, its fine port is destitute of -commerce, and its easy-going population have ever since depended upon -the attractions offered by their city to invalids and persons of -fortune, for the means with which to procure the necessaries and -luxuries which its inhabitants enjoy in a fair measure. Strangers often -wonder how the town is supported, but upon investigation it is found -that the frugality of the people is remarkable. Their independence comes -from what they save rather than from what they earn. While there is -little wealth among its citizens, there is little actual want. The many -girls and young ladies always dress with neatness and taste, and many -earn the means to support themselves by braiding palmetto for hats and -baskets, making feather flowers, shell, and fish-scale ornaments, and -bouquets of the native grasses. The town has long been noted for the -number and health of its young children.</p> - -<p>In 1834 the city contained 1,739 inhabitants, of whom 498 were males, -519 females, 151 free colored persons, and 571 slaves. Of these, 10 were -lawyers, 3 doctors, 1 printer, 7 dry-goods dealers, 6 keepers of -boarding-houses, 13 grocers, 1 painter, 7 carpenters, 4 masons, 2 -blacksmiths, 1 gunsmith, 2 shoemakers, 1 baker, 2 tailors, 1 tanner, and -5 cigar-makers. The present population of the city is, by the census of -1880, about 2,300, of<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_171" id="page_171"></a>{171}</span> which about the same number follow the above -callings as in 1834, with the exception of lawyers and grocers, of whom -there are not more than half the former number. There is no bank in the -city, its place being supplied by the money-order department of the -post-office. The colored population are much more intelligent, better -educated, and generally superior to the individuals of that unfortunate -race found in other parts of the South. This is partly owing to the -large number of free negroes here before the Emancipation, and also to -the advantages they have derived from contact with the visitors and -residents coming from all parts of the country. In 1843 the poet Bryant -remarked the fact above stated, saying, “In the colored people whom I -saw in the Catholic church I remarked a more agreeable, open, and gentle -physiognomy than I have been accustomed to see in that class.”<a name="FNanchor_39_39" id="FNanchor_39_39"></a><a href="#Footnote_39_39" class="fnanchor">[39]</a></p> - -<p>Many of the most interesting old structures have, unfortunately, been -torn down. As these attractive old relics of antiquity are swept away, -some ignorant iconoclast bids the people rejoice over a new “city -improvement,” forgetting that there are many modern cities in America, -and but one “ancient city.” The building now used as a post-office has, -in this way, been remodeled from a quaint and interesting old Spanish -structure, with its court-yard and balconies, into a commonplace modern -structure. Even the old coquina lunette standing in the same yard on the -corner of King and Tolomato Streets had to succumb to personal interest -and the demand for “improvements,” and was swept away, thus depriving -the city of one of its most attractive mementoes.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_172" id="page_172"></a>{172}</span>The fort, the Spanish monument, the cathedral, and the city gates yet -remain, preserved from the hands of vandals. The city has lately -repaired the sentry-boxes, constructed in the pilasters of the city -gate, and doubtless from this time on there will be an effort made to -preserve all of the old relics yet remaining.</p> - -<p>In 1879 the Ladies’ Memorial Association obtained permission of the city -to remove to the plaza a monument that had been erected on St. George -Street to the memory of the soldiers of St. Augustine and vicinity who -died in the late “war between the States.” This monument now stands near -the east end of the plaza, and preserves the names of those whose memory -it is intended to perpetuate, engraved upon two marble slabs set into -the masonry. Its inscriptions are as follows:</p> - -<p class="c"> -“Our dead.”<br /> -</p> - -<div class="blockquot2"><p>“Erected by the Ladies’ Memorial Association of St. Augustine, -Fla., <small>A.D.</small> 1872.”</p> - -<p>“In Memoriam. Our loved ones who gave their lives in the service of -the Confederate States.”</p></div> - -<p>In the military cemetery near the barracks are three small pyramids -built of masonry and whitewashed, marking the place where are interred -the remains of Major Dade and his one hundred and seven comrades -massacred by the Indians near the Withlacoochee River, on the 28th of -December, 1835. They were buried on the battle-field by a detachment -that was sent out for their succor, but arrived too late. Upon the -removal of their remains to St. Augustine, these pyramids were erected, -and also a handsome monument. The monument is of marble, a broken pillar -or shaft upon a square pedestal, with inscriptions on the four faces.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_173" id="page_173"></a>{173}</span></p> - -<p>On the first we read:</p> - -<p>“This monument, in token of respectful and affectionate remembrance -by their comrades of all grades, is committed to the care and -preservation of the garrison of St. Augustine.”</p> - -<p class="nind">On another the following:</p> - -<p>“A mute record of all the officers who perished, and are here and -elsewhere deposited, as also a portion of the soldiers, has been -prepared and placed in the office of the adjutant of the post, -where it is hoped it will be carefully and perpetually preserved.”</p> - -<p class="nind">On another:</p> - -<p>“The conflict in which so many perished in battle, and by disease, -commenced 25th December, 1835, and terminated 14th August, 1842.”</p> - -<p class="nind">On the last:</p> - -<p>“Sacred to the memory of the officers and soldiers killed in battle -and died in service during the Florida War.”</p> - -<p>Near this cemetery is the post hospital, a convenient and airy building. -A large building on St. George Street, erected in 1874, is occupied by -the society of nuns called Sisters of St. Joseph. Many of the female -children of the city are taught by the sisters in this building, and -children from abroad are also received, and lodge in the building. The -nuns of St. Augustine have always had the reputation of making fine -lace-work, and much of their work is purchased by visitors.</p> - -<p>A large and comfortable building was erected a few years since as a home -for aged and infirm colored persons. It stands back from King Street -just west of Santa Maria Creek. Doctor Bronson and Mr. Buckingham Smith -were chiefly instrumental in erecting the building and furnishing the -endowment, which is<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_174" id="page_174"></a>{174}</span> managed by a board of trustees. The general -management of the Home and its inmates is given to a matron chosen by -the ladies of the different church parishes, subject to the approval of -the board of trustees.</p> - -<p>The wooden building upon a circular foundation of coquina standing in -the bay north of the basin is the bath-house. In the winter it is kept -heated, and warm salt-water baths are furnished to visitors. During the -summer it is liberally patronized for swimming baths by the citizens of -the place and many summer visitors, who come from the interior of the -State to spend the hot months at the seaside. Probably a larger -proportion of the ladies of St. Augustine know how to swim than of any -other place in the country.</p> - -<p>Within the last few years there have been a number of handsome houses -built in the city by wealthy gentlemen who occupy them during the winter -season. Mr. H. P. Kingsland of New York has a fine residence north of -the gates upon the shell road. This is probably the most expensive of -the houses built by nonresidents, though the fine house built by the -late Hy. Ball upon his estate on Tolomato Street is said to have cost a -large sum of money. The grounds and orange grove on this place were very -attractive during the life of Mr. Ball, and it is a place much -frequented by visitors.</p> - -<p>Mr. Geo. L. Lorillard has lately purchased the “Stone” mansion on St. -George Street, and is ornamenting the grounds, and otherwise making the -place more attractive.</p> - -<p>Mr. Tyler, Mr. Ammidown, Mr. Howard, Mr. Bronson, Mr. Alexander, and Mr. -Wilson each have fine residences on St. George Street south of the -plaza. Mr. Edgar has a handsome coquina house on the bay, while the -residence of ex-Senator Gilbert<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_175" id="page_175"></a>{175}</span> on the south, and the residence and -orange grove of Dr. Anderson on the north, are sure to attract the -notice of the stranger entering the city from the causeway. All of these -residences have attractive grounds, ornamentally laid out, and -artistically adorned, containing a great variety of most beautiful roses -and ornamental plants and flowers. The roses especially are congenial to -the soil and climate, and are in the early winter months most attractive -in their wealth of bloom. This shrub in some of its varieties, here -attains the proportions of a tree. The rose tree in the garden of Mr. -Oliveros was fifteen feet high, rising from a stock twenty-one inches in -circumference, and its branches covered a space eighteen feet in -diameter. The tree is dead, but the stump is still to be seen.</p> - -<p>The shell road extends for about a mile north of the city, and is much -used during the winter season. Carriages, buggies, and saddle-horses for -hire are usually standing at all hours in front of the hotels or near -the plaza, and on fair days are well patronized. Mr. Williams and Mr. -Hildreth, north of the city, have attractive places which are much -visited by tourists. When the tide is low there is a short but quite -hard drive along the edge of the St. Sebastian River. There is an -interesting drive to a suburb west of the city called Ravenswood, where -is a spring called from the famous Ponce de Leon. A great natural -curiosity is a large spring in the ocean about three miles off the coast -near Matanzas Inlet, eighteen miles south of St. Augustine. This spring -has been described in the publications of the U. S. Coast Survey. There -is a comfortable hotel kept by Mr. Darius Allen at Matanzas, which is -often filled with hunting and fishing parties. The house stands on the -narrow sand reef between the Matanzas River and the ocean.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_176" id="page_176"></a>{176}</span></p> - -<p>At the outbreak of the war of the Rebellion the Union sentiment, which -existed among a considerable portion of the community, was stifled by -the taunts of cowardice and the popular frenzy for secession. A number -of the inhabitants, being unable to make their influence felt at the -election of delegates, prepared and had presented to the convention that -passed the ordinance of secession a letter of protest against such a -course. The only effect of this letter was to place the signers in such -a position that they were advised to volunteer at once to serve in the -Confederate army.</p> - -<p>In March, 1862, the United States forces took possession of the town, -which they held until the close of the war. The city was taken by a -naval force under command of Lieut. S. F. Du Pont, afterward Admiral Du -Pont.</p> - -<p>In his report to the Secretary of the Navy, Flag-Officer Du Pont speaks -of the occupation of the place in a tone exhibiting less of exultation -than sadness, that a place which had enjoyed so many favors at the hands -of the government should have taken part in an attempt at its overthrow.</p> - -<p>It is perhaps too soon after the close of the struggle to discuss the -events of that period. As a matter of history, however, I give the -report of Commander Rodgers, who received the surrender of the town. In -transmitting the report, Flag-Officer Du Pont adds: “The American flag -is flying once more over that old city, raised by the hands of its own -people.”</p> - -<p>The following is Commander Rodgers’s report:</p> - -<div class="blockquot2"><p class="r"> -“<span class="smcap">United States Flag-ship Wabash</span>,<br /> -“<span class="smcap">Off St. Augustine, Florida</span>, <i>March 12, 1862</i>.<br /> -</p> - -<p>“<span class="smcap">Sir</span>: Having crossed the bar with some difficulty, in obedience<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_177" id="page_177"></a>{177}</span> to -your orders, I approached St. Augustine under a flag of truce, and -as I drew near the city a white flag was hoisted upon one of the -bastions of Fort Marion.</p> - -<p>“Landing at the wharf and inquiring for the chief authorities I was -soon joined by the mayor, and conducted to the City Hall, where the -municipal authorities were assembled.</p> - -<p>“I informed them that having come to restore the authority of the -United States, you had deemed it more kind to send an unarmed boat -to inform the citizens of your determination than to occupy the -town at once by force of arms; that you were desirous to calm any -apprehension of harsh treatment that might exist in their minds, -and that you should carefully respect the persons and property of -all citizens who submitted to the authority of the United States; -that you had a single purpose—to restore the state of affairs -which existed before the Rebellion. I informed the municipal -authorities that so long as they respected the authority of the -government we serve, and acted in good faith, municipal affairs -would be left in their own hands, so far as might be consistent -with the exigencies of the times.</p> - -<p>“The mayor and council then informed me that the place had been -evacuated the preceding night by two companies of Florida troops, -and that they gladly received the assurance I gave them, and placed -the city in my hands. I recommended them to hoist the flag of the -Union at once, and in prompt accordance with the advice, by order -of the mayor the national ensign was displayed from the flagstaff -of the fort. * * * *</p> - -<p>“I called upon the clergymen of the city requesting them to -reassure the people, and to confide in our kind intentions toward -them.</p> - -<p>“About fifteen hundred people remain in St. Augustine, about<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_178" id="page_178"></a>{178}</span> -one-fifth of the inhabitants having fled. I believe that there are -many citizens who are earnestly attached to the Union, a large -number who are silently opposed to it, and a still larger number -who care very little about the matter.</p> - -<p>“I think that nearly all of the men acquiesce in the condition of -affairs we are now establishing.</p> - -<p>“There is much violent and pestilent feeling among the women. They -seem to mistake treason for courage, and have a theatrical desire -to figure as heroines. Their minds have doubtless been filled with -the falsehoods so industriously circulated in regard to the lust -and hatred of our troops. On the night before our arrival, a party -of women assembled in front of the barracks and cut down the -flag-staff, in order that it might not be used to support the old -flag. The men seemed anxious to conciliate in every way. There is a -great scarcity of provisions in the place. There seems to be no -money, except the wretched paper currency of the Rebellion, and -much poverty exists. In the water-battery at the fort are three -fine army thirty-two-pounders, of 7,000 pounds, and two eight-inch -seacoast howitzers, of 5,600 pounds, with shot and some powder. -There are a number of very old guns in the fort, useless and not -mounted.</p> - -<p class="c"> * * * * - * * * * - * * * *</p> - -<p class="c"> -“I have the honor to be very respectfully,<br /> -<span style="margin-left: 15%;">“C. R. P. RODGERS, <i>Commander</i>.</span><br /> -<br /> -<span style="margin-right: 15%;">“<i>Flag Officer</i>, <span class="smcap">S. F. Du Pont</span>,</span><br /> -“Commanding S. Atlantic Blockading Station.”<br /> -</p></div> - -<p>Mr. Christobal Bravo, an old and much-respected citizen of the place, -who is still alive, was the mayor who surrendered the town.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_179" id="page_179"></a>{179}</span></p> - -<p>Immediately after the close of the Rebellion, real estate in the city -possessed very little value. Within a short time, however, as a few -wealthy men began to secure sites for winter residences, the prices -suddenly leaped to the full value, and, in many cases, fictitious -values, which they have since maintained.</p> - -<p>The climate of St. Augustine is unsurpassed by that of any location in -the world. The mass of testimony to its healthfulness and agreeableness -is constantly accumulating, and dates from its first settlement.</p> - -<p>The extreme old age attained by the aborigines in Florida has been -referred to in the extract from Laudonnère. Romans mentions a man, -eighty-five years old, who had gone five miles on foot to catch fish, -while his mother was meantime busy preparing bread.</p> - -<p>The following quaint testimony is from “Romans’s History”:</p> - -<p>“Before I quit this subject of the air, I cannot help taking notice of a -remark, which I have read somewhere, made by Dr. James McKenzie, which -is, ‘The soon molding of the bread, moistness of sponge, dissolution of -loaf sugar, and rusting of metals, are marks of a bad air.’ Now every -one of those marks are more to be seen at St. Augustine than in any -place I ever was at. And yet I do not think that on all the continent -there is a more healthy spot. Burials have been less frequent here than -anywhere else, where an equal number of inhabitants are found; and it -was remarked, during my stay there, that, when a detachment of the royal -regiment of artillery once arrived there in a sickly state, none of the -inhabitants caught the contagion, and the troops themselves soon -recruited. The Spanish inhabitants lived here to a great age, and -certain it is, that the people of the Havannah looked on it as their -Montpellier, frequenting it for the sake of health.”<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_180" id="page_180"></a>{180}</span></p> - -<p>Forbes remarks that the Ninth Regiment of British troops never lost a -man by natural death during the eight months they were quartered in the -town. The undeviating salubrity “of St. Augustine, under the British -flag, was certainly augmented by the perfect cleanliness and neatness -which was the characteristic of the town during that epoch, and that it -continued so while the buildings crumbled into ruins over the heads of -the indolent Spaniards, and the dirt and nuisance augmented in every lot -is an additional proof of the natural healthfulness of the place.”<a name="FNanchor_40_40" id="FNanchor_40_40"></a><a href="#Footnote_40_40" class="fnanchor">[40]</a></p> - -<p>From October to June the weather is temperate, the thermometer having a -mean of fifty-eight degrees in the winter, and sixty-eight degrees in -the spring. During the winter months there are frequent cloudy days, and -usually several cold storms in a season. From twenty-five years’ -observations Dr. Baldwin, of Jacksonville, prepared a table showing the -average of clear days in January to be 20 <sup>3</sup>/<sub>10</sub>; February, 19 <sup>5</sup>/<sub>10</sub>; -March, 20 <sup>4</sup>/<sub>10</sub>; April, 25. For the whole year, 235 clear days.</p> - -<p>The climate of St. Augustine is sufficiently cold in winter to brace up -the constitution, after being relaxed by summer heats. On the other -hand, it is sufficiently warm to entice the invalid to be out of doors, -and to present opportunities for open-air exercises. The east winds that -prevail are tempered by the proximity of the Gulf Stream, a vast volume -of warm water moving along the coast of Florida, whose effect is felt -thousands of miles farther north in modifying the temperature of the -British Isles.</p> - -<p>The peculiar location of St. Augustine, upon a narrow peninsula, -provides a natural drainage that renders the place particularly -desirable as a health resort. Through the winter rains are<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_181" id="page_181"></a>{181}</span> infrequent, -that being the dry season in Florida; whatever rain falls, however, is -immediately absorbed by the sandy soil, and, in many parts of the city, -the slope of the surface carries the rain-fall immediately into the -tide-water environing the city, before it has time to be absorbed by the -earth.</p> - -<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="" -style="margin:auto auto auto 4%;"> -<tr><td>The mean relative humidity for the five winter months of several -localities, recommended as health resorts, is shown in a table compiled -by C. J. Kenworthy, M.D., of Jacksonville, Fla., and published by him in -his work on “The Climatology of Florida.” I take the liberty of using -his data. The humidity of St. Augustine during the winter months is -nearly the same as that of Jacksonville. At Mentone and Cannes the mean -relative humidity for the five months, beginning in November, is ...</td><td valign="bottom"> -72 <sup>4</sup>/<sub>10</sub></td><td class="c" valign="bottom"> per cent.</td></tr> -<tr><td> </td></tr> -<tr><td valign="top">Breckenridge, Minn.</td><td align="left" valign="bottom">79 <sup>6</sup>/<sub>10</sub></td><td class="c" valign="bottom">“</td></tr> -<tr><td valign="top">Bismark, Dak.</td><td align="left" valign="bottom">76 <sup>5</sup>/<sub>10</sub></td><td class="c" valign="bottom">“</td></tr> -<tr><td valign="top">Nassau, N. P.</td><td align="left" valign="bottom">73 <sup>2</sup>/<sub>10</sub></td><td class="c" valign="bottom">“</td></tr> -<tr><td valign="top">Punta Rassa, Fla. (on the Gulf coast)</td><td align="left" valign="bottom">72 <sup>7</sup>/<sub>10</sub></td><td class="c" valign="bottom">“</td></tr> -<tr><td valign="top">Jacksonville, <span style="margin-left: .5em; -margin-right:.5em;">“</span></td><td align="left" valign="bottom">68 <sup>8</sup>/<sub>10</sub></td><td class="c" valign="bottom">“</td></tr> -</table> - -<p>Thus it will be seen that, although we sometimes have fogs and cloudy -weather, the humidity of the atmosphere is less than that of several -noted health resorts, some of which are at a considerable elevation. -Finally, the medical attendance and supply of nourishing and appetizing -food available at St. Augustine are all that could be desired. The -hotels and boarding-houses are excellent; while the opportunities and -inducements for open-air recreations and exercises are superior.</p> - -<p>With the close connections furnished by the lines of railway lately -completed to Jacksonville, that city will doubtless become the objective -point of the Florida-bound tourist. At that place time-tables can be -obtained of the river steamers and the railway<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_182" id="page_182"></a>{182}</span> from Tocoi, on the St. -Johns River, to St. Augustine; and, by correspondence, accommodations -can be secured in advance, during the season, when the hotels and -boarding-houses of St. Augustine are likely to be crowded.</p> - -<p>All visitors to Florida, and especially those who come for recreation, -should be sure to spend a portion of the season, at least, in St. -Augustine.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_183" id="page_183"></a>{183}</span></p> - -<hr /> - -<p class="c"> -<big>THE<br /> -<br /> -SOUVENIR ALBUM</big><br /> -<br /> -OF<br /> -<br /> -<big><big>VIEWS IN ST. AUGUSTINE.</big></big><br /> -<br /> -<small>PREPARED BY THE CELEBRATED</small><br /> -LOUIS GLASER, OF LEIPSIC,<br /> -And Copyrighted.<br /> -————<br /> -<small>THIS CONVENIENT LITTLE ALBUM CONTAINS</small><br /> -VIEWS OF FOURTEEN OF THE MOST INTERESTING<br /> -SCENES AND STRUCTURES<br /> -IN THE<br /> -<b>“A N C I E N T C I T Y;”</b><br /> -</p> - -<p><small>Embracing:</small></p> - -<div class="blockquot"><p>THE CITY GATES; THE CATHEDRAL; THE OLD FORT AND WATER BATTERY, FROM -THE BAY; THE FORT AND THE HARBOR, SHOWING THE LIGHT-HOUSE; THE -PLAZA DE LA CONSTITUCION, SHOWING THE SPANISH MONUMENT; THE NEW -LIGHT-HOUSE ON ANASTATIA ISLAND; THE SPANISH COAT-OF-ARMS OVER THE -ENTRANCE TO THE FORT; A VIEW UP ST. GEORGE STREET; THE OLD FORT AT -MATANZAS; THE BAY, LOOKING NORTH, SHOWING THE OLD FORT; A -BIRD’S-EYE VIEW OF THE CITY, LOOKING SOUTH, TAKEN FROM THE LOOK-OUT -TOWER ON THE OLD FORT; THE OLD SPANISH LIGHT-HOUSE WHICH FELL IN -1880; THE ARCHES SUPPORTING THE BALCONY OF AN OLD SPANISH -RESIDENCE; AND A DOUBLE-PAGE VIEW OF THE CITY FROM THE BAY, SHOWING -ONE MILE OF ITS FRONTAGE.</p></div> - -<p class="c">A most acceptable present, and a memento of the oldest town in the -United States.</p> - -<p class="c">Sent, post-paid, on receipt of one dollar.</p> - -<p class="c">Address,</p> - -<p class="c"><b>W. W. DEWHURST,</b></p> - -<p class="c">St. Augustine, Florida.</p> - -<div class="footnotes"><p class="cb">FOOTNOTES:</p> - -<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_1_1" id="Footnote_1_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> Naufragios de Alvar Nuñez Cabeça de Vaca, cap. 31. Barcia, -Historiadores, tom. ii.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_2_2" id="Footnote_2_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor_2_2"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> Hakluyt’s translation. French’s Historical Collections, p. -223.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_3_3" id="Footnote_3_3"></a><a href="#FNanchor_3_3"><span class="label">[3]</span></a> Laudonnère’s Narrative, translated by Hakluyt.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_4_4" id="Footnote_4_4"></a><a href="#FNanchor_4_4"><span class="label">[4]</span></a> Laudonnère’s Narrative, French’s Historical Collections, p. -332.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_5_5" id="Footnote_5_5"></a><a href="#FNanchor_5_5"><span class="label">[5]</span></a> Catena, Vita de Pio V., p. 85. “He complained of the count -for not having obeyed his command to slay instantly whatever heretic -fell into his hands.”</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_6_6" id="Footnote_6_6"></a><a href="#FNanchor_6_6"><span class="label">[6]</span></a> Hakluyt’s translation.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_7_7" id="Footnote_7_7"></a><a href="#FNanchor_7_7"><span class="label">[7]</span></a> The arquebuse was a rude musket exploded with a slow -match.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_8_8" id="Footnote_8_8"></a><a href="#FNanchor_8_8"><span class="label">[8]</span></a> Fairbanks’ History of St. Augustine, p. 107.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_9_9" id="Footnote_9_9"></a><a href="#FNanchor_9_9"><span class="label">[9]</span></a> Fairbanks’ History of St. Augustine, p. 112. This chest has -since been broken into fragments and sold to visitors as souvenirs of -the old Spanish occupation. After the last chips had been disposed of, -any old pieces of mahogany were substituted, until the memory of the -chest had faded away, and the trade in mahogany splinters became -unremunerative.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_10_10" id="Footnote_10_10"></a><a href="#FNanchor_10_10"><span class="label">[10]</span></a> Fairbanks, pp. 113, 114.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_11_11" id="Footnote_11_11"></a><a href="#FNanchor_11_11"><span class="label">[11]</span></a> Fairbanks, p. 119.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_12_12" id="Footnote_12_12"></a><a href="#FNanchor_12_12"><span class="label">[12]</span></a> Fairbanks, p. 128. This statement is evidently in error, -as I have shown from Laudonnère’s account that Menendez brought negro -slaves; moreover, the residents of the asylum of all slaves escaping -from the British colonies, and those captured by the Indians under a -standing reward, would hardly rejoice over the arrival of one negro.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_13_13" id="Footnote_13_13"></a><a href="#FNanchor_13_13"><span class="label">[13]</span></a> See Souvenir Album of St. Augustine for a view of the old -lighthouse, which exhibits a salient angle protecting the gate of the -inclosing wall.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_14_14" id="Footnote_14_14"></a><a href="#FNanchor_14_14"><span class="label">[14]</span></a> For an excellent view of this old fort, see Souvenir Album -of Views in St. Augustine.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_15_15" id="Footnote_15_15"></a><a href="#FNanchor_15_15"><span class="label">[15]</span></a> Williams’ Florida, p. 185.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_16_16" id="Footnote_16_16"></a><a href="#FNanchor_16_16"><span class="label">[16]</span></a> For an excellent view of the tablet over the entrance to -the fort, on which is sculptured the Spanish coat of arms and the above -inscription, see Souvenir Album of Views in St. Augustine.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_17_17" id="Footnote_17_17"></a><a href="#FNanchor_17_17"><span class="label">[17]</span></a> Fairbanks’ History and Antiquities, p. 157.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_18_18" id="Footnote_18_18"></a><a href="#FNanchor_18_18"><span class="label">[18]</span></a> For several views of the old fort, see Souvenir Album of -Views in St. Augustine.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_19_19" id="Footnote_19_19"></a><a href="#FNanchor_19_19"><span class="label">[19]</span></a> History of the Three Provinces, by Wm. Gerard de Brahm, -His Majesty’s Survr. Gen. for the Southern District of North America, -from 1751 to 1771. A manuscript work purchased in London, in 1848, for -Harvard College library, for £12 10s. The portion relating to Florida -comprises 173 pages with 14 maps.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_20_20" id="Footnote_20_20"></a><a href="#FNanchor_20_20"><span class="label">[20]</span></a> Spanish bayonet (Yucca Gloriosa). It bears a pyramid of -white flowers, and, as also the prickly pear, by its appearance suggests -the rural scenery of the tropics.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_21_21" id="Footnote_21_21"></a><a href="#FNanchor_21_21"><span class="label">[21]</span></a> I have been unable to find any record of the time or -manner in which any German colony settled in St. Augustine.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_22_22" id="Footnote_22_22"></a><a href="#FNanchor_22_22"><span class="label">[22]</span></a> Romans’s History of Florida, New York, 1775.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_23_23" id="Footnote_23_23"></a><a href="#FNanchor_23_23"><span class="label">[23]</span></a> Romans’s History of Florida.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_24_24" id="Footnote_24_24"></a><a href="#FNanchor_24_24"><span class="label">[24]</span></a> Romans’s History of Florida.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_25_25" id="Footnote_25_25"></a><a href="#FNanchor_25_25"><span class="label">[25]</span></a> A very good view of this old structure is published in the -Souvenir Album of Views in St. Augustine.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_26_26" id="Footnote_26_26"></a><a href="#FNanchor_26_26"><span class="label">[26]</span></a> Romans’s History of Florida, N. Y., 1775.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_27_27" id="Footnote_27_27"></a><a href="#FNanchor_27_27"><span class="label">[27]</span></a> Williams’ Florida, page 190, <small>A.D.</small> 1837.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_28_28" id="Footnote_28_28"></a><a href="#FNanchor_28_28"><span class="label">[28]</span></a> Forbes’ Sketches, etc., N. Y., 1821.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_29_29" id="Footnote_29_29"></a><a href="#FNanchor_29_29"><span class="label">[29]</span></a> See Souvenir Album of Views in St. Augustine.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_30_30" id="Footnote_30_30"></a><a href="#FNanchor_30_30"><span class="label">[30]</span></a> A fine view of the cathedral, showing the four bells in -the tower, and the ornamental front, is given in the Souvenir Album of -Views in St. Augustine.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_31_31" id="Footnote_31_31"></a><a href="#FNanchor_31_31"><span class="label">[31]</span></a> Maza, engraver’s mistake.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_32_32" id="Footnote_32_32"></a><a href="#FNanchor_32_32"><span class="label">[32]</span></a> Forbes’s Sketches, pp. 85 to 89.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_33_33" id="Footnote_33_33"></a><a href="#FNanchor_33_33"><span class="label">[33]</span></a> From inquiry of the old inhabitants I do not find this -statement confirmed. Perhaps the richer class of people made no use of -the ground floors, but the general custom was to use them as is still -done.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_34_34" id="Footnote_34_34"></a><a href="#FNanchor_34_34"><span class="label">[34]</span></a> Vignole’s History.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_35_35" id="Footnote_35_35"></a><a href="#FNanchor_35_35"><span class="label">[35]</span></a> Sprague’s History of the Seminole War.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_36_36" id="Footnote_36_36"></a><a href="#FNanchor_36_36"><span class="label">[36]</span></a> The finding of any bones is denied by Major H. W. Benham, -U. S. A., on the authority of a Mr. Ridgely, Lieutenant Tuttle’s -overseer. Major Benham took charge of the work upon the fort in January, -1839.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_37_37" id="Footnote_37_37"></a><a href="#FNanchor_37_37"><span class="label">[37]</span></a> Williams’s History, page 18.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_38_38" id="Footnote_38_38"></a><a href="#FNanchor_38_38"><span class="label">[38]</span></a> Williams’s History, pp. 115 et seq.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_39_39" id="Footnote_39_39"></a><a href="#FNanchor_39_39"><span class="label">[39]</span></a> Fairbanks’s History, p. 197.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_40_40" id="Footnote_40_40"></a><a href="#FNanchor_40_40"><span class="label">[40]</span></a> Forbes’s Sketches.</p></div> - -</div> - -<hr class="full" /> - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The History of Saint Augustine, Florida, by -William W. Dewhurst - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE HISTORY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE *** - -***** This file should be named 53608-h.htm or 53608-h.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/3/6/0/53608/ - -Produced by Chuck Greif and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images available at The Internet Archive) - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no -one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation -(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, -set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to -copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to -protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project -Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you -charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you -do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the -rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose -such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and -research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do -practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is -subject to the trademark license, especially commercial -redistribution. - - - -*** START: FULL LICENSE *** - -THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE -PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK - -To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free -distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work -(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project -Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at -http://gutenberg.org/license). - - -Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works - -1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to -and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property -(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all -the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy -all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. -If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the -terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or -entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. - -1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be -used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who -agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few -things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works -even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See -paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement -and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic -works. See paragraph 1.E below. - -1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" -or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the -collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an -individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are -located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from -copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative -works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg -are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project -Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by -freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of -this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with -the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by -keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project -Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. - -1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern -what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in -a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check -the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement -before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or -creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project -Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning -the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United -States. - -1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: - -1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate -access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently -whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the -phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project -Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, -copied or distributed: - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org/license - -1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived -from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is -posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied -and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees -or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work -with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the -work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 -through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the -Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or -1.E.9. - -1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted -with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution -must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional -terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked -to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the -permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. - -1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm -License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this -work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. - -1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this -electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without -prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with -active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project -Gutenberg-tm License. - -1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, -compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any -word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or -distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than -"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version -posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), -you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a -copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon -request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other -form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm -License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. - -1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, -performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works -unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing -access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided -that - -- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from - the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method - you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is - owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he - has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the - Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments - must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you - prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax - returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and - sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the - address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to - the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." - -- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies - you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he - does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm - License. You must require such a user to return or - destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium - and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of - Project Gutenberg-tm works. - -- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any - money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the - electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days - of receipt of the work. - -- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free - distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. - -1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set -forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from -both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael -Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the -Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. - -1.F. - -1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable -effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread -public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm -collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic -works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain -"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or -corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual -property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a -computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by -your equipment. - -1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right -of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project -Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all -liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal -fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT -LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE -PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE -TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE -LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR -INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH -DAMAGE. - -1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a -defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can -receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a -written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you -received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with -your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with -the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a -refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity -providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to -receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy -is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further -opportunities to fix the problem. - -1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth -in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER -WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO -WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. - -1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied -warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. -If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the -law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be -interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by -the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any -provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. - -1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the -trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone -providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance -with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, -promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, -harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, -that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do -or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm -work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any -Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. - - -Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm - -Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of -electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers -including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists -because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from -people in all walks of life. - -Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the -assistance they need, are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's -goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will -remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure -and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. -To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation -and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 -and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. - - -Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive -Foundation - -The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit -501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the -state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal -Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification -number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at -http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent -permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. - -The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. -Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered -throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at -809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email -business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact -information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official -page at http://pglaf.org - -For additional contact information: - Dr. Gregory B. Newby - Chief Executive and Director - gbnewby@pglaf.org - - -Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation - -Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide -spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of -increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be -freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest -array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations -($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt -status with the IRS. - -The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating -charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United -States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a -considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up -with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations -where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To -SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any -particular state visit http://pglaf.org - -While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we -have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition -against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who -approach us with offers to donate. - -International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make -any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from -outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. - -Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation -methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other -ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. -To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate - - -Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic -works. - -Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm -concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared -with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project -Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. - - -Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed -editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. -unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily -keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. - - -Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: - - http://www.gutenberg.org - -This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, -including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to -subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. - - -</pre> - -</body> -</html> diff --git a/old/53608-h/images/cover.jpg b/old/53608-h/images/cover.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 20ea4b7..0000000 --- a/old/53608-h/images/cover.jpg +++ /dev/null |
