Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1843-03-08
OH FORT Sr.L0ulS.

q fANN ~ .-Nb4%N AA d s'i.' iD-sCLskN ~ = =.
Al almost every step, IA ihis part OF
! Florida, are 10 be found traces vi the
DID Spanish settlements Slich some
! hundred uui n!ty, aud Two huGIrcd
years ago, were scattered over a relt
! portion of this Territory Here are To
! DC seen extensive foundations, with
| portions OF their walls stall slanding -
thcre, commandments. entreuchln ,nts,anh
/ gateway s-ali easily 10 bs distinguish
F Ell, though oyergrowH with the lof lest
. pines Or oaks, aai wherever hc soil j.,
/ disturbed Irc ,hrDYn up the signs OF
Stale mi warfare gun barrels, broken
swords. mingled ws;a the bones OF
horse ana man Anon We cutro upun
the ruin OF SOM Suburban residence: of
brick or taDby. Sil.l SucrOJu Ted with the
vigorous. though Old Uui venerable live
oaks. with their luag ,treaners o.! moss.
al lleg;eu w,ih gTCtt regularity. So as
10 form avenues or 0rnUnnulat shades
10 the dwellings Of the people. of u by
gone century. Deeply wo-n roads may
also be traced EuauiuL the country in
all directions
About NO miles west oithe city OF
I Tallahassee, lie the ruins OF what tradi-
ZION says was once the Spanish fort ),
Louis TIA; atten'ioa has beer recently
directei 10 these rains, from the circutn
stance, that a very intelligent gentle
man, iormrrly Of Georgia, now OF Ala
btml, has at this time. mduy laborers
engaged In eXc0varing tao site of this
old Tort, on scar IA after hidden treas
ures. Whether or No. ne may succeed
n bringing TO light any considerable de
PoS!'c Ol The precious III tails, Is not for
US 10 say. Bat he has al ready IN own
up from beneath the soil, where they
hal inag been en;ombed, many articles
men VIII possess greet interest with
the antiquarian
here has long existed popular b.
let, that beneath mnny Of these Old
Forts, lie con, ealed mech of the wealth
ol TIE past agc-.arge hnarIs OF pre-
clous metals. Ch,S bslIei has been gath
cred from the traditions curreIt among
the Indians, US well Us from The few his.
torlcai iacIs which remain, Of the con-
dItlon Of the Splulsh inhabitants, who
Tor more than hunire years, forish-
Ell IN this section OF The country. That
they were wealthy is evident from whar
remllnS OF their dwellings, their fortlf
cations, their orange groves, their cX-
tensiye plan iations--the signs Of which
may yet be trac Il. The Gulf coast Of.
Florida. was long the favorilc resort,
and her bays aud rlets, but little kucwni
10 the rest Of the world, long continued
TO be the same re;Teat-of thai bold, DIES |
perate and reckless race OF buccaneers.
who durlag IN 18th century 50 much
infested he Southern seas Il was from
ihIs coast hat they drew lhei main
supplies and when driven crom the O.
cean, 1t was here in these unknown re-
gIons that they sough, salty. And ac
cording TO tradition, it was to lie Span
lsh Forts and settlements that they
carried much Of The blood stained wealth,
VII en- they hal gathe ei By piracy from
the four Corners cf the earth
Under thcF.o5Ie government Of S pain,
there was no authority Perhlps no ais
position within Ih,s di slant colony.-,o
bring the lreebaolerS to justice. Indeed
Florida, tor long period seems to have
been as much forgotten by her parent
government, as she was unknown 10 all
The world beside. And ifthe connection
OF THO sett eIRcnts with the buccaneers
Is such as some traditions have repre-
scented It TO bet may be presumed they
themselves, did not care 10 make their
condition more extensively known
Al what precise period this Spanish
race erased to occupy the country. is not
now exactly known. From tue growth
oi the oaks and tn, pines above their
tormer dwellings. il may be supposed
that 1t was much over hundred years
ago. That they were driven forth by
war, by violence, and with a bloody
hand, IS evident from the marks which
they left behind them. The traditions
current among the Indians, all tell the
same story.
Tradition says, that the Re Liops now
known as Georgia. upper South CAROL
ma, and Alabami, poured their Indian
hordes into Florida. The SpanIards,
who were not in the first interruption
bulchered, relrcated TO their Forts, and
long maintained an obstinate and blooIy
contest with their savage eighbors..-
The overwhelming numl ers, however,
of the savagcs, al length proved an
yer match for their dicip inc, and the
most rcsOlutC and Unylelding courage Of
the SpauIards. They we've driven from
one strong hold after another;or buried
themselves beneath their ruins.
And al length, the Old Fort 5, Louis
became The last point where the Span.
Iards could maintain a foolhold from
st Augustine TO Pensacola. llilher had
those who escaped from tho Slaughter
and the destruction OF other posts, been
drlyen-bringing with them lh,ir treas