The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1852-09-02
CHAPTER II.

lDe Ayllon's Siavc-hunt in Florida. The tur-tradC
South, commenced. Rctributon.
Following ia the footsteps Of the unfortunate d,
Leon, came explorer of different stamp. Tho
conquest Of the island, and Of Mexico far progress
q ed 10 have thrown already many rich mines intC
possession OF the Spaniars, who required nunerou.
able hands to work them. Some wealthy miner.
Ebethought themselves of de Leon's discovery, as a
resource in this exigency; and fitted out two yes
seis for cruising among the islands, and along the
Of Florida, to capture many of the hardy Ia
dian natives might BE- requiste % supply the
mines with slaves. Vas2ufz de AyH)a, was the chic
selected to conduct this slave hunting expedition
which in 1920, reached the Eastern of Florida
in latitude 32 deg North, above the first landing o.
Ponce de Leon. Anchoring in a river which the
ESpaniards named Jorden, by some thought TO be den
8tIcal with the Savannah, and by others, with thc
Combahce, in South Carolina; and IN a country call
ed 10y the natives, Chicorea. AT this place, Europe
were unknown To the natives, who al first fed il
terror to the woods. The Spaniards succeeded i,
&dispeng their fears, and in entcins them on boarc
their vessels, where they traded beads and trinkyts
for martTs SKINS pearl and some gold End silrU
This fourteen years IN advance of Carriers open
Il ing the traffic for iIs with the Northern Indians
! in the Gulf Of ST. Lawrence; and * would seem
&therefore that the commencement Of the ~ American
fur trade, should date fom this voyage of de Avon
Once on board, the unsuspecting Indians thrOngec
the ships, gazing with evident admiration on the fan
skins the long boards, splendid clothing, and bril-
liant armor of their visitors, and examining with nc
less wonder the huge canoes in which they came. -
As soon as a sufficient number had been enticed be-
low decks, the Spanards closed the matches, ant
! made all sail for 81. Domingo. b. this base anc
perdi0us act husbands from wives and parents from
children were torn asunderi but Heaven's vengeance
slept not then, Afterwards on the crime. Storms
arose on the voyage, retrbutive disasters overlook
+ them: one vessel with all on board was lost and
.ho fhf
remaiued suilen and gloomy, aud refusing all food
. the most died Of famine and melancholy. The fail
ure Of this nefarious speculation should have taught
wisdom, if not humanity; but appears to have done
Enei,her. The cupdity of de 3yll)n rather stmulat
4 ed him to further cutrages. Obtaining from TIE
Spanish Ruler, commission as Governor Of Ctacuea
! with authority to make conquest Of it, he wasted
= his whole fortune in the preparation Of feet and
troops, with which he once more anchored in the
sJorien in the year 1925. Vengeance is mine' saith
she Lord, Sand I viii repay The mi,for,unes Of
1.-The pirate savc-hunter, eaily commenced. lie pen.
etrated but little distance interior, mostly following
4 the sea shore. Soon his largest ship stranded
land lost. Nor had the lapse of five years made the
natives forget their former wrongs. They az once
planned the entire destruction Of their envaders.-
Descending their resentment by acts Of hospitality
! land friendship, they gained the confidence of the
sSpanlards, completely deceising Nasqncz, who b.
5heved the coustry ALREADY -ubdoed to hls sway, he
Therefore readily permitted hundred Of his men
1o accept the invitation Of the natives t. visit their
(village, nine miles distant, for festive entertainment,
HE remaining with small force to guard the ships.
Eat drink and be merry, for tomorrow " die.
1he natives entertained their guests with fastng and
mith, Tor three days, until they were placed CON-
pletely off their guard. The third night, the indi
ans rose upon them, massacied every soul, and at
lday break the next morning, supprzed de Ayon and
{his handful Of guards, at the haIbor. Wounded and
Edismayed, few only escaped to the ships and with
;all speed hastened back to ST. Domingo, to tell the
bloody tale. Vasaacz de Aylioo, according to some
|accounts, ,emancd among the sain but others state
|tha. he returned wounded TO st. Domingo, where
mortified pride, and ruined fortune hurried him, bro
Iksn-healted TO his grave. OF six hundred persons
who had entered Florida with him, only ffty-sevcn
Returned alive ost Of it. God is just.