New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-09-01
TENNESSEE.

DE SOTO AND HIS COAPANIONs-MR. LAW AND
THE MISSISSIPPI LAND COMPANl-AN AN
GENT RELIC-ESOEMOUS COAL DEPOSITS
THE LITTLE ROCK AND FORT SMITH RAIL
ROAD. ~
SPADRA. Johnson Co., Ark. Aug. S.-The
commercial port Of spadra is yet rather unpre
tending, comprising only couple OF store'houses,
backsmith's establishment three or four dwellings, and
an humble temple erected by speculative IeutOn 10
Gambrinus and reQucntcd by tie bibuous 10 an extent
that would have disgusted Father Matthew. Meager
however as are its attractions spadra Ia ch In recolec
thong Of the past for De Soto supposed to have honored
This spot with his presence. The tradition Is that Dc
Soto disguised with his repeated failures to discover tho
precious metals the banks of the Father OF waters
assembled its bosom until his boats hoated on the Aka
sas up which lie Travelled so far that at last the nag
Of CASTLE noated the bluffs OF Spad1a
What became Of these adventurous Spaniards is un-
known but IL is fair 10 that not having struck
lead" the entire party reGmbarked and returned Cen
tures rolled on and when Philip of Orleans WAS regent
OF France and frequently impecunous by reason OF
he devoons the shrnes OF Bacchus and Venus, one
Mr. Law a carpet.bagger from Scotland, suggested to
ms ROYAL Hghness that the magnificent domain France
then possessed in America teemed with the metals which
converted ios dorS would not only repenish the
exhausted Ducal exchequcr but increase the glory ana
mower OF the kingdom The result OF these persuasons
was the organization Of the Mississippi Land Company
which aided by the French Government commemorative
,,e,cut of norton Of Arkansas in the early part OF
-
the last century The Post of Arkansasthe rst colony
q, tis Stakeholder satisfied the soldiers who were III
rct NJ fame the avaricous who wanted gold, nor INC
i.i, Fathers who desired the conversion OF SOULS 10
lo Comroandante fitted expedition. and one me
uoriue the solitude Of spadra was disturbed ny 'he
strains OF , n, IT., PAN
m olody OF which as echoed through thelofehts ana
o,org Tic hills proclaimed that the troops OF DIS Ma
os,v the eldest son Of the Church." had landed Iho'
debarkatiop Effected the party hed them III search o
that which they most coveted. one OF the priests
ascending the Of the creek which moved W INC
camn came upon spot beautiful in its solitude ana sur
ronnded by oaks where strange object met MS gaze
me broken portion OF welrusted sword what conla
,oauf IIurrying back 10 the camp, hC shONeu IL W ms
10Y and officers men, clergy, COOKS, ana an IT,
poat the relic What could 10 bel No s0htlOn oi lho
no1n was reached til of the priests, himself rom
Inc mountains Of the Pyrenees broke out ~ b gnJ6es
smsnish natos, "spadra" word when sign hd
..rnLen swordD The mutilated weapon was iuIps.cu
and "a upon It's Hit was found marked the CIoss VI
@ LII sone spanlsh words almost nIeglDe, thc coh
eson NJ the was that II had beeh he pI
or,y ~ some one Of the following OF DE SOtO
S,yed INC made OF that redOubaDle warrior nhseIi.
The truth that call is not gold that glters t 81
,ts veri1catiOn IN the eIa inalOh VI tho M"t pdh,
e.dra v INV predecessors II the latln race VINO
~ toD,h MAT the shiny substance on the pea VI tne
Cheated the existence Of gold OF silver. buI tio
bich underlie the surface of the creek are coi
coal of tho very richest qnality-and althouk
~ "Utj,e country near the banks OF tle ar
LaTsas from Little Rock as Tar west as IotD
GiDsOp is one vast c0alls.a' lV'b"s MA WV