Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1872-05-03
81. Angnstine. Florida.

: PRESENT CONDITION AND BUSINESS.
Correspondence Of the Bellows Falls Times
Editor Times This city, the most an
Gent in North America, is situated on a
peninsula nearly surrounded by the ST.
Sebastian river and st. Augustine bay.
The population is said to be thirty-hve
hundred, mostly Spanish and Minorcan
descent. According TO history the town
was founded by Menendez, the Spanish
governor of Florida, in 1865. 1t was
laid waste by the French first. In 1886
it was attacked and plundered by the
English. In 1911 it was pillaged by the
Indians. In 1865 the English buccanier
Davis, sacked it, after the inhabitants
had taken refuge in fort. In 1902
Gov. Moore of the English colony OF
South Carolina, invaded Florida, and at
tackled the city, but was baftied by the
fort. In 1712 the inhabitants suffered
from famine in consequence of non-ar-
rival of supplies from Spain. In 1923
the Georgians under Col. Palmer were
beaten off. In 1740 Gen. Oglethrorp,
Gov. of Georgia, laid regular siege to
the city, planting his batteries on Anas-
tasia Island, and bombarded the fort
thirty-eight days He failed to force the
Spaniards to surrender, and retired. The
city passed into the possession of the
British by treaty in 1863. In 1884 it
was receded to Spain, and in 1919 trans
ferred to the United States. During the
late rebellion it changed masters three
times. 1t now appears to be in state
of perfect tranquility, except the hustle
occasioned by the arrival and departure
of visitors which have passed over the
St. Augustine and Tocoi wooden railroad
at the rate of about fifty per day each
way during number of weeks past.
The steamer Mic King, also runs here
once week. There are two hotels and
number of private boarding houses,
but there is great want of hotel accom-
modations. The barracks, said to have
once been monastery or convent, are
occupied by U. S. troops. The old Span
ish fort now called Marion, is a curiosity
1t stands on the sea front at the upper
end of the city, the wall formerly run
ming from it to the gateway, and west to
the river. 1t is built of coquina Ga COM
position of small shells and sand which
is found on Anastasia island.) The en-
trance to the harbor is directly in front
Of the fort. This castle is square, sup
ported by four bastions. On the salient
angles are three turrets, the one at the
northwest corner having disappeared.
The interior is divided into number of
apartments one of which appears to have
been used as chapel, having an altar
and nitches for holy water. Another
with a platform supposed to have been
used for council chamber and also it
is said was used as prison and was where
the Indian chief Wild Cat was confined
and from which he escaped through
very narrow window, after having starv-
ed himself to shadow. But the most
dismal of them all is the one discovered
only few years since. A square rock
was discovered cemented into the wall
unlike the other work, which was remov-
ed and lightwood torches brought, which
revealed dungeon, in which were two
iron cages; one hanging up to the wall,
the other on the floor. They were made
of hoop iron and fitted to the forms that
wore them. They contained human
bones and are supposed to be bones Of
members of the royal family. The en-
trance is SO small to this dungeon that it
is only effected By crawling in on the
hands and knees. This is the only place
that admits a particle of air and the at
mosphere is so foul and hot that no one
wishes to stay there only to take a hur-
ried survey of the dreadful place. The
fortwas built, is said, principally by the
forced labor of Indian slaves, commenced
in 1920 and fnishedin 1856. In full view
on Anastasia Island stands the old light
house built more than century ago,
and surmounted with a fine revolving
lantern. just south of the lighthouse is
to be built new one, the water wearing
the land away so rapidly around'the old
one that it will soon have to be aband n
ed. A fine sea-wall of nearly a mile in
length, built of coquina with coping
of granite protects the entire ocean front
of the city, and wide enough for two per-
sons to walk abreast. The old cathedral
with its quaint belfrey, its chime of four
bells in separate inches and its clock, to-
gether forming cross, and its antique
interior is an object of much interest.
The Oldest bell is marked 1852. The
bells are beaten with sticks instead Of
being rung in the usual way. The Old
Government house il now used as the
post Office and United States Court rooms.
There are two converts, the old Spanish
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