Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1875-03-25
Misturp uf $. Garulina.
Written for the Yorkvile Enquirer.
HISTORICAL SKETCHES
OF THE
Early Settlement of South Carolina
BY REV. ROBERT LATHAM
INTRODUCTORY.

columbus anueu on one VI Lne DaIdlua
Islands. The Indians called it Guanahani.
1t is now known by the name of Waiting.
The three ships which constituted the fleet of
Columbus, together with the ninety individ-
uals who accompanied him in his expedi-
tion, had been furnished by Spain. Hence,
Spain in part based her claim to the country
which is now known all over the civilized
world by the name of America. Whilst Co.
umbus was at the court of Spain, he commu-
nicated with Henry the Seventh, Of Eng and.
Before the messenger, his own brother,
Bartholomew, returned, however, the Spanish
government, which at first acted very slowly,
had made provisions for the expedition to
search for land on the western side Of the At
antic.
On the 9th day of March, 1896, Henry the
Seventh, of England, granted commission to
John Cabot and his three sons-Lewis, Se-
bastan and Sanctius-to take possession, in
the name of the King of England, of any and
all countries in the north, east or west, not
occupied by any Christian State. For some
reason not now known, Cabot did not set sail
until May, 1897. He and his son, Sebastian,
sailed from Bristol. The King furnished
them one ship, and the merchants of Bristol
furnished them four other small vessels. They
touched upon the continent Of America, some
place near St. Johns, New Foundland, and
proceeded as far south as the latitude of Vir.
ginia, and returned home. Upon this, the
English government laid claim to the CONT.
nent of America The expedition amounted
to nothing, however for Henry, on many &C.
counts, was not inclined to accomplish the un-
dertaking which he had begun with so much
zeal. Both Spain and Portugal claimed the
continent of America, although it was not
yet, in fact, discovered. ! The controversy be-
tween these two contendng powers was put
into the hands of the Pope for arbitration.
On the 9TH of May, 1893, he decided that
Spain was to have all countries which she had
discovered, or might in the future discover,
west of line drawn through the Azores from
pole to pole and Portugal, all east Of said
line. Henry, at that time, was negotiating a
marriage between bis son, Arthur, and Cath
crime, the daughter of Ferdinand, King Of
Spain, and had no time to plant colonies.
In the year 1893, Columbus landed on the
northeastern coast of South America, at some
place not far from the mouth Of the Orinoco.
This was six years after his first voyage.
Cuba, St. Domingo and Porto Rico, were, in
short time, settled by the Spaniards, and
served as a kind of nucleus from which they
attempted to send out colonies. These colo
nies advanced in a north and northwesterly
direction.
There was a tradition amongst the natives
of Porto Rico, that in one Of the Bahama
Islands, there WAS certain fountain which
possessed magic virtues. 1t was currently re-
ported, and generally believed by both the ma
tives of Porto Rico and the Spaniards, that
whoever would bathe in this fountain and
drink of its waters, would be instantly restored
to all the vigor and bloom of youth, and life
with all its joys would be perpetuated. In the
year 1872 Juan Ponce de Leon, once Govern
or of Porto Rico, now an old man and vete-
ran soldier, fitted out three ships and set out
/ in quest of this fountain of youth. On the
18th of March, 1912, the fleet of Juan Ponce
de Leon set sail. 1t cruised about amongst
the Bahamas, in search of the tabled fountain
of youth, until, on Easter Sunday, forest,
adorned with the richest flowers was discov-
cred. To this newly discovered land, the
Spaniards gave the name Florida, which it
still retains. The fountain was not discovered,
and Juan Ponce de Leon, after returning to
Porto Rico and being appointed Governor OF
Florida, and having returned to it, was NOR,
tally wounded in conflict with the natives
He was driven by them from the country,
and in his flight, he went to Cuba, where he
died of his wounds.
About the year 1920, company OF seven
rich planters and miners, residing on the
island of St. Domingo, equipped two vessels
and put them under the command of Lucas
Velasquez de Ayllon, Judge of Appeals. The
object of this cruise was to gather up labor
ers to work their farms and mines. The yes.
sells reached the shores of South Carolina,
about thirty.fve miles southwest from where
the city of Charleston now stands. The spot
where the shore was reached was at, or near,
the mouth of the Combahee river. The ma
tives called the country Chiquola.
Velasquez was at first an object of wonder
to the natives. They we're cautious; but soon
their reserve gave way to acts of kindness and
hospitality. Velasquez was, at heart, mon
ster. He enticed the unofending natives to
visit his ships, and at time when large
number had gathered on deck, he hoisted his
sails and set out for St. Domingo On his
way to St. Domingo, one of his vessels went
down into the deep, taking with it all the
Spaniards and captured Indians on board
Many, on the other vessel, in which was We
lasouez himself, died before they reached
their place of destination. Notwithstanding
the great loss with which Velasquez met in
this expedition, it still was profitable to him.
Animated by the hopes of greater gain, he in
vested his whole fortune in three ships, and
calculated to amass large estate by engag,
ing extensively in the slave trade In the
year 1924 he again landed, or rather was
driven to the shore of Chiquola, at the mouth
of the Combahee river. The largest of his
three vessels ran aground. The Indians
thirstng for vengeance, seized the OCCASION
rushed upon the Spaniards buffeting the
waues and with a cruelty which is character.