The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1876-02-24
Was ID, Soto in Central and Western
.TeXaSi

Thirty-one years ago, while the late Gov
e:nor George II. Gilmer and Joseph Henry
Lumpkin still lived and were citizens of
Lexington, Georgia, the Ex-Governor, then
an old man, devoted himself to the collec-
ton of a mineralogical cabinet. There
came to Lexington the then Spanish consul
at Charleston, the guest of Mr.. Gilmer. He
was looking at the large and curious collec
ton of minerals and archaeological remains
when, with an exclamation of glad surprise,
he picked up large caruelian. 1t was per-
forated through its greatest length, and at
each end there were projections far enough
apart to be grasDed by the hand between.
The Spaniard hurried to the Governor, ask
ing him where and how he obtained the
stone He answered that it was plowed up
in field not far from Columbus, Georgia,
and with it the breech of a musket. The
Spaniard was speechless for moment, and
then asked: ''Do YOU know what use was
| m de of this stoup!" Mr.. G.lmer protested
his ignorance alt is an old Castilian dag
ger handle, said the Consul, land very few
ever existed. 1t would be esteemed invalu-
able in my country Even so it must be
here" said Mr. Glmer, ''since it fixes
point in the path of DeSot0 from Florida
| 70 Arkansas aud Texas" Since Ex-Governor
Gllmer's death that stone has disappeared.
A few years ago it was no longer In the cab
| met which he bequeathed to the University
of Georgia.
But now comes the cambridge ga Dem
Ocrdt telling US that it has before it one of
the most interesting relics of past ages. II
| is nothing more nor less than a portion Of
the armor wCrn by Spanish soldier nearly
three and half centuries ago. The part
| consists of a helmet with visor, and one arm,
all being of wrought iron, one-sixth OF an
inch thick, and weighs seventeen pounds.
Some idea can thus be formed of the weight
of the entire suit of mail, when we say that
the above constitutes less than one-tbird OF
it. This relic was plowed up by farmer
in Jefferson county, Florida, about the year
1856. lie did not know what 1t was, or
perhaps be would have reclaimed 4, but he
only took enough for use as weights 70 MS
gate, for which il answered admirably.
Some years afterward, gentleman passing
the farmers house was struck by the oddlty
of the construction of the old iron with
which the gate was weighted, AMI, upon ex-
animation. found it To he no less than por-
non of "A coat-of-mail. He at once pI ocured
the weights or Armor, from the farmer,
which lie carried-to Tallahassee, where con-
siderable interest and attention were at
trscted thereto. The gentleman went TO
Cuba, where he died, leaving the relic with
the late Attorney General GalbrAith, OF Flori-
da The soldier who wore this armor was,
beyond doubt, one of the followers of Fer
nando DeSoto, the discoyerer of the Missis-
sippi, who explored Florida IN the year 1888.
The soldier was probably killed ia one oi
the many battles which that gallant band
had with the Indians, and was buried with
his armOr on, three hundred and sixty years
ago.
Not very long ago farmer, OF whom the
Denison NeVs or Sherman Courier was tell
ing, when digging well, found copper
kettle and psr, Of musket-siock- lroE
and steel 500 disappear. but wood buried
endures through an indefinite period. Thos'
who saw these articles Of wood and coppel
said they had been deposited there age
ago." The question is, whether there Is an!
I fact showing certainly thst the gun ane
: kettle we're not lost by some frontiersmen o
our time. and we would have the Nelcs o
: Courier gather more accurate information
! DeSoto was certainly in Texas. even as va
La Sale, who died here; but how Tar ives
did DeSoto prosecute his Journey toward
. the City Of Mexico which, after crossing tn
I Mississippi, be sought TO reachf