Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1884-09-04
SAN AUGUSTINE.
An Historical Old Oity-Deeds of Horror
-Menendez, 0sceola, the Minorcans,
Etc.-San Marco and the
Spaniards.

Thinking, perhaps, the readers Of the
HERALD might care to know something of
the present condition and former traditions
of San Augustine, Florida, l send you a
brief account of few of the historical
shadows which cluster so thickly around
this, the Oldest EurOpean-settled city in
the United States
Perhaps no other one city upon the
American continent presents to the mind
of the reader or student history so full of
thrilling events as that Of San Augustine.
For fully three and half centuries this
old town has stood upon the ocean shore,
faced the winds and fought the storms
with tenacity unyielding. Equal in con-
flct, she has withstood the tumultuOus on
slaughts of the warning elements without,
and the terrors of domestic strife within.
An utter disregard for human life and hap
piness, and an indifference to the walls of
woe and misery, seem to make up a large
share of our cOuntry's early history. He
mo Ills htpU al ISCOlu Vi ucl SOIlONS GliNl
her tears, knows full well her conflicts and
her trials
The city of Santa Fe, in New Mexico, is
undoubtedly the oldest city within the
limits of the United States, notwithstand-
ing the fact that San Augustine was settled
by Europeans thirteen years previous to
the date of Santa Fe's European settlement.
But San Augustine is generally awarded
the honor of being the Oldest American
accordance with established historical
dates When the Spaniards founded the
present city of Santa Fe they built within
the walls of an indian city larger by far
than the present American one, and l need
not fear contradiction if ! venture to pre-
sumo that it was at that time equally as
handsome city as the present one.
Searching among the records and tradi-
tions of San Augustine our attention will
first be attracted to that portion relating to
Menendez, in his heartless determination
of the early Hugenots, and the man who
were music in the ears of Heaven" and
while his hands were yet CORY with the
life's blood of those innocent Frenchmen,
the brutal Spaniard bowed his head in
holy reverence to benifcent Providence
for making him the favored instrument to
accomplish this bloody deed. Oh, bigotry !.
What enormities thou hast committed in
the name of Christ's holy religion From
the days that the bones of those martyrs
were left dangling from the tree, down to
the massacre of Major Dade and his veteran
warriors by the daring OsceOla, our coun-
| try's record is blackened on almost every
page by deeds of horror and savage cruelty.
/ The historic variations, the traditions and
the thrilling legends of that long period,
known as Spanish Times Under the Old
! Conquerers," are read and listened to with
great interest by people of the present day.
For two hundred years the boastful Cas-
llllldu CdNtllCl UuC SdtCo W tlO
ancient city of San Augustine; for two
| hundred years the banner of Spain waved
! its graceful folds above the blackened
towers of San Marco, bidding defiance to
invading foes. Generation after generation
had come and gone, and still the trowning
battlements of the now ruined fortress,
with their hundred guns, had challenged
the navies of the world To shot and shell
! its thunder scared walls had proved alike
impervious. In their assaults upon this
massive structure so many reckless adven-
turers had come to grief that none were
! supposed to be so tired of life as to brave
its terrors or invade the jurisdiction of its
majesty. But there came at last time
when the proud and revengeful Spaniard
| had to retreat before the superior prOwess
of the British Lion" The English took
| formal possession of Florida in the year
1862, making San Augustine the seat of
government. Greatly to the distaste Of the
Spaniards, who had so long been accus-
toned to having things their own
way, the English set up their
own forms of government, customs and
! habits in their midst Like the ancient
Israelites mourning the loss of their de-
parted leader, or disgusted with customs
they could not tolerate, the Spaniards
mournfully folded their tents and silently
stole away" Many went back to Spain,
some to Cuba, and few remained to be
tortured by the scenes of happier. days, in
sight of their old homes that would never
be home to them again.
Spanish Incidence in San Augustine, as
in the mother country, the morbid thirst
of the inhabitants for mineral wealth, and
their habits of idleness, diverted the mind
of the Spaniard from the true source Of
wealth, agriculture, and induced state of
inactivity from which they never aroused.
So egregiously neglected had been the agri-
cultural interests of the country that the
English saw it was necessary for the very
existence of its population that this interest
should be looked to with great care and
attention. Hence the introduction of what
/ is known as the "Minorcans" or 'Turnbulrs
colony"
| Dr. Turnbull, an enteIprising Scotch
man. associated with Sir William Duncan,
of London, organized u scheme whereby
they might settle the country with hardy