The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1885-07-03
THREE wEEKs.D0wN SOUTH.

Pensacola is. after ST. Augustine, the
earliest Southern settlement in the T. S,
aud has been subject to more changes than
aly otIrr city 10 the UniGn. While she
prides herself on her antiquity there are
hut few descendants OF either her Spanish
OF French inhabitants.
Earlier than 400 it adIbe-n occupied bv
the French and the Spanish successivelv
The fe1 French by whom it was originally
cOlonized, were disiodged in 1899 bya colony
Of Spanards from Vera Cruz, who held pos
session until 17l9 wheniit was captured by
the Fren ch under Btenville Only few
years after the Spaniards regained posses
sion and held it till 1853 when the British
acquired possession. Some 20 years later
the Spanish General Aloez, reconquered it
and two years later it was finally ceded to
SPAN In 1921 it. with tie rest OF Florida
was ceded to the United Sta'eS.
During our war of 1912 with Great
Rritain, the Spanish permitted the British
to have possession Of the town for spgres-
sive purposes on our army; but in 1914 Gen.
jackson took the town and the old Spanish
of San Miguel and st. Bernard by assault.
and again in 1918 took Fort Barrancas. TO
States under Spanish auspices.
During the late civil war Pensacola wa
subjected to very vicisituie; during a por-
tion OF the late civil war it was alternately
in the hands of the Uaionists and the rebels;
but the greater part of the time was neg
lected by both and constant prey to the
hangers on of both armies. Shortly before
its close a disastrous fire destroyed a great
portion of the town.
To add to her calamites, since the war
the city has been badly governed She
was involved in an immense debt withGu:
any corresponding improvements. The
cOlOred element prednminated aud with a
few whites, by whom they were controlled
elected the officers.
This has at ly baen remeiied by process
more practical than Democratic A general
law was passed and signed 10y Gov. Berry,
providing that when a city or town had an
Indebtedness exceeding 81 900. the State
should take charge of the administration OF
Its local affairs From what I could learn
it seemed like the appointment of a re-
ceiver for an insolyent corporation in the
North. Under the new regime the city is
as vancinR in prosperity.
travers ed good portion OF the city
There is single line of street railway. And
the town as all other Florida towns, is built
on a light white sand, nearly as soft and
yielding as a feather. In taking the street
car you had to travel through this sand, an
inch deep; as soft as snow bank would be
in Ebensburg.
In the business part of the city the shops
were shops indeed. Disconnected with any
residences single story in height, though
in every respect they were showy and pros
porous.
The Court house was as modest and un-
pretending as one of our school houses.
Judge Maxwell is a good lawyer and an ex-
cellent judge.
Instead OF dinner we took an early lunch
and started. with some companions, on
pleasure excursion on board a snug little
steamer We first visited Fort Plckens on
the western point of the island of Santa
Rosa. Here is the naval station under COM
mand of Commodore Gibson. The fort was
the scene Of several conflicts during the
war. Here Billy Wilson's celebrated New
York zouaves lay on the sandy fat outside
the fortress. Here we picked up an abund-
ance of beautiful SHELLS, star-fish, &c. The
point of the island is almost covervd by i'm
mense piles or cannon balls and other mu-
nitiODs of war.
From the fort we staemed out into the
Cult of Mexico, viewed the light house
and Fort San Carlos at Banancos, swung
around and re entered the bay under the
guns of FOrtMcKee. The harbor of
Pensacola is surely we'll protected with Fort
Pickens on the island and Fort Mckee di-
rectly opposite on the mainland
And an excellent harb0r IL Is, admitting
vessels of % feet draft. Quite number of
large merchant ships were anchored In the
bay, and an infinite number of smaller
craft. The exports are mainly Iumber-and
this principally Southern pine of which 1
! have already spoken, with a smaller quan-
| tity OF Palmetto. The latter seems quite
SOFT and uusubstantial, but it is much used
for piles at the piers Of harbors as it is said
to be the only species of wood never inter
fered with by submarine destroyers
may say that | never enjoyed a more
pleasant trip. The vessel was In fine trim
the sea breeze was balmy and invigorat-
ing, except in the gulf and the antics OF the
PROPOSES, which ever and anon threw them
selves spUrtiyely above the water; all made
few hours Of the most exciting pleasure.
TRAVELLER
ROLn