The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1888-09-28
Brief Bits OF Florida History.

upon its shores until the I'd of April. The
point at which he landed is supposed to
have been a short distance northerly Of
St. Augustine. Having made the discoy.
cry of this fair land-which he thought
was an island-on Palm Sunday, or, as it
is called in Spanish, Pascua Florida, and
no doubt being delighted by the trailing
vines of verdant green and great banks
of bright co1ored flowers which opened up
to his view, he gave it the name of FLoR
IDA--the Island of Flowers "-and
more appropriate name could not have
been found. A cross was planted, the
royal banner of Spain was unfurled to
the breeze, and Florida was declared a
Spanish Province by the Right of Discov.
cry.
When Ponce de Leon discovered Flor.
ida he was in search of a tabled land
which it was said contained within its Dor.
ders stream, whose waters were gifted
with the power Of giving to all who bathed
therein the freshness of youth and a reno.
walton of all their faculties. Florida wn
80 beautiful that he thought he had found
the land of promise. He searched dill.
gently for the Fountain of Youth, but
found it not, though, in poetical sense,
the Wakulla Springs, which are located
le miles south of Tallahassee, might well
be taken for such a fountain. A writer.
speaking of this spring, says: Who
that has ever foated on the bright waters
Of the mystic Wakulla Spring that did
not feel his pulses thrill with delight at
the almost unreal character Of the scenes
the waters so pellncid that one seems
suspended in mid-air; the shadows from ]
the skies above rest in changin, beauty
in its depths; while the bright sunlight
fecks the silvery rocks below with rays
of dazzling brightness, and an azure tinge
encircles every object and surrounds it
with halo of purplish light. 1t is not
strange that it should be deemed to pos
sess renovating elixir, and to promise,
to those who would dwell by its banks
and disport in its waters, a restoration Of
youthful vigor and energy"
The oldest town in America is ST. Au.
gustine, it having been founded in 1866
and it yet contains many historic land
marks of the centuries ago, when it was
Spanish city. St. Augustine was attacked |
and destroyed in 1886 by Sir Francs
Drake, and at that time it was possessed
OF hall of justice, parish church and
monastery. AS soon as Drake departed
the Spanish Governor returned and com
menced to rebuild the town, and in l647it
contained population of some 800 fami
lies.
The first African slaves were brought to
Florida in 1857 by DeAila.
In 1902 Fort San Luis, two miles west
of Tallahassee, was the principal town ia
Middle Florida, and on the 10Th Of Janr
airy, 1903, a bloody battle was foughs
there between the English and Spanish
The English, commanded by Governc
Moore, of Carolina, and the Spanish BY
Don Juan Mexia In this war the En-
glish burnt the towns Of San Luis and
Ayavalla, the latter located near S.
Marks, totally destroying their churchs
and forts and carrying off everything q
value, inclu ding the church plate and 81
cred vestments. San Luis is now the
property of Mr. Emile Dubois, is plantea
in vineyards, and there he manufactura
thousands of gallons of as fine wine =
ever came from France or Italy.
In March, 1918, the old Spanish Fort 4
St. Marks was erected, and was namd
San Marcus de Apalache. Nothing d
this fort now remains, the stone from il
ruins having been used to build the Uni
ted States Hospital at St. Marks, but thes
can yet be seen, and the door-stone, upon
which was cut the date of erecting th
fort, is now in the possession of Mrs. 81
len Call Long, of Tallahassee.
In 1858 Florida had grown to be quits
an important province, and, in that yesrs
her exports amounted to about O,00e
Ten years later, in 1878, Florida's export
had increased to over $4,000. Florids
indigo brought the highest price of any
sold In the London market, and in III
there were forty thousand pounds exs