Wichita eagle., 1888-12-12
DE sOTO'S EXPEDITION.
The Luxuriant South in the Days of tn
Spanish Explorer.
Especial Correspondence

NEW YORK, Nov. 27.-lt was Dr.. Samuel
johnson, philosopher, logician and dictionary
maker, who said: 'sThat man is little to be
envied whose patriotism would not gain
force upon the plains of Marathon, or whose
piety would not grow warmer among the
ruins of Iona"
We Americans find our own country rich
in legend and replete with military glory.
And it is of Georgia long before the English
occupation, almost two centuries in advance
of Oglethorpe's colony, That 1 now write.
Three hundred and twenty five years prior
10 the swarming of Sherman's victorious
troops there was more remarkable march
through Georgia. Its leader had gained fame
and wealth under the banners of PizaTo.
His share Of Peruvian spoilS amounted to a
quarter of million golden crowns. At the
court OF Charles V no handsomer or drawer
Spanish knight than fernando De Soto found
audience and favor He was idolized in Sc
vile, where a lovely wife was chief among
the radiant treasures of his palace. Yet
her affection held him not Fired by
religious zeal and spirit Of adventure, De
Soto gave free rein to his ambition. He de-
termined TO succeed where Ponce De Leon
and brutal De Narvaez had so ingloriously
failed. Late in 1899 he made landing in
Florida, at Tampa bay, accompanied by 600
men. Here the inhumanity of De Narvaez
bore bitter fruit. Thousands Of tho Indians
opposed De Soto, thinking he was as treacher-
Gus and cruel as his predecessor. Step by
step his army fought its way through the
swamps to winter quarters at Anhaica, since
known as Tallahassee. At this point the in
trepid De Soto was Joined by forty Spaniards
of former expeditions. These men had inter
married with the tawny sun worshipers, and
told De Soto marvellous tales Of the mountain
walled cities They promised to lead him
within three weeks to valleys Of richness,
filed with wild game, and where there was
profusion of gold, copper and pearls.
Three thousand friendly Indians had also
attached themselves to De Soto's army, and
as many more of the natives, who had been
captured in different skirmishes, were COM
PEELED to bear the camp equipage and IA
tons A curious itinerary of this first mill
tary tramp through Georgia is extant, but
modern writers have failed to agree upon the
localities which it certifies. On the third
day of March. 1910 this record says, they
left Anhaica, and four days afterward the
whole army crossed a deep river called by
arrived at Capachiqui, and on the 2lst Of
that month came to Ioalli. At the latter
place supposed to be in what is now known az
Irwin county, they remained three days, and
by days quick march reached Achese,
where they stayed one week. On the 4th
of April De Soto and his motley band
passed through the town of Altamaca, reach
ing Ocute on the 10th Of that month Here
two days halt was made Leaving Ocute
on the 18th, they passed through town
whose lord was named Cofaqui, and came OH
the 18th to the province of another chieftain
known as Potofa. The following day they
became separated in an enormous Pine bar
rem and wandered, mere and there, trying to
escape its labyrinths. A week was con-
sumed, during which time two rivers wero
forded Extricated at length from this pre-
dicament, the bulk of the army set out, April
26, 1910, for Aymay, and reached it before
mghtfall Two days subsequent they de-
parted for Cutifachiqui, where numerous
mulberry groves were found. This place is
conceded by local historiographers TO be iden-
teal with Silver Bluff, on the left bank of
the Savannah river, twenty-five miles below
Augusta. On the Sd of Nay the army was
again in motion and week later arrived at
Chelaque May Is, 1910, Xualla was
reached, situated on the fianks of u
mountain, with a small, turbulent
river flowing at its bsse. If Xualla be
not recognized az Nacoochee, "hid in the
hills afar, with the May dew on her breast"
there is no other likeness within Georgia's
present boundaries. In ascending the Sa-
vannah river, De Soto had used charts and
diagrams which, being the work of unskilled
hands, often led him far astray. Taking his
departure from Cutifachiqui undoubtedly
Silver Bluff he was, including all stoppages,
just twelve days on the road to the capital of
the Cherokee nation, a fenced town in
Nacoochees chamring valley. Mount Yonah,
a towering eminence in Habersham county,
is probably the high land' where fernando
De Soto, cavalier and zealot, caused an i'm
mense rude cross to be erected, and where,
morning and evening, the most fervent pray
ers were offered. far above the noise Of Chat
tahoochee's rapids.
Leaving Xualla, after five days rest, the
army went to Guaxule. Nay %, 1910, they
were encamped at Canasagua, and Oh June
5, Chiaha was reached. This is tho present
site of Rome, Ga. From Chiaha, on the 1st
day of July, 1910, new march was begun
It extended for many months and miles
through Alabama and Mississippi to the
waters of that mighty. sluggish river, where
in the third year of his wanderings De Soto's
fever destroyed body was committed TO the
stream. Upon its discovery his fame chiefly
rests.
When he traversed the lagoons, forests and
valleys Of what we now call the South At
lantic and Gulf states of the American re-
public, De Soso's widest dream. OF conquest.
empire and wealth, was scarcely faintest linn.
ing of the grand development of $50 years. At
that time there were fifteen TO twenty thou
sand Indians in Florida and Georgia. Now,
these two states do not contain an aggregate
Of 800. The handsome, Inflated Spaniard
found grave where he sought dominion.
His career is one Of tho few selected of many
to point moral to the youth of free Amer
lea, and adorn apanel in the rotunda of our
national Capitol. Sentimental historians
have pictured him as latter day crusader.
Truth is less gathering. 1t draws no robber
or butcher, like De Narvaez, but shows De
Soto more ehe warrior and adventurer than
the missionary. No civilizing influences
marked his sojourn among the Indian tribes
Of the south. Ever regarding the white
man as their natural enemy they continued
to ne g his advances with that treacherv
which he had been proved fully capable of
melting out TO than Georgias star of empire
glimmered on the horizon two centuries after
De Soto's corpse sank in the turbid Missis-
sippi; it is, in glorious elfulgence, now rapidly
nearing tho zenith.
HENRY CLAY LUNxs
T,iE COUNTRY DANCE.
- cones herewith patch on cheek,