The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-01-28
THE WALLS GET HIGHER.
THE WORK ON THE NEW HOTEL
KEEPS MOVING.
Nearly One Hundred and Fifty Men
Employed-The Asphalt Pavement

Employed-The Asphalt Pavement
Sketch OF De Soto, and the South
IN the Days of the Spanish Ex-
plorer-His Expedition in Georgia.
Tie rains Of last week impeded the pro-
gress Of the work on the new hotel, but
bvery available intermission between show
ers was utilized. The foundation and base
ment walls are nearly completed, and some
of the floor beams are in place at the Lib
erty and Drayton street corner. Many OF
the door and window frames Of the base
ment have already been put in place, and
the rest of the frames for the basement
openings are on the ground.
This week will be one of activity on the
building. The contractors have at work a
force of nearly $50 men, principally white,
and the work will be pushed vigorously to
make up for time lost by the inclement
weather.
TIE clouds cleared away yesterday, and
during the afternoon there was a steady
flow of visitors examining the new walls and
noting the progress Of the work and on the
asphalt pavement on Liberty street, which
is nearly com pleted to the Bull street cor
ner, and with good weather will be finished
to Drayton street by the close of the week.
With the large force working on the
hotel building, and the employees Of thu
Southern Vulcanite Paving Company
working in the same square this week, it
will bs the liveliest part of the city.
The paving company has its barrels Of
distlllate distributed as far east as Haber-
sham, the bare granite spread to Lincoln
street and the binder down as far as Bull
street The asphalt pavement has been
completed on the north side Of Liberty to
the east side of Whitaker street, and will
complete the south side Of the street to an
equal distance to-day, and be well advanced
on the way to Bull street.
DE sOTo's EXPEDITION.
In connection with the new hotel will be
read with interest Mr.. Henry Clay Luken's
description Of De Soto's expedition and of
the luxuriant south in the days of the
Spanish explorer.
Three hundred and twenty-five years prior
to the swarming Of Sherman's troops there
was a more remarkable march through
Georgia. Its leader had game fame and
wealth under the banners of PiZarro His
share Of Peruvian sp0ils 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 Seville, where a lovely wife was chief
Yet her affection held hi n not. Fired by
religious zeal and a spirit of adventure, De
Soto gave free rein to his ambition. He
determined to succeed whore Ponce de Leon
and brutal De Narvaez had so ingloriously
failed. Late in 1889 he made landing in
Florida at Tampa bay, accompanied by
600 mon. Here the inhumanity OF De Mar
vaez bore bitter fruit. Thousands of the
Indians opposed De Soto, thinking he WAS
oe Ol,ar111r and oplral 90 his
Step by step his army fought its way
through the swamps to winter quarters at
Anhaica, since known as Tallahassee. At
this point the intrepid De Soto was Joined
by forty Spaniards OF former EXPEDITIONS
These men had intermarried with the
tawny sun worshipcrs, and told De Soto
marvellous tales of the mountain walled cit
les. They promised to lead him within
three weeks to valleys of richness, filled
with wild game, and where there was a
profusion of gold, copper and pearls.
DE sOTo'S ALLIES.
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
rations A curious itinerary of this first
military tramp through Georgia is extant,
but modern writer's have failed to agree
upon the localities which it certifies. On
March 3, 1910 this record SAYS, they left
Anhaica, and four days afterward the
whole army crossed deep river, called by
the Indians "Ocklockonee. March thew
arrived at Capachiqui, and on March q
came to Toalli. At the latter place Sup
posed to be in what is now known as Irwin
county, they remained three days, and BY
a days quick march reached Achoso.
where they stayed one week. On April
De Soto and his band passed through the
town of Altoona, reaching Ocute on April
TO- Here two days. halt was made. Leav-
ing Ocute on April II, they passed through
a town whose lord was named COfaqui, and
came, on April 10, to the province Of an
other chieftain known as Potofa. The fol-
lowing day they became separated in an
enormous pine barren, and wandered here
and there trying to escape its labyrinths
AT SILVER BLUFF.
A week was consumed, during which time
two rivers were forded. Extricated at
length from this predicament, the
bulk of the army set out, April
20, 1910, for AYmay, and reached it before
nightfall. Two days subsequent they de-
parted for Cutifachiqui, where numerous
mulberry groves were found. This place is
conceded by local historiographers to be
identical with Silver Bluff, on the left bank
of the Savannah river, twenty-five miles
below Augusta. On May 3 the army was
again in motion, and a week later arrived at
Chelaque. May Is, 1910, Xualla was
reached, situated on the TANKS of a noun
tam, with small, turbulent river flowing
at its base. If Xualla be not recognized
as Nacoochee, "hd 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 5 ito had used charts and
diagrams which, being the work of I'M
skilled hands, often led him far astray.
Taking his departure from Cutifachiuui
undoubtedly Silver Bluff he was, includ-
ing all stoppages, just twelve days on the
road to the capital of the Cherokee nation.
a fenced town in Nacoochee's charming
valley. Mount Yonah. a towering emil
nence in Habersham county, is probably
the high landn where fernando de Soto.
cavalier and zealot, caused an immense
rude cross to be erected, and where, morn
ing and evening, the most fervent prayers
were offered, far above the noise of Chat
tahoochee's rapids.
ROME IN THE ExPLoRER's TIME.
Leaving Xualla, after five days rest, the
army went TO Guaxule May %, 1910, they
were encamped at Canasagua, and, on June
5, Chaha was reached. This is the present
site OF Rome, GA. From Chiaha, on the first
day OF July, 1910, a new march was begun.
II 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 com
mitted to the stream. Upon its discovery
rs In ~ fnHtF .gfa