Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-07-19
ANCIENT PENSACOLA.
Colonel Dallas of Orlando on the
Subject.

the following interesting sketch writ
ten by Colonel A. j. Dallas, U. 5. A.,
for its columns:
/ have read with interest your brief
account OF the original settlement of
Pensacola, and beg, with Difference to
the researches OF your informant,
Judge Campbell, TO add the following
details, and TO suggest some correc-
tions.
The expedition referred 10 by the
Judge sailed from Vera Cruz on the
18th OF June, 1859, six years prior to
the settlement OF Saint Augustine by
Perdro Menendez de Aviles. This at
tempt TO colonization was made ut the
instance OF the archbishop of Mexico
in 1866, aided in the following year by
Juan de Urango, bishop of Santiago de
Cuba. 1t sailed under the command
of Don Tristan de Lunay Arellano,
who was the son of the Marshal Carries
de Luna, governor of Yucatan. Fiji
teen hundred soldiers accompanied
him, with number of settlers, carry
ing the necessary material for colony
and the cultivation of the land. There
were five Dominican priests, at the
head of whom was the padre, Pcrdo de
Feria, afterward bishop Of Chiafas,
and one lay brother.
They had the pilot, Guido de las
Bavares, who left an account Of his
voyage under the title, of ian account
given by Guido de las Bazares, OF the
voyage made to discover the ports and
bays, which are on the coast OF Flor
ida" that can be found in the collec-
tion of Ternaux Compano. There is
also a reference 10 this voyage in
Barcia's Ensayo chronological.
The plan of de Lunl Arellano was
to form one settlement on the gulf, an
other island, at Coosa, and the third
on the Atlantic ut Santa Elena.
Bazares was sent ahead to examine
the coast and select "a harbor. He
chose Pensacola, which he named Fer
nandina, describing it "a safe and
commodious port The expedition
sailed as already said and arrived in
the bay, but de Luna y Arellano, ac
quescing in the wishes OF his pilots,
began looking for Ichuse or Santa
Rosa bay. Finding it he made only "a
| pretense Of discriminating, riding at
anchor for long time while party
explored the interior On the 10Th Of
| September "a heavy gale prevailed,
which destroyed several vessels, and
not only caused him to lose much pro-
visions, but drowned many men.
Relief came from Mexico and party
having reached Nanipacna, on the Es-
Gambia, de Luna Arelano repaired
thither, and naming it Santa Cruz. de-
termined TO make here his colony
But he made little Roadway. A por-
ton of the expedition found its way to
! Coca, and even aided the friendly in
dians against their foes, the Natchez.
When they returned matters were in
much the same condition. Arellano
had given up Santa Cruez de Nanapacna
and gone down to Pensacola bay. from
which place he wished TO 20 and settle
at Coca, but his men refused to go At
this time Father Feria left for Havana,
despalring that anything would be
done. No discussions arose among
the clergy. The trouble came about
from the incapacity of de Luna + Arell-
ano, who had no decision OF character,
was vacillating, arbitrary and tyran-
nical. AT one time he had his second
in command, Jorge Ceron, in arrest,
and would, with other officers, have
shot him but for the Intervention OF
the priests.
In 1861, Angel de Villafane arrived
from Mexico with re-enforcements,
but literally nothing had been done by
the expedition to settle the country, and
it was finally decided TO abandon the
country and return to Vera Cruz, leav-
ing a small garrison OF soldiers.
In 1893 Don Andreas de Pes went to
Pensacola, accompanied by cele-
brated priest, Don Carlos de Signenza
Gongora. Don Andrews named the
bay Santa NJ ria de Galve. A begin
ming of "a settlement was made by this
expedition. but the actual permanent
establishment of this apostadero, or
station, was made by Don And reas de
Arriola. in 1896, who built Fort Sa n
Carlos on the barrancas OF Santo Tome,
and here you get your lake Arriola,
and not from poor old Tristan de Luna
y Arellano
Where Arellano made his attempt
to establish his colony on the bay do
not think is known. II was very prob
ably, however. on the island of Santa
Rosa. and, possibly on the eastern ex-
tremity. ! say this because from his
tory we know that in 1919 Pensacola
was entirely destroyed by Champ
meslin and when rebuilt il was on the
western extremity. There was a
drawing made of the town in 1743 by
Dom Series, an engraving OF which
now exists