The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-03-21
DE SOTO AND BIS TRAVELS.
Prof j. W. a. Wright's Lecture or
the Great Florida Expedition.

Prof ]. W. A. Wright's Lecture on
the Great Florida Expedition.
Prof. J. W. A. Wright, president Of the
Livingston tAla-) Military Academy, dsliv-
cred very instructive and entertaining
lecture at the De Soto hotel last night on
"De Soto and His Travels" The assembly
room was fairly filed with an audience
which listened attentively TO the lecturer.
Prof. Wright is an enthusiastic Spanish
scholar and he has given q great deal Of
study to his researches in the endeavor to
trace out the route of De Soto on his
expedition through Florida, which then
included not only the present Florida, but
Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama, Louisi-
ana. Mississippi, Tennessee. Missouri, Kan
sas, Indian Territory, Arkansas and Texas,
as we'll.
The purpose of De Sotos expedition,
which was the most msgnihcently equipped
expedition that ever left Spain, was con-
quest and gold. The disasters consequent
upon prior expeditions to Florida from 1919
down to the departure of De Soto from
Spain in 1888 did not deter further enter
prises in that region.
The magnificent results Of the conquest of
Mexico by Cortez and OF Peru by Pizarro
gave rise to the hope that in the wilds OF
Florida there might be found cities and
mines as rich and productive as those
wrested from the Aztec kings and the PEI
ruvian incas.
De Soto's expedition, however, in the
purpose for which it was organized, was as
disastrous as the expeditions which had
preceded him. The honor of title of COVER
nor OF Cuba, Adelantado of Florida and
marques of certain portions of lands he
should conquer, died with him, and were
buried with him in the Mississippi, the
Father of Waters, which he discovered.
Prof. Wright prefaced his lecture with a
reference to the expeditions of those ex-
plorers who had preceded De Solo, He then
traced the great explorers route from his
landing from Cuba, in the bay Of Espiritu
Santo. now Port Tampa, and through
the four years OF his wearisome and peril
GUS march. The exact route, of
Wright, after careful research, is satisfied
that be has located it pretty nearly.
After leaving the Bay of Espi-
ritz Santo the march was north
ward to about fifty miles west of
what IL now Palatka, then north west to the
neighborhood Of Tallahassee, then north into
what is now Georgia, passing near the site
Of Bainbridge, along the Flint river, then
across the state, fording the Ocmulgee
above Macon and striking the Savannah
somewhere near Augusta, then into South
Carolina and TO the Tennessee line after
ward south into Alabama and back into
Tennessee reaching the Mississippi some
where near Memphis. Crossing it he fol-
lowed the Red river northwest and then
returned and went into Texas
II is doubtful, Prof. Wright thinks,
whether De Soto ever was nearer Savannah
than what is now Augusta. When he
crossed Georgia and reached the Savannah
river he sent men in this direction, but
the purpose of the expedition being to
search for gold he kept to the mountainous
country.
Prof. Wright described many romantic
incidents in connection with De Soto's
march. He dwelt upon the mounds which
marked the dwelling places of the Indians,
and which, in many localities, are plainly
seen to-day. He described the battles
which De Soto fought and the disasters
which he encountered, and finally his death,
three years from his first landing in
Florida, and his burial in the depths Of the
Mississippi. De Soto was AZ years old when
he died and he was one OF the most valiant
and sturdy explorers that ever traversed the
wilds of America.
Prof. Wright concluded his lecture amid
applause. He will leave to-day for Tampa,
and will deliver his lecture in Tampa Bay
hotel next Tuesday night.