St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-12-15
the breast of the mighty river which he
had been the first of his race

TO LOOK UPON.
The story Of Ponce de Leon's roman
tic search for the mythical fountain was
talked of for years in Spain. and there
were many adventurous spirits DESTROYS
Of following in his footsteps and WIN.
ming both glory and immortality,
Twenty-six years after the Indians poi
sOned arrow had struck down Ponce de
Leon at Fernapdina, Fernandino de:
Soto, soldier OF fortune and gallant
gentleman, and scion of an impoverished
family, sailed from Spain with 600 mel.
He was then in the prime of health
and vigOr. Five years before, at the
age of thirty-Seven, he had been with
Pizarro in Peru. He had so distin-
guished himself that he was made gov
ernor OF Cuba and president Of Florida.
His expedition consisted of $40 men, 22S
horses, ships, 2 caravelS and Q PIN
naces. When he landed In Florida the
Indians were friendly, but he was soon
to learn that the tribes inland were hos
tile, Tor they attacked those Indians
who welcomed the white man. Also,
De Soto was '.too fond of this sport of
killing Indians" writes Ovedio. and.
had no regard either for their lives or
their rights.
1t is extremely difficult to
TRACE THE ROUTE
of De SOto's eX petition, which added
very little to the knowledge of the.
country, for no steps were taken to note
the topography of the country or the
language of the different tribes. 1t is
probable that he passed through
Georgia as far as So degrees north:
latitude, then south to the neighborhood
OF Mobile, and finally northwest toward
the Mississippi. He crossed the river
at the lowest Chickasaw Bluff in June,
1541, and passed the succeeding
winter on the Washita, The suffer-
ings of the Spaniards in travel
ing were terrible, and Ontiz, their in
terpreter, succumbed to the hardships
and died. Even then the spirit of De
mentS and toll. Two hundred and fifty
or his splendid force had left their bones
to whiten along the path which he had
followed. He determined, at last, to
push to the shores of the gulf, and then
build two brigantines, in order to send
to Cuba and to Spain for aid. but he fell
Ill of fever, and died on May 81, 1912,
and his body was wrapped in blankets,
freighted with sand and sunk III the
Mississippi river.
De Soto was directing his search as
much for the fountain of youth
AS FOR GOLD,
and even after he crossed the MiSsis-
sippi river reports came to him of this
wonderful source. The Indians repre-
Sented it to be, as they had to Ponce de
Leon, only a few days march toward
the setting sun. Accordingly, after
crossing the Great Father of Waters, he
took the course Of tributary, now
known as the White river, and COM
menced to push westward with the
avowed object of finding the wonder
full fountain. When the Indians OWNED
his purpose, their opposition became
more savage and determined than any
he had yet encountered. and De Soto
met with practically the first defeat of
his march of three years. Their object
seemed to be to force him away to the
northwaId. From captives he learned
something concerning the nature of the
fountain, and that multitudes of sick
Indians were there at all seasons,
bathing in the waters, which speedily
restored them to health, and that
pilgrimages were made from all the
surrounding tribes.
After traversing the high ground be-
tween the White and Arkansas rivers
for some distance, and being led into
swamps and impenetrable places by
treacherous guides, and encountering
continuous opposition from the Indians,
who laid ambushes and shot their
arrows from the dense underground, he
made bold attempt to turn to the
southwark and strike directly toward
the spot where report
LOCATED THE FOUNTAIN.
The natives quickly understood his
motive and opposed him with large
body of warriors. A fierce battle was
fought near the present town of Jack
in ubinh no al
most. very nearly lost his life at the
hands of disabled Indian, who seized
a spear and felled him from his horse,
and would have ended the explorers
career but for the timely aid of one of
his lieutenants. The Spaniards cut
down the Indians until they were ex-
hausted, and still made no Roadway.
De Soto, with the loss of several men,
finally retired, and again took up his
march in the direction Of the White
river. He had no alternative but to
continue his way northWard or turn
back.
He was not molested further until he
came to the north fork of the White
river in Northern Arkansas. When he
attempted to cross to the south he was
confronted by an array of hostile
savages. He routed them, but on
account of his depleted army could not
follow the course laid out, as he would
have to fight every mile of the way.
While he rested here, debating whether
it would not be more prudent to return.
he heard of the existence of shining
metals in large quantities to the north
east. He fastened forward. After
several days marching, his Indian guide
brought him
TO THE SPOT,
and there all around in shining piles
lay what the soldiers believed to be sill
yer. They thought at last their goal
was reached, and great was their disap-
pointmeur when it was discovered that
the supposed silver, with which they
had loaded themselves, was only baser
metal. The region to which DE Soto
bad penetrated was the lead and zinc
fields of Southwest Missouri, and tn
metal was zinc formation or alloy COM
mon to this country.
While at this point De Soto became
seriously Ill, and was taken to the home
of the caclque of the tribe, Who was
very friendly, and prepared medicine
for him from roots and herbs. His
daughter was the Princess Ulelah, a
most charming maiden, with the grace
of fawn and the beauty of a wild for
est flower. She -tenderly nursed De
Soto, tanning him with ruSheS when his
fever was high, and bringing him cool
water from the spring.
DE Soto made but little progress in re-
covery. AT length she CAME to his couch
one MONDAY with radiant face and an
| nouneed with signs and broken words
that thechief had consented to conduct
him to the wonderful fountain that could
restore health. De Soto was placed on
litter, and the start was made the fol-
lowing day. At length the end of their
TEDIOUS PILGRIMAGE
was reached, and DE Soto beheld what
ne had sought for and fought for SO