The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-02-23
FLORIDKS WHITE SLAVES.
THEY WE'RE NINORCANs AND
COULD not he KEPT IN
SERNfTI DE.

me handsome MihoFtah hiFls
Who Are Among Their Descend
ants Of To-day.
From the Florida Citizen.
Perhaps the most remarkable, and also
the most pathetic chapter Of FloriGa's
history may be found in that Of a colony
brought over from The Mediterranean Isle
of MinOrca. whose descendants to-day are
among tho best Of FIorfda's citizens.
In the year 1867, when Florida was an
English colony, a company of English cap
italist decided to colonize the eastern
part OF the state for the purpose OF engag-
ing largely in the business Of sugar-maH-
ing and indigo culture. They owned d
large grant OF land particularly adapted
to the crops they proposed TO raise. and
all that was wanted was workers Dr.
Andrew TurnbulI was at the head Of the
company. Ambassadors were sent TO MI
norca, and 800 souls readily agreed to
remove to Florida. upon conditions nam
ed. Their willingness TO leave is explain
ed by the fact that their country at that
time was IN a state of insurrection, and
poor, many finding Ii hard TO live, and their
minds were easily impressed with the sto-
ries told Of the marvellous country be
yond the sea, with a cline like their own,
skies and seas as blue, and fertile, and
beautiful.
hopes, inspired with the vision of the
prosperity and happiness that awaited
them. over sunny seas they sped. and in
que time, IN the year above mentioned,
they came to their new home. named New
Smyrna, after the Grecian Smyrna, the
birthplace of Mrs. Turnbun.
For while all went well. The sun
shine was never failing, and there was
glory in il that was like wine to the
sunny natured SouthrOns. There was a
splendid tropical growth and a mid-sum-
mer heat tempered by the breezes from
the south, that swept over grape-stained,
Vanilla-scented isles in southern seas.
Above all there was the promise of pros
peTity and homes. No wonder that they
revealed and were happy in a land in so
many respects like their own. Little
homes were built, icSsamine and clean
trees crew in rank profusion, and the
maBnolias and the live oak spread their
stately shadows over all, and the Minor
cans began TO grow sugar cane and indigo,
encouraged by the promises of the com
pany 10 give to any settler after three
years toll farm of fifty acres
But greed came in, and the company did
not keep its promises. Slowly but surely
the cruel meshes OF a hateful serfdOm
closed around the colonsIs. oppression
beat upon them SCrely, and in a few years
the light of hope died, and the unfor-
tunete Minorcans were forced to admit a
bondage worse than death TO their free
dom-loving souls This serfdolI was new
er legaEzed, as many ignorant of the
true conditions, Believe it to have been,
but II was systematic effort to become
possessed OF the entire fruits Of the labor
OF the cOlonists. Their taskmasters were
unrelenting, and they were forced to labor
from early morn till late at night, unre-
warded, receiving not even sufficient food.
and in the meantime the company became
immensely wealthy.
What could the tellers do? No redress
could be had, no tribunal could be an
pealed to, as they We're isolated, and too
strictly watched to be able to seek one
elsewhere. Silent, sorrowful endurance
was the sole alternative. They grew stern
and bitter. The genial blood had been
chilled in their veins, and their warm,
tender impetuouS natures We're crushed
beneath the heel of gross Injustice For
long years they bore this inhuman treat
ment, and through overwork, disease and
poverty, their numbers had diminished
down to GOO
Grown desperate with seeing so many
of their number miserably perish, three
men at last made their escape from the
village, and started out in search of as
sistanee 1t was a dangerous quest for,
had they been discovered, means would
have been employed to put them to speedy
death. These three men, history does not
give their names proceeded to st. Au-
gustine, and after explaining their po-
siton, succeeded in procuring the assis-
lance and protection of the governor
on condition that they would come to
st. Augustine. Promises were also made
that upon these conditions their old con-
tract with Turnbull should be cancelled,
1nasmuch as he had broken his part of it.
Inc three returned to New Smyrna, and
a couple of days later witnessed the exc
dus of the colony under cover of darkness,
for the old Spanish city. They arrived at
sunset on the third day of their march a
march through wilderness and Jungle
over hill and dale, Der moor and fen, Ger
crag and torrent, - under sunlight and
staTshine in hope once more of rest and
prosperity Here they found both.
They settled in St. Augustine, and, as
sured OF the protection of the governor, de-
fed the furious company that had prac-
ueally ensiaved them. By reason of their
thrift, good conduct, and splendid charac-
terlstics they succeeded. and won the love
and approval OF their sponsors. When in
positions of trust they proved their worth
and their artistic temperament, love for
the beautiful, and an sundying family af-
lection and racial pride caused them to
be recognized as a very desirable element
of society and good government. and so
their descendants 10 this day have ever
been regarded.
The sugar fields around New Smyrna
went to waste and the mills fell into de-
cay. over them clambered the yellow pes
samine and the. passion flower, and years
afterward the wild orange dropped its gol-
den fruit into the ruSted boilers of the su-
gar mill. The company disbanded, but dur
ing the first part of this century another
effort was made to establish the industry
which was again interrupted by the Semi
mole war, and for seven years the Indians
ruled supreme among the ruins of the de-
serted settlement. A portion of an old rock
wall Is the only monument left TO COM
mernorate Turnbuls cruelty and the in
PRODUCTION into this country of the suffer-
ings and maltreatment of one of the finest
people in the world.
AS time went by few of the Minorcans
settled in other parts of Florida, though
ST Augustine has ever been the nucleus
around which they have gathered, and all
of the old traditions of the city are cher
ished by them, and a halo, as of some
thing sacred, in their estimation, hangs
over the town and love for and pride
in the quaint old city is inherent in the
soul of every Minorcan descendant.
They are somewhat clannish people to
this day their manner to those not of
their blood just a little tinged with hau-
teur, and they usually inlermarry being
jealous of a drop of Minorcan blood in
other veins than their own. They are
devoted religionists of the Roman Catho-
lie faith, and are of quick temper and
hot blood, not slow to resent a wrong,
but withal very tender, strong in their
attachments, equally strong in their aver
sions, and faithful in the performance
of their VOWS.
Intensity is their racial chara cteristic
and beauty of person is another almost
equally marked. They are small of stat
ure, well made, graceful in their move
ments, and not infrequently of some
what sensuous type, but by no means
slothful or negligent in business. On the
Or 1af nv 10 a rav MID