The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-01-04
OLD FORT BROOKE.
How the Post Looks i'm the Midst of
Modern Civilization.


Modern Civilization.
Tampa, Fla, Jan. 3.-More than seventy
years ago this now Magic City" with
its towering marble business blocks, was
a dreaded spot to the soldiers Of the old
United States army, and, at much later
period, writing of the death of Lieut.
O'Brien, author of the famous song Of
Benny Havens, orr the poet said:
From the courts of death and danger,
Tampas deadly shore,
There comes wall Of manly grief, 60
Brien lS~no more"
In the land of sun and flowers his
Head lies pillowed low,
No more he'll sing Petite Coquette,
Or Benny Ravens, OH -
What wonderful changes have taken
place here since those days when scores
of young West Point graduates resigned
from the army rather than come TO these
then courts of death and danger" This
afternoon, as walking away from the
noise and hustle of the city's busy streets
l entered the old Military Reservation"
on the bay at the mouth of Hillsborough
river, my thoughts went back to the pc
riod spoken Of and / noted the wonderful
changes a half century has made here.
But to go back to the earlier date the
reservation called Fort Brooke was es-
taDnSneu IN 1S2l. at the head of Tampa
bay and at the mouth of Hillsborough
river. There was also a temporary Fort
(trank) Brooke, at the head of Dead
Mans bay, and a Fort Brooke on the
Ockiawaha river. the latter being still
pointed out to tourists who go up that
wonderful stream. However the fort of
Tampa was the main point for military
supplies, operations, etc, and was occu-
pied by the government as a military post
in Florida.
.T-k
Lieut.. Francis J. Brooke of Virginia, a
gallant officer in the then famous lighting
Seventh United States infantry, and who
fell in the battle of Okeecopee lake. on
designated in honor of Brexet Major Cen
eral George M. Brooke, also a Virginian.
who entered the Fifth United States in
fantry as second lieutenant, in May, 1903,
won a special breYet for gallantry in
the defense of and sortie from Fort Erie,
n. Y, in September, 1874. During the In
dian wars in Florida, where he did good
service, he was made colonel of the Fifth
infantry, now famous as having been
Gen. Miles last regimental command He
died March g. 1851, having won the brevets
of lieutenant colonel, colonel brigadier
general and major general In the regular
army.
At the time Fort Brooke was established
this was an unbfoken wilderness. and
death and danger" lurked everywhere
about the then desolate solitudes, to which
ambitious and brave young army officers
were sent to engage in Indian warfare.
In front was Tampa bay, on the right the
north bank of the Hillsborough river,
while inland the country was low, marshy
and unhealthy. The view off upon the
bay was pleasant and the sea breezes that
came sweeping up from the ocean
were cool and refreshing, yet
it was not post to which many officers
cared to be detailed and scores resigned
rather than face the death and dan
GER of which they heard so much at the
north. But to-day what a wonderful
change! Walking down Franklin street
the main business thoroughfare Of the
busting. growing city. with its stately