The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-04-25
PRETTY NINoRcAy GIRzs,
Trnnspianted rroa the Mediterranean Thsy
FIsurtsh sa the East Csnst sr Eisriaa.
From the DETROIT Free rrs-u.

EIourtsn on the Enat Consf uf Florida.
From the Detroit Free rrssa.
Down on the Hnlsborough River in vclusia
county. Florida. there are she ruins Of one OF
the oldest settlements IN this coun try. and It's
history forms one OF the most tragic episodes
ever recorded OF any place In the United
States. The place Is called New SMYRNA. but
there IL nothing new or attractive abou. IL ex-
cept the oranre trees. the palmettos and green
vines whIsh nature distributes lnvishlY around.
There 10 cue class Of people in the South who
can never be induced to visit New Smyrna.
and tle very sound Of the name makes them
turn their heads aside IN shame or anger.
In the streets Of Sc. Augustine to-day one
occasionally catches a glir use Of a type OF
American beauty that fairly takes the breath
away, and again he secs traces of that type in
so many other faces that he unhesitatinEly at.
tributes them all to the same source. There
are only a few D ire-bloodei Minorcan women
left in this countrY. but the blood Of these
ancient slaves has mingled with that OF our
noblest Southern families and perpetuate,l In
a degree q beauty THAI is now rarely seen.
Via the creole blood has done for so many
women nt New Orleans. the Minorcan blood
has accomplished for the Inhabitants of Flor
ida- The wondrous ewes. the regular. classic
features. and the beautiful hair are all worthy
OF the Greek slaSe-Gheir real prototype.
The story Of the Florida Minorcans is inter-
GSIllG. IThtlt. lucy WtTt LQ6 uTSJ
slaves brought TO this conntry-and white
slaves at that. They suffered the hor. ors of
a slavery whish wns unresula.ed by lay, and
Toms Cabin ccmmon place. This white slave
colony existed in the south onIy nine wears.
but IN that length OF time enough sorrow
and misery were compressed To Ill u century.
The cominI Of the Minorcl rs. and their sub
seGuent slavery, was in this visa: In 1857 .
certain Capt. Andrew TurnbuIi obtained a
grant OF 10000 acres in Volusia county. Flor:
ida. and named IL New smyrna Florida hall
EpZr haAr t..aflati tn Grant R-ffnin hD. II n n
thinly settled that Il small empire might have
been built up in the middle counties without
Can't. TurnbuIl sailed for the Mediterranean
after securing title TO his land. and proceeded
his fair descriptions and promises OF mis- New
SMYRNA. He was noe the hrst exnlOiter &C
adventurer to misrepresent the wonderful eli
mats AMI products OF sunny Florida He was
50 successful in hts persuasicns that a colony
OF 1890 men. women. and children. chiefly
Ninorcuns, was induced 70 embark with him
for the new land To make the promises
seem more real. Can't. Turn quill offrted To carry
the colun,sts TO their new home free OF cost.
and cloLhe and feed them for six months. II
at the end OF that period ANY were dis satisfied
with the conditions OF their new home be would
TRANSPORT them back 10 Europe. But to those
who desired To stav he would present fifty
Acres of land and twenty-five acres thereafter
What Inducements could be tairer than these.
fully Lst forth in the contract Men and
and left pleasant homes behind them. But
the prospects OF ths future home we're more A.
lurInE than those at home. and the innocent
GrreciRns and MllOrcnns cast In their lots TO-
gether and started for the new smyrna.
Thev had n rough cassnGe across the seas.
and some OF the OLD and feeble ones died. but
the rest took hear. when they we're actually
landed on tle coast OF Florida Everything
nisGs started IN 20 make New SMYRNA one OF
the finest homes IN the world. They erectei
palmetto huts. and iahored diligently in the
fields for their master. L. was Tot long before
they found that thew were in the han Is OF
crafty man. whose sole purpose IN bringing
them over was to force them TO create wealth
for him. They were in a strange land; fur.
far away from any civilized town or Village.
and thousands or miles away from their own
They w.rr soon reduced 20 The level Of the
negro slave. and forced to labor in the fields
from eariy morning until ntIht under the con-
troll Of h~earr.ess white overseers. Tie i'm mense
plln tatiun was .onn brought under rultiva-
ton. and Turnbll realized n urincsly income
from IL. The Minoreans realized nothing but
n uitiabIe living. No iand Was coded 70 them
no profits were 9iven 20 lem not even wages.
A small Quantity Of food was ioled out Tn
them and the we're forred "a eat OUT OF a rotn-
mon bowl For nine Yea : sh fTr '1LeG hope
IL all. their spirit was never actually hroken-
They we're suhiecsed ID the Lash on th slight;
est DrovocaCiou. The women were whipped
publicly while ir n nude condition. and no indie
cency was 700 great or h"rrtble for hem 70 en-
them actually lied for lack o. proper food.
No Greek slave OF classic history ever Appealed
more ssronRty to Tue sEmoatnies oG ., a SS Dsd
10 the STAKE. while the executionsr's waip was
Laid upon their unre bodies.
BUT there was u be an and TO all this one
night the whole colony ESCAPED from the plan
raFtnn. and wandered through the almost Inn
passab bic awamps OF Florida 70 st. Augustine.
They arrived there in time--doO strong.
all tEat remained OF the original LOO and.
thrnwin themscl yes upon the mercy Of Gov.
rouyn, rhay were protected from their former
MASTER. TuruhulI sued for his alleg1'. rights.
and 4 special court. vas organized for The trial:
Attnrnev-General YounIe appeared in behalf
of toe MIn"-can5. and they were made leAally
and morally freq. Since then their descend
ants have lived In St Augustine or the vlcin-
iry. and 10 Is almost impossible 70 induce any
of them tn rsrurn TO the scene OF the former
slavery. To-day their strikinGlF handsome
faces attract the aSren zion OF visitors TO Flor
ida for their beauty. while fresh and new TO
America. In IS OLD a. history.