Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1899-02-27

CA,sA-ra, near the site of Pueblo YirL,,
a"I"ss San JLan bny, is now, by n.ore
than SIS years, the first town estab-
listed within the present borders of
the CM;rd States. Historians, there
fore. "Ls; give the pI-.;.Se of an,:qui-
~. L..t to the Si~. Al. town Of ~. Au-
e.. ne, Fla, of l:r.s. as formerly. but
to t~iarra, founs:-.: in the year 1919.
DR.. NJ. w. Huntington, of the San
Juan weather office, discovered the eX-
act location of the histo rical CnImrra
unexpectedly. On a pleasure walk into
the country two weeks ago he hap
pened TO select the road to Puei..o
NiejO, and when talk::.s with the native.
residents learned their traditions of the
first Spanish town in Porto Rico: He
uccorc.t.-'iy procured II guide and maze
an examination of the nearly extinct
ruins. OF his interesting discovery DR..
Harrington sn,s:
without doubt. IT, ruins found are
those of the first settlement estab-
lished by the explorer and col"r ,rr
Ponce de Leon. Both local tradition
and history name Caparra as the rnrli-
est town on the island, and agree. more
over. on this same site near Old Village.
or Pueblo Viejo. Even the native ne
groes, some of whom could neither
read nor write, knew the story of Ca
para. My personal investigation
further satisfied! -me of the correctness
of their tradI;.uI."
The only remains of the original
town visible now are the ruins of a
church, hospital, and a repaired lime
stone furnace. Most of the stone from
the church, hospital, and houses has
been used. according ia the natives, in
the construction of new highways. On
n little elevation from the shore
swamps, the site of Caparra is hidden
from San Juan bay. three miles distant,
by row of hills. Another historical
landmark near by is the reputed gold
mine worked by the first Spanish set
tiers. Ponce de Leon greatly enriched
himself. says tradition and also history,
by the compulsory labor of the native
indians in the mines. Although at
lacked by hordes of mosquitoes, the
gray haired old warrior and explorer
remained in Caparra until 1912, and
then set sail for the miraculous foun-
tain of youth. His voyage ended on
Easter Sunday, March 81. 1912, in the
discovery of the present peninsula of
Florida. But the greater part of the
original colony Stag ed in Caparra until
compelled few years later TO abandon
the town in order to escape the hot
fever weather and an army of mos
quitoes. The final evacuation is said
TO have been in 1852.
The story Of the foundation of Ca
para is told at length in 1.-The History
of Porto lIco." published in 1896 by
Fray lingo Abbad y Lasierra. and re-
vised Ey Jo&c Julian de Acosta Cubic.
Under the title of the First ColoniZer"
the authors say: when Ponce de
Leon was in possession of the govern
inent OF the island he decided to es-
tGbllsh town separate from the In
dams. He chose place near the mines
they were working and started TO build
town, which he called Caparra. 1t was
situated on the north coast, opposite
the sea OF st. John, near Pueblo Nie;o.
The ruins are seen in the vicinity of the
plantation of Don Manuel Diaz, near
the brook named Margarita, a place
surrounded by swamps. So difficult
was the work of bringing supplies
there from the ships in the bay, dis
tance of only league. that the cost
was more than that of getting them
from Spain 10 Porto Rico. But the op.
portunity this place gave the Spaniards
to satisfy their desire for gold made
light for them the hardships which
they endured in this town for ten
years. The historians, Her
rera and Oviedo, disagree about the
year of the establishment Of Caparra,
the former saying in 1910 and the lat
ter in 1907"
In The Eleme ntary Geography of
Porto Rico" the author'makes Tie fol-
lowing remarks concerning Caparra:
Ponce de Leon was the first co!onzer
in 1909. The first settlement was the
city OF Cararra. in the place named
Quebrada Margarita. near Pueblo Vieio
and OF which town 10 more remains
than the ruins, worthy Of worship as