The Spanish Fork press. [volume] (Spanish Fork, Utah) 1902-current, 1908-07-16

vi IOTlO tNlCO, lue udtlNeS VI tuul
verdant spot in the Atlantic always
regard Ponce de Leon as the greatest
| figure in their history. He saw the
island while accompanying Columbus
on his second journey to the new |
| found America and was so greatly de.
lighted with 1t that he applied for and |
was granted authority to act as its |
| governor
This first visit of the great explorer
to the island occurred Just 400 years
ago the 18th of next August and
great preparations are being made to
observe the event with appropriate
ceremonies, for the Porto Ricans
count that date as marking the begin.
Ming of their place in history.
So this the first of the island
colonies which the United States &C.
quired in the war with Spain is to
have its celebration which will prove
of international Importance, and the
United States, as might be expected,
will share in the ceremonies. In
token of the good feeling which exists
between Uncle Sam and his ward the
government at Washington has been
asked to send delegate as its special
representative.
The celebration will continue
through four days, and there will be
exercises not only in Ponce, San Juan,
the capital, and Mayaguez, but in the
smaller towns and villages.
1t is interesting to note that the big
day in August is only four months
short of being also the tenth ami
versary of the occupation of Porto
RICO by the United States.
E'or 800 years the island had been
the most productive of SPANS West
Indian colonies. The errors of an adj
ministration that had made of Cuba
shambles, and which had the final
result of driving Spain from the new
world in disgrace, had not marked
the history of the ownership Of Porto
Rico. Barring the fact that the crown
lacked enterprise and did little to de-
velop the wonderful resources of their
country, the Porto Ricans found little
to complain of.
They worshiped the memory of
their first Spanish controller, though,
according to tradition, Ponce de Leon
governed with considerable vigor, and
never permitted any false idea of the
rights of the natives to interfere with
what he thought the proper action for
either the benefit of his sovereign or
himself.
But Ponce was a romantic figure.
He left his imprint on the entire ex-
IRENE southern section and outlying
districts of the United States.
His name conveyed his birthplace.
He was literally Ponce de Leon, for
it was in a town of the latter name
that he was born in 1460. OF noble
birth, he entered the military service
of Ferdinand and Isabella, and speed
lily distinguished himself, his most
notable prodigies of valor having been
performed against the Moors. When
the ending Of that long conflict put
the throne Of Spain in position to
entertain the plans of the Genoese
dreamer, Columbus. and finance his
expedition in search of the short route
to India, Ponce would gladly have been
a member of the expedition, for it was
. of the adventurous nature to appeal
. strongly to him, but unfortunately the
king had other work for him, 80 that
the gallant De Leon was not then able
to embark under Columbus.
AS governor of the eastern province
of Hispanolia he had gained consid
cradle knowledge Of administration
and when on Columbus second triI
his enchanted eyes saw the beauties
of Porto Rico, and he expressed the
desire that he might live there for
ever as supreme controller of the is
d land for the good of his king and
q country, the wish was speedily
granted.
Ponce took up his residence near the
u town that now bears his name.
For seven years he remained there
a despotic but at the same time,
progressive ruler. Stories of gallantry
of incidents in which he figured, are
c still told, stories of beautiful Spanish
and native ladies who gave thei
II hearts to the distinguished explorer
=, knight and administrator.
i The aggressions of age alone gav'
II woe to the ruler. He loved life, thu
y world, women. song. The onl,
c thought that tormented him was tina
D. coming years would end his gay life
% Some wanderer told the story of {
y magic fountain on the mainland, OIL
; the upper part of the peninsula tina
=, now marks the southeastern extremit.
y of Uncle Sans bounds.
Ponce de Leon determined to g
III and seek out this magic water, Their
to battle, so that he could laugh at tn
- passing of years, there to remain eve
young.
IL was in March, 1912, that a ga
procession moved out of the island
Ponce sailed for Florida. He lande
near what is now the mecca for tn