The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-12-20

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ct of blackjack tlat had grown over
the ruins.
A Prosperous Period.
The period from 1772 TO 1881 of
British dominion was the most pros
porous and peaceful that Pensacola
had ever known. Several business en-
terprises were set on foot and trading
posts established, while considerable
export trade was also carried on Inn
migration was encouraged by liberal
grants from the government. The pop-
ulation was further increased by num-
bers OF peacefully disposed persons
from the northern colonies. who trav-
eled southwark, to avoid tie turmoil
of political disturbances then asitat-
ing that part of the country.
From a mere hamlet or army post
Pensacola had developed into a -four
ishing city. Its prosperity however,
received a severe check. when, in
May. 1880. an earthquake ct some Sc
verify robbed it's inhabitants of all
feeling Of security. Many of the most
wealthy left the city. removing from
it at the same time, their business
interests.
a Spanish Attack.
The city had scarcely recovered
from the panic caused by the earth
quake when the boom of cannonal-
ing over Gage Hill warned the inhab-
itants of an attacking force. The
| Spanish. carrying into the colonies
the descriptions of Europe, had attack
ed and taken Fort George. Almost
all the, English inhabitants left the
city rather than to submit to the arbi-
trary religious restrictions imposed
by incoming Spanish rulers. With
-. Errx oh III -
sacola's prosperity seemed 10 ebb.
The successive governors appoint
ed by the Spanish government, it
would seem, concerned themselves
very little with the condition of the
town, one way or the other. 1t is
not until the administration OF Vicente
Folch in 1895 that we hear OF any
changes being made. For some reas-
on not apparent, he planned to build
city further down the bay, to sue
coed Pensacola as Chief town Of the
province. In the absence of any other
apparent motive for such a course We
may suppose that a desire for per-
| sonal aggrandizement or achievement
prompted his intention or he may
have wished to obliterate all traces of
British occupancy. However 1t may
be, royal mandate forbade his carry
| ing out his plans.
His< fconocfastic instincts then
found vent In another direction. He
undertook to change tbs English
plan Of the city, curtailing the space
allotted for the public park, making
IGovernment street its northern bound.
airy, dividing the surplus into lots
and selling many of them. The Span
ish Intendant Morales disapproved of
Folch's proceedings refusing to con-
| firm the titles on his visit to Pensa-
cola in 1906, thus rendering subtitIes
given through sales made previous to
that date Illegal, and laying a found.
alton for litigation and lawsuits.
The Remaining Squares.
/ The clipping of the generous space
set aside in the hrst Plan OF the city
has continued from time to time, nm
til only two small squares OF the
original park rem2in-Sevjlle square,
or as it should more properly be call
ed. Surville, being named after an
intrepid Spanish soldier who did some
valiant fighting on the spot, and Fer.
dinand square (the present plaza,
named in honor of the then ruling
king OF Spain. Both. these squares
extended southwark to the water
tfront, with no intervening buildings.
except Spanish battery of small
guns for ssaluting, erected on the
south side OF the plaza of Ferdinand
VII.
In studying the history of COLOMBIA
tion in the New World, We find gen
orally speaking, that the colonial
pulse beat in unison srfth the agitat-
| ing upheayalss of the mother country
so that the disturbances in the Span
ish kingdom during the first years OF
the nineteenth century brought on a
spasm of patriotic enthusiasm in
1 Spanish Pensacola, resulting In the
substitution OF the names of Spanish
heroes, or victories, for the English
names hitherto designating the prin.
cipal streets. thereby erecting last.
ing memorial to Spanish glory, for
in city where the intersectins
streets are Palafox, Bayien, Romano
Zaragossa and AlcaHiz, the military
glamour of Spain, though now faded
lis not easily forgotten
Became Basic Point.
In the war of 1912 between the
UNITED States and England. Pensacola
became a basic point from which the
English were allowed to distribute
supplies to their Indian allies. Mated
Maurique, the governor. even allowed
British soldiers TO garrison the forts
There had been more or less dissat
isfaction among Spanish officials over
NapOleon'S transfer or LOUISIANA tc
the United States, causing a feeling
of hostility toward the Americans. and
resulting in this breach of neutrality
and led to the invasion of the city OF
Pensacola by Gen. Jackson.
History again centres round the for
on the hill. that being the first oh
ject Of attack During Jackson's short
stay in the town, he inspired tbs
Spanish population with more friend
ly sentiments towards the Americans
Comparing the behavior of Ais force:
with that of the British soldiery.s they
decided that Jackson's occupation wa
the lesser of two evils.
Don Manual Gonzales.
1t is in connection with Genea
Jackscn's invasion that the name o.
Don Manuel Gonzalez first figures il
. the pages of local history under or
, Icunstances that nave made the nans
! a synonym for honor and patriotic in
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