The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-04-04
PONCE DE LEON LANDS
At ST. AUGUSTINE, FLA.
Magnificent Celebration Planned and Carried Out in East
Coast Tewn-Spectaouar Arrival of Spaniard Who
Sought and Found Garden of Youth in Florida.

The Jacksonville Metropolis saws:
The opening of the Ponce de Leon
celebration at st. Augustine YESTERDAY
was brilliant affair and was witness
ed by several thousand people. A. M.
Taylor as Ponce de Leon, attended
by his richly apparaled retinue, disem-
parked and the great crowds expressed
their admiration of the beautiful scene
with an outburst of applause.
The picturesque old craft might cas-.
ily have been clipped from a painting
of the Columbus period. Aboard the
ga1ly decked carayel We're the mobiles
and soldiers, their gorgeous costumes
showing respondent and the bright
helmets, shields and weapons glisten-
ing in the suns bright rays.
As the vessel moored to the sea wall
Ponce de Leon stepped ashore, two
pages holding UP the train of his
princely robes. The leader moved a
short distance and waited until the
knights and courtiers were formed in
order at his rear, then again moved
forward to the little park in which
scores of Indians were hiding peering
out from the foliage. The line was
formed again when the Voyagers halt
ed and then Ponce de Leon drew his
sword and in the name OF his soVer-
eign took possession of the new found
country. Weapons were Sheathed and
at d signal from the commander all
knelt in Thanksgiving. For several
minutes knees were bent and heads
bowed, then Pouce de Leon arose and
his retainerS followed his example
The Indians gaining confidence from
the peaceful attitude of the strange
visitors, came forth from their shell
ter and advanced to give a kindly
greeting. Bows and arrows were
thrown at the feet OF the great white
warrior and the Indian chief, imper-
sOnated by John L. Crazy, extended
a palm in token of peace. Then he
swept the various points of the COM
pass with his arms, signifying that
he would share his domain with the
great white chief
At the Fort.
The procession proceeded to Fort
Marion, when Ponce de Leon and his
escort dismounted and on foot cross
ed the dTawbridge. Inside the await
ing priests, the Rev. Fathers Foley
and Little, and acolytes took a posi-,
ton in the center of the quadrangle,
while Ponce de Leon and his retinue
knelt in reverence at the north side
of the square. The mounted Indians
filed in and lined up at the west side
closed the south side. The east side
was occupied by the troopers Mean
time, the crowds were pressing in by
the thousands and Marshal of the Dav
w. A. MacWilliams ordered the spe-
cial polite to keep them moving up
the stairway in order to keep the
court clear for the participants. Gov
ernor Broward, accompanied by1
Mayor Masters, arrived before the
ceremonies began and was escorted
to the space at the head of the stair
way reserved for the distinguished
visitor.
When the ceremony of blessing the
country was finished the priests re-
tired and the band PLAYED. Mayor Mas
ters then called for silen"e and when
the murmuring crowd saw that their
attention was requested hush fell on
the great throng. Mayor Masters then.
on behalf of ST., Augustine, welcomed
the visitors to St. AUGUSTINE. He. in
d few words. expressed his great pleas
ure in welcoming them to the oldest
city in the country and then intro
duced Governor Broward.