The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-12-12


hostile savages disputed every inch of his
march; and why the soldiers should have
been provided with silver dollars of the
dates of liza and 1899. in the year 1910,
seems singular
Nor can 1t be reasonably assumed that
a soldier, in the land of the enemy, would
find time or pleasure In carving an in
scription from a Spanish dollar on a
big slab of sandstone. And, IL 1t could
be explained, 1t might have been a mar
ker, establishing the ownership by his
majesty, the King of Spain, of all the
territory in whose limits the fort was To-
Gated. Likewise, 1t should be borne In
mind that there were several expeditions
to the region bordering the Gulf of Mex
leo that we have record of; and doubtless
there were others who have cleft no foot
prints" on the sands of the seashore by
which we might trace them, and discover
from whence they came, and whittier
they went.
One of the most conspicuous figures in
the realm of Spanish discoverers Is the
brave old governor of Porto Rico Ponce
de Leon, who will ever be memorable for
his search for the fountain of youth,
which, according to Indian tradition, was
located in one of the Bahama islands. He
sought 1t In vain but In the course of one
he discovered a country of vast and un-
known extent which, from the abundance
of flowers along Its coast. and the date
being Palm Sunday (Pascua F1orida, he
named 1t Florida, or the land of flowers.
Having obtained permission from the
Spanish government to conquer and gov
ern this newly found region, he organized
an expedition and made a second voyage,
but In a conflict with the Indians he was
mortally wounded and his expedition re-
suited In failure. This was in the year
1872
Several other expeditions were fitted out
of considerable magnitude, both as to the
number of men and their equipment for
hard service, but because of their cruel
treatment of the native inhabitants they
were all equally unsuccessful. One very
important expedition under the command
of Pamphilo Narvaes, consisted of 400
men and 45 horses, who landed upon the
coast of Florida on April 49, in the year
1928, but after Incredible hardships and
acts of barbarity, as usual, to his friends
as well as enemies among the Indiana
they were destroyed with the exception
of six men, five of whom made their way
across the country to Mexico, and the
remaining one became a prisoner until
some time after the arrival of De Soto, in
the year 1859. His name was Juan Ortiz,
the son Of a noble family of high rank
In Seville, Spain. He became after his
release from his II years of captivity an
interpreter for De Soto.
1t was possible. and highly probable,
that other expeditions, organized by cor
porations acting Independently Of govern
ment control. landed somewhere upon
the coast and explored the interior, meet
ing, doubtless, the sad fate Of all the
others, and leaving no visible record, save
nj a1u 40 %,
the one on the Warrior river near Tusca-
loosa, and that near Valley Head. In
Morgan county, Alabama, within easy ac-
cess to Hartselle, and upon the summit
Of a high mountain, known as Fort
Bluff, is located one of these ancient for
tidcations; and from all 1 can learn well
worth the investigation of antiquarians.
The summit OF the mountain is said to be
level, and a winding road leads to 1t
from the fertile valley below. On one side
Is q perpendicular wall of rock, called
q bluff. This steep, inaccessible wall
forms one side of the fort and q rock
embankment, five or six feet In height,
completes the other three Sides the whole
Enclosure, which is of considerable size,
is thus protected against an enemy, while
q bold spring of purest water is near
by The view from this fort is very ex-
tensve and beautiful, commanding the
Tennessee river and Its lovely and fertile
border lands, mountain ranges and foot
hills; and with the aid of a field glass
a very distinct view of the city of Hunts
Vile. Perhaps It may have been the
stronghold of some chieftain from
whence issued the laws that governed his
tribe or 1t might have been built by
some weaker party for protection against
a powerful foe. 1t is constructed Just
like all the others, by which / mean the
plan and general workmanship, and was
probably built during the same period of
time. But by whom we know not. Men,
ton has already been made of similar
ancient fertilization near the junction OF
the Little Warrior and Locust Fork, In
closing about half an acre. three sides
Of which are vet plainly to be seen.
Similar fortifcations exist in Canada
and IN every state and territory east Of
the Rocky mountains. West Of that range
they are to be found. but Of somewhat
different plan. as. for instance in Cali
fornia and adjoining regions. In Man
atee county, Florida, there IL an ancient
canal running IN northeast direction
from the upper end Of Lake Flint for
distance of three miles, then return
ing to Lake fiakpoochee. Mentioned by
]. r. Lebanon. in Smithsonian Aeport
year lss2. pages s0 and 800. In Monroe