Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1909-01-20
SOME FLORIDA HISTORY.
DIR. GREEN WRITES OF THE EAR
LY OCCUPATION OF THE
PENINSULA.
Interesting and Historical Sketch O1
First DISCOVERIES and Difficulties
Encountered Before Florida
Became Settled
Palatka, Florida, Jan. 16, 1909

EQltOl ODliC OPihlOh.
Perhaps no state in the union has
more interesting history than the
state of Florida. When Columbus
discovered the new world this pen
insula, we are told, was inhabited by
race much more highly civiliZ-
ed than their neighbors to the north.
They wore cloth, were better agri-
culturists, lived a more peaceful life
and occupied permanent towns con-
tanning spacious houses and often
strongly fortified to secure them
against their more aggressive en-
emies. The earliest accounts of their
habits state they were mound build
ers, skilled workers in metals, kind,
gently, brave people who were oblig-
Cd to defend themselves continually
against the Indian on the north, and
the harrying cannibal Carribees on
the coast, who held possession of ad-
iacent islands. In 1912 the adven-
turous Spaniards led by Ponce de
Leon, left the islands where they had
founded their first colonies, and land
ing near where St. Augustine now
is, set up a cross, and took possession
of the country in the name of their
sovereign. The writer to whom
am indebted for these facts goes to
say that in the meantime, Diego de
Miruelo had sailed along the coast
and traded with the natives, obtain
ing little gold. De Cordova had
also landed on the east coast, but
had been driven off. Panfilo lie Mar
vaez made the first attempt at con-
quest, landing on the coast of Tampa
Bay in 1923 with 400 men and
eighty horses. He fought his way
northward, and finally regained the
coast of St. Marks. Here he
slaughtered his horses and of their
skins made boats and RATS of logs;
in these he put out to sea, but nearly
all were drowned, including Narvaez
himself. Next Fernando de Soto
landed at Tampa with 1000 men and
$50 horses and one cannon. His ves-
sells discovered the bay of Pensacola,
and reporting it's beauties on their
return to Cuba, Don Tristan de Luna
landed there with 1000 soldiers
and foundered settlement in 1859.
In 1862 a French expedition under
Captain Jean Ribault, discovered the
st. Johns river, and built fort on
bluff near the mouth. AS soon as
he left, however, his colonists began
to rob the natives and they were
soon on the point of starvation,
planting no corn themselves and the
Indians refusing to feed them. They
were rescued in time to save their
lives by an English fleet under Cap
tain John Hawkins, who supplied
them with provisions. In the same
year. Spanish expedition under
Menendez arrived at st. Augustine,
laid out town and fortified it. The
Indians guided him to the French
fort on the St. Johns, which he soon
destroyed. slaughtering nearly ali
the colonists.
The Spaniards claimed all Florida,
but for a long time were compelled
to fight the Indians as well as re-
sist attacks from the colonists in
Carolina and Georgia. They fortifi-
ed st. Augustine by building the
strong fort of San Marco. In 1853
by treaty Spain ceded to Great
Britain East and West Florida in ex-
change for Havana and the west part
of Cuba, then held by the English.
About twenty years later the coun-
try west of Pensacola was ceded back
to Spain by Great Britain. During
all these and few other important
changes / have omitted to mention,
1t Is interesting to notice how the
neighboring islands narrowly escap-
ed the final fate of the mainland; for
besides the close connections gener-
ally maintained between Florida
and the Spanish islands. it was in
1888 that Colonel Devereux sailed
from st. Augustine with only fifty
men and captured the Bahamas, an
nexing them TO the British crown,
although in the same year England
ceded East and West Florida again
to Spain. Ten years later the power
full tribe of Creek Indians began to
take a hand In the affairs of their
country; for they with neighboring
tribes laid the foundation of that CO.
operation which bore fruit under
| Osceola.
II. H. GREEN.
Be of good cheer. Friday the