Mexico weekly ledger., 1910-12-08
GEO. KABRICH TELLS
OF TRIP TO AN
GENT ST. AUGUSTINE
OLDEST CITY IN THE UNITED
STATES VISITED RY A MEXICO
cTTlZEN-WALLs OF OLD SPAN.
IsH FORT STILL STAND AL
THOUGH MOSS GROWN
Tells of FIaoIers Great Enterprises
In Florida Gives a Brief Sketch
of the Early History Of That Sec
ton.
Jaeksonville. IA. Nov. q, 1slO.

1
Augustine, Florida. st. Augustine is
a qaint old city, the old gates,
were once the daily entrance
to the city, are still standing. The
walls of the city have long since
been torn down, but the large fort
is still standing and i'm good repair,
kept up by Government. The
sea walls, which are one and a half
miles long, are in good repair. The
late storm rushed the waters over
the walls, and into all the cellars Of
the city. We took a spin over to the
beach, saw the white caps rolling
and sergtng with the tide. The
lighthouse is a beacon light to all
ships, as 1t scars skyward and the
ships can see the light for many
miles. After our visit TO the beach
we came back over the bay
to Oceanview Hotel, where there
vas a splendid DINNER. We then
got a cab and drove all over the
city, where we cold go. Some Of
the Spanish streets are but seven
feet wide and no horses or vehicles
pass through them.
People can talk to each other
across the street In st. Augustine
from their doors, being only g v
EN- feet apart.
We visited two of the largest no
tells i'm the South, whose rates are
SIG per day, one on either side of
Main street. This street is 60
feet wide and on it will be found a
fine mansion, Presbyterian church,
City Hospital, Methodist church
with many residences and a rail
road, all of which were built by H.
M. Flagler, OF the East. The grounds
to all of the buildings are kept in
splendid shape. After visiting on this
street we then drove out to the or
ange groves, and we also saw trees
of every variety Of tropical fruit
The trees are laden to the ground
The magnolia tree is much larger
than I thought It was. l had form
ed an opinion that it was a flower
ing tree with its sweet perfume.
This city Us about the size of Mex.
eco, but does not cover but about
one1half as much ground. 1t is g
made city. At one time 1t was all
under water. In 1912, Ponce dc
Leon landed near this site at st
Augustine i'm search Of the "Foun
tain of Youth.'' but not finding it
re embarked, half a century later
colony Of French HuguepOts landed
near the same spot. The settle
ment of a Protestant colony within
his domain aroused the indignation
Of Phillip the Eleventh of Spain
who sent an expedition under Pedro
Menendpz de Avilo, who landed Sep
TENDER s, 1865, and erected a wood
en- fort en the place where For
Merton now stands. The Spanish
lost no time to destroy the French
fort and massacred all the inhabit
ants. In 1868, the rest of Florida
yielded to Britton, but was restores
TO Spain twenty years later.
In 1893, the Spanish built
very large and magnificent cathe
dral which stands to-day as it did u
1893 and IL. is used by the Cathc
lies. A beautiful park surround
the cathedral and is kept up by th'
city. | notice also am old slave sal
stand or pavilion where slaves wer!
sold during slavery times
This city has the oldest house i
America; it was built in 1912 by
Spanish nobleman for his own use
The door sils and castings are al
made of mahogany, as we'll as al
the other wood work In the hous
and the tables, chairs, bedsteadf
etc. All the furniture and the doc
castings are put together with wood
en- pegs, not a nail can be founi
in the furniture and doors. Hinge
were unknown then, and the door
were hung ON large hooks and eyes
Trinkets Of all kinds are sold i
this building to help pay the ex
pense of keeping the place i'm preset
walton. Jacksonville is much large
than st. Augustine, but st. Angus
time is the richest city in the South
We arrived in Jacksonville at
O'Clock and were much pleased witt
our trip. The scenery on the wa.
is too beautiful to describe. Sum
Of my friends in Mexico may thin
l am exaggeratimg i'm my descria
ton OF this place, but | am not.
think there are four gentlemen b
Mexico who can bear me out. The
are Colonel Clay, Capt. Burroughs
e. d. Graham and Bob White; the
have all been along the coast ans
South and have visited at these plaE
es.
1t is a gand sight to look upo'
the great biTlows and see ship afte
ship with their tail masts and tn
steamers with two and three deck
filled with tourists passing by am
some landing here and there in tn
the South for the winter. Thous'
ands and thousands are here nov
and many coming on every train an
boat going to every point in th
South to spend the winter wher
they do not need fires to keet
them warm. l have been here this
ty days, and but two days Of tina
time the sun has shone bright am
warm all day long. ! must stop, o
III will tax the patience of your read
ers. Geo. Kabrtch.