Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1910-12-07
NUMBER ~

lighthouse" so named because it has
been painted black and white in spiral
stripes so that mariners may distin
gtish it from other beacons. The
bathing beach of St Augustine is ON
Anastasia island also. Here landed the
band of Huguenots who were slaugh,
tered by Pedro Menendez, away back
in the sixteenth century, after they
had been induced to give up their
arms by false pretenses. Menendez
sent boats to them, brought them over
in small. bands, bound them when ou+
of sight of their waiting comrades,
blindfolded them and took them behind
the sand hills where he put them to
death. All this, done in the name OF
religion" happened in America, not
in medieval Europe. The Matanzas is
aptly named. Matanzas is Spanish for
massacre, and the name and memories
cling peristently to the spot.
The ocean constantly means on the
beach of Anastasia island Supersti-
tious persons say it is wailing for the
victims of Pedro Menendez; others
claim that the soul of the murderous
governor is bound in the waves and
that there it will always stay, mourn
ing and weeping for the evil deeds of
Menendez in the flesh.
The slaughter of the Huguenots is
not the only massacre remembered
here. Not far from the United States
barracks, once the old Franciscan mon
astry, is a military cemetery, in which
three white pyramids rise conspicu-
ously to mark the spot where rest the
bones of the massacred men who went
out against the Seminoles under Major
Dade.
The Plaza de la Constitution derives
its name from an old monument which
is unique among the memorials of the
new world. The shaft, which is very
ancient in construction and design, was
erected at the time many others Of
similar character were raised in the
cities of Spain to commemorate the
granting of a more liberal constitution
to the Spaniards. But not for long
were these monuments permitted to
stand. Soon the new constitution be-
came irksOme to the nobility. The
court found the common people enjoy
ing too many privileges. So, as was
the case in those days when a king
thought his people were becoming hap
py and contented under privileges not
enjoyed before, the constitution was re-
voked and return to tyranny ensued.
The old palace of the governor gen
eral fronts on the Plaza. Ancient glo-
ries are suggested, but touch of mod
ern reality is added in one of Uncle
Sans letter boxes in the main court.
Not far from the palace is the old
Spanish cathedral, one of the oldest
buildings in the United States and
still redolent with historical charm.
The bells still hang in the open arch,
and it is not so very many years ago
that priests came out on the landing
and struck them with hammers. Now
they are supplied with ropes and are
rung from below.
The cathedral is in constant use, but
has seen many vicissitudes. A few
years ago the interior was nearly
ruined by fire. A northern millionaire
advanced $4,000 on bond and mort
gage for its restoration, and the next
Christmas the bishop of the district
found the Cancelled mortgage among
his presents.
The city gates, set In a massive wall
and having the lion of the sturdy Leon
of CASTLE as their escutcheons, are al
ways visited early by tourists. The
ride from the modern railroad station
to a modern hotel built in the charm
ing Spanish style extends through
these gates, and thus at once that indie
Unable blending of the ancient and the
modern is noted.
On the Plaza stands the old slave
mart, plain open structure reminding
one slightly of the Greek Parthenon,
though there is nothing Grecian about
the stubby, square tower which rises
from one end, nor is there suggestion
Of Grecian architecture in the stout,
square pillars which uphold the roof.
Along the sea wall one finds many
quaint and curious buildings, and all
through the town reminders of Spain
are thickly scattered. The city wall
may be traced the entire length, but
the gateway is about the only tangible
reminder of it that is left