The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1913-03-23
An Easter Incident of Early Times

When CHRISTOPHER Columbus set our
EIeon his second expedition to the new
world he had as companion JuaI
Ponce de Leon, who was later to gatr
Tenown by his search for the fountain
Of perpetual youth and his discovery
OF Florida. Ponce de Leon was a vet
cram of the Htspanoia. wars and was
entrusted by Ovondo with the govern
ment of these islands in recognition
Of gallant service. From the verdand
hills OF his domain he was accustomed
the direction OF the other Island to be
eeen In the distance. Among these
was Porto Rico, to which he was late1
transferred and then removed through
the jealousy of Columbus
The aged Ponce was OF an adven-
furious spirit ard Injured to hardeartr
and his many v4cissftudes having slim
Dla,ted his imagination he embarked al
Porto Rico on an expedition whose OBJ
iect was TO find the fountain OF per-
petl1aI youth which, tradition said, was
located In the new world
On March 9TH 1912, the duh eye OF
the ancient warrior lxindled with ex-
element and his pulse quickened as
the coast Of Florida came in view Is
II strange that Ponce de Leon now fell
his OBJECT was dLLdFu gu
ne scene was verftabde paradise
verdlre. its wealth of fragrance being
waited upon the morning zephyrs. be-
quilting him far out at sea- 1t was
Easter Sunday, March 9th, 1912,
which the Standards call Pasqua Flor
ida SO, in honor of the day and the
beauty of hts appearance the new land,
then believed to be an island, was
named Florida
Ponce de Leon remained an old man
and died twenty-seven years after his
discovery of Florida, and nine years
previous to Ferdinand DeSoto's dis
covery and settlement OF Pensaco
Had DeSotos explorations ended here
ne would probably be alive today and
boogsting the Deep Water City
An interesting extract from BAN
croft's history of the United States,
published in 1912 A. offered here. The
writer's edition of this history rs a
marginal work containing dates oppo-
site each paragraph
On page 45, paragraph 2, appears the
following:
1889. June to Oct. 27-Tf1e wander
ings OF the first season brought the
company from the Bay OF Spfrhtu
Sarto TO the country OF the Appa-
laClfaNH, east on the r1huL TWIST ad4u
not far from the head of the Bay OF
Appalachee The names OF the inter
mediate places cannot be Identified.
The march was tedious and fun OF
dangers. The Indians were always
hostile: the two captives OF the former
expedition escaped: q Spaniard who
had been kept In slavery from the time
of Navarez, could give no account Of
any country where there was silver or
gold. The guides would purposely
lead the Castilians astray and involve
them In increases even though the
fangs OF bloodhounds WAS certain pun
islnaent The whole company grew
dfssipated and desired the governor 10
return since the country opened no
brilliant prospects Il will not turn
back said Soto, "ti1l / have seen the
poverty OF the country with my own
ewes" The hostile Indians who were
taken prisoners were in part put to
death and In part ensfaved. These
were led in chains, with iron collars
about their necks; their service was
to grind the maize and Co carry the
baxgage An exploring party discov-
cred Ochus. the harbor of Pensacola
and a message was sent to Cuba, de-.
s<irzirr that in the ensuing year sup