Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1914-05-14
ST. AUGUSTINE.

ST. AUGUSTINE.
Thirty-seven miles south of Jackson
vile is St. Augustine, the Oldest town in
America. The enticing beauty OF The
place and the Accordingly interesting fea-
lures OF the quaint old city caused us TO
lengthen casual visit of day into the
delightful sojourn of almost week. st.
Augustine has an individuality and a
charm all OF its own-it is like no other
town upon the continent. Natureis more
than kind to it. and Henry M. Flagler was
prince whose lavish generosity and
unstinted expenditures has helped nature
make of il a fairy land. Its narrow
streets-there is one that is but 3 feet ]
inch wide-between The ancient houses
built three or four hundred years ago, are
of absorbing interest; while the newer
avenues, on which are located the gor-
geously magnificent hotels and handsome
modern homes, are splendid in their
beauty and attractivenesS.
Florida was discovered by Juan Ponce
de Leon on March 81, 1913. Easter Sum-
day. The little ships upon which he had
adventured so far across the seas came
to anchor IN the shining waters OF the
lovely bay, and on spring day when all
the land was smiling in the bright sun
shine under heavenly skies, the Spanish
gentleman and his followers went ashore
to the lovely spot on which the city was
to be founded and took possession OF the
land in the name OF King Ferdinand OF
Spain. He named the neW-found land
Florida-"Land OF Flowers" He could
not have named it anything else, if ne had
the least bit Of sentiment in him. Ponce
de Icons head must have been turned
by what he saw and heard-aS many
head has since been turned by what has
been seen and heard in Florida-for he
returned to tie Spanish court to report
that he had secured for the king a new
empire OF beauty and riches. He told
marvellous tales of what might be found
in the Land of FlowerS-treaSureS be-
yond imagining, OF gold and silver and
precious stones, fruits and flowers and
products OF tie land and sea and air. he
believed, as others believed afterward,
that here was really to be found the
Fountain OF Youth, and if one would but
battle in its miraculous waters he would
be young forever. He returned TO Florida
in 1921, resolved to find the Fountain OF
| Youth and restore his health, broken by
service in the CaribbeanS. He never
found the tabled waters, and died from a
wound inflicted by poisoned arrow in
Cuba. II was in 1865 that the city OF St.
Augustine was founded by Pedro Mem
endez, who on August 18th, the feast
day OF St. augustine, his patron saint,
first landed mere. A fort was built OF
palmetto and pine logs for protection from
the Indians, town was laid out-and
civilization had its foothold on America.
The principal building material used in
the construction of the houses OF St.
Augustine more than 300 years ago was
couuina, formation composed OF tiny
shells that can be quarried readily in
blocks of any shape desired. Easily
worked when first taken from the quarry
beds, if hardenS quickly and makes strong
and durable walls. II is used to this day,
though modern invention makes it better
by mixing it with concrete to form still
harder material.
Perhaps the most interesting object in
St. Augustine is the old fort, whose mas
sive walls are built of great blocks OF
coquina. II is said to have been more
than hundred years in course OF con-
struction and 10 have cost 500, 1000, 900.
II is possible to believe that hundred
years were required for its building, for
in that southern atmosphere we know
that little work goes a long way. But
if sixty millions were spent upon it
we'll, there must have been some able
bodied grafteIs even in those early days.
This fort Was designed, it is said, by a
famous French engineer-certainly it is
the work of military genius. With the
reservation adjoining, it embraces an
area Of twenty acres. AT the time it was
Guilt if was probably one OF the greatest
works OF its kind in the world, and is the
only medieval! fortification in America.
An elliptic Moorish arch carrying road
way from the inner court to the terraces
above is wonderful piece of work.
Deep in the walls ofthe fort are dungeons
within ungeons-dreadful denS of dark
ness which terrify even the visitor OF to-
day who ventures with guide into their
deepest shades. One can readily believe
any or all of the horrible tales that are
! told of torture and death Of unfortunateS
who tasted OF The revenge and cruelty Of
those ancient Spanish braves. II is the
very place for the finding of skeletons in
chains, OF bones In iron cages, chalnS
riveted TO the walls once binding human
bodies, instruments of torture and pits
where disappeared forever the bodies Of
offenders.
ST. Augustine has great many relics
OF its earlier days, though three times the
city was sacked and burned by enemies
of the Spanish-by the English twice, in
1886 and 1702, and by John Davis. a
buccaneer, in 1865. The old fort, how
ever. was never captured, it is saba
tribute to its engineer and its defenders.
A month or two ago the city was the
scene of another great fire, which, starting
in a modern hotel, destroyed number OF