The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1919-08-10

THE PENSl
his means were limited and he not
being able to enlist the jealous CO.
operation OF his parishioners, he had
II to resort to charitable contributions
and such collections a. he could gath
err from building material that had
been cast away. His garb consisted
OF cassock with a cape effect. and
his pride prompted him to conceal his
gleanings from the spying eyes of the
casual passer-by. under this garment.
The mfschievous boys of the parish.
knowing Of his methods. would follow
him whenever they observed that his
arms and hands were concealed under
his cape. and feigning great piety.
would say. Benedig mae PADRE
Which being translated means: Faith
er. give me your blessing" The good
father, in his desire to grant the re-
quest, and bring in a few more to the
faith in the Christian performance
of his duties would extend his hands
to pronounce the benediction. when,
| OF course, the armfu1 Of material con-
cealed under the cloak would fall to
the ground. The boys persisted in
| annoying the old man. caused him to
lose his patience, and In moment of
evaporation. he put q curse on Pen
| sacola- that it should not begin to
grow big and strong until 1900.
There are many historic incidents
| which will be brought to the atten-
ton of our citizens as to why Pensa-
/ cola should claim precedence over
any other city of Florida in her
claims for the centennial celebration.
The epoch in our national life was
\ evolved from the Florida war of 1917
1918; Pensacola was in control of a
weak Spanish government, made SO,
no doubt, by reason of being so far
removed by ocean and distance from
the mother country, which had moth
ing in sympathy naturally, with the
government here, which was constant
ly at war. the subject of intrigue and
the prey of hostile Seminole Indians
and bandit negroes organized by penal
British traders. Florida, owned by
Spain. was peopled by mixed races.
the pure Castillian with the Indians
and other races The Spanish gov~
ernor, Lavalla, ruled the province of
West Florida from his palace in PEN
sacola. !.
Piratical procedures were common
on our Florida coast, even to the cap
turing of vessels and making raids
through the southeastern states. These
predatory bands consisted OF Indians
and negroes well armed, led often by
British traders.
General Andrew Jackson, a country
lawyer. in Tennessee, and for a short
time a, senator in the congress of the
United States, at Washington, had re-
signed to volunteer in the war with
England; in charge Of the southeast
ern department, where these depreda-
tons were frequent, the general re-
peatedly warned the Spanish governor
in Pensacola that American rights
We're being violated off the coast of
Florida and across the border.
1t is said that Jackson's warnings
were short, crisp. terse polite, but
very pointed The Spanish governor
replies were numerous Containing
many professions, <protestations and
promises" The raids. rawlassness and
anarchy continued, when two Amerf-
cans were killed, then the final warn
ing was given. General Jackson sent
two regiments in Florida, attacked
and routed the Indians and negro
hordes; blew up a fort and made pris- |
oners of two influential, wealthy Brit |
ish traders, whose names were AR |
buthnot and Ambrister. who were
promptly court-martialed and execut-
ed. Jackson then proceeded to Pen /
sacola, took possession of the Spanish |
capitol and put the Spanish governor
under guard; when all of this had /
been done with the promptitude which /
characterized every that Andrew
Jackson undertook, he put on his full
uniform of Major General, u s. A., |,
and paid a formal, ceremonious visit 7
to the Spanish governor, to assure
him of his safety and handed him a |
letter saying that the United States
army would retain possession of the +
Spanish capitol in America, preserv-
ing order until he received instruc- 1
tions from Washington. He added that
his most christian majesty the king of
Spain would doubtless be grateful to
the u. s. A. for defeating the outlaws
and rebels in Florida who had defied
alike the authority of his most chris
ton majesty as well as the rights of
citizens of the United States
In conclusion of this brief resume
of incidents occurring in Florida, and
which eliminated in the event which
we are about to celebrate, say again:
Give me land that has legends and
lays, that tell of the memories of long
vanished days: Pensacola for victory
centennial"