The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-12-18
HISTORY OF PENSACOLA
(gY CAPT. J. c. PArTERsoN.)

from the Canadian Official History Of
Canada and the Spanish archives:
The discovery of Pensacola bay by
Ponfflo de Naryez, the visit of Afaldo-
nado. captain OF the fleet of Hernandez
de Soto, occurred in October. 1923.
There could have been seen coasting
along westward and afterwards land
/ ing on the shores of Santa Rosa island
five small rudely constructed vessels,
having for sails gorgeous patchwork Of
masculine under and overwear.
This fleet was the first effort of naval
construction within the present limit
Of the United States, and the vessels
were built Of yellow pine and cauuSed
with palmetto fibre and pitch. Horses
tails and names furnished the cordage
and the hides as water vessels. Its
freightage consisted Of 240 souls bodies
wasted and worn by fatigue and
wrecked by disappointment. 1t was
commanded by his excellency Ponfilo
de Narvez, captain general and adel
tandodo of Florida; a tail, big-limbed,
Ired-headed, one-eyed man.
These We're the first white men to
make footprints on the shores of Pen
S6AAO&tt LAY OAl sSdIlAd LN0StL 4olclltNA c@ilh
to look out upon its waters Narvez,
an Hidalgo, born at Yalladota in about
1880, and was a man CAPABLE OF con-
ceiving and undertaking great enter
prises, but too rash and ilI-starred for
a>suecessfuI execution. Possessing the
ambition, Narvez, which impelled the
Spanish Adventures to the shores of
the Gulf of Mexico, with whom the
Indian life was but a trifing sacrifice
for a pearl or an ounce Of gold.
Five years before the Florida expe-
dition he had been appointed with a
large naval and land force under his
command, by Valas Gieles, governor Of
Cuba, to supersede Cortez, the con-
quror of Mexico but the expedition to
Mexico was frustrated and Narvez APP
pointed by the Emperor Charles Y to
accuse Cortez of treason and petition
for redress of his own wrongs.
The emperor, however, healed the
wounded pride by a command to or
ganize an expedition for the conquest
by which he might compensate himself
for the loss of the treasures of Mata-
sumas of his riches which he had so
dfsastrously failed to snatch from the
iron grasp of Cortez. The preparation
to execute this command had been
made by providing a fleet and land
force consisting of men at arms and
cavalry as well as the necessary
supplies.
Narvez in April, 1928, sailed for
Florida and landed at Tampa bay, and
having resolved upon a westward
march he ordered his fleet to sail along
the coast while he by rather circui-
tous march advanced in the same di-
rection. This parting was at once final
and fatal. He again reached the gulf
somewhere in the neigfborhood of St,
Marks with hts command woefully
wasted and diminished by toll, battle
and disease and as can well be mag
ined, with his dream of avarice rudely
dtspelled.
No tidings of the fleet from which he
had s. lucllIessly departed was obtain
able Despair inspired that the fleet
with the motley sails whtSh had been
seen off the island Of Santa Rosa, his
destination being Mexico. Destiny,
however, which was but another iI1u-
sion and that the winds and waves
were to dispeI Narvez found a grave
in the NAV of the sea as did most of
the remnants of his followers, only
four survivors reaching Mexico, one of
them being Cabaca de Vaca. the treas
urer and historian Of his expedition
Twelve years elapsed after Narvez
discovered Pensacola bay before the
shadow of the white mans sail fell
upon these water again. In January,
1870, Capitano HaIdenano, who was
of the fleet which brought
Fernando de Soto to the Florida coast, !
entered Pensacola harbor and gave it
a careful examination and bestowed
upon it the name of Puerta Anchusi.
Having returned to DeSoto, Nal
danado made a favorable report, the
first official report of the advantages
of Puerta Anchusi (Pensacola), De-
Soto determined to make it his base
Of supplies He ordered Maldonado to
proceed 70 Havana, Cuba, and after I
rrocuring the required succor to sail
back to Puerta Anchusi. He intended
to gather and wait Maldonado's return I
before venturing into the interior.
He made a prudent resolve, suggest I
ed by the sight OF the bones of Mar I
vez's horses. but a captured Indian so 4
beguiled DeSctto with his tales of gold /
to be found to the westward that ban I
ishing all thoughts of Puerta Anchusi (
and the never to- come back fleet, he (
proceeded. After two years he finally 4
came TO Manbelar, supposed 10 be .
Choctaw bluff on the Alabama river.
Nearly 20 years passed away after
visit 10 Puerta Anchusi I
before Europeans again looked upon
The shores In 1856 the advisory of .
Mexico and the Bishop OF Cuba under
took a memorial tol the emperor,
Charles V. representing Florida as an
INVITING field for conquest and re-
igious work. Imperial sanction having
been received an expedition was Or
ganized under the command of Don
Fristran de Luna TO effect the triple
object Of bringing gold into the en-
7erer's treasury. extending his domin-
on and charging the bounds of the
spiritual kingdom by ws1ning souls to
he church
For the first two enterprises 1900
soldiers We're provided and for the last E
party of enthusiastic friara ara other
.rl4,sir1a1 fessaha-r Tgfsal-fa Ia Apoh4Y,f n