The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-02-11
PEOPLES FORUM
Editor Pensacola Journal:
A. nnnr cir.

MY Dear sir
In coming from my northern home
to your quaint and quiet old town for
brief stay, did not at all anticipate
that should receive here at first hand
most fascinating lesson in United
States history. shall always be CRATE
full to the fortune that brought myl
waning feet into your historic streets,
and which has held me here, reluctant
to depart.
Through a chance encounter and
| through the courtesy habitual to your
citizens, / have been privileged to read
the volume called Historical Sketches
OF Colonial Florida" by Richard L.
Campbell-a book so careful and
painstaking that it seems to me well
entitled to a place in the curriculum
of your public schools.
Absorbing in interest as is your line
OF shore, bristling with it's row of
forts, this has had for me less of at
traction than have other portions Of
your city. Especially have I won
dered whether your school children ap-
preciate the exceedingly rich histori-
cal heritage which is fairly thrust
upon them. To reach the noble build
ing recently erected for your high
school, students must pass to and fro
over ground teeming with reminis-
cences of men who We're great not only
IN their local place and time, but who
affected the destinies of the entire ma
ton.
Facing Lee square and the Confeder-
ate monument, looking diagonally
across at the hish school, the stately
residence erected by DIR. George Her
ron at 519 North Palafox street, marks
the site of the historic Fort Saint
George of English dominion, or of Fort
Saint Michael of Spanish rule For this
fort changed its name alternately, with
the nationalities of those who We're
holding 1t. I have been much i'm
pressed with those four great but
gradually diminishing heaps of sand
which mark the four corners OF the
old fort, wherein occurred those stir
ring scenes which should be familiar
to children of Pensacola, at least,
whether or not they be SO to others.
Here was the council chamber of
West Florida, and here her governor
Peter Chester. met those men who
were helping him to make the history
of Florida and of the United States.
/ read that in this chamber once rested
an order that a regiment from Pensa-
cola be forwarded to quiet the tea
riots in revolutionary Boston. / haveI
wondered whether Pensacola children
when they are taught of the Boston
tea party are also informed of their
own towns participation in that re-
nowned event. I read that in this
chamber was seen that picturesque
trader. William Panton, millionaire
and merchant prince, transacting his
heavy business and that here might
be found at times the still more pic
turesque figure of Alexander McGil-
livray-who was variously the grand
chief of the Creek nation, colonel in
the British army, general in the Span
ish army and birgadier general in the
United States army-an Indian quar-
ter blood, whose story is replete with
interest from start to finish.
I can foresee a magnificent pageant !
presenting the history of Pensacola,
Astounding in interest to every citizen
and drawing people from all parts of
our country. Into such a pageant how
many thrills would come with the wild
ride OF Sophia McGillivray Durant to
succor endangered settlers, with the
Indian maiden Malee's rescue of Dun
can McRimmon, with Alexander Nc
Gillivray's triumphant progression to
New York to confer with General
Washington, accompanied by 80 tribal
chieftains, With the capture for the
last time of Fort Saint Michael by
General Jackson, with the final set
Ting OF the calm of peace over all the
turbulent country. Let me congratu-
late you upon the wonderful material
at hand for that prospective pageant.
have sought in vain for authorita-
tive explanation of the name Pensa-
cola. In spite of the ingenious &C
counts OF certain authorities. I incline
to accept the following sent me by a
Spanish professor in one of our north +
ern universities:
Pensacola is not Spanish name, 4
nor is It OF Spanish derivation. 1t is
the name of an Indian tribe (Choc-
taws) and means hair people The
tribe was wiped out through intertribal 4
wars. The Indian name was Pasca- /