The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1938-06-25
NORTHUMBERLAND
TOO LATE TO
CLASSIFY
By RUSSELL KAY


.ssssaesseesseessesssss
If some bozo were to step up
b you on the street and ask if
ou knew anything about guy
AIMED fernando Mendez de Soto
Gutierrez Cardenosa. you would
robably retaliate with look as
,lank as Fourth of July cart
.H idge and wonder how much it
eally amounted to in American
money.
But a gentleman by that name
or maybe / should say "them')
nee held the exalted position of
q Governor of Florida. He wasn't
elected to the office-he just as
Iumed the title and held it until
he time Of his death.
- We know him today by the
=. more abbreviated name of Her
~, lando de Soto and in order that
=. proper tribute might be paid him
,o5,5n the 4O0th anniversary of his
anding in Florida, Congress APP
:. pointed a special commission
.hree years ago to dig into the
records and get all the informal
81 ion possible concerning this IL
ustrious Spaniard and his famed
Expedition.
81 Ferreting among ancient and
nusty records Of Spain, Cuba
md the two Americas, the COM
mission patiently and diligently
lug out facts and information
- which was checked and re-check-
ID. tabulated, verified and finally
assembled bit by bit in its proper
~ -elation to weave the amazing,
.olorful and interesting story OF
he life and adventures of the
81 great explorer.
& Honoring fernando De Soto,
Florida will stage great EXPOSE
ion and historical pageant at
Tampa, January 81 to February
is. TO be known as the Pan
American fernando De Soto Elk
3 position, and during this period
l.will re-enact in as detailed and
xss accurate manner as possible the
arrival Of the Spaniard.
Ships modelled after those ac-
.ualIy used by De Soto will drop
? anchor in Tampa Bay. From
hem viii merge horde of Gag
er adventures. CARRIED in helmet
49, and armor, bearing the standards
Of ancient Spain and the rugged
cross OF Christ, soldiers, priests
and slaves will form the landing
party. On shore, Indians awed
and curious viii await their ar
rival. Thus viii the glory, CLAM
bur and romance of the Latin
conquest Of Florida be portrayed
with parade and pageant of the
past that viii contrast itself
against the skyline of modern
steel and concrete that today is
Tampa.
From Central and South Amer
lea will come exhibits from q
Latin American countries to
formulate great fernando De
Soto Pan American Exposition
that will occupy the present Fair
Grounds of the Florida State Fair
and be supplemented with sever
Al new buildings and many
unique and interesting features.
Participating in the event, the
Federal government has appoint
ed DR.. Alexander v. Dye, United
States Commissioner of the Pan
Anierican fernando De Soto Ex-
position, and has appropriated
100000 toward making this cele-
hration of the 400th anniversary
81 the landing of De Soto, an oc-
eurrence long to be remembered.
Plans call for the issuance of a
special commemorative postage
stamp and a commemorative
roin. the nationwide circulation
of which will serve 20 publicize
the event to all. II is further
hoped that many of the partici-
pating South American and Cen,
trail American nations will like
wise authorize the issuance OF
postage commemorating the an
niversary. and an effort is being
made TO bring sixeable delegations
from each OF these countries "a
Tampa for the celebration and
Exposition.
Jose GaSparilla and his Pirate
Band viii likewise return and
rumor has Il that the Pirate chiei
aud his motley erese plan TO raid
the city during the period of De
S0to'S celebration. ShrinerS. as
wen. are making plans to cross
the hot sands Of the desert q
participate in the event So the
period from January 81 to Feb
ruary rs. next. should be = bril-
liant time in Tampa's history and
those who are guests Of the cts
on this occasion viii be royalty
and gloriously entertained.