We think he landed on the southwest coast somewhere near Charlotte Harbor. We know that the native Calusa, probably the fiercest of the native peoples, did not welcome the hairy men dressed in shiny armor. They began firing poison-tipped arrows. One struck Ponce in the thigh. The colonists fled to Cuba for help, but Juan Ponce de Leon died from his wounds. There is no record of his last words, but maybe he cursed himself for never finding that fountain. He carried the golf clubs of the Bradenton swells for 25 cents a round.
In high school, he played baseball and took Edith to dances on the Manatee River. Sometimes they borrowed his daddy's automobile, a Graham Paige, and parked in the woods for some necking. They married in He served as a radar specialist in World War II and worked in the credit bureau and then the post office after that. Their daughter, Dee, was born in He taught her how to fish for reds in the river and bass in the lakes.
He took the family to Gettysburg and Mount Vernon for history-centered vacations. Lamar retired from the post office in He got his ham-radio license and looked forward to years of leisure. Lamar's mother, Marion, born when the Plains Indians were still battling for survival, was 98 at her passing in Edith and Lamar Graham were fascinated by the family roots.
At the time, the personal computer was more science fiction than reality. Genealogy required phone calls, letters, travel and hours at the library. The Grahams had no idea what they'd find. They started with Lamar's parents and worked backward. They looked for names in family Bibles. At city hall they looked up birth and death certificates, ambled through cemeteries and perused old newspaper clippings. When they found a promising name, they'd write or telephone the deceased's next-of-kin and arrange an interview.
They'd scour the kin's Bible for names, look at photographs, listen to family stories and start again. Lamar had fond boyhood memories of his Grandma Delia, born in She and Grandpa Joe lived in the woods an hour away from Bradenton.
Grandma Delia was suspicious of modernity; she refused to look at the camera when a family photograph was taken. She wasn't prideful - pride was a sin in her moral universe - except when it came to cooking. She was proud of her stewed tomatoes and biscuits.
Edith and Lamar discovered something new about Grandma Delia. Her maiden name had been Sanchez. They traced the name back to St. Augustine, time-traveling through the generations to the 17th century. That's how the Grahams came to qualify for membership in the Los Floridanos, a club for the descendants of Spanish colonialists. Some folks would have been satisfied. Not the Grahams. They took a trip to Spain and followed the trail to the 16th century, into Ponce de Leon's era. They discovered a relative who had married a woman who was kin to a Don Nicholas Ponce de Leon.
Don Nicholas, they believed, was related to the Spanish Conquistador who waded ashore on the Land of Flowers on a spring day in Edith Graham died in when she was She went to her grave confident about her husband's roots. In search of fame and fortune, Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan c. En route he discovered what is now known as the Strait of Magellan and became the Live TV. This Day In History. History Vault. Recommended for you. Hernando de Soto. Cinco De Mayo Foods: Tacos.
Cinco De Mayo. Exploration of North America The story of North American exploration spans an entire millennium and involves a wide array of European powers and uniquely American characters. Sir Francis Drake Sir Francis Drake participated in some of the earliest English slaving voyages to Africa and earned a reputation for his privateering, or piracy, against Spanish ships and possessions.
This was readily granted. What mattered justice against might? Ponce de Leon first visited the island to gain a little preparatory knowledge of its capacities, land- ing at Agueybaney.
Its chief welcomed him with great courtesy and hospitality, because of the reports of those who had visited him in Higuey. In truth, had all the Spaniards who came in con- tact with the natives been of the same disposition as Ponce de Leon, there would have been no need bloodshed in securing sovereign rule over these lands, for the natives were naturally averse to w simply children of nature in a bounteous land wh readily supplied all their primitive wants.
From Agueybaney, DeLeon went to the bay of is- ar, ich of San Juan, upon whose shores he finally chose the site for his new settlement, not far from the present city of San Juan.
For a year or two all went well with the new colony. But the thirst for gold came upon his people, consuming all feelings of justice and humanity, so that it was not long before they began to perpetrate upon the Indians such indigni- ties and oppressions that they revolted. But it was children fighting wolves. But driven at last to desperation, the most hardy and daring planned to throw off the yoke of bondage.
First, however, they must demonstrate that the Spaniards were mortals like themselves, and there- fore not supernatural beings. The colonists were accustomed to send messen- gers from one settlement to another, who were au- thorized to compel the Indians toract as porters, even to carrying the messengers on their backs across the intervening streams.
One of these men coming to a village and demanding carriage across the river near by, the wily sub-chief, who was in the conspiracy, determ- ined to experiment with him. He privately instructed the men selected to carry the Spaniard across the ford to throw him into the water and hold him under until his struggles should cease.
By sheer force of numbers, although ill-armed, the insurgent Indiais swept the island of Spaniards, save those who gained refuge in Ponce de Leon's fort at San Juan.
This fort they in due time attacked, but were held at bay until it happened their chief leader, a man of more than ordinary courage and skill in the native arts of war, was shot by an arquesbusier in leading an assault, which so disordered the plans of the Indians that the arrival of young Perez de Ese- guera with an armed company from Higuey enabled Ponce de Leon to bring the war to an end. About the time of its conclusion a new governor and other officers arrived, appointed by the King, with directions, however, "in no wise to interfere with Ponce de Leon, or any houses, lands or Indians that were his.
Knight that in some way, as he might choose, he should be idemnified for the loss of his governor- ship. During all these troublous times there was near De Leon's settlement a village of peaceable natives who never became involved in the war between the Spaniards and the other Boriquenians, but remained faithful to him.
This state of good feeling for the Knight person- ally came about in this way: Some of his soldiers, drunken with a liquor made of maguey, came across the wife of the village chief upon the beach, bathing her child and teaching it to swim, for it was the custom of these people to make their children expert in this art at tne earliest pos- sible age.
One soldier, more brutal minded that the rest, took the child from her, and despite her entreaties, exclaiming, "This is the way to teach the devil's spawn how to swim I" threw it as far as possible into the water. Instantly the mother sprang in to res- cue it, but when she endeavored to make the shore the soldiers, in their ruthless sport, prevented her until her strength was exhausted. With flashing eyes he sprang upon the leader, hurling hhi full length into the shallow water near the shore, beat him soundly with the flat of his sword, and exclaimed, "Get you gone, miscreants!
Then he called to the woman to come to the shore without fear, which doing, he escorted her to the village, carrying the child himself, for its mother was well nigh spent.
Afterward he issued orders that these villagers should be considered under his especial protection and were in no manner to be molested. Once also, there was a time of great scarcity of food, because their little crops of maize and beans had been blighted and from some cause, probably a sub-marine volcanic eruption, the fish left this coast.
Neither did the villagers dare venture into the for- ests in pursuit of game, for the other Indians hated them on account of their fidelity to the Spaniards. The generous-hearted Knight, seeing their distress and knowing its cause, fed them equally with his own people out of his private stores.
Thus it came about there was one little si all these beautiful islands of the sun, that wa an inferno of lust and cruelty. That one und shadow of Ponce de Leon's banner. The lessons of honorable knightly chivalry Ponce de Leon were not empty aphorisms.
Was it to be wondered at, that the chief mara, to whom his wife related the affair menti otin s not erthe with They ghtly were Ata- oned, conceived a warm friendship for the Knight, which. So that if the Knight had been a bookman instead of soldier little versed in letters, he might have placed on record much that would have been of great inter- est and value concerning the real character, history, manners and customs of a people, erased from the face of the earth apparently through no fault of their own, but because of their simplicity and desire for peace and good will.
Among other legends mentioned Atamara was one concerning a fountain o one drank, it was said they had diseases and restore, no matter might be, the full vigor of youth Something of this also had Dc the natives of Higuey, but none f whose waters, if power to heal all how old that one TLeon heard from -had been able to give any particulars except that it was in a land far northward and that it did as truly exist as any foun- tain in their own land.
One day Ponce de Leon, having the matter in mind because of years physically, dauntless as evei "Tell me the waters are said Dolores is with So Atamara his beginning to feel the weight of even if at heart he was young and r, said to Atamara: whole legend of the fountain whose to restore youth.
See, the Donna us and would also hear it" recited the legend, which ran thus: "In the beginning there was but one God, the Great Spirit who made all things. This Lord of the Universe first gathered the light spread through all space and moulded it with his hand and stars. Then he gathered the darkness and made of it the earth. What light is immortal and cannot die. Then when the world was made he created servants to do his will.
To these he gave dominion over the things he had made. One was lord of the sun, another of the moon and others of the stars, the air and sea. For a long time these only were in the universe. But the Spirit of the Earth was a woman.
She too lives forever, yet not as the others do. Even as the earth changes, its rocks decay and yet are renewed. She is the first Mother of men. One day, the Great Spirit, seeing that the earth was very fair but lonely, said to the Spirit of the Earth, "Bring forth a Man child. She nursed the child as mortal mot as it grew she dowered it with every i within her power. She had much to bestow and dominion for everything she thought him or foster his growth. Day by day, the man child gre' hat she might hers do.
She could iest too cosy for him; no bower too fair adle. No wind could be too pure and him; no songs were ever sweeter than those she and her birds sang to him.
When he began to walk she led him along the ocean beach, where he could hear the lapping of the waves and see the sheen of sunlight in a thous- and tints upon the bosom of the sea; into the forest whose great trees made cooling shades; by moun- tain falls tumbling over spray-wet rocks; through valleys full of flowers with fragrant breath, and col- ors rare, and taught the secrets of their lives and growths and uses.
And the boy had her alone for a companion and teacher through many moons, -increasing with every one in grace and strength, because through all this time, the Spirit of the Earth gave him her heart and life, rejoicing in his vigor and dawning man- hood.
But there came a time when this first man dreamed of a counterpart. As he had grown. The dim image of the rarely and face that had bent above him reshaped itself into the object of his would have a companion that was unlike.
The Spirit of the Earth knew th would satisfy his longing bit to be gr So she mortals to she him. B way. It is There i what she was beautiful form as an infant, lodging. He like him, yet at naught else anted his wish.
The birds there are of many colors and sing all the songs known to birds. There are many pleasant fruits and embowering vines, and flowers bloom all the year. Towards this place one day, not knowing that he was led in spirit, by his mother, the First Man wended his way.
He knew not why or wherefore he was pleased and joyous. Or why with each for- ward step his heart grew lighter and his pulse beat stronger. Naught else seemed to or strange, until the path 's edge. Then he seemed 1 the bank sat the moa graced the earth. S with flowers, using th She looked not up see his reflection in tf He gazed a time to her. Then at last h said, "Look up, oh, t And she, rising, a to be in a dream.
I am thine forever! As time passed, the years wore on them and burdened them. Whatever shall come to thee, Idona, shall come to me also. Not for to-day, nor to-morrow alone, but forever. So had they grown old together. He, because his mother was the earth and she, for that she loved him so. One day, sitting side by side before their lodge, built close by the spot where in their youth they had betrothed themselves to each other, he looked upon her sadly and said to her: "Beh me no l thy true mother.
I love these many years To her I must go. It Do thou go back to the d perchance the Great unchanging life that My limbs will bear have been happy in. The Earth is my Sis the way with all home that was once : Spirit will restore on the day we met thou did'st renounce for me. I have spoken! Is it not well? She looked down and sighed. She remembered how in that day so long gone, she had looked upon the water's bosom and smiled at his reflection. Then he stood bending over her, so full of grace and vigor her heart was too large for her bosom.
Now, alas! And she too had grown old with him. How sad it was! But when she thought of all to her and she to him, she held h and answered : "I cannot, will not leave thee, "But I say again it is best for art indeed Nomi, my soul " Yet still he held fast to her ha Then tears trickled down he vered again: "On that day I said, 'Idona, Mine.
Great Spirit with a falsehood in Meant it not? And that he might comfort her a little he drew her closer. Even as he did so the mists grew into form before them and on the threshold stood the Spirit of the Earth. Then a voice thrilled throw sweetest music I S"Idona, my son, and Nomi, his wife and love has made you is no parting hour for you. It shall be as you will forever. Thy name he gave thee, Nomi my soul and his name, Idona the First Man, shall mean forever what they meant that bridal day.
Go seek the spot where you two pledged each other. Upon it springs the rarest fountain on earth. Its waters will renew the youth for whose loss you grieve so sadly. Go quaff of it 'Tis but your bodies that have grown weak and frail your souls are immortal, for deathless love is theit living power. At last they came to the spot so full of happy sacred memories to both, where she was first to find the fountain-which was so like many others, that had it been there before, they would have thought it all a dream-and bending her knees Nomi filled a pearly shell lying by it and handing it to him, said: "Drink first, Idona, that I may know thou wilt not part from me forever.
In the language of Bimini, this fountain bears another name which means 'Immortal Love. But once in a hundred times twelve moons they come to the fountain to drink together of its waters. Had not his old teacher, Father Ambrose, told him often of the Fountain of Life whereof men might drink freely and live forever? Truly so. And then had he not seen himself many things in these wonderful lands almost as strange? Why then should this be incredible?
As to Miracle, what greater one can there be than the coming of the first man upon the earth, whether one believes in Adam or Idona; Nature, the Great Spirit or the Almighty? Ponce de Leon asked many questions i concerning his knowledge of other lands and learned enough to satisfy himself such existed in the unexplored seas to ward.
His plantations in Higuey and Boriquen had been confirmed to him by the King and under the man- agement of Domingo Lopez brought in a good an- nual revenue.
It troubled him not that for reasons of State, his office was transferred to another. An iron con- stitution, built up by sound habits, training and tem- perate living, was still his.
As long as this was so, with his good sword he could readily carve for him- self in the new lands a greater dominion. Could he be master of its waters what of the world he wished for could be his.
Life is full of possibilities which are denied to age, but with the energy of unflagging youth and the wisdom of years combined all things were possible. So to the King he sent for permission to dis- cover, explore and colonize such authority over it that King Ferdinand was gl the land none cou d to find ing his promises to De Leon, with no of Bimini with id question.
It therefore was not long before the King sent to him the document petitioned for, which is trans- lated as follows. We grant you a period of three years, dating from the day you receive this document, with the understanding that you are to set out on this voy- age of discovery the first year, also during your out- ward bound course you are privileged to touch at such islands, or mainlands in the ocean, as yet undis- covered-provided they do not belong to the King of Portugal, our much beloved son, including those specified in the limit between.
Nor can you take anything whatever except such articles as are re- quired for your sustenance, and the equipment of your ships.
He was certain that it would be favorable to his wishes. He overhauled his caravels and fitted them out as thoroughly as possible, accumulated stores of arms, provisions, gifts and trinkets of various kinds that would be suited to the tastes of the Indians whom he should find in the lands he might discover; arranged his home affairs, and by the time the royal decree arrived, which came with a squadron of ves- sels from Spain that touched first at his port of San Juan de Porto Rico, he was ready to depart.
Juan de Cosa commanded the Donna Maria. He had been with Columbus in two voyages and the Knight appointed him because he was the most skillful mariner, chief pilot and sailing master of the little squadron. Emrique de la Vega, also a good sailor as well as soldier, commanded the San Salvador. These vessels carried in all about three hundred men, soldiers and sailors included, besides several priests for whose accommodation a chapel was built upon the after deck of the Dolores which, though small, was fitted with all the paraphernalia neces- sary for their holy offices.
All things being now ready, the time came which had been set for sailing. Woman-like, Donna Dolores to the last, hoped that she might persuade De Leon not to adventure this voyage which she feared might prove disastrous to one whom she still loved as in the never-to-be- forgotten days in Leon; but finding her entreaties were of no avail to turn him from his purpose, resigned herself to the parting.
But every sail that was set, every pennon flung to the breeze, brought a sigh from her gentle, loving heart. Juan de Cosa awaited but the arrival on board of the Knight to give the signal for sailing.
Then, releasing her from his embrace, he said: "Thou done bravely, Dolores, restrain your tears. If it be God's will, I shall return, not. And I will bring to thee the same gift of youth, though thou needst it not so much as I. So farewell for but a brief time. God guard and keep thee! SAnd the last eyes that caught the gleaming of his vanishing sails were those of the fair woman who could hardly see them through the mist of tears, but whose heart like his was strong with blessed hope.
The Knight of Leon then began a voyage of search and exploration only paralleled by that of Ulysses among the Cyclades, or in King Arthur's time by the search for the Holy Grail. He glided on through azure seas, whose very fish were rainbow tinted; whose beds seen through the emerald waters, blossomed into royal gardens, clothed with pearl and purple shells, sea anemones with as many hues as Joseph's coat, bright coral; sea fans waving in gentle currents; over which often sailed fleets of nautilus, matchless in symmetry and beauty, with dolphins and porpoises to keep them company whether the winds were swift or gentle.
From one fairy island to anc fragrant with the breath of flo tarried briefly at to 'search for people coming out of the fore fruits and flowers for which th pense.
There were islands everywl verdure and beauty they might ural paradises. There were gently rounded glens, rocks grouped in quaint of cathedral spires and castle ga ing forts or pleasant palaces.
Flamingos in their scarlet plumage paraded the shore in mimicry of soldiers. There were also pink curlews, white herons, golden singing birds and par- roquets with'radiant feathers, giving life and grace to sylvan solitudes or foam wreathed shores.
There were towering palms and pines, oaks and cedars, with many other trees of every shade and shape and kind of flower, fruit and foliage. Columbus discovered a few of the most southern islands of this wonderful archipelago, but to Juan Ponce de Leon belongs the credit for the greater portion.
His caravels were the first to thread the narrow channels between the islands or sail the broader sounds. And as they touched at each, it was his hand that first flung the flag of Spain to their balmy gen- tle breezes, and his voice that pronounced the solemn words in which possession for his King was pro- claimed.
But the people of these islands knew little of Atamara's legend of the fountain. They would only affirm that there was a great land beyond in which it must be, but where they knew not. They were threading a channel between islands to port and starboard, whose forms were shadows of fairy lands only, while before their prows stretched the vast illimitable ocean expanses no other ships had ever furrowed with their keels.
Calm was the ocean's bosom, save the undulating swells which seemed but to mark its breathing, as if, like lesser creatures, it slept and dreamed. Over all, there was the blue dome of heaven, where triumphed royally the Queen of Night, with all her train of starry satellites almost eclipsed by her effulgence. It was an hour when revery would take the form of dreams. At first, Ponce de Leon saw northward only the sea fading into distant meeting with the sky and the Pole Star smiling down upon the wedding.
But anon, in that quarter, dawned a faint auroral light, ,waxing brighter into an overarching roseate aureole. I shadows but dimly seen took form and being as coast and headland; gulfs, bays and ports of refuge; continental outlines momentarily growing vaster and at last into a majestic panorama of forests, lofty mountains, shining rivers, and plains, apparently as boundless as the mighty sea.
Perez de Eseguera, son of the Knight who came with the King to Juan Ponce's rescue in the battle with the Moors, sat with him.
When De Leon turned towards him doubting whether he was awake or dreaming, he saw the same light reflected from his companion's face which had changed the silver of the sails to gold, so knew it was not all a dream.
The Lord's fingers have outlined the land which He and the King have given us where- to we are sailing. A land from which many Spains, nay all Europe, might be carved and scarcely missed.
We shall surely find it not many days hence. Pray, that the saints guide us to the land of Bimini and the wonderful fountain of the legend. Perhaps it was only a mirage or subtle mirroring by nature of the great land shortly to be discovered, but nevertheless it foreshadowed the truth. So Ponce de Leon left these regions and sailed on toward the north.
One cloudy night the sailors on De Leon's cara- vel heard the distant booming of breakers and awakened him. Listening a moment and finding they were not mistaken, he called to the s ter to take soundings, which being done, the anchors let go, the sails furled and to abide the coming of the day.
At dawn, far to the north and south ;ailing mas- he ordered the vessels of the an- chorage, stretched upon the leeward side of the vessels a multitude of sand dunes fringed by a beach on which tumbled the rough billows of the Atlantic Ocean.
Beyond the sand dunes, which were of no great height, were seen green forests. The lookout on the masthead saw also between the seaward ridges and the forests the winding waters of a river with grassy marshes. This river broadened to the south- ward.
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