First Explorers Came Here

American history began at Charlotte Harbor a century or more before Jamestown and Plymouth.

Some explorer writing in a mixture of Spanish and Portuguese circumnavigated the peninsula of Florida prior to 1502. In that year, a secret map of the new world was prepared for Alberto Cantino, agent for the Italian Duke of Ferrara. A bay that appears to be today's Charlotte harbor was designated "Clgofabazo" --- perhaps incorporating abbreviations that translate in Portuguese to Cape of the Large Village.

The Council of the Indies declared in a 1565 letter to the Spanish King: "Since the year 1510, up 'til today, fleets as well as ships of this kingdom have divers times gone to occupy Florida in the name of your majesty."

There is strong evidence, therefore, that Ponce De Leon did not discover Florida. King Ferdinand in 1513 gave Ponce the title of "adelantado" (those who go boldly onward) and an "asciento" (royal permission) to establish a colony there at Ponce's expense. Ponce sailed from his Puerto Rico plantation to search for a suitable location. In the opinion of this writer, Lindsey Williams, he reached the peninsula at Ormand By The Sea during Easter week --- in Spain referred to as Pasqua Florida, or Passover of Flowers.

Ponce took possession of the land for Spain then hop-scotched around to the west coast. There he "found a way between the coast and some small islands that lay out to sea." This description aptly fits Pine Island Sound. The expedition tarried there for nine days. During this time, they bartered from some "low" gold (containing copper), rolled one of the ships on its side to scrape off barnacles, and had a fight with the Calusa Indians resulting in the death of one Spaniard.

Eight years later, Ponce returned to the Calusa country --- this time with two ships, 200 settlers, domestic animals, and "all seeds for agriculture." The first attempt at colonizing mainland North America, probably on the southern tip of Pine Island, lasted but several weeks. The Calusa attacked the little colony and half-completed chapel. During the ensuing battle, Ponce received a deep arrow wound in the hip joint. The tip of the arrow broke off, and gangrene set in. The colony hurriedly packed up and sailed for Havana where Ponce died.

HERNANDO DE SOTO

The next explorer to venture into Charlotte Harbor is believed by your writer to have been Hernando De Soto in 1539. He, too, was an adelantado ostensibly bent on colonization. However, his subsequent actions indicate he was more interested in discovering a native population with a vast gold horde --- as Pizzaro and Soto had found in Peru eight years earlier.

Soto sent out Juan Anasco early in the year to find a landing site for 10 large ships, 500 men and 100 horses. It was the largest Spanish expedition ever assembled up to that time. Anasco returned with news of a site "very near" Havana. Nonetheless, the fleet had difficulty finding the entrance to a large bay Soto called Baya Espiritu Santo and the king's factor called Baya Hondo. The destination was an Indian village named Ocita which Anasco had singled out at the "extremity of the bay." It took three to five days for the ships to "kedge" up the shallow bay at high tide by carrying out an anchor in a row-boat and then hauling in the anchor line.

Shortly after landing, a shipwrecked Spainard named Juan Ortiz made his way to Soto's camp and told how he had been saved from death by an Indian princess. The account was recorded by "A Gentleman of Elvas," who survived the expedition. Later the story was revised by Rev. Ridchard Hakluyt of Britain and attributed to Capt. John Smith and Pocohontas at Jamestown in 1607.

It should be noted that at the time Hakluyt selected, Pocohontas was only 12 years old. Neither she, her English husband John Rolfe, nor any Jamestown settler ever mentioned involvement with Capt. Smith.

Ortiz was a member of the Panfilo De Narvaez expedition to Florida which was storm-driven prematurely to what is now St. Petersburg in 1527. Ortiz was sent to Havana with the wives of Narvaez' officers under instructions to return farther north a year later with supplies.

The expedition made its way under relentless Indian attack to what is now St. Marks south of Tallahassee. There the starving survivors ate their horses and constructed crude barges with which to escape the country. Four members of the expedition survived. The rest, including Narvaez, were drowned at sea.

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"When Baltasar de Gallegos came into the open field, he discovered 10 or 11 Indians. Among them was a Christian, naked and sun-burnt, his arms tattooed after their manner, and he in no respect differing fromn them. The Christian, seeing a horseman coming upon him with a lance, began to cry out, 'Do not kill me, cavalier. I am a Christian.' He had been 12 years among the Indians, having gone into the country with Panphilo De Narvaez, and returned in the ships to the Island of Cuba, where the wife of the Governor remained.

"By her command he went back to Florida with some 20 or 30 others, in a pinnace. Coming to the port in sight of the town they saw a cane sticking upright in the ground, with a split in the top, holding a letter. This they supposed the Governor had left there, to give information of himself before marching into the interior. They asked it be given to them, of four or five Indians walking along the beach. They, by signs, bade them come to land for it. Ortiz and another did so, though contrary to the wsishes of the others.

"No sooner had they got on shore, when many natives came out of the houses and, drawing near, held them in such way that they could not escape. One, who would have defended himself, they slew on the spot. The other they sized by the hands and took him to Ucita, their chief. The people in the pinnance, unwilling to land, kept along the coast and returned to Cuba.

"By command of Ucita, Juan Ortiz was bound hand and foot to four stakes and laid upon scaffolding. Beneath it a fire was kindled that he might be burned. However, a daughter of the Chief entreated that he might be spared. `Though one Christian,' she said, `might do no good, certainly he could do no harm; also, it would be an honor to have one for a captive.' To this the father acceded, directing the injuries to be healed.

"The girl who had delivered Ortiz from the fire, told him (three years later) how her father had the mind to sacrifice him the next day. Consequently he must flee to Chief Mococo who she knew would receive him with regard. She said she had heard that he had asked for him and would like to see him. As Ortiz knew not the way, she went half a league out of town with him at dark to put him on the road, returning early so as not to be missed."

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Ortiz was treated well by Mococo and spent the next eight years as a trusted messenger. We are reasonably sure that Ucita --- the Indian village commandeered by DeSoto for his base camp --- was the large Timucua Indian mound east of Mill Creek at Charlotte Harbor Town. Ortiz was invaluable as an interpreter, but he died of a "fever" at Mobile, Alabama, the following year. To the Florida maid, whose name we do not know, belongs the compassion that played an important part in the European settlement of America.

Soto's Base Camp

Soto set up his base camp May 26 on a large Indian mound at a "cape a dozen leagues (31 miles) from the boca (mouth) of the port."

After seven weeks, the main body of the expedition set off for the interior on July 15, "taking their way toward the setting sun, then northeast." A reserve contingent of 60 men and 40 horses were ordered to remain at the base camp with a vast supply of material suitable for a colony. The rear guard in October was ordered to give all materials at the port to Chief Mococo, who had befriended the Spainards, and then join the main force preparing to winter at Iviahica (Tallahassee).

The expedition floundered around for four years searching for a golden city. Soto died of fever and was buried in the Mississipi --- of disappointment, according to some survivors.

Your writer's book "Boldly Onward" details the explorations of Ponce and Soto. Inasmuch as no one has discovered archeological proof, historians debate the landing places. The De Soto Trail Commission, appointed by Florida Governor Bob Graham to study that question, examined Williams' book and authorized a marker at Charlotte Harbor Town stating: "Some Scholars Believe De Soto Landed In This Vicinity."

Pedro Menendez D'Aviles was the third adelantado to enter Charlotte Harbor, but the first to explore it systematically. He established a mission-fort, which he named San Antonio, most likely at Mound Key in Estero Bay. However, the site has not been confirmed by hard evidence. Some historians consider the possibility of island sites in Pine Island Sound or Charlotte Haror.

Menendez' only son was cast ashore by shipwreck at Florida in 1563. Reports of Spanish castaways held by the Calusa prompted Menendez to ask King Philip for permission to mount a multi-mission exploration of Florida.

The expedition objectives were to destroy a colony of French Protestants at the mouth of the River of May (Jacksonville), establish three Spanish colonies, convert the Indians to Christianity, find a chain of rivers and lakes providing safe passage across the peninsula, and last but not least find Menendez' son.

Menendez arrived off the River of May in early 1565. With the help of a hurricane which scattered the French, he beheaded the stragglers after promising them amnesty. Then he destroyed their fort and established the first, permanent American colony at St. Augustine.

Spanish prisoners were said to be held by Chief Calos on the west coast, so Menendez sailed there in 1566. A 13-year-old boy named Hernando Escalante Fontenada was among 200 Spaniards cast ashore in Calusa territory after a 1548 shipwreck. All were sacrificed to the Calusa sun god except Fontenada. He was spared because of his youth and lived amongst the fierce Calusa until rescued by Menendez.

Fontenada, tattooed like any Indian, came out in a dugout canoe to welcome the explorer. Fontenada said young Menendez had been killed along with the other Spaniards washed ashore three years earlier.

Soon, Chief Calos also came out to see the Spaniards. Menendez persuaded the Indian and his principal attendants to come aboard to recieve a shirt, a pair of silk breeches, a doublet, hat, and trinkets for his wives. For refreshment, Menendez served biscuits and honey.

Calos "ate very willingly" and asked for more. In return, Calos gave the adelantado a silver bar salvaged from a Spanish shipwreck. Menendez thanked the chief but demanded the return of Christian captives, then and there, under threat of reciprocal imprisonment. Calos complied, seemingly with good grace. Within the hour, eight Christians were delivered --- five women and three men.

A few days later, Calos invited Menendez to his village for a feast. At an appropriate moment, Menendez began bestowing gifts. He addressed the woman seated next to Calos as the latter's wife and gave her a mirror. Calos said the woman was his sister whom he gave to Menendez as a wife in token of friendship. Calos neglected to say that his sister also was one of his wives, as was the custom for a chief. Menendez declined the offer politely, but Chief Calos would not hear of it. He said his 4,000 people gathered for the occasion would be "scandalized" if the adelantado did not accept.

Menendez, who had a wife in Spain, reluctantly took the woman to his ship. After consulting his officers and a priest, it was decided a "marriage for show" would cement relations with the Calusa --- making conversion of the Indians to Christianity easier. Consequently the woman was baptized and named Dona Antonia. The expedition scribe, Gonzalo Solis, laconically noted, "That night the marriage was consummated."

The next day, Menendez resumed his exploration of the west coast. Undoubtedly he sailed as far as possible up the Peace and Myakka rivers. Three months later, Menendez returned to pick up Dona and seven Indian companions. He left them with friends at Havana to receive instructions in Catholicism while he established a colony of soldiers at Calusa. He put Capt. Francisco De Reinoso in command of San Antonio and ordered him to find out if a river close to the village flowed from Lake Mayaimi (Okeechobee).

Things Go Awry

Things then began to go awry for Menendez. Dona Antonia was unhappy that Menendez would not sleep with her and was sent home --- to her chagrin. Calos would not embrace Catholicism and openly insulted the Spaniards. Hostilities broke out between the Calusa and the Tocobaga at Tampa Bay. The Calusa war captain, known to the Spaniards and Don Felipe, fomented mutiny. Menendez returned hurriedly in March 1567 to smooth things over.

He sailed to Tocobaga, taking Calos and a retinue of Calusa with him. The rival chiefs shook hands, but Calos was furious when Menendez refused to let him use the peace as a ruse to attack Tocobaga.

Menendez left San Antonio for the last time believing he had restored order. Not so. Calos plotted to kill the Spanish garrison, but Felipe told Capt. Reinoso who killed Calos. Felipe took over Calusa leadership and promptly killed 15 vassal chiefs who opposed him. Felipe next attacked the Spaniards. Whereupon, Menendez sent his nephew Pedro Menendez de Marques "to work justice" on Don Felipe. Marques beheaded Felipe and 20 other Indians considered most guilty.

Attacks against the Spaniards continued, so in June 1569 Menendez abandoned San Antonio. Dona Antonia returned for safety to Havana where she died. Menendez returned to Spain the following year. St. Augustine remains the only evidence of his presence, though reports of Spanish cannon on the bed of Peace River off Harbor Heights persist.

Author: Lindsey Williams