0LDES1
ri INQVIRY
(is to the Spanish antiquities
in Porto Rico upon by last visit to
San Juan regularly brought up the
name of Caparra, claimed to have
been founded by Ponce de Leon in
1509. in which case it is the first settlement
of the Spaniards on the island. And,
moreover, this Porto Rican settlement of
Ponce do Leon at Caparra. across the San
Juan bay, 13 now. since the Spanish'
American war, by more than flfty-thre9
years th? oldest town established within
the prrsont. borders of the I'nlted States,
and no lor."rer ran the prestige of nnI
tlqulty l e given to the Spanish town of
St. An, listine. Fla.. fonnded in 156"), or to
Santa Vo. X. M., in 15?.
Pete mired to see the old place, we
started o :t about 0 o'clock one beautiful
Decern et Sunday morning. It was a glorious
day. rarely surpassed anywhere,
f with a cool eastern iireeze and an almost
-- ? i._* i? .
Cloiu!ie -s : k y. i rie sun was nut. uui ti\ji
(is hot art is sometimes felt In Washington.
The little ferryboat that plies across
tho I) ly. a subject for the painter, made its
way i.( a rr;!e or more, r.nd turned up into
an ink: l y the marg'n cf the swamp which
bucks i! : suburb ol' Cnntano.
IjfindlnR there the path (for we went
afoot) t us across the swarnps back of
the towThe swamp Itself Is a broad,
pestilent'a! expanse, fall of fever, and even
the ftw native huts that are encountered
w-re urcccupled. The sea alternately covers
ar.rt uncovers this great urea of perhaps a
thousand acres, which is a favorite home
of t :e crab a-.d the mangrove. A road
crus s i; to the haciendas beyond. Through
?i la < ,n- frv mail across one uolnt a chan
nel for the passage of the tide has been
xcuv.ite 1. und though only ten yards wide,
it biJ not been bridged und had to be
crossed by a hand ferry.
MMwny through the swamp a very bruHett
-colored native answered our greetings
In v'-ry friendly Spanish. With great satisfaction
ho told us which crabs are good to
est and which are not. There was something
of the 'possum question In the extreme
interest !n his face. He gave dlrec- !
tlons to ths Pueblo Vlejo?"old town"?as |
they all call this earliest settlement. Every
one k:.ew about tt. and every one was on
the qui vive to make a visit to It as Interesting
ps possible. The ground soon rose
above the swamps, and the road uppt
cached the tlrst sharp-crested limestone
hiU.-\ as sharp *>.s a knife-edge, thoush
' 1 ??*\. ? --V VOPV .ivccf a
vo. '.\illi ncra uibji ?n j v. ?.? .
Mount..Ins, the natives call them, but their
h" h: Is not considerable.
Rut t! e flowers at that season, near
CI i ' attracted attention. They were
v?.ry abundant, especially a pink-purple
morning-glory, here a common weed. It
Wi..s apparently not only a morning-glory,
but an all-day-glory. It looked calmly at
the sun all day without blinking, and the
last seen upon our return In the afternoon
etill showed no signs of withdrawing from
the sun's hot rays. There were flowers,
too, of the sensitive plant, very abundant,
and flowers of varieties not noted before.
*
* *
The country people are a little timid with
Americans, and are not likely to open out
until after a good-natured palaver. Reaching
a little native home (see photo No. 3)
between the hills, a man stood in the door
and watched our approach with what seemTRIANGULAR
CC
FOR C<
Sketches of the Three Candidate
' m mm ^ - ? ? T
in Connection With the Mi
Spanish War Vetei
ONE of the interesting features of
the national encampment of the
United Spui-Wli \Vjir Veterans, to
bi-sin at the National Guard
Armory in this city tomorrow
forenoon. wiM be the triangular contest for
the highest office in the soldier organlzatlon?commander-in-chief.
There are three
avowed candidates in the field, representing
as many* distinct sections of the country,
and tin battle of ballots for the honor is
expected to be a royal one.
v The first of th< se is Maj. Frederic S.
Hodgson of the District of Columbia, who
will represent the Southern and Middle
states. Next is Gen. George H. Moulton of
Ol i -Hgo. repn senting the west, and Capt.
Ham'lton V.'ard. jr.. of IJuff ilo, X. Y.. representing
th?- east and north. The claims
of Major IIodr:s??n will be pn ented to the I
convention not only by the department of
the Dis.riv-t of ('"lumi;i i. bat also by the
. dele.^rau < ?r*?m Dixie.*, and ('apt. Skiowith
of th< Fitz'-'iigh L- e <v:m*) of Richmond.
. Va.. u i se< ond 11 n Uii n a u\ tell j
the <] ! *.t? why tie national headquarters
sh> :!d ho established a*. Washington
at this time. It wi'l l.e urged that the re*
cm!ting ground for the ( rganization for the
rex; ye?r ?>: two will be the southern
fitat? s. wlun- there a:?* now but few camps.
Other important reasons will be set forth
w hy i . commander-in-chief sliould be a
Washington man.
*
* *
Maj. Frederic S Hodgson, the District's
Candida:-, was twice commander of the
department o the District of Columbia, and \
wis honored by the first encampment of
the Spanish War V? ; r;?ns by his unanimous
el? ti Ti as a nati il ofli er-commissaiy
i;? i. :al. He was also a member of the
commit u** which effected the amalgamation
of the three organizations?the Spanish
War Vt .-rans. t S; .ni.-; -Ameriean War
V :ars and the Servic- Men of the Span
i.-ll \Y:ir
_M i, .1^011 is r^gan'.el a? a rnurteous.
Major Fred ?>. Hodgson.
dignified gentleman uri is popular, not
only with the comrades of his home department.
but also with the citizens generally
of Washington. Ho has lived since
boyhood In the political, illi'-lal and social
hurly-burly of the national capital ami has
been in touch with national men and matters
He is familiar with Congress and its
doings and enjoys a wide acquaintance with
the noted men of the nation.
It Is said he has already made his Influence
felt In behalf of the association in
Congress and in the executive departments
of the government. It was largely through
his efforts that Congress increased the
1 amount of the annual appropriation for the
x I Soldiers and Sailors' Temporary Home at
j Wasliington, In order that soldiers of the
i war with Spain from the states who found
themselves stranded at the capital could be
k taken care of until they could better their
condition
} A resolution offered by Major Hodgson
in th* Detroit convention, S. W. V. and
* TOW
p4 ft distrustful look. Greeting him pleasntttly
Yfp R?hpt1 for a slnse of milk and the
Uireetlen to the memo viejo. wis reserve
melted rapidly ami he invited us into his
hoiiS#. but the family had disappeared.
S'xv! th? m!lK came just from the morning
InUMftg. S!<ltrult disappeared rapidly, and
Whole family came back with
emiio-i ftnd ?>lo^sant greetings.
(h's little simple tropical resldt>?<w
its master hailed a young man and
ftnh?d him U> bo ft p'jide to the Pueblo
Ylejis N!ld thin he expeditiously and conBfiehtlousty
did. The path took wound
thfvtiel! tile valley beyond the first range
of* JilllM nud ivoross the little "French railV/ry
of I he v/oat" to a cattle ranch, called
"Lft Conception," (see photo No. 8) and
thpfe, lienr the dwelling of the ranch were
(lit* remains of several buildings of the old
The overseer of the ranch pointed out
th<? quarts! and the storehouse, a mill for
grinding tarn and various parts of a regular
rstabllshment for making sugar after a
crude style. Everything had been very solidly
built of brick, stone, mortar and mud.
but the only thing standing was the wal-ls of
the quartel. These were little changed,
though the woodwork had completely disappeared.
The building was about 80 feet
* - * * Thn TV 1111 c; U'fTP ?bnilt
long Dy iU ietl nm- .
2 feet thick and 12 feet high, while the I
front was perhaps four feet higher. These ]
walls were almost Intact, though the up- i
per story of wood, which the guide said (
used to be there, had left no trace.
About six rods to the west was a well- 1
INTEST ;
3MMANDERSHIP j
I
|
f
s Most Prominently Mentioned
ghest Office in the United
ans Organization. t
unanimously adopted, was afterward
pressed by him before the proper department
^nd carried to the White House.
Thio'ugh his efforts it }s JP9W i.u effect. It
makes eligible the appointment to positions
under the government, without civil
Strvipe examination* all persons employed
as clerks in Cuba during: our occupation
thereof, as well as those who were similarly
employed in Porto Rico and the Philippines.
He also assisted materially in having presented
to Congress a bill for the establishment
of a museum of war at Washington
as a monument to tiie American soldiers
of all wars.
Major Hodgson was born in Washington,
I). C.. December VJ, 1851, and is a direct
representative of six generations of his
family, born in the District of Columbia.
Kach of the six generations of his family
rendered military service under "Old
uinry ill L*it? war ui tut; icvwiui.^h, mc
war of 1*12, the war with Mexico, th<> civil
*var and tlie war with Spain. Major
1 iodgson's ti;st military service was in
1 ST 1. when he entered the ranks of the
Washington Light Guard, then a crack
company. His military hearing ui popularity
won promotion for him and he went
upward through the grades from private
to major. He entered t!:e National Guard
of the District of Columbia in 1S1M. after
twelve years of service Ir the Light Guard,
being latterly its commanding officer.
When war was tie hired against Spain,
Mr. H< igson. i:at a major i*i the
National Guard, was commissioned as captain
of company G. 1st Regiment. District of
Columbia Volunteer Infantry, and wiih h's
command served with credit throughout the
war with Spain. The regiment was .sent '
to Cuba in time to lie in at the surre: der 1
of Santiago, and after a trying experience '
In the trenches, the regiment took an ac- '
live part in <ff' eting the surrender of
Toral's Spanish army. On the back of '
liis discharge Is the following indorsement: J
"Took part in the siege, bombardment and
surrender of Santiago. July, 1898." There
is also a special commendation from the
colonel commanding his regiment, George
li. Harries, now brigadier general comni
(Tiding the District of Columbia National
Gu.'.rd, which speaks in high terms of Major
Hodgson's ability and devotion to duty.
Major Hodgson is a mason of high standing,
a Knight Templar and member of
Al.nas Tt-rnple, Mystic Shrine, and Is also
a past captain of tUe Sons of Veterans;
I mi mbt r of the Business Men's Association
of Washington, the Young Men's-Christian
Association, and other oiganizations. While
he was commander of the Department of
the District of Columbia. U. S. \V. V., two
terms in succession, the organization took
on new life and prospered. He has for a
number or years been engaged in business
here.
*
* *
Gen. George Mayhcw Moulton Is a son
of Joseph T. Moulton and Jane Maria
Babcock. He was born in Readsboro, Vt..
March 15, 1851. being descended from New
Kngiand revolutionary and colonial stock
on both paternal and maternal sides. His
great-great-grandfather was colonel of the
.'!d New Hampshire Regiment in the revolution.
and was subsequently brigadier
general of New Hampshire militia. Eight
of his ancestors participated in the revolution.
and more than two score of his lineal
ancestors _fought in our country's battles
prior to 11 tb.
Mr. Moulton is a member of the Society
of Colonial Wars, Sons of the Revolution
and Sons of the American Revolution,
having been president of the S. R. and vice
president of the S. A. R. He is also hereditary
and veteran member of the Military
Order of Foreign Wars, having served as
commander of the Illinois Commandery of
that order. He was one of the organizers
of the Service Men of the Spanish War, becoming
its national commander-in-chief.
Subsequently, when the patriotic societies
growing out of the war with Spain were
consolidated into the Society of the United
Spanish War Veterans, he became senior
vice commander-in-chief of that organization.
He came with his parents to Chicago in
1853. since which time he has been a resident
of that city and identified with several
important Interests. He entered the
public schools arid was graduated in 1808
from the Central High School. He then
began business with his father, and as time
passed mastered the details connected with
the erection of grain elevators, which was
the specialty of the tlrm, learning at the
same time the carpenter's trade.
In January. .Hu, he went with his father
to Duluth, Minn, and aided in the construction
of the first grain elevator built
In that section of the country. His duties
at that time ware secretary to the vice
president and general manager of the ele
N UNI
HHHf
juilt pit for burning lime, with its stone
sarts in a repaired condition. Its Interior
ras covered in part by the most beautiful
lelicate ferns.
Several rods southeast of the quartel a
leap of ruins oovered with vegetation the
rator company. When the Duluth elevaor
was completed he engaged with the
>wners to operate it for a year, but before
hat periou expired he was transferred to
Jtillwater to superintend the erection of an
slevator at that point. From that time
mtil January, l!tor>. he was actively enraged
in the designing anu construction of
rrain elevators in all parts of the country,
during the last ten years prior to ]!K)5 his
business was extended to include general
juilding of large structures, and several of
he skyscrapers of Chicago were built by
lis firm, as well as many large structures
n other cities.
During the intervening years from looU
o the present time he has been the con
UaBfcSfiBew its '>
Gen. Geo. M. Moulton.
^rolling spirit and largest interested party
n Severn 1 commercial enterprises, notably
he Pioneer Fire Proofing Construction
Company, the Produce Cold Storage Ex hange,
Commerce Vault Company and the
River Bank Co ! Company. Of all the
companies Mr. Moulton has been presiient.
He is a member of the Cnion League
Club, having been elected in the early
rears of that organization, and was a charter
member of the Chicago Athletic Club.
At the beginning of the present year Gen.
Moulton retired from the building business
and has since devoted his entire time to
the Western Life Indemnity Company as
Its president, having been one of the founders
of the company in 1S.S4. under the
name of Knights Templars' and Masons
I ?fr? Tmlnmnitv (Vtm-innv nnrt n?5 lis
vice president until eli -ted as president In
serving continually as such to the
present time.
*
* *
Mr. Moulton was married March 12. 1ST.'?,
in Burlington, Iowa, to Anna Flora Oarland.
In lS^ti Mr. Moulton was commissioned
as major in the 2d Regiment, Illinois
National Gu ard. He resigned his commission
in January, ISUO. While In commission
lie served In the two weeks' campaign
at the Union stock yards during the
noti'd labor riots in 1NS0 and was with the
regiment at all of its encampments and
whenever it was called upon for duty. In
February, 181J-4. Col. Moulton. then staff
officcr attached t > !? Brigade T N. G.,
was unanimously c.. .on ca.v:\ o1. infantry.
I. N. C.. In t' largest r lent
in the state. With his regiment Lc participated
in the campaign of July and .V. . ust,
18!M, in the suppression of t:.e r. i road
riots of that year in the vicinity of Chicago.
In April, IS:' Co!. Moulton, with his
regimen!, responded to the call for volunte
: a to engage e Spanish-American
war. and wis rr.:ist:red ir.io the fervlce
May It; of tl at yeir, remaining in service
until April Utt. 1 M.l>. tein.? mustered out at
Camp McPherson, Atlanta Ga.
During service the regiment was encamped
at Camp Cul a Libre. Jacksonville,
Fla.. and at Camp Onward. Savannah,
v_ra., im-j?ife <ti iu* j?v \j i / uru. :* i.rc a
7th Army Corps. In December, ISit.i. Col.
Moulton was det3ehed from the resi.nent
and ordered on special duty at Havana,
Cuba, where he was assisted to org;t!> zing
a local police department for the city, and
thus became the first chief of police on the
Island of Cuba under the American flag.
Returning from this war service. Col.
Moulton was appointed aid-de-camp, and,
subsequently, inspector general of the Illinois
National Guard on the governor's
staff. April 8, he was commissioned
brigadier general and assigned to command
of the lflt Brigade, Illinois National Guard,
stationed at Chicago.
Mr. Moulton is, and always has been, an
enthusiastic Mason. He was raised a master
Mason February 26, 1875, and was created
a Knight Templar September 1, 1875.
He also holds membership in Queen Esther
Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star, and
Medlnah Temple. Nobles of the Mystic
Shrine. He has held many positions In
the various organisations. At Washington
In 1889 he was appointed grand standard
bearer of the grand encampment of
)ER 7}
s -
Mb ....
flBjgjj^Bfc^jVj^-rtiAiBfci^Fjn^ji^^^^Bjygi^x'^jjE
pf q.p JlAVE QlUUCH gffi
guide assured us was the church for the
slaves. It had a rude rectangular form,
and there were marks of 4 tower at one
part of the southern side. The building
must have been very small, something like
8 by 12 feet, with a small cell or extension
Knights Templar and at Denver In 1802 was
elected grand senior warden. Subsequently,
at each succceding triennial conclave, he
wtxa ciecitru lu wie iu&ucsi oiauuu,
until, at the twenty-eighth triennial conclave,
held in San Francisco in September.
1904, he was unanimously elected grand
master of the Grand Bncampment.
Mr. Moulton has for many years been an
interested member of the Royal Order of
Scotland, being the provincial senior grand
warden of the Provincial Grand Lodge of
that order.
In 184S5 he became one of the incorporators
of the Illinois Masonio Orphans'
Home, and was elected president of that
organization, tilling that office until 1X90,
when he voluntarily retired, remaining,
however, as member or the board or trustees
to the present time. During his presidency
the association acquired a property
valued at $100,000 and free from debt.
Under his administration the corner stone
was laid for another home for aged Ma?ong
aiyi_^Iasons' widows and orphans at
Sullivan, 1H.
*
* *
Capt. Hamlfton Ward, jr., of Buffalo, N.
Y., was born In the District of Columbia in
1871, at which time his father, the late
Hamilton Ward, was a member of the Forty-first
Congress, serving during the recon
struction period; was a member or the
reconstruction committee and also of the
committee that prepared the articles of impeachment
against Andrew Johnson, representing
the twenty-seventh congressional
district of New York. Capt. \\Tard attended
the Vermont Episcopal Institute at Bur/ington,
Vt., a military school and ^ludied
law in his father's office in Belmont, N. Y.
When his father was elected a Justice of
the supreme court of the state of New
York young Ward removed to Buffalo,
being admitted to the bar In 1892. Shortly
thereafter" he became assistant district attorney
of Erie county and retained in that
position until the breaking out of hostilities
with Spain, when he resigned and was
rnmmlccinnoH si in tha OAO/1 ATanr
York Volunteer Infantry; served with his
regiment until its muster out on April 13,
lt>!J9, at Savannah, Ga., being engaged principally
in garrison duty In western Cuba.
fie has been practicing law in Buffalo
since that time. He has been interested in
organization of Spanish War Veterans since
its foundation; was department Judge advocate
in llxil; and secured the enactment
of laws placing Spanish War Veterans on
the same basis as G. A. R. men in respect
to holidays, appropriation for memorial
service, funeral expenses, license and in
part poor relief. He was ejected national
judge advocate in 11K?2 at the Detroit encampment
and was on the commlttec on
I amalgamation; assisted in preparing the
rules and regulations that are now substantially
in force, and prepared the manual lor
L'UUI f 1112 UiSU USSIMt'U XT<l=>L LJ\Spnrtment
Commander Simmons of Rochester.
N. Y., in the preparation of the rituai
for the installation of camps.
His name was presented for national
commander at St. Ixmis in 1!MM, but he was
defeated by William E. English by two
votes. He organized and was chairman for
a number of years of the Buffalo joint city
board, and is now camp commander of Seyburn
Camp. He received the unanimous indorsement
of the Department of New York
at its state encampment this year, and has
sinfo thnt Hm<* hopn nfflrinllv indnr^rt liv
che Etatf-s of Indiana and Ohio, whose delegates
were instructed to vote for him.
Cupt. Ward wilJ reach Washington today,
Capt. Hamilton Ward.
accompaniod by a large delegation of Spanish
War Veterans from Buffalo and other
points in western New York. He will establish
his headquarters in suite 48, the
Ebbitt House.
iE AMI
to the east, and might h^ve been a prison.
At a somewhat greater distance to the
south of the quartel was a wall which
could be traced for about forty feet, running
east and west and imbedded in trees
and brush; "part of a hospital," it was
FROM CANGAS Ti
WITH COL.
? * OL. William Hubbell, who commantled
the 47th New York
Regiment during the Porto
Rican campaign and who afterward
was commander-inchief
of the Spanish War Veterans, was
one of the most companionable men I ever
met," said a prominent government official
who was in Porto Klco during the fighting 1
(? tViof leion/l "Tn rnnnor-tinn with m v )
official duties I saw much of the army ami i
army life. In 1S98, just after the cessation I
of hostilities with Spain, I took a long trip
with Col. Hubbell and came to know him
well. He was quiet ana unuemonsirauve,
yet genial and courteous, and beloved by
his fellow-officers and the men of the old
47th.
"I was returning from San Juan to Ponce
In an ambulance when I met the colonel at
headquarters in Cangas, just ready to visit
the forts of the 45th, then scattered all
along the coast and through the mountains.
His hearty Invitation to join him
could not be declined.
^ !
*J? -r"A
great big mule, evidently a 'wheeler,' (
was brought up to headquarters for me to ,
ride. The colonel, two mounted men and i
myself started off gayly. chatting away like
boys on a frolic. The party passed through
the beautiful little villages of Guabo Juncos
and Piedias, reaching Humacao, fifteen ]
miles as the crow flies, but many more by
the winding road over which we had come.
The party was glad to seek refuge there,
for during the last hour the rain had been
pouring down. At Humacao we met several
of the principal natives and a Ueuten-'
on* n# raffimont whn hlo vAnnxf
aiik u 1 niv tvQiui-.uk, ?? iiid l
to the colonel.
"From Humacao there was a fair country
road until reaching a point some two or
three miles beyond ?abucoa, when all s'gns
of a road ceased and there was nothing to
follow but a trail. And such a trail! The
big mule trudged along with difficulty,
keeping up with Col. Hubbell's blooded
American horse.
"At a point about four miles from Fatllla*
ERICAN
aid, but quite as like'y part of an old fortication.
This in appearance was the oldest part
f the ruins. Perhaps Ponce de Leon himelf
was acquainted with the wall, while
he other structures rose after his period.
Through Caparra runs an old sunken
j v- l ~ 4- U A 1! + +1a rvtnvik
UUU UCitl ilig euuiuvani. .n. Hint mviv vw
he westward and about a mile distant, on
he summit of a beautiful hill, is a heap
if roughly formed stones so covered with
lense grass that they could not be eximined
without the aid of pickax and
ipade. This was said to be the church of
?aparra. This first church of the United
States must have been a small one. for
he heap was not more than 12 feet across.
After taking measurements of the ruins,
yith a vieiw to making a map of the place,
:he return to San Juan began.
We tramped back again, and ran Into
:wo rain showers before reaching the ferryiiouse.
Here the Padre Manuel Diaz presented
cigarettes aand insisted, should we
it {*ny time return to the Peublo Viejo, as
tie owned the hacienda this side of the
ruins, to let him know in time so as to
provide horses. He is a plain, though keenf?ld
Snanish nriest and ouite a land
owner In the neighborhood.
*
* *
The next morning, still interested in
antiquities, we visited the "Casa Blanca."
According to the record inscribed on the
statue and monument raised to Ponce da
0 THE COAST
WM. HUBBELL
a flood from the skies broke loose and the
party sought shelter In a 'shack' near by.
Here we were given a good cup of coffee.
After the hurried meal we kicked off our
shoes, wrapped ourselves in our blankets
and, seeking the softest part of the floor,
slept the sleep of the tired. Our party was
In one corner. In another corner of the
room were the man of the house, his wife
and several children, and scattered all over
the floor were chickens and dogs. Beneath
;he floor were unmistakable evidences of
one or more pigs. Nevertheless, under these
strange conditions we slept soundly.
*
* *
"After a good cup of coffee in the morning
T slinDed a silver Diece in the grimy
paws of the baby, for I knew these hospitable
people would refuse to accept It. We
rode away feeling still slightly moist, but
as yet all right. In a few minutes, however,
we were wet through and through by
another downpour of rami. We stopped at
Arroyo only long enough to receive the report
of the sergeant In charge of the station.
"This llttfe seaport was a scene of Importance
In the campaign. The town surrendered
to Capt. Goodrich. U. 8. N., commander
of the United States auxiliary
cruiser St. Louis, on the 2d of August.
189$. Upon the arrival on the 4tli of Halns'
brigade Gen. Brooke at once moved on
Guayama, where a sharp skirmish was had
with the enemy, who was entrenched In a
strong position just north of the town.
Gen. Brooke's force, strengthened by cavnla><r
o >. /) frtim 1la>Vlt V"?0 t f 1 *10 ma/la a AI
nil y auu IUUi ngiti i/avvo iuauc n U1, vvv
assault on the enemy's strong position with
a flanking party under Hains. Taking position,
the guns went Into battery, but before
they had time to open fire the message
was received, 'Cease hostilities. Peace
protocal signed.'
"After leaving Arroyo we struck the military
road. The clouds had rolled by, leaving
the atmosphere delightfully cool. We
reached Ou&yima In time for dinner. This
town wu settled by the Spaniards in 1750.
FLAG
Leon In th? city of San Juan, he camt to
Porto Rico in 1508, returned In INK*, finished
the conquest of the Island In 1512 and left
In 1513 to go to Florida. He founded San
Juan In 1511, aeccordlnir to the accepted
chronology here, and actually lived In the
Da?a Blanea. still standing at the present
Lime. Before building on the Island of Sun
Juan tradition says he started another
town, which he left to come to San Juan,
ind local tradition points to Caparra across
the bay.
Tradition also states that he was driven
From Pueblo Vlejo by a plague of tll< s and
fleas, by which time he had completed his
th? Pl?nr*A In PJnn Tiinn
ind where he lived (luring his Ion* terra u.>?
fovernor of the ls/atid. It stands. In a
roughly paved street, narrow, as all th<'s?
>ld Spanish streets are, half way between
Morro Castle and the present government
palace. In Its beautiful old age, mellowed
t>y time, it still looks like the abode of a
treat grandre. Nobody can mistake it. on
icoount of the double line of royal palms
n front. Ix>oking out over the bay, tho
svater line Is guarded bv a verv ancient
ind picturesque sea wall with queer little
sentry boxes fu>l like swallows' nests.
Within the wall Is a charming: garden
>f stone, of pepper and cinnamon trees,
tvlth passion vines running riot around
i mossy fountain. The Oasa Blanc*, now
stray with the flight of time, mottled with
lichens, stained by the storms of centuries.
where the passing feet of many generations
have worn deep hollows in the
stone stairways, and where the dim r'?>ms
have heavily barred casements and sunken
floors, has the odor of grave-mold
aver all. Doubtless. In Icon's time the
space between the fort and castle was
open, so that, sitting In his own window,
he had an unobstructed view to the horizon's
edge.
*
* *
In 1312 ho sailed out of this bay and
headed due north in search of Blmini, the
fabled Island containing the spring of perpetual
youth. Leon did not stay long In
Florida, and returned to I'orto Rico until
? ' * ? M n I_ H4 ?l
tne great a scovencs ui *. m i?-? m
aroused his spirit of adventure. In 1-VJl
he fitted out two ships and made another
trip north, determined to stop at liimlni.
Landing on the Florida coast, he was at
once attacked by the Indians and so severely
wounded lie had to be conveyed in hasta
to Cuba, where be died. His body was
brought back to the Island of I'orto Itieo
and deposited beneath the altar of tho
Dominican Church of San Juan. There it
rested for more than three hundred years,
when, in lsfi.T the leaden casket that contained
the remains of the conquistador was
disinterred to be placed in a new receptacle.
The intended monument was never built,
and after morn than forty years above
ground, the remains of the discoverer of
Florida and the subjugator of i'orto Kieo
yet lie unburied. In a corner of the musty
little chapel attached to the church* ono
may, with sume diplomacy, see tin- lead
case which contains the dust of Ponce de
I.enn The casket is only about three feet
square, bound with leather straps and
sealed in the center with the great municipal
seal. On the monument against which
it rests the Inscription in Spanish reads:
"This narrow grave contains the remains
of a man who was a lion by name and much
more so by his deeds,"
PAUL BECK WITH.
The census of 1807 gave Guayama a population
of 12,000 Porto H cans and foreigners.
England. Italy and Germany were
represented, and there were ! !? French and
1 American. German names were quite
common. X asked why. and was told that
the Germans, as a rule, married native
women and soon became assimilated with
the natives.
"In Guayama there was an entire company
of the 45th with full complement of
officers. From now on the road surpassed
anything 1 had seen, and the grand scenery
of the island was before us as we rode
along the backbone of the mountain into
the heart of the tobacco region.
"We reached Cagey without mishap, and.
with a hearty handshake and a promise
that I would come back. I bid good-bye to
Col. Hubbell. who had not completed his
tour of inspection. I was well satisfied
with the trip, but was loath to lose the
genial companionship of my friend. But
without reluctance I gave up my razor
back mule for a soft seat In my ambulance."
,
T
Regulating Charivaris.
From the Kansas City Journal.
Sabetha Is a quiet little city in Kansas,
whose repose has been so threatened by
charivaris that the municipal authorities
have been asked to Interfere. There Is
some talk of including a rlce-throwinjy
clause in the ordinance, making It a misdemeanor
to throw rice at brid*? and groom;
also to stick pasters on groom's grip, or to
attach thereto doll dresses, white or blue
ribbon, baby slippers, or anv other emblem
that will suggest that the owner h:?s nny
connection with, relation to or knowledge
of such a thing as marriaee. The drought
of marriage Is becom'ne serious, and it is
1 II . J A. I t <l-.tr. ..ill 1. ? 1 ? .
utrueveu null Lina win ueiu
But the charivari is the important 1-gislation.
It Is claimed that the charivari
discourages marriages to the alarming extent
of 33 per cent, and it keeps down the
population. Therefore, the charivari ordinance.
Under the ordinance not only thos?
who charivari are liable to a fine for making
a noise, but they must pay for ail
damages done. Prices are ver> reasonable,
however. Some of them run as follows:
One shingle shot off, SO cents; each additional
shingle shot off. 25 cents; win low
light knocked out. J2 up. according to sl*>"
of light and quotations of glass trust; old
shoes and rubbish thrown into house. SI.
instruments of torture left in the yard. 23
cents each; lights shot out, $3 each. Other
item* wiU be added.