Ponce De Leon
Ponce de Leon was a sailor and explorer for Spain. He had been given governorship ofHispaniola where he soon discovered that on Puerto Rico gold was found. He soon conqueredthe island and was given governorship of it. From the gold he became very wealthy. He soonlearned of an Indian tale of an island called Bimini. On the Island There were supposedly lots ifgold and pearls and a mystical fountain that could restore ones youth. Ponce de Leon asked for and received permission to conquer and settle in the island ofBimini. On March 3, 1513 he sailed from Puerto Rico with three ships. Sailing around thenorthwest corner of Cuba, he then looked for Bimini among the Bahaman Islands. Finally, on
The Caribs were known for their maritime abilities, crossing the Caribbean inhuge canoes with as many as 50 people in them. There they battle with the Calusa Indians,led by their chief, Cacique Carlos. Easter Sunday, March 13, he landed on the coast near present day St. Again, there was an all day fight, which led to the Spaniardsretreat. Incidentally, the Bahaman Indians called the land, Canico or Cancio. From there, the expedition sailed south around the Florida keys, and up the west coast ofFlorida to an area near the present-day Sanibel Island. Ponce de Leon left Santa Domingo with two ships carrying two hundred colonist and allkinds of domestic animals. He alsocommanded him to settle the island and subdue the Carib Indians, who were raiding the nativesof Puerto Rico. They namedthem Tortugas, after the turtles. After searching a few days for gold, pearls, and that elusive fountain, andfinding none of them, he turned south. From there, they returned to Cuba, then back to the Bahamas,then Puerto Rico, seven months later. Before they could erect buildings, they wereattacked, and Ponce de Leon wounded with a poison arrow. The colonists got into their ships andleft- one ship was blown to the coast of Mexico; the other, with Ponce de Leon, reached Cubawhere he died of his wound. In the ensuing fight, an Indian clubbed a Spaniard on the head, resulting in an all daybattle between the two.
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