ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA America’s Oldest City,
WELCOMES
The Visitors from San Diego, California, and the other States and Cities of the Nation that will he our Guests during our
PONCE DE LEON CELEBRATION
and the opening of
THE OLD SPANISH TRAIL
that connects two of the Oldest and most Historical Cities on the American Continent
e
THE SURPRISE STORE COMPANY
The City’s Largest and Leading Department Store, extends a cordial Welcome to make this Store your Headquarters while in St. Augustine. There is no Store more Central, and none will appreciate more the privilege of serving you.
THE SURPRISE STORE COMPANY
Main Store King and Bay Streets
Furniture Department, Cathedral Street
Ponce De Leon Celebration—Old Spanish Trail
A pril
4, 1929—St. lusiistine, Florida
eSt ^ugustine^s oMelebration
_£s\ ith all its gay pageantry, the beautiful Ponce ^ ') de Leon Celebration, a three-day fiesta, has i \\\\ V-,i been revived, and thousands have enjoyed \ \\\\JjyJ the brilliant scenes that seek to immortalize '•/'ll >n this Old Spanish City the great epochs connected with the early history of North -itrr —-="? America. The first day is in memory of the Landing or Ponce de Leon on the shores of fair Florida, on the morning of April 3rd, one week after Easter Sunday, 1513, and the caravel of Ponce de Leon, one of the high-pooped galleons which sailed the Spanish main in the olden days, effects a landing to the northward of Old Fort San
Marco. It is in a natural amphitheatre overlooked by the old grey walls of the fort that the events of the three great days take place: Mcncndcz Day, commemorating the founding of the city by Pedro Mcnendez de Aviles in 1565, is next celebrated. The third and last event is the Change of Flags, when all the banners which have ever waved over the Oldest City fly for a brief space, later to give way to the Stars and Stripes. Ponce de Leon and Menendez and their retinues make brilliant pictures. Other interesting events of Florida history, including Oglethorpe's attack on Fort San Marco, arc interpolated during the three-day fiesta.
The Knight of Leon
VAX PoxCE de Leon ; conqueror and discoverer; born in Aragon, Spain, about 1460. He was of noble family, served in the conquest of Granada, and in 1493 went with Columbus to Espanola; later he was governor under Oviedo, of the eastern part of that island, whence he passed over to Porto Rico in 1508 and began its conquest;
Oin 1510 he was appointed its governor. From the Indians he heard of an “island” called Bimini, to the northwest, and it was reported that this contained a miraculous spring which would restore the aged to youth, probably the supposed island was Florida.
Having acquired much wealth, and being deprived of the government of Porto Rico, Juan Ponce de Leon determined upon making discoveries to the northward, that lie might gain honor and advance his estate. For this purpose he fitted out three ships, well manned and stored with plenty of provisions, with which lie sailed from the Port of St. German on Thursday, the 3rd of March, 1513, steering for Acuado. Next night he stood to the NW. and N., and on the 8th of the same month came to anchor at the shoals of liahccua, near the Isold del Pic jo. in lat. 22 / degrees N. Next day he anchored at one of the Bchama or Lucayos islands called Caycoa, and then at another called Yagunn in lat. 24 degrees N. On the 1 ith lie came to the island of Amagnay. and then passed Manegua in lat. 24 degrees N. He came to Gaandhani, in lat. 25^2 N., on the 14th, where he refitted the ships before crossing the bay to windward of the Lucdyos. This island of Guanhdni was the first land discovered by the Admiral Don Christopher Columbus in the New World and by him called San Salvador. From thence de Leon steered to the northwest, and on Sunday, the 27th of March, he saw and passed by an island. Continuing the same course till Wednesday, the joth of March, when the wind became foul, he altered his course to W.NAV., and on the 2nd day of April came to nine fathoms of water a league from the land, in lat. 30 degrees 8 minutes N. Running along the land in search 0 of a harbour, he anchored at night in eight fathoms near the shore. Believing the land to be an island, he gave it
the name of Florida, because it appeared very delightful, with many pleasant groves, and all level, as also because first seen during Easter, which the Spaniards call Pasqua de Flores, or Florida. At this place Ponce de Leon went ashore to take formal possession on April 3rd, 1513.
He also explored the Gulf Coast to lat. 27 degrees 30 minutes N., and returned to Porto Rico in September. His grants were renewed, but owing to the Indian wars in Porto Rico he could not again sail for Florida until 1321. He then attempted to plant a colony, but was driven off by the Indians, and himself was so badly wounded that he died shortly after reaching the coast of Cuba.
Note: The historical facts above are definitely correcr, as they are taken from Herrera as translated by Stevens. The history is out of print and difficult to obtain.
Prayer
Domine Deus acterne et omnipotens. sacro verbo tuo coclum, et terrain et mare creasti; benedicatur et glorifice-tur nomen tuuto, laudetur tua majestas, quae dignata cst per humilem servum tuum ut Tuutn sacrum nomen agnos-catur et praedicetur in hac altera mundi parte.
Bencdictio Dei omnipotentis, Patris et Filli et Spiritus Sancti descendat super istas terras et maneat semper!
Translation
O Lord, Almighty and Everlasting God, by Thy holy word Thou hast created the heavens, the earth and the sea. May Thy name be blessed and glorified! Praised be Thy majesty, 0I1 Thou Who through Thy humble servant hast ordained that Thy sacred name be made known and proclaimed in these new regions of the world!
May the blessing of the Almighty God, the Father, Sou and Holy Ghost descend on this land and abide forever!
Note: The above prayer is the identical prayer as said by the Priests who accompanied Juan Ponce de Leon on the trip which resulted in the discovery of Florida, upon his taking possession of the land in the name of Her Majesty, the Queen Isabella of Spain.
This same prayer was said by the Priests who accompanied Christopher Columbus upon his discovery of America in 1492.
It is found in Vol. 1, “Lowery, Spanish Settlements in I'. S..” and was furnished our committee by the Rt. Rev. Father J. Nunan, Vicar General of this Diocese.