Terraceia Island, separated from Snead’s Island by a narrow channel, is bounded on the west by Tampa Bay, on the north by Frog Creek, and on the east by Terraceia Bay. This island contains several tracts of excellent hammock land, most of which is under improvement. On this island are located the bearing orange groves of Messrs. Hallock, Lennard and Williams; Messrs. Kennedy, Howard, Gifford, Watkins, Hobart, Patten and Wyatt are also located on this island. Judge Cessna, of Gainesville, has recently purchased a plantation on the island, and will soon locate there. Other persons on the line of the Transit Railroad having become disgusted with frost and ice, are seeking homes in the Manatee region. On the mainland, on the east side, and about midway of Terraceia Bay, is the plantation of Mr. John Craig. Mr. Craig raises the finest cane and has the reputation of making the best sugar in Manatee County.
A short distance north of Terraceia Island, on the mainland, Hernando De Soto, fresh from the conquest of Peru, where he was associated with Francisco Pizarro, landed his troops in the latter part of May, 1539. He sailed from Havana on Sunday, May 18th, 1539, with his troops embarked in five large ships, two caravels and two brigantines. The disastrous fate of his predecessors in Florida cast no gloom on the mind of De Soto, and his assurances of success imparted confidence to those who accompanied him. He had never been defeated in battle, and was believed by his soldiers to be invincible. His officers were men of valor and ripe experience, and his troops were well disciplined, a majority of them having served in many campaigns, and all were well acquainted with Indian warfare.
His wife, Dona Isabella, did not share his enthusiasm, and desired to accompany him and share the dangers she believed he was about to encounter; but De Soto strenuously opposed her wishes, and encouraged her to believe that the time of reunion was not far distant. The conquest of Florida appeared to De Soto to be an easy task, from which he could soon return with large accessions of wealth and glory.
Contrary and baffling winds kept the squadron tossing about in the Gulf of Mexico for several days. De Soto and his troops obtained their first view of the Land of Flowers on the morning of the 25th day of May, and in the afternoon of the same day they came to anchor about two leagues from the shore. The shoals which extended along the coast prevented the ships from coming nearer. They had, in the meantime, been discovered by the natives, who had kindled beacon-fires along the beach, now known as Pinellas, as signals to collect their forces and be in readiness to repel their enemies. De Soto’s vessels were anchored off the mouth of Tampa Bay, called by the Spaniards the Bay of Espiritu Santo.
The Natchez, who inhabited the neighboring country, were governed by a chief named Ucita, whose hatred of the Spaniards is easily explained. When Pamphilo de Narvaez visited this region in 1528, he was kindly received and hospitably entertained by the Chief Ucita, and a treaty of peace between them was formed; yet, on a very slight pretense, the wily and bloodthirsty Pamphilo caused the chief’s nose to be cut off, and his aged mother to be torn to pieces by dogs! Hence, the reason why Ucita displayed implacable resentment in his behavior to De Soto and his companions in arms.
Thus, it will be seen that from the earliest history of our country, the aborigines have been treated with the most impolitic and unchristian-like barbarity; and it is highly probable that much of that ferocity which characterizes the Indians of the far West at this time, may be ascribed to the harsh and merciless treatment which their ancestors received from the early Spanish explorers, who acted on the principle that the Indians had no rights that a white man was bound to respect.
Wishing to avoid a collision with the Indians at that time, De Soto weighed anchor, and proceeded with his fleet two leagues further up the bay, where he disembarked his troops in boats. The place where he landed was on the eastern shore of Hillsborough Bay, above the mouth of the Little Manatee River, and near the line which separates Hillsborough and Manatee Counties.
The Indians being anxious to get rid of De Soto and his followers, informed them that El Dorado, for which they were seeking, was further northward. De Soto sent his ships back to Havana, and commenced his toilsome march overland, which ended with his death and burial in the Mississippi River, on the 5th day of June, 1542, three years and one month after the date of his arrival in Tampa Bay.
