Clifton Johnson
Published: 2013-09
Total Pages: 62
Get eBook
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1918 edition. Excerpt: ... over, he said in conclusion: "I have but few men, and you are so many that you could easily overpower us. Therefore it is necessary that you should march with your hands tied." The starving French had no recourse except to let him have his way. So first the boat conveyed across their banners, guns, swords, and helmets. Then the men were brought over ten at a time. As each boatload arrived, the ten men were taken about two bowshots from the shore behind a hillock of sand in a thicket of bushes, and tied. The transporting consumed the entire day. Twelve of the French who professed themselves to be Catholics, and four carpenters and calkers, of whom Menendez said he was in great need, were sent to St. Augustine by water. The rest were ordered to march thither by land. They were escorted by a vanguard and rearguard whom Menendez had ordered to destroy all these prisoners at a certain lonely spot not far distant, deep among the bush-covered sandhills; and this was done accordingly. Somewhat more than a week later, word was brought to Menendez that the larger French party was on the south side of the inlet, and he went to deal with it. He parleyed much as before, but only one hundred and fifty of the French were persuaded to come across. Of these he spared two young gentlemen of about eighteen years of age, and also a fifer, a drummer, and a trumpeter. The others, including Ribaut, were butchered. The tragic fate that they and their predecessors met here is commemorated by the name borne by the inlet--Matanzas--the place of slaughter. It is said that human bones are often found in the sand of the vicinity, and that the spot is haunted by unquiet ghosts, who at midnight shriek and moan and expostulate earnestly in some foreign language. The...