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Show today in history WEDNESDAY, MAY 25, 1910. De Soto Reaches the United States. Fernando Dc Solo, tho Spanlnh explorer. ex-plorer. In associated with much of tho early history of this country. Mo Is host remcmherod hy us as having been the first European lo look upon the Mississippi, Missis-sippi, tho "father of waters," "an ovent." says Theodore Irving, "that has moro purely enrolled his name nmoiiR ih030 who llvo In Amerlcnn history, than If ho. had discovered mines of silver or KOld." Tho exact dato of Do Soto's birth is not known. Ills ancestors wore Spanish nobles. At an early age he foil In lovo with tho young and beautiful daughter of his patron, Dora Pcro dc Avlla. To prevent pre-vent the marrlago Dc Avlla Induced Do Soto to accompany him to America, a-s he had recently boon appointed Governor of Darlfii. This was In l.'ilD. In 1527 he sorvefl In the expedition to Nlcsir.augua undor Hernando', but In I52S withdrew entirely from tho Korvlee of his patron. Me spent r.onslderablo tlmr in exploration explora-tion and In various expeditions in and about South America. In 1537 he returned to Spain and married mar-ried Isabella, who, for more than fifteen years, had waited faithfully for him. Two years later, thin time accompanied by Isabella, he sailed for America, having hav-ing been made Governor of Cuba, and graciously privileged by Emperor Charles V. to conquer Florida at his own expense. ex-pense. A larcc and efficient soldiery sailed with him. chosen from Iho best of Spanish Span-ish chivalry, and further, strengthened by a. number of zealous missionaries. The fleet reached Havana, where the women were, to be left until after the conquest was completed. Do Soto's wlfo being placed in command. De Soto, with the army, pushed on for Florida, tvhero he landed near the present site of Tampa, on May 25, IS7.0. This was the first time he had ever set foot on any part of the United States. The ships were then sent back to Cuba, the adventurous Spaniards, confident of success, suc-cess, plunging boldly Inland, and the Inevitable In-evitable search for gold was begun. From this time on Do Soto never left, the country He and his followers pushed on west, eventually as far as the Mississippi. On Its banks he fell ill with a slow fever that he soon realized was to end his life. On tho day before his death he ealled his followers around him nnd appointed Luls dc Moscosco as his successor. Ills body was wrapped In Its mantle and was sunk In tho depths of the Mississippi. The grlof-strlcken band eventually descended de-scended the river, entered the Gulf nf Mexico and reached the Mexican roast town of Pa uco. where they disbanded. Months later tho wife of Do Soto, who still waited his return to Havana, learned the news of his death and expired within a few days. On May 2f. 1790, tho Tonnessee territory terri-tory was established. It Is the date upon up-on which oceurred the second battle of Winchester in 1SR2. It is tho birthday of Ralph Waldo Emerson, poet and philosopher phil-osopher (1S03): William II. Channing. Unitarian clergyman (1S10). and the date on which Dr. William Pnlcy, the philosopher, phil-osopher, died In 1S05. |