Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/121369
Sarasota News Leader April 12, 2013 Ponce and d'Anghiera suspected a land existed north of Cuba, based on rumors and reports from Spanish sailors searching for slaves and other treasure. It is highly likely the first Europeans to set foot on Florida soil were slavers and smugglers, because slavery was not legalized in the Spanish-claimed lands of the New World until 1508. But since Ponce was the first to record his claim to Florida, he gets credit for the discovery. Page 74 hind in the New World as the earliest colonies were founded, and he embarked on a long and colorful career as navigator for several expeditions. Ponce asked Alaminos to be his navigator for the Bimini expedition. Because the exploration went flawlessly, it is likely Alaminos had visited Florida earlier, perhaps on one of the suspected slaving expeditions. On March 3,1513, Ponce and Alaminos left Añasco Bay in western Puerto Rico with two When Ponce finally arrived in Southwest Flor- caravels and a much smaller bergantina. At ida, he found a native who understood Span- the time, Alaminos was 38 years old, and ish and many more who practiced an art the Ponce was 53. Spanish understood very well — war. Prior predation by slavers explains why Ponce was On March 27, after skirting the eastern shore of the Lucayans and passing south of Great greeted with hostility at every turn. Abaco and Grand Bahama, the fleet sighted The Spanish crown approved Ponce's request land: Florida had been discovered. for the expedition on Feb. 23, 1512 and proclaimed him Adelantado of Bimini. The title In one of the most famous passages in early bore heavy responsibilities for both Ponce and Florida's record, historian Antonio de Herrethe Crown. After court battles with Colum- ra — 100 years later — described what folbus, the King of Spain demanded his explorers lowed: "And thinking that this land was an sign an extensive legal document outlining the island, they called it La Florida, because it rights and responsibilities of all parties. Ponce was very pretty to behold with many and rewould be the supreme governor with jurisdic- freshing trees, and it was flat, and even: and tion for life over all the lands he could discov- also because they discovered it in the time of er and possess. In return, Ponce would pay for Flowery Easter [Pascua Florida], Juan Ponce all settlements out of his own purse, while the wanted to agree in the name, with these two Crown would fund fortifications. Ponce would reasons." Thus the peninsula was christened. be Florida's first Adelantado, but not its last. Ponce and Aliminos sailed south, where they A central figure in the discovery and explora- encountered the powerful, northbound Gulf tion of Florida waters now appears — Anton Stream near Lake Worth Inlet (which he called de Alaminos de Palos. A navigator who ac- Cabo de las Corrientes — Cape of the Curcompanied Columbus, he probably met Ponce rents). There the ships were swept backwards on the second voyage. Alaminos remained be- despite favorable winds. Aliminos discovered,