[FHStoday] TODAY IN FLORIDA HISTORY FOR AUGUST 25

[Nick Wynne]

TODAY IN FLORIDA HISTORY
AUGUST 25
1565            From the Diary of Father Francisco Lopez de Mendoza 
Grajales, Chaplain to Pedro Menendez's expedition to Florida...
         At three o'clock on Saturday, the 25th of the month, the General 
came to our vessel to visit it and to bring artillery for the entrance into 
Florida.  He brought two battering rams and two versos [small cannon]; and 
their pwoder and balls; and two lombards.  After he had armed the vessel he 
made a speech setting out what we had to do on arriving at the port where 
the French would be.  Not to be too long in this (which would be 
interesting to record according to the pros and cons that were expressed) 
the firm resolution of the General was that, despite the 2,000 Frenchmen 
being in port, we had to enter by defeating them in combat.  I replied to 
him and charged it to his conscience that he look to the 1,000 souls that 
he had brought that he might give a good account of them.  From this we 
passed to other things, which being lengthy, I will leave until we see each 
other, our Lord and His Blessed Mother being pleased.  This same day, 
Saturday, the argument being over, the General called me and said these 
words to me:  "They have told me that thous hast here a relative of 
thine."  I said to him:  "Yes, lord."--"Well if I had known it when I chose 
captains I would have taken care of him, but I did not know of it until on 
his part, Diego de Amaya told me of it and now I have provided him the 
office of Sergeant of the Flagship with Captain Mexica, who is a principal 
knight.  He will have that until something better offers itself."  I asked 
him for his hands that I might kiss them, and called the Lord Valverde that 
he might see him and tgive him thanks and entrust the General with the 
disposition of his person; for the Lord Valverde, Sergeant and Officer of 
the King, however established, would profit much from this.  If he does 
well and gives a good account of himself, it is a post from which to rise 
to captain, which I will see done if I do not die before.

                       Francisco Lopez de Mendoza Grajales, Laudonniere and 
Fort Caroline.

1862            Federal General Rufus Saxton secured the approval of the 
United States War Department to enlist 5,000 African-American troops.

1863            The United States tender, Fox, was on station at Key West.

1866            The Florida Freedman's Bureau Homestead Office opened 
today.  More than 3,000 homesteads, more than in any other southern state, 
were awarded to Florida freedmen.  Each homestead averaged 80 acres.

1894            Professor R. F. Massey signed a contract for the 
construction of a new building at the corner of Monroe and Main Streets in 
Jacksonville.  This building would become the cornerstone of Massey 
College, which was founded in this year.

1983            Tropical Storm Barry struck Florida near Melbourne and 
continued across Florida.  It exited near Tampa, crossed the Gulf of 
Mexico, gained hurricane strength, and hit near Brownsville, Texas, on the 
28th.

1992            Today Florida was reeling under the devastation created by 
Hurricane Andrew.  The storm was about 250 miles southeast of New Orleans 
and moving west.  Its winds, which had diminished to 125 mph were building 
again to 145 mph.  Landfall was expected later today near Iberia, Louisiana.