(side 1)
Born-San Tierra de Campos, Palencia, Spain-1460. Died-Havana, Cuba-(probably Mid-June)-1522.
Interred-Entombment beneath the high altar of the Dominican Cathedral of San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Epitaph to Ponce de Leon
"Beneath this stone repose the bones of the valiant Lion whose deeds surpassed the greatness of his name."
(side 2)
Bahia Del Espiritu Santo-1513
First White Man Dies in America
On this day May 24, ships were sent to seek a mainland colony site and to sound and chart the newly found "Bay of the Holy Spirit" (Charlotte Harbor). For three weeks explorations continued, seldom by land. There were at least three meetings with the Caloosas; once they offered "guanin" (low gold) and skins for trade and promised more. But in other meetings fighting erupted and "several Indians" and one Spaniard, were killed. Thus the first white man died in America, victim of Indian arrows and the place of his death was called "Matanca" (Pine Island).
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