Discovering America Podcast

Winter was coming on, the temperature was dropping and many of the men were sick. Admiral Gomez on the Santo Tomas was instructed to head home with letters, journals and charts and give an account to the viceroy what they had discovered. Unfortunately that’s not all, the ship would carry home. The ship would be loaded with the sickest of men. Scurvy had taken over the ships. Later on, a storm would separate the San Diego and the Tres Reyes. The San Diego and Vizcaino’s crew would soon turn around while; the Tres Reyes would continue sailing north a little longer. All three ships made it home but, many of the sailors did not. Remind me to take along barrels of limes and apples for our next voyage.

This is a special edition of the Discovering America podcast, an interview with author Maggie Espinosa where she explains her extraordinary journey walking to 21 Spanish Missions in the Southern California region.

The three ships, Santo Tomas, San Diego and the Tres Reyes would continue exploring and mapping the California coast in search of that perfect port to be used by the Spanish ships as a stopping point on the Philippine trade route. Most of the time the natives were very friendly towards the strangers but, then again this wasn’t the first time the Europeans had visited these shores. Juan Cabrillo had made his way up this coast and then there is the ship wreck of San Agustin which left some unfortunate soles somewhere along this coast. Yep, I think San Diego bay will be a great place to watch the sun set.

The Spanish discovered an ocean route from the west coast of North America and took control of the Philippines. Now the west coast was the target of the other European nations. It would best to secure a port, a harbor, anyplace as a safe haven for the incoming Spanish galleons. Cabrillo had explored the western coast but that was several years ago. Spain sends another group of ships to search out and map the coast to find that safe haven. Sebastian Vizcaino takes on that challenge, a good choice he had been a trader for several years between Mexico and the Orient and was lucky enough to be on a Galleon when it was plundered by Cavendish. California here we come!

Coming back from the east and finding San Juan almost deserted, this was very disheartening for Onate. With the help of Saldivar after talking to the king, the settlement was revived. Now it was time for Onate to venture towards the sea. His group would experience the great Colorado and visit many of the people who lived among its banks, well at least one side of it. After the men smelled the sea breeze, they retraced their steps back to New Mexico, all accounted for sir!

Juan de Onate, Vicente de Saldivar, two religious men, Fray Francisco de Velasco, and Fray Pedro de Vergara along with 70 hand-picked soldiers, and let’s not forget the 700 horses would set off in June 1601 to explore the country to the east or to see Coronado’s Quivira first hand. Along the way the group would come in contact with the Apache, Escanjaques and the Quivira Indian tribes. Far to the east around the Arkansas River, the friendly atmosphere was no longer, the Spaniards would have to fight to stay alive. It’s best to know who your true friends are before the sun sets.

While Saldivar was off playing with the buffalo, Onate decided to visit the surrounding pueblos and pay a visit to the Salinas and Xumanas tribes. They headed westward to Zuni and onto Moqui or Hopi villages and also discovered some salt marshes. Onate’s journey among the many pueblos went well, not so with Juan Zaldivar and his group at the pueblo of Acoma. So many people so little time to say hello.

Onate’s group builds the settlement of San Juan while he ventures and visits the outlying communities. In his travels the natives respond in a friendly manner towards the Spanish. Although trouble does rear its head among the settlers at San Juan, they were expecting riches that did not abound. With a tree and a rope this matter was soon taken care of.  And then Saldivar was sent east to capture some buffalo, that didn’t go so well. We call them “wild” animals for a reason. Seen any prairie dogs lately? I think you could catch one of those.

The next Spanish Explorer on the scene with approval from the crown would be Juan de Onate, who had the means and drive to make this expedition to New Mexico a reality. The new viceroy, Gaspar de Zuniga, 5th count of Monterrey had a different agenda. Inspection after inspection was ordered by the viceroy, two years would pass. When can I leave?

So many men of means wanted to throw their hat into the arena to become the governor of the New Mexican region. You would think that would be Don Antonio Espejo but, that was not to be, politics. A changing of the viceroys may have added to the indecisions. A man by the name of Gasper Castano de Sosa acting as Lieutenant Governor of Nuevo Leon thought he could pack up and head out, without written permission. Ok, I was wrong, may I keep my head?

It wasn’t the big names we have all hear about in books that were now exploring, or re-exploring the country, no it would be miners looking for that next bonanza of silver or religious figures expiring to convert the natives. Ibarra’s uncle had already made in big, now it would be his turn. Exploring northern Mexico he would establish a new region, Nueva Vizcaya along with new mines, as well as creating new towns. Next onto the scene came Fray Agustin Rodriquez, Juan de Santa Maria and Francisco Lopez. They would give their lives for what they believed in. Don Antonio Espejo and Padre Bernardino Beltran along with soldiers and native servants headed out to follow in their footsteps. Their journey, for the most part, crossed the path of many friendly Indian tribes and witnessed many established pueblos. The Spanish were introducing themselves to the natives of Arizona and New Mexico.

It seems the Luna expedition was on a downward spiral. Everybody was tired and hungry; the necessary supplies were not inward bound as needed. When Major Suaz arrived in Mobile Bay, the group was all together once again. Settling the Gulf Coast was secondary, the king’s top priority was now colonizing Santa Elena, so heading home was a good idea, start anew I say.

With all the planning that went into this quest to colonize Florida, hard work was still ahead of the Luna party. Mother Nature put a huge damper on their progress; it was now, survival mode.

Luna would have his hands full sailing off in 13 ships to the coast of Florida with over 1500 people and 140 horses aboard. A voyage this size took careful planning. The Viceroy of New Spain (Mexico) Luis de Velasco and King Phillip of Spain were eager to establish a foothold in la Florida. Once this was complete an overland route could be established to Santa Elena on the eastern coast of North America. So does anyone know where we are going? Wait! I’ll Google it.

The Spanish explored the states of the Carolinas and Tennessee. Juan Pedro and his company would build and man many forts along the way, although they didn’t last long. The Indian villages that existed near these forts were expected to supply the Spaniards with food. Is there anything on the menu other than maize?

The Spanish were trying to keep what was theirs, not an easy task. Pedro would start off from the eastern coast of North America and rediscover the lands that Ferdinand de Soto explored 25 years earlier. The Indians were nice enough to supply the food that the Spaniards needed every step of the way but, where is the shiny stuff?

Ribault acted hastily against the Spanish and it didn’t help that his fleet encountered a storm that destroyed them.  The Spanish would eliminate the French from America for the time being. But in the wake of this atrocity against the French Dominique de Gourgues would gather ships and men together to save the grace of France. Forgive and forget not this time.

After the clashing of swords stopped it was time to sail west but this time it would be to establish a colony for the sake of religion.  Admiral de Coligny would choose Jean Ribaut to command and establish a French Protestant (Huguenots) colony on the land called Florida. The Spanish would not take kindly to this “invasion”. The Spanish commander Pedro Menendez would have the last word and not at all respectably.  Can’t we all just get along?

With the war between France and Spain finally over, five years had passed since his last voyage. The Indians he had promised to return to their homeland within twelve moons had all passed away except a 12 year old girl who was now their interpreter. The king put Sieur de Roberval in charge of this third voyage but, he wasn’t ready to sail. So Cartier sailed off with five ships on May 23, 1541. After spending time with the Indians and the new chief, Cartier loaded the ship with diamonds and gold which turned out to be quartz crystals and mica, and sailed back to France. If only I knew my minerals.

Cartier and his small band of men made their way to the village of Hochelaga and received a wonderful welcome. The Indians insisted that they should climb to the top of Mount Royal and see something they were very proud of, the Frenchmen accommodated the request. What they saw below was the flowing fields of corn and the Indian village of Hochelaga, a place that would become the site of Montreal, Canada.  The Indians and the French would endure the winter but, with it came the loss of many lives. The “scurvy” would take its toll upon them. The French finally make their way back to the homeland.