Document text
Copy of Yield Notes for
Florida Encyclopedia
Corinne White Lee
Taken from ISO OALOWARATONS8
THE STORY OT JUAZ COMM
Tampa, Florida
"Panther" John Gomez, as be was called by the old timers of
Lee County, was a member of the crew of the pirate ship of Casio,
perilis (Jose Gaspar), the pirate, at the time of his last piratical
attempt in 1832, when he met his "Waterloo" and committed suicide
by wrappiiv! am anchor chin about his waist and jumping overboard,
off Boca arand.? Pass.
The following is c verbatim quotation from the ohapter entitled,
"The Last Florida Pirate" in the book THE CALOOSAHATCHME„ which
consists of mtscellaneous writings loneerning the history of the
Caloosahatchrie River and thr. City of Fort Myers, Florida, complied
by Thomas A. Gonzales. Yr. Gonzalez iv the grPndson of 'me of Lee
County's firtt pioneer settlers, and resides in Fort My-rs.
(Mr. Gonzalez has died since this story was written).
"Trrom tile port Myers Press of June 14th, 1894, under the caption,
"Old John Gomez and life", we find an illustrated news story concern—
ing the 113th birthday of a centenarian, who, in the latter part of
his unusually long life ccnfeerd that he had witnestied no less than
100 people walk the piratical plank, blindfolded, into eternity.
incording to the Press story, tiomcz was born in Portugal in 1781. Be
went from the island of Mauritius to Bordeaux, Frame, at the age of
twelve, and from Bordeaux, while yet very young, he went as cabin
boy on a veslel sailing to the United Stutes.
Having arrived at Charleston, 8. C., and beeenso the captain of
the bark had been 'cruel' to him, he, deserted and came to St. Augustine,
Florida, 1 mg before the Spanish Sleighed ceased to wave over old
26170
Temps, Florida
Copy of Field *otos for
Florida lawyelopodia
Corinne White Lamme
The Story Of Juan °ones
Fort Marion. He said that while in Frame he saw Napoleon Bonaparte
on dress parade maw times. Re had basunarried but once sad had
no children. At the time of the interview with the Press representative
be was living with his wife, then seventOMme, on Panther Key, an
outside island of the Tin Thousand group, about fifteen miles from
Nam in Los County, now Collier atty. collier County.
**Old John* as he was more generally known, his mil mans being
Juan Gomez, was a member df the Roman Catholic eburck, and exhibited
his crucifix with pride. In physical mks -up he was 'tort, heavy
set, and had a beard of horsy curly hair, which had been black but was
then silvered all over. Me had large, dark eyes, and bore marks of
having been a handsome =As He served in the Seminole War under
4moral Zachary Taylor and was in the battle of Lake Okeechobee abioh
was fought Domember 25th„ 1837. 3* frequently visited Fort Myers
where he had many friends who were always glad to se,? his.
"That Alan Gomm was the oldest man in the United Sates at the
time, was a well knows feet to the ()Miens of Fort Were and Lee
County. Me and his wife had been wards of the county dor ten years,
and the Scanty oommiesiomers on many 000ssions aide personal isvosti...
gations of him, and paid bin the stem of $S per month' tor maiaimenemele:
*From the Press of Nara 10th, 1898, we learn of an incident
in the life of the old man which was brought to light by J. W. Watson,
a non who lived about eighteen miles from Panther "eye
**Some time ago*, the writer has acid, *another old elitism on
the Keys named Browne made a bargain with John Cones to build a five
room oottags for him, on condition that Ooaca was to will him the
island upon his death. To fully appreciate the situation, we will WIF
Tampa, Florida
Copy of Field Notes for
Florida Insfrolopedia
°salmis alto Lamm
The Story of Juan Cones
Ihat John -Oones is now 11T years old, and Wrown was about 65. Brown
naturally +mooted that he would soon eons into possessioa of the is-
land through the death of the old man, but be reekonod without his
host, for Brown passed in his sheiks a 'host tins ago, and has Grossed
over tho river to that unknown. land Iron whit* none ever retreats.
Oases is in possession of the cottage, in good health and apparently
good for &doses more years of this 11140
'The Press of July 19th, 1900, informs us of the old meats death
at the age of 119. He cans to his death while out flidd.no. In sons
manner he had drowned with his body hafting from the did. of the boat,
one foot being entangled in the fishing net on the floor of the small
craft. Nis body was recovered several days later in a badly doom
posed condition and was buried on his island. The foot that he was
out on the Gulf fishing, at the tine be net his death, is widows thmk
he was still vigorous enough to bo about, though in the last few years
of his life he bad suffered from rhousaatism.
'Let us us what Captain V• D. 001110r hit to say about 401d
John'. Captain Collier is a retired sea captain who ease to Port
Myers in 1670 and settled =Nato Island in 1671,. During a viett
at his bons on the night of December 15th, 1931, Captain Collier
very kindly read the emarttmennsoript from which this chapter has been
painted, and gave the assuranoe that it is entirely correstii Ne
further obliged us with his wen story of John Comes, "bon he knew
prior to the Civil wart
cane to Fort Myers in 1610. We took our bell load of Umber
as far as Inekinghan up the Orange River, and had intondod to milt0 Our
_
Tampa, Florida
Copy of Field Notes for
Florida Inoyelopedia
Corinne White Lemma
The nary of Juan Oases
home there; but the plump didn't suit us and we cant back to Tort Myers,
fron *hence we moved to Maros. It was about 1878 that we learned
that 'Old John' Comes had located on Panther ley. We had known him
at Clearwaterin 1859, before the Civil War, and he was seventy-eight
then. Zion then he was called 'old man, and to show that he was a
sturdy man, I saw bin take two bags of salt on his bask up a hill.
The bags weighed 200 pounds each.
**When the Civil war cane we lost traek of Ulm until we mottled
at Mateo. In his later years be came to our store stout ones per
mouth and we supplied him with groceries, which were paid for by the
county. H• told as that he was a pirate, and that he personally had
walked a number of people over the plank to death and had witnessed
at least a hundred others.
eine once told as of an *soaps he made iron Cuba before the
Civil War in the States. We had been to Cuba with a filibustering
expedition, and when in the vielmity of Morro Castle the govemommut
soldiers gave obese, be managed to swops by hiding soder the seat
of one of the fishing boats which had been pullet up on the shore.
When the soldiers' search had proven!Utile mad the last min had
disappeared, be paddled to sea with aboard. After drifting for
three days, without food, be was plaited up by a schooner going to
Fey West. Re never left Florida otter %hate
The following article from Nr Foster's Travel magazine of
January, 1928, gives an accurate account of the 119-yeari.old pirate,
which, besides being a truthful and aware** report of the old map
had been interestingly written. It is from this artiele that we get
amps* florid*
Copy of Mid Setae for
Florida tkoyelopedia
2orinne Mite Lamm
rho Story of Juan Gomm
the caption, 'The Last Pirate'. The writer 0s name, we regret to
say, was not given.
s'Amlang the pirates she in the early years of the last oentury
terrorised the Seat Indian and Florida seas one of the most notorious
and infamous was Gesparilla, VW* exploits are recalled in Tampa's
annual carnival uader direetien of Gasparilials trees. in. Sober*
R. ',radian President of the Charlotte Sieber and Northers Railroad,
who has written the story of Gasparillasa eareen tells us that he
was a Spaalard, Jose Gamer* Who stood hub in favor SI sour!, stole
the *rasa jewels, and when detected deserted his wife and childrea„
eollested a band of devils of the same kidney, and betook himself
to the high seas and piracy. Associated with Gampasilla daring his
.41
piratioal career was his brother•lai-laa, laaha Genes, a Portages*, horn
on the island of Mauritius in 1781. Retablishing a base at boa
eked* tey and Osp,parilla Island on the Gulf Coast; Gaepar soon bosom
famed and feared for his forego on ',popish and Assets= shipping.
One of his early exploits was the eapture of the Plins4elphia ship
Orissas and anifisoatioa of $40,000imarge, On this wmasion in a
letter to an officer of the Amerioaa Navy, he wrote that the pirate's
maximises that 'the goods of Ulla world belong to the straw and the
wiliest', and in the long series of atrocities skieh followed* be
gave the creed practical semmplificatiosh
°slat as we are now semeerned With John Oman and not with his
thief, we may dismiss Oasparilla by r000rdiag that putting into pram.
ties his maxis that the goods of thy world belong to these whe are
strong enough to take then, he ameassda eters of great wealth* end
before retiring to °WY It mum to a Aratles Pierer mai Int Us
.6.
Tampa, Florida
Copy of Field Notes for
norida Sneyolopedia
Corinne white Lame
The Story of Juan Comes
In the spring of MS, Mx. Bradley tells us, 'bile getting together
his teessnre.for division which at that time was hidden in six sips"
rate hiding plains, he sighted wbat appeared to be a large Bnglish
merohantaan off Boca Ovando Pass It is Ned his greedy epee lit
with pleasure at the thoughts of just one more victim creAls pirattm
oal days were over. Closely following the shore line of the Gulf,
he slipped into Charlotte Harbor through what is now Little Gasperilla
Pass, crept around Gasparilla Island, and gathered together his crew.
Great excitement reigned whom the plans were Snfoldedi The band
of eighty men were divided into two parts, he commanding thirtymfive.
men LaFitte thirty-five; While tea wore left in charge of the cemp
At about 4 in the afternoon Oesparilla and his men dashed through
Boos Grande Pass for the English prise. Test overtaking the fleeing
ship, the black flag was hoisted sad his men Stood ready with the
grappling hooks. Bat suddenly the Mnglish flag floated down and the
Stars and Stripes were pulled in place. In a moment gins were unm
covered on deck, and Gm' parilla„ realizing that he was in a trap,
turned to flee. His boa* disabled by shots from the war vessel and
capture staring him la the face, he wrapped a piece of anchor chain
about his waist and jumped into the sea. His age at his death was
about sixty-five.
s' So then and there Oasparilla the pirate, cheating the hemp
and taking himself out of the world for the world's good, sank to
the bottom of the sea. Of his crew most were hanged; the ten men
who had been left to guard the OSUP escaped.
"'Among those who saved themselves was Atm domes, now about
forty-one year! old. Of his fortuaes ismedimtely feillowLig
Tampa, Florida
Oopy of Field Notes for
Florida Zncyclol,edia
Oorinne Shit* Lamar
The Story of Joan Gomez
tragedy of Soca Grande Pass there is no record. It is not known
whether be enlisted under the Jolly Boger of some other leader
and followed his calling for ten years that still remained before the
American Reim cleared the seas of pirate craft, or whether sickened
by the drowning of his abet he renounced the bleak flag and took to
the simple life. However, it may have been at this point John Oomes
the Florida pirate pasoed from the somas. When he reappears it is to
be long, long aftorward, in a different guise and in a different
Florida, a Florida which takes no thought of pirates seine as the
bold, bad men of a far-off past.
'Inn 1889, prompted by a newspaper report 'of the death of a
Fernandina negro whose age was estimated alb 130 years, Charles 'Kendall,
of Tarpon Springs, wrote in the Forest and Stream4
ilisOn Panther bean Island, seven miles from. Oape Romano, lives
en old man, John Oomes. I met him first .some three years ago, When
be was ohm one bandied years old. On mr canoe cruise around the
cppe last year I called there and had a long oonversation wlith
We told me he was born the Island of Mauritius, and that his parents
moved to Bordeaux, where he lived until 1814 or 1815, when he came to
the United States. Be followed the sea around Florida and the West
Indies until the First Seminole Were When he joined the foreas under
Ool. Taylor, and served through the was.
*some told of an experience he had an the Oeloosahatchee. Ool.
Taylor arrived at the mouth of the Oaloosehatakee with troops and
provisions. Col. Smith was in ahem. of Fort Denamd up the rives.
Ool. Taylor sent Gomm with a letter to Col. Smith for boats to earry
stores up the riser. Games slimed hie and **4i id them* the
-8
Tampa, Florida
Copy of Yield Sotes for
Florida Snoyelopedia
Corinne White Lame
The Story of Juan 002412
woods five weeks, subsisting on roots and berries. Once he saw what
he took to be a mule lying by the side of a large log. Gongs thought,
'Here is my chance; creep up and catch him, and he'll carry me
slmeldstre where I can get somothing,to eat, He said, II started to
crawl up as close as possible to make a rush and catch him. When I
got within a rod or so--Soof: up jumped a big black boor, and as he
tore away through the woods my heart fell *01141
''On the last day he wont staggering through the bush, regardless
of Whither there were Indians or not. Near night he casein sigh* of
a man carrying a gun. 'For God's sake don't shoot; I'm hungry,' staggered
forward and fell:in a faint. He knew no more until he found himself in
Fort Thompson, where all sere and kindness were shown to brimehim
back from death's door. As he had an excellent constitution he soon
recovered and was in active service again•I
experience during the Civil Wax would fill a book(' 110
was on the West Coast, dodging the blockaders, running cotton out and
provisions in, always with small craft that could work through the
island channels and among the keys.
"IThe old man is bright and active, and mates his own living by
fishing. He has a wife much younger than himself, perhaps fifty
years old, but the old man is the smarter of the two. On the meaning
I left the island he was going off fishing, and minted that he
would like a boy to go with him. Hie wife said, 'Why don't you Asks
Clement?' Clement was a man living on an island, and was apparently
thirty or forty years of age. IOW' said John, 'Nets too slow.'
"'The old man has a little garden *a the Wand and raises a few
V.
Tampa, Florida
Copy of Yield Note* for
florid& knoyclopodia
Corinna -White Imams
The Story of Juan Oozes
vegetables, but his main dependence is the water, and what it brings
him. Fish, turtle and turtle eggs, with a little ooff**, sugar mad
meal, makskp the SUM of their *dhoti...UMW
"It looked llko a lonely, uad life, but don't know that in all
my wanderings I over saw a happier oouplo than old John (lamas and his
wife on Panther Afton."
elir. Kendall's sumelso that life on PaMber Key was lamely for the
woman there was confirmed five years later by a-oorraspondont of
Porast and Stream, who, in the °ours* of a cruise on the West Coast,
had called at the islandi
110The captain told no not far away was an island where a min
lived who was 114 years old, had known Napoleon, and was wonderfully
interesting. His wife was old, but she did not know her age. May
lived entirely alone on this island, twenty miles from anybody; and
the captain could sail us near and anchor for the tight. We reached
there at 4 p.m., mad immediately rowed over.
..Ths old lady came down to the beach to moat us, exclaiming,
am glad, oh, I am glad, to see rim,' end invited us tar the house.
This was a very cruderaffair, with two small rooms, without plaster
or paint, but very comfortable when compared with thseshack. haus*
she had lived in until a few months previous to our visit. To our
great regret when we asked whore her hdeband was, she said, 'Oh, my
old man, he's gone Tar-rvin (moaning terrapin) fishing. He's got
tax-avin on the brain, my old man
"Soon after we were sestod be brought in a plate filled it
with bananas whidh she passed, insisting on *ash taking ons. Shit
said she always liked to treat folks nlos)that cam* la isio 1141W
Tampa* florid&
Oopy of ?told Notes for
Florida Erayolopedia
Oorinre White Lame
The Story of Juan Gomez
Upon thanking her, her reply was. 'You are welcome maim, indeed,
you are weloome." I oould not but think this true hospitplity.
When I asked her if she lived entirely alone when her husband was
away* she said, 'All but the obiakens; they are mighty lot of company
daytimes, but they go to bed right early; then I ain't got nobody.'
when r asked her bow she managed to get enough to eat she told me
she had plenty clams, oysters, fish, 044 'Do You ever make chowder
I asked. 'Yes* mem.' 'How do you make it?' 'Well* masts, I take a
.little pork, slice it, c.nd put it in the kettle with the clams and
water; sliced potatoes, if I 'Ave them. Onions is good in chowder;
put in some if I've got 'em. Tomato is mighty nice; don't have
that much, though. /Ake black pepper,too; alwaye4sut it in if I've
got it.' 'But', I said* 'Mrs. Gomez, how do you make chowder without
these things?" 'Why, leave 'ow out.' I imagine her chowder consists
many times of pork, clams and water.'
"'She walked a long way on the beach with usbn our way to our
boats, her figure outlined against the sky, and the wind blowing her
scanty garments about her. It was a picture of desolation* and affected
us deeply. After we were back* it ()warred to us* why did we not ask
her over to eat supper? livery man was on his feet instantly* spying*
'I'll go wad fetch her over.' She seemed so happy and delighted: At
the table one gentleman was talking to me about bow lonely it meet be
for them* and remarked* 'But I' suppose they don't mind it, they get
used to it. I did not know bow she had heard the remark, but she made
answer& 'Never do get used to it *sir.' When it came time for her
to go home* she wanted to stay longer; said she didn't feel in any
Tampa, Florida
Copy of Field Notes for
Florida Znoyolopedia
Corinne white Lamm
The Story of Juan GOMS2
hurry, if we didn't.
"*The next morning as re sailed awe,* we saw her standing watch"
tag us long as we could see her through our glass her eyes were
seaward. Somehow we felt we were breaking the link between her and
civilisation. We have wondered any times if her old man ever came
baok. Re has a little old boat with -a rag sail, and he goes out
miles in the Gulf all alone, i think with her, 'Ness getting too
old to go by himself. She said 'he'd had kind of queer spells, and
she had to give him a heap of Jamaica -ginger to rouse him up.' We
talked about what will become of them when one dies —with not a soul
within twenty miles —and we all echoed the thought, 'Oh, solitude,
where are thy charms?*
'Revisiting Panther Key in 1893, Kendall found john Gomez bale
and hearty. The old man goes fishing, turtling, a-galtering, and does
much work tbst would puzzle a younger men. The day beforClm mil hi'
bad gone out and got four large turtles, putting .them in the boat
alone and then pilling home, some seven or sight miles. Me was as
full of stories as an egg is of meet, and it le a treat tO hear him
1
tell of his adventures in the days long past.
"But in all that Tendall wrote no reference is found to the men
and events of the Gasparilla years, though one might think that lhess
must have been uppermost in the ex -pirate's reeolleetion4 indeed, he
was given to recalling these times, for Mr. Bradley wrote that his
Gasparilla sketch was compiled for the most part from incidents told
by John Gomez. ath the very old, memory goes back to early days, and
John Gomez in. his later life on Panther Key, with dimming memory of
the intervening years, must have lived aver again more and more
-15
Tampa, Floaida
Copy of rield Notes for
Florida Ignoyolopedia
Corinne nbite Lamme
The Story of Juan Gomez
lonely bed made for her byiaasparille.sw
Following is a poem by the poet, Lynn Russell, whir is well known in
Florida and if listed in Who's Who:
TIM LITTLII MUSS PR/10188
The phantoa ships of pirate fleets
Still ..it the .Spanbah mein
And up the 'oast of Florida
Bold Gaspar glides again.
And sometimes on the darkest slots
The Golf winds whisper tales
Of Gaspaillla's savage arew
That rode the white -capped trails
In search of ships that carried wealth
In merchaudiss or gold
Of buooansers whom: bloody deeds
Neve made the blood rea cold.
Among them: tales is one proved true,
Worth telling once again,
About the Spanish Princess of
The royal Rouse of Spain.
In eighteen hundred one she left
leek happy girlhood scene
And in greet state sailed westward
An errand for the gam.
She safely reached far
Was there received in state,
The ruler gave her priceless gems
And gold and silver plate.
At last her stay came to an end
And she set sail again
To go back to her waive land
Of far-off sunny Spain.
tleven of the fairest girls
Of noble parentage
Zabarked with her upen the slip
To dare the ocean's rage.'
on
.14.
Tampet,Florida
Oopy of Field Notes for
Florida ncyclopedia
Corinne White Leans
The Story of Juan Games
It was *happy group set out
Upon that fated day,
A grin, pollinates* wind that blew
Then swiftly on their way.
And soon they nee* the western coast
Of Florida's green strand;
But wall...there comes a flying Ship..
Proud Gaspar with hie band
Of cruel buccaneers/ see how
The Jelly Roger's flag
Flouts boldly from the wet. Wok, flee,
There is no tine to lag.
It is too late, the pirates annoy
Like :buzzards to their prey,
And Oasperilla's out -throat bind
Are victors of the fray.
The captured men are killed or made
To milk the plank and fall
Into the deep where death has found
A nameless grave for all.
The haughty maidens who had yearned
To learn the ways of Spain
Are now‘tho prise of awl
Aho better were they slain:
Although the little Princess knew
That She night never see
Her lover waiting in Madrid
Beneath the trysting tree,
Yet boldly she defied the whole
Of Gaspar's passioned charms
And prayed for death to came and free
Her from the pirate's arms.
At last his rage could stend no more
And Oesparilla slew
The maideq who had soorned his love
For ons/heart was true.
whose
Today the little Prinoess lies
Within a lonely grave
That Oasparilla made for her
Because her soul was braves
She sleeps where night birds sweep morass
A semi...tropic isle
There Gar.mdeher final bed
Because she seemed his smile.
-14,20mmooli: