Key West's Lost African Cemetery Is Found

It was good to learn about history of people. And i found this book and read, i couldn't wait to share it.

It's a piece of America's lost history, one of two known african cemeteries in the western Hemisphere. It's not a slave cemetery. It's a burial ground at Florida's southernmost point containing 294 actual African burials, which were lost for 141 years.
The story began on 1859, when President Buchanan ordered a U.S naval blockade of Cuba to seize any U.S flagship carrying a slaves. Although slaves trading, but not slavery, had been declared illegal in te United States, it was still legal in many Latin American countries. In 1860, three US Navy vessels intercepted three american ships hauling human cargo-a total of 1,437 men, women, and children. Most were from Benin and the congo region, and all were bound for Cuba to be sold into slavery. It was a lucrative enterprise; human beings could fetch $1,200 each in Cuba, provided, of course, they survived the mesirable six-week voyage from Africa.
The US navy rescued the Africans and brought them to key west, which the nearest post. The cramped and unsanitary conditions aboard the slaves ships had left many sick and in need of treatment. Key west locals rallied to the cause and quickly constructed a compound of barracks and a makeshift hospital in which to take care of the Africans. Much of the money of the project came out from own pocket of the local US marshal, Fernando Moreno. Although he was the main support for the Africans during their stay in key west, his request for reimbursement was later denied by the US government. Despite of his efforts, 294 african died and buried on a narrow sand ridge along what is now Higgs Beach.
And the record showed the first one died was a six-week-old baby, buried in traditional African ceremony. So many were dying that the government hired a local carpenter to build the coffins and do the burying at a cost of $5.50 per corpse.
The surviving African only stayed in key west for three months. In August 1860, the United States loaded them onto ships and sent them back across the ocean to Liberia. Many more died on this voyage, and of those who made it safely back to Africa, few ever got to go back to their original home again.
Eventually the African graveyard in key west faded from the history. When Fort Taylor was expanded in 1862, during the civil war, a guard tower was built on the site of the unmarked graves. By the 20th century, only few people had ever heard of the cemetery. Over the decades, it was forgotten. Occasionally, a beachcomber would find a bone washed out of the sand by the storm, but the only real record of the graves was an 1861 Army Corps of Engineers map that showed nine graves, marked by nine X's with the words "African Cemetery". It was this map and the use of radar, that allowed an archaeological survey team to rediscover the "Key West African Cemetery". Most of the remains now lie beneath the local garden club; however, nine burials were identified, and on March 24, 2001, the state erected a historical market at the site. After 141 years, Key West has found its lost African Cemetery.

Florida Local Legend- Sunland Mental Hospital

In Phillips Highway in Tallahassee has long been a hotbed for local legends and ghost stories. A five story building, now is abandoned but once was a mental hospital. It was first open on 1952 as the W. T. Edwards Tuberculosis Hospital, it later became a Sunland Hospital for mental patients, many of whom were children. Sunland was one of the first places to use electroshock therapy on patients suffering from seizures. There were rumors of lobotomies being performed and of the use of a deep dark pit to confine deranged patients for days at a morgue and crematuriom that had existed at Sunland when it had been a tuberculosis hospital. The stories about lobotomies are most likely fabrications, since there were no know surgical facilities at Sunland. On the other hand, there were also nemerous allegations of patients abuse. In 1978, the Association of Retarded Citizen filed a class action suit against the hospital for patient neglect. These complaints in part led to Sunland's being closed down in 1983. Following the shutdown, 9 patients mysteriously died after being transferred to a less institutionalized environment in private-care homes.
Now, the hospital is close and police constantly watch the place. Despite this, curiosity seekers still violate the law and sneak into the spooky old hospital, and some find more than they bargained for. Some said they heard moans from the morgue, ice cold air and the sounds of the children's laughter and most some ghost hunters group went there at night they came running out of there and said that they heard loud screams inside and that they felt strong feelings of anger. They also heard a loud crash seems somebody threw a tray or a metal on the floor. The ghost hunter said it was the scariest place they have ever been.

Kid's Wish

I've been tagged by crissy with this cute kids wish :-)

Copy here:

1. Answer the Kid’s Question by Gregory Stock, PH.D. Remember: Don’t respond as you think others want you to. Respond the way you actually feel!

2. Add your name (linked to your blog)

3. Tag everybody else!

Kid’s Question: If you were the ruler of the world and you could have anything you wanted as well as have people do anything you wanted, do you think you would get greedy and mean or would you be a good and fair ruler?

Please answer the question and put your name and link after.

Jhong, Alpha, Women Xplore, Em, Something Purple, Our Journey to Life, My Planet Purple, Princess Bela, Princess Vien, cookie jar of entertainment, allinkorea, kim, idealpinkrose, korean food, Vamp Squad,Manna from Heaven,And Life Goes On, Can of Thoughts, A Mother's Stuff, Housewife @ Work, Dex-all around the world, dexie-loving living and laughing,

My Answer:

I don't want to promise any thing because i don't want to break any promises, just like all the people who are in high positions in the government now. I will ask and pray for the guidance of our dear Lord for the task that he going to put in my hands for the goodness of all people. Because with God all good things will happen, no greediness and all is fair.

I will pass this tag to Rose, Splice and dice, and Beth.

4 Things About Me

I got this tag from my friend Joy. Thank you joy for sharing this wonderful tag make me remind the good things happened before and share what i like.

4 Jobs i've had in my life:
Full time wife
Electronic factory worker
Baby sitter
Saleslady

4 Show's i've DVR
CSI Miami
CSI las vegas
Law and Order
opppsss, no more i don't watch much tv

4 Places I've been (just the nice places i went to he he)
Camiguin
Bagiuo
Enchanted Kingdom in Disney
Jacksonville

4 Favorite Foods
Most all Pinoy Foods
Some italian recipies
some chinese food
salads

And now i pass this tag to honey, sweet lullaby and Mia.

Odd things**12 foot Snake Wrapped Woman's Body

In Eugene Oregon, a 12 foot burmese pythone attacked the female employee of a pet store. The woman calls for help, she called a 911 at very early in the morning and when the police they seen a woman was completely wrapped by the 12 foot snake. The police saw the woman was really in danger and feared for her life. But still even the woman was in really grave danger, she still plead not to harm the snake when she saw the that police took his knife. So, even to risk himself the police sgt. Nelson, complied what woman's ask at attempt his rescue by grabbing the snake mouth off of the woman's finger. The snakes begin his attacks by biting onto the woman's finger, wrapping itself around her wrist, arm then shoulder and down to her throat, nelson told.
The police manage to pry the snake jaws partially off the woman's finger. A few of the snakes teeth got lodged in his tumb. Then emergency personnel used a screwdriver to free the woman's finger from the jaw of the snake. Then Sgt. Nelson put his own squeeze on the snake's neck and by the helped of fire and EMS members to unwrap the snake from the woman. Then police started putting back the snake into his cage, which the entrance was above head level. The snake still try to fought for his freedom but not succeded.
The woman and the snake are both safe.

Odd things***Triplets Born plus one More

In Towson, Maryland, a mother given birth to a rare sets of quadruplets, the three boys are identical and the other is not. The boys born 11 weeks premature in January at Greater Baltimore Medical Center at Towson. There are just fewer than 100 identical triplets plus one documented in the united states according to the hospital. The kids delivered in Ceasarian sections on Jan. 29, on their mother 32nd birthday. Joshua Drew was born first, Gavin Michael second, Cody Benjamin third, and the last Logan Christopher the none identical to the rest. The babies were treated at the hospitals neonatal intensive care units, and the four been homein Belcamps for about 2 1/2 weeks.

Fort Clinch Became State Park

Fort Clinch became one of the states first parks in 1935. The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC)began restoring the building at the fort in 1936. On 1937 the CCC began building roads and campgrounds. Today, visitors can tour the fort and see how it may have looked way back in 1864 as it was built same as it look before by Army Engineers. 1,427-acre park are several natural communities. Maritime hammocks, with large Spanish moss-draped live oaks, are prevalent. Coastal grasslands meet the hammocks and stretch along the shore behind dunes on the Atlantic Ocean and Cumberland Sound. Both areas offer great wildlife viewing and are home to gopher totoises, deer, raccoons, bobcats and numerous species of birds and reptiles. Willow Pond Trail winds a series of freshwater ponds that offer prime habitat for alligators and turtles. Egan's creek Marsh borders the west boundary of the park, providing a saltwater estuary for an abundance of marine life. The salt marsh offers scenic vistas and views of many species of wading birds while the beaches provide a critical foraging and nesting habitat for colonial shorebirds and sea turtles.

Fort Clinch has 62 campsites in two campgrounds and four primitive youth campsites equipped with electricity and water. Swimming is popular thing to do, fishing in several locations. Visitors can enjoy biking, hiking, shelling, shark tooth hunting and watch the reenactment of the soldiers everyday.

Worth for a family camping.

History of Fort Clinch

In was 1842, the united states government purchased a tract of land on the northern end of Amelia Island, at the Florida-Georgia border.

A military installation was to be built on the property, to guard the mouth of the St. Mary's River, protect coastal and interior shipping, and defend the deepwater port of Fernandina, Florida.

Construction began in 1847 on Fort Clinch, named in honor of General Duncan Lamont Clinch, a respected officer who fought bravely in the Second Seminole War.

1812-1868 The Ultimate Fort

A facility like Fort Clinch, masonry and stone, contained a two wall system, brick and earth. Begun in 1847, Fort Clinch progressed slowly. By 1860, only two Bastion and one third of the brick wall was completed. The ramparts were in place, the guardhouse and prison finished. The lumber sheds, storehouse, and kitchens were in various stages and completion. No canon has been placed in position yet.

The Civil War:

With no federal garrison present, Confederate militia quietly took control of the fort at the beginning of the civil war, in 1861. They did no work on the fort, but rather established batteries in the fort, the town of Fernandina, and strategic locations on Amelia and Cumberlands Islands. Union forces advancing along several South Carolina and Georgia coastal islands in early 1862 caused General Robert E. Lee to authorize a withdrawal from the area. On March 3, the evacuation was completed, even as federal gunboats and troops arrived to reestablish Union control of the Fort Clinch. Units of the 1st New York Volunteer Engineers quickly began a push to complete the fort.

The Decline of Seacoast Fortifications

The Advent of the rifled barrel cannon ended the era of stone and brick fortifications. Firing heavier shot, with greater accuracy and higher velocity, these new weapons breached the walls of Savannah's Fort Pulaski on April 10, 1862. Nevertheless, continuing offorts led to the near completion of Fort Clinch until 1867, when at the fort was halted and the post deactivated.

The Second World War

Fort Clinch was pressed into service by the U.S. Armed Forces one last time, during the World War ll. The Coast Guard, in a joint operation with the Army and the Navy, established and maintained a surveillance and communications system within the fort and on various coastal islands in the area. This Operation included the Coast Guards mounted beach patrol, which kept watch along the beaches for landings by spies and saboteurs.

Pampered Dogs

My hubby and me just working in an animal hospital today. He fix the garage in order to pass the inspections. And while i was there, i saw different kind of dogs and how they being pampered. They have their own rooms, play grounds with swimming pool, toys and they have their own park where they can play in woods. Its like a picnic area where their human friend and the doggies can play. And their are many people with a nice cars paying every month just to go there to play. All i can say, whew! I am that dog he he he.

The Richest and the Poorest Country

What is the richest and the poorest country in the world? According to the list of aneki website, here is just the 10 list of richest country around the world:

• Luxembourg
• Equatorial Guinea
• United Arab Emirates
• Norway
• Ireland
• United States
• Andorra
• Iceland
• Denmark
• Austria

Click for more....

The Poorest country are:

• Malawi
• Somalia
• Comoros
• Solomon Island
• Congo, Democratic Republic of the
• Burundi
• East Timor
• Tanzania
• Afghanistan
• Yemen

More info click..

White Island in Camiguin

Could you believe how small island is the white island in camiguin. I've been there once and i seen the beauty of the very very small island. An isolated white sandbar where the view of towering Mt. Hibok-Hibok and Old Volcan reflects the sumptuousness the Province of Camiguin has ever achieved. It is reached within 10 minutes through light water transport from anywhere in Yumbing, Mambajao area. I still love to go there one day.

I Missed the Mountain

Everytime i got a chance going home to my province while i was still in the philippines. I never missed going up to the mountain where my father live. I loved going up there, cooking banana, picking up durian, and other fruits thats in there. And taking a bath in small falls on the way up to the mountain is most i missed. Of course, i missed all things about Philippines.

Florida's Local Legend and Best Kept Secrets?

Florida is not just known as sunshine state, sun, surfing, and beautiful beaches but for local legends, and tales. I just learn this today. And i want to share it to all.

SPOOK HILL

Spook hill is a long promoted gravity-defying hill in the city of Lake Wales, where you can park your car at the bottom and it will roll uphill. It is such a popular place for curiosity seekers that the city has put up little brown direction signs all over town so you can find the mysterious hill. However, watch out, becasue local pranksters often turn these sign so they point in the opposite direction. It takes only one switched sign to send you off into oblivion. If you can get to spook hill Elementary School, you'll see a hill just ahead of you. Once at this point, you cannot miss the sign erected by the city that explains the history of the place. The sign also explains how to experience spook hill:

" Park your car on the white line that's painted on the street, shift to neutral, and let her roll up the hill".

So many people tried and followed what it said and in few seconds the car was gliding very slowly up hill. It said that until now, there still many people try it and find it their own if its true specially on weekends.

So many story came out how it discovered and the very popular was when an old black gentleman who parked his automobile at the base of the hill to do a little fishing in a nearby lake. He had hardly reached the lake when he turned and saw his car rolling up hill. That's how the tale begun and scattered.

Now, that i heard the story i ask my husband that we'll go there and i'd like to find it out. He said he forgot where it was but he will try to remember it and will go there when we can find time..

Billionaires in the World

Gates is no longer the #1 billionaires around the world. Warren Buffet now is the richest man in the planet. Ones was a son of a newspaper delivery boy but today he is the one be read in the news being one of the rich man. A 77 years old in an Industry of Investment.






Carlos Slim Helu & Family is the second richest man in the world, a 68 years old widow. Achieve his self made fortune in telephone business in mexico. Son of Lebanese Immigrant.






And in the third but still famous being Genius and drop out student and a Microsoft visionary. William Gates lll is now in 3rd.

Lakshmi Mittal from India, and in Manufacturing industry. Inherit his wealth and work hard to let his fortune grow.

And in 5th, Mukesh Ambini 50 years old Indian man. Inherit and work to grow more his fortune in Petrochemicals Industries.

This is just a top 5 list of the richest man in the world. If you like to know more about the riches people in the world click here.

A Quite Place to Hang Out

One day if I have a chance to visit again the my beloved philippines and i like to stay in a quite and clean place, i still like to go back in duka bay beach. We went there ones before we went to camiguin. One of the most beautiful marine sanctuaries and coral reefs. They really take care and preserve it, you will really appreciate the beauty of nature. The very clear and clean ocean, mixes with spring water. You can even seen a spring water came out from the bottom of the ocean, an under water spring. And just few meters away from the shores you can enjoy the colorful tropical fish and live corals.

Duka bay is in mindanao part of misamis oriental, it is far in the city and you need to ride few hours bus if you don't have own car. But its worthy if you want a place that quite away from a busy city.

Place I really Dream to visit

There are some places that I really dream to visit one day. Paris, Rome, England is just a few. Wew, i dreaming to big he he he.. I seen the views in picture, in televisions, and i movie it really looks so beautiful and it seems that the beauty calls you. Even just one place that i mention i will be very very happy he he he. Well, who knows one day will rain and we'll be flooded with money then we can all travel around the world. Well, just a dream maybe it become true or it just stay as a dream.