Sunday Favorites: The Deserted Village

It was late spring in 1898 and everyone in towns along Florida’s West Coast was on edge. The United States had recently entered the Spanish-American War and a large fleet of warships and transports were anchored in Tampa Bay with troops mobilized in preparation for the invasion of Cuba. Spain was rumored to be amassing a war fleet in Cuba to attack Florida’s coast.

One afternoon, a suntanned fisherman, his face ruddy and worn, swore he saw a Spanish warship approaching from Boca Grande.

“This is it,” the townspeople thought. They weren’t alone in their assumption. In Tampa, a U.S. gunboat was dispatched to intercept the adversary, according to the book “The Singing River” by Joe Warner.

In Sarasota, a Frenchman living on the island now known as St. Armand’s Key also saw a foreign vessel expelling black smoke from its funnel. He hurriedly launched a small skiff and sailed to town, eager to tell the townspeople about the impending attack.

Upon hearing the news, residents ran to the tallest lookout on the roof of the Belle Haven Inn to witness the battle that was sure to ensue. They could see over the small barrier islands from the tower, and soon this foreign ship came into view, the hull equipped with battle gear. They assumed it was headed toward Tampa, to face off with the U.S. warship “Helena.”

However, their anticipation turned fearful as the unknown ship changed course and headed directly for the village of Sarasota!  Fearful of a raid, they scattered, grabbing their children, and loved ones and running into the woods to avoid whatever confrontation was in store. At the time, Sarasota was still a small, developing town of less than 500 people, with many of them living inland and unaware of the situation.

The ship docked at Higel’s Dock, situated at the present-day intersection of Higel Avenue and Ocean Boulevard in Sarasota. The commercial wharf was built by early pioneer John H. Higel to receive everything from citrus shipments to traveling tourists.

A strong, tall man stepped to the dock and began tying up the lines. He was neither Spanish nor soldier, just a captain looking for lumber to fuel his wood-burning engine. He’d realized he was low and had to make an unexpected pit stop in Sarasota for provisions. Normally, a fair number of workers were present to receive him, but in this case, the town looked all but deserted. He began to worry, fearing that some disease had overtaken the town, according to Warner.

The captain proceeded on foot, looking for clues as to what horrible plague had befallen the sleepy village. As he walked, he came upon another bewildered man, riding his horse slowly up a deserted street. It was Sheriff Alexander “Sandy” Watson who was also wondering what in the world had happened to the people.

Sandy was privy to the Spanish warship rumor, which had prompted him to head to town in the first place. Once the men put two and two together, they had a hearty laugh about the misunderstanding. It was an honest mistake really, the “warship” was actually the steamer “Terra Ceia” a new ship being delivered from Jacksonville. The builder, Stevens Shipping Company, had installed temporary bulwarks to protect the haul from high seas and ensure the boat made it safely to its destination on the Manatee River. These structures had made it appear to be armored and fortified for battle.

Sandy rode his horse into the woods and rounded up the townspeople, explaining they were safe from Spanish mercenaries. However, the damage to the villagers' ego had been done and any mention of the “Terra Ceia” were considered “fighting words” to the townspeople in Sarasota.

 The "Terra Ceia," cemented her reputation for sending folks running as soon as she came into view. A stern-wheel steamer, she had a mind of her own when it came to navigation. Her quirky docking habits earned her the moniker "Bull of the Woods," and it became customary for dock workers to beat a hasty retreat once they spotted her on the horizon. Who could blame them? Nobody wanted to take an unexpected dip in the water to dodge a collision!  To everyone's relief, her reign in the area was short-lived. She was sold in 1910 and moved elsewhere.