Florida and the Spanish-American War of 1898

Documents

Attorney Peter Knight to Governor William D. Bloxham

From: Correspondence of Governor William D. Bloxham (Series 578, Box 15, Folder 7)

This letter is from the official correspondence of Governor William D. Bloxham in his second term, from 1897-1901. Bloxham guided the state through the Spanish-American War, a conflict which called for an unusual degree of participation from Florida.

In this letter, an attorney for the Exchange National Bank of Tampa writes to Governor Bloxham. He seeks assurances that the Spanish citizens in Tampa will be safe as the threat of war with Spain grows.

Knight

PETER O. KNIGHT
ATTORNEY
EXCHANGE NATIONAL BANK BUILDING,
TAMPA, FLORIDA.

April 16th., 1898.

Governor William D. Bloxham,

Tallahassee, Florida.

My dear Governor:

We have been having considerable trouble in this city to convince the Spaniards that in the event of war with Spain, they will be perfectly safe. Although there has been war raging for some years in Cuba between Cuba and Spain, the Spaniards and Cubans of this city have been working in harmony and there has been no trouble whatever between them. The Spaniards are a very desirable class of people, many of them having property interests here and they are almost panic stricken over the situation. I have done everything I could to assure them of protection and so have the authorities of this city and of the county, but it does not seem to satisfy them. The Spanish manufacturers had a meeting last evening at which the situation was talked over fully. They all decided that if you as Governor of the state, would send by wire, instructions to J.P. Anderson, as inspector general, that in the event of trouble he should all out the militia in this city to protect them, and to protect their property, that they would promise to remain here. I promised them I would write you and that I was satisfied that you would do everything you could to protect them.

Now Governor, this is of vital importance to us. There will be no riot here or any trouble, if there is war with Spain. The citizens of Tampa will protect the Spanish citizens and there will be no trouble, but they don't believe that. Hence, as a matter of buncom really I want this telegram to come here to Mr. Anderson, so that it

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can be translated into Spanish and spread amongst them, so as to keep them here. We have had hard times here for two or three years and we cannot afford to lose these people. So please set at once and immediately upon receipt of this. Send the proper wire to Inspector General Anderson so that he can have the same published forthwith.

I write this at the request of many of our citizens as the situation is really serious. Understand me, not serious because we expect trouble, but serious because the Spaniards are scared to death and on the point of leaving.

Yours sincerely,

P.O. Knight

 

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