In the Sunshine State on this day in 1565 From the account of Pedro Menendez’s expedition to Florida in 1565 by Francisco Lopez de Mendoza Grajales, the chaplain to the expedition.

“God and His Blessed Mother made another great miracle for us. After the General [Menendez] disembarked at the fort, he said the next day he could not rest seeing his ships anchored outside the port a league at sea. This was because two of them could not enter the port because of the great banks and he was fearful that the French would come to attack them. As soon as he considered it, he departed for his galleon with 50 men and ordered that one of the three small boats that he had put in the river depart at once to go and bring the provisions and the people from the galley. They brought in the greatest part of the provisions they could and more than 100 men that were in her ready to disembark. They returned on the course to the port, but before they arrived at the bar by half a league, they were becalmed so they could not proceed and they made anchor for the night....”

In 1918 The Jacksonville Times-Union announced today that the season bookings had been cancelled for the Alcazar Hotel in St. Augustine and the Breakers in Palm Beach. A severe labor shortage was cited as the cause. The Ponce de Leon in St. Augustine was opening its season early to accommodate visitors.

In 1919 Key West was struck by a hurricane on this date that claimed 300 lives in Key West. The U.S. Weather Bureau estimated the damage at $2 million, which would place the current evaluation in 1990 dollars at around $40 million.