An Interview with Hernando De Soto

The following is an interview with Hernando De Soto by Francisco Penzon, a reporter for the Andora Herald in 1541.

Penzon: Today I’m with a very special man named Hernando De Soto.

De Soto: Hi.

Okay, lets get started, when were you born?

Around 1500.

Where were you born?

In Barcarrota, Spain.

Did you do anything besides explore?

Yes, I was a military leader in Central America and Peru.

What did you do on your first expedition?

I helped Francisco Pizzaro conquer the Indian tribe known as the Inca in Peru in 1532.

Did you sail anywhere else?

Yes, after destroying the Inca, I went back to Spain and asked Charles V, the Holy Roman Emperor, if I could search Columbia and Ecuador with an army. I didn’t get to because the Emperor thought I’d conquer all of South America, so he offered to make me the mayor of Cuba and gave me permission to search Florida. I accepted this responsibility. I had heard that there was gold in the southern part of Florida, seven golden cities to be exact. The next day I sailed to Florida with over 1,000 men, some horses, and enough food for all the men.

When was this?

In early 1539.

How did it start?

On May 30, 1539, I landed at Tampa Bay where I searched for some Indians to help me and my army make peace with the natives. Instead I found a Spaniard named Juan Ortiz who had been on an expedition and got captured by Indians 10 years before. He helped me make peace with an Indian tribe.

When I  told the chief about the gold, he said it was further north.  The next day my army and I left to go north. Three years later I still had not found the golden cities. During those long years I had been in Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Alabama, and Mississippi, where I was the first Spanish explorer to lay eyes on and cross the Mississippi River. While on the other side of the Mississippi River, I journeyed through Arkansas, Oklahoma, and the northern part of Texas.

So how did it feel being the first Spanish explorer to look at and cross the Mississippi River?

It felt good. I just want to know why they didn’t call it the De Soto River?

I do not know. Well folks, that’s all for today, it was a pleasure having you here today Mr. De Soto.

Well, thanks for having me.