[FHStoday] TODAY IN FLORIDA HISTORY FOR DECEMBER 1

[Nick Wynne]

TODAY IN FLORIDA HISTORY 
DECEMBER 1   
1845 David Levy Yulee and James D. Westcott, Jr., took their seats in the
United States Senate today as the first senators from Florida.  Yulee was from
St. Augustine, while Westcott was from Tallahassee.  David Levy Yulee won the
long term of office, which ended on March 3, 1851, while Westcott’s term
expired on March 3, 1849.  The decision was made by lot.  Yulee later
served in
the Senate of the Confederate States of America and Westcott became the
Attorney General of Florida in 1868. 
 Yulee, who had previously served as the delegate from Florida in the 27th,
28th and 29th Congress, was a large land owner and entrepreneur.  He was the
force behind the first cross-peninsula railroad that ran from Fernandina on
the
Atlantic Coast to Cedar Key on the Gulf of Mexico.  The railroad opened in
1860, but was almost immediately shut down with the outbreak of the War
between
the States.

1861 Confederate General Braxton E. Bragg reported that he had approximately
3,000 men under his command in Pensacola, but arms for only about 600 of them.

1862 The Union ship, the U.S.S. Sagamore, today captured the blockade
runner, By
George, off the coast of the Indian River.  The captured vessel was carrying a
cargo of coffee and salt. 
 The United States gunboat, Tioga, captured the schooner Nonsuch, after a
four-
hour chase.  Although the Nonsuch was flying British colors, she was
carrying a
cargo of coffee and cartridge paper.  She was taken to Key West for
adjudication.

1864 The Florida Methodist Conference began its annual meeting in Madison
today.  The Conference had 8,641 white members and 5,169 African-American
members. 
 The Florida Legislature today approved an appropriation for $60,000 to care
for the sick and wounded soldiers of the state.

1928 The first air line service between Miami and New York was inaugurated
today by Pitcairn Airlines (later known as Eastern Airlines).

1945 Delta Airlines began operating in Florida today with DC-3 service from
Miami to Jacksonville.  

1969 Eckerd Drugs of Florida, Incorporated, was reincorporated as Jack Eckerd
Corporation today.  The first Eckerd drug store opened in Clearwater in 1952.