Many flags flew over the city of Pensacola Fl, that is why the nickname, City of Five Flags was started, the Spanish flag was one of these. During their rule, a Spanish expedition was sent out along the shores of Escambia Bay, a soldier named Juan decided one morning to hunt deer to add to their food supply. Not being familiar with this part of the world he quickly became lost, however not soon after dark he was found by the daughter of a local Indian chief. Napeese, the Indian maiden, took him home with her, the following morning the Indians escorted the young soldier back to his group. Juan had become infatuated with Napeese and wanted to marry her, but naturally her father objected. The two lovers continued to meet and their love grew deeper each day. The young soldier built a small pine cabin for their home. One day while the couple was embracing each other in their home Napeese's father burst into the cabin and shot, killing both of the lovers at the same time. The legend that has been handed down for generations is that the couple's spirit remains at the spot where they lost their lives and a stump that continues to remain green stands in the stop, showing an undying love for each other.
Juan Alverado, The Armored Ghost
A young Spanish soldier named Juan Alverado had been stationed in Havanna, Cubawhen he was transferred to Pensacola, Fl. He said his good byes to his friends and kissed his sweetheart. Late one afternoon Juan decided to explore his new surroundings, he and a friend decided to go up the Escambia River, that pours out into Escambia Bay. They knew not to go alone, so they were guided by several friendly Indians, so they thought. Far up the river the Indian guides turned on the two soldiers killing Juan's friend, and mortally wounding Juan. Able to escape from the murdering group Juan hid in a hollow cypress tree trunk. After all danger had passed Juan was to weak to crawl out of his hiding place and soon died, and the tree grew around the remains. For years settlers reported, about once a year, seeing an armored ghost wandering around about sunset and then suddenly disappear. In about 1929 logging and sawmills were a chief source of income for this part of the country, during one such logging trip a large cypress tree was cut, when it fell to the ground it split open and inside the tree was a skeleton wearing a suite of armor. The soldier was buried in a Pensacola cemetery and the ghost has not been seen again.
Skunkape, a Southern Bigfoot
Fishing, hunting, trapping, and logging were ways a man could feed his family and many times earn a living in the rural south, not so many years ago, these days are not much different, fishing and logging still remain as part of the economy and hunting is a large sporting event yearly. Many stories were told while sitting around a campfire of the dangers that the swamp held, one such story started once again around the early months of 1978, the story about the skunkape. The story goes that the creature was ape-like that stood about eight feet tall, he walked upright and his long arms hung to his knees, it is said that many saw him in the northern parts of Escambia County Florida and south Alabama along the Conecuh River swamps, but especially in and around East Brewton, Alabama, when vegetation was down during the winter season. It was covered with hair and smelled like decaying garbage and swampline, this is why it was called "Skunkape". It's high pitch woman-like scream would last for a long time, no wonder it frightened so many hearing it. There are still many that do not believe in this creature, especially the ones that don't spend a great deal of time hunting and fishing that location, they say there is not enough vegetation to sustain such a large creature and why hasn't he left any foot prints? I can tell you from experience of hunting in those woods, there are still sloughs, and creek beds so deep off those river beds that man can not reach far enough into them to know what lives in them, vegetation is plentiful off the beaten trails and the ground is so soft, wet, and densely covered with decaying leaves and branches, no footprints would last long enough to be found. But for those of us that go deep enough in the swamps and listens to the wind there is no doubt that the skunkape is real. So Beware! Next time your dog starts to get anxious and refusing to leave the safety of your side while your hunting, I suggest you turn and leave quickly before your doubts are proven wrong.
The Romano Street Phantom
Sarah was the daughter of Don Irving Wharton, who was quite well off financially and they both lived on Romano Street in Pensacola, Fl. Sarah wore a diamond that grew great attention at night as it shined brilliantly in the moonlight. Don Wharton and his beautiful daughter was attacked one dark evening by a band of pirates. Don Wharton was murdered by their captures and then Sarah was taken hostage. Full of passion the brutal pirate captain tried to put his arms around the lovely Sarah and tried to kiss her, only she struck out at him. Sarah's sparkling diamond ring tore out one of the pirate's eyes and injured the other. The pirate, being in great pain, became furious with Sarah, he swung his cutlass at her and severed the beautiful woman's head from her body. They say on moonlit nights Sarah comes back to walk down Romano Street near the water. You'll recognize her, if you see her, a tall graceful girl, and on her hand a brilliant diamond sparkling in the moonlight. But if your still not sure if that is Sarah check to see if her head is attached, if not, well you can safely assume then it is really Sarah.
There is a cemetery in Santa Rosa County Florida that has a legend attached to it. People that know the cemetery say if you jump up on the brick wall that surrounds the cemetery perimeter and slowly walk around it after the third time around someone or something will push you off. You might find a web site on my scary and unusual links about this cemetery.
St. Michael's Cemetery
There is an old legend around the oldest cemetery in Pensacola, Florida. I have heard all of my life. The story goes as this.... When I was a child there was no locked gates on the fence surrounding the cemetery and people use to drive through the middle of the cemetery as a short cut downtown. The legend says people driving through will find a small little girl walking down the lane. Many of these people will offer to take the little girl home only as soon as they drive out the back gate the little girl will disappear. It is also been known to have a light that moves in the cemetery with no one attached to it, this light has been seen by many out of the windows of the once used City Jail building.
For historical facts on this cemetery look at my scary and unusual links.
Escamba County Jail
The jail is built on top of part of the old potters field county cemetery, that once sat behind the old Escambia General Hospital. The legend says that the wing of the jail that sits on top of the old cemetery is haunted. Most deaths such as suicides use to occur in the wing that sat on top of the old cemetery.
Escambia County Road Prison
The prison has been rumored for years as having been haunted by an old Sergeant that died on the job there many years ago. There has been nights when the lights on the locked prison vans would start blinking and the horns would start blinking. The old Sergeant has also been witnessed by several of the officers over many years while watching the hallway monitors.
