Useppa Island is off the west coast of Florida. In the past, when pirates sailed the open seas, pirates would use islands around Florida to hide their loot and hold their hostages.
This is the story of one of these islands. Useppa Island is named after the daughter of a rich Cuban. Useppa was a beautiful young lady who lived in Havana. She was kidnapped by the pirate Jose Gaspar and taken to a small island off the coast of Florida. Gaspar was in lust with Useppa and he made advances with her. She rejected him. This of course made Gaspar furious. He tried again and again, but she kept turning him down. In the end, he told her if she rejected him again, he would kill her.
The fateful day arrived and Gaspar demanded an answer. Useppa looked him in the eye and turned him down for the final time. Jose Gaspar took his sword and cut her head off.
This is the story of one of these islands. Useppa Island is named after the daughter of a rich Cuban. Useppa was a beautiful young lady who lived in Havana. She was kidnapped by the pirate Jose Gaspar and taken to a small island off the coast of Florida. Gaspar was in lust with Useppa and he made advances with her. She rejected him. This of course made Gaspar furious. He tried again and again, but she kept turning him down. In the end, he told her if she rejected him again, he would kill her.
The fateful day arrived and Gaspar demanded an answer. Useppa looked him in the eye and turned him down for the final time. Jose Gaspar took his sword and cut her head off.
Legend says he regretted this move immediately. He buried her body in private, and the island became Useppa Island. This is also where one of the ghosts of Useppa Island originated. A headless woman has been seen by fishermen and boaters since that time. She walks along the water's edge in the moonlight and disappears after a few seconds. The feeling she leaves behind is one of longing and sad