122 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



puis™ 15 1883. 



perts usine the .50 caliber State model «t Creedmoor are almost .lis 

 heartened" when entering tbe motehet for "77m Irmj/ «»d Vuirj/ 



Tovitinl cup Tli* iiiiw.ii Tr.qiiiv. PUe State" and othenuatehes 



uherelhey h&vetOSl t.ttgotnsl tennis from the l...f..i-,. i.,.-ni i. .n.-.i 



States with thnfr superior .■inns of . I.-, or .11 ealiher. I'robnbtS no 

 'mo appreciates tbts tact more than onr present Inspector Qeni ralol 

 Rffle Practice, Den 0. I" Hobbins. 



The Board of Officers are therefore respatftfuUj r wiled '■■ tatee 



action in a matter which the rank- niui file consider a great stride to 



the nilvanc.-nient of sloll ni shooting mill ellteiency in lb- "<•• "f 'he 

 rifle. 



OBADIAH S. SNEDECOR. 



Obiit FnnnrAiiv, 1883, 



■-.Instill,, ,1 I, ,hi, < III (>ropO»itl lilllni." MollAeK. 



"This sportsman, keen and on bis game intent, 



N,,r »n„i n. .r v, athsr could disturb." 



A short time ago, amid the fury of » February storui, |h«rn 

 wei'e .-.•n-.iirtif.i to their la$l resting place, near Babylon, I/.I., 

 the remains of n man wBo, in Ills day bad hsen Iho associate, friend, 

 and host ol t in-.-.- generations of sportsmen. And yej ObndiefJ 

 Snedecor known to hundreds ot-congcninl lc-mis « Oh6, had not 

 reached the span uUotted tfl man, 



r.r descent i",i Rjsoclatlfinjfrom infancy, Mr. fined r «>.- a 



orer of tbe gun and rod. Whet S SUte spptfsroen haye 



their club-honsB, UiTeu miles sasl -i the villa? ' Mi|.. his father, 



i. i.it," known ••""I beloved "i' sportsmen ol the nlflpn time, bad 



!>-., iii •■ ,■■..-. -..'.n ..-., and in spring and autumn wel- 



run, nil wiiii radiant i.-i'-.- . -iimI friendly grasp n>. sportiug gflftSt, the 

 nngler with his "boo]c; p for the trout-flHed broojts and pood una 



i iin • ii.-.-iinnii. I waters ,.i n-hichforrn tlio 'ftreat River," or 



the hunter of tin- ,i, -,-i v 1 1 i. h then roamed In goodly numbers through 



the pine foresis .-,„,i scrub oak barrens to H nor'ard." A short 



distance west oft ilnMidnse and lusfcwhen flu ■'Westhror* so,. 



i,i,., > and country seat of Qero-gt i. t>ortnard attract tb* view - l 



rhr nncit-m modem bouse is b bich Obt tras horn The murmuring of 



Jhpuarorsol W.stl.rool.- .,s|h.\ quietl] glided dOWD in'" 1 U •■»! Ri> ,-i " 



mis his fir-' lullaby. Tin air be breathed from uhiltlbood oaroe 

 freighted with the fresbnusK and flavor of tbe (;renl South Boy, or 



redolent of the neigl ring Bi fc«ees and pines, and the niuslc of his 



boyhood was tbcsjdashof the trout nail "flroke" , onthe ndji i" 



waters, the whistle of vc-ilnm "Bob White," the baying of the hounds 

 and the notes of the hunter's born, Long before the days of rail 

 roads the disciples of baiak Walton and of Xhnrod, from N>-« York. 

 Philadelphia, ahd other points further off, found rhoir way to the 



hospitable floors of ITncle I if Sned r'a little imi. now part of 



the rjub-bouae, under whose roof were welcome. uiii-inth. ease, and 

 the heal or entertainment, 



Hurry Toler, Jimmy Stevens, .Taints H. Titus, Chester Harding, 

 the eminent portrait painter, Whose speaking- likeness ol ' Uncle Lif" 

 now adorns the walls of the Babylon cottaga, Peter Dalmonlco, who 

 his last -up the brook" in the exc-it.-ni.-nl of the chase, Gen, 

 Cadwalhulcr. !-,uu- WnelH. Willinin W. Haw es. author of "Fire island 

 Ami, - ;md a host of o i hers who nave all "fallen by the way," ahd 

 William Sicoll, Benjamin D. Suliman, Philb T. Rnggles, and asso- 

 ciateswhom «.- meet in our daily walks, hule. hearty and Instinct 

 With spirits and vigor, largelj due to iln-ir love and praotiee of wood- 

 craft and piscatory pastimes, formed the cultivated circle under 

 whose rethiOic. influence wniiiK tiln- grew from lioybooil into man- 

 hood. 



Qld John 'Murray, at the age of eighty, would rowanfl shore Ho- 

 hunters tip -tli.- brook" i" their "stands,''' while One", with horse and 

 bounds, bis horn swung neioss his youthful shoulders, giving forth 

 ever and anon the stirring notes ol the hunt, would dash through the 

 pine trees and the oaks to start the quarry, which Instinctively 

 Bought lite waters of the brook to balk the docs, but thus rushed to 

 certain fate from the ambushed huntsmen. 



And then- greu UpbJ Qb&'s side a son of John Murray, a half- 

 i,i-i-,l. "Steve," who was subject toQbeaSJohn had been to Qbe's 

 father. "Cncle 1. if." and served Jiitn all the 'lays of his life with a 



rnlellly 'akin to the ,-. in st.u.l servi, [the alili,|lie wbHd w Inn gel - 



vicesw,-at lor duty not far meed." 



■•sieve!" Ah. who thai ST6I Ashed those waters or. dwelt in that 

 hostelry can forget "Btev*" or deny him atcar. as he recalls his sliiu- 

 in« face, his black and well-combed looks, his bead like eyes, his 

 quiet smile, bis rc-spectiul salute, anil his disposition ever to oblige. 

 Indian all over, he knew every hole.uook, boR and loj; wherein or w her.. 

 uniler the (lurking trout poised himself. ene,.-r and al-n f..r hi^ prey. 

 and it was a tiling of general credence, that every decent troul knew 

 •'Steve.'' lie has lon(? since passed fa He- bappv htmting grounds of 

 his race. 



Then came in,- nexi generation. Ilaek.-i t .Ir.nes Rogers. Waldo, 

 the Johnsons and 'he Knnpps. Iievelin. Banks And th- WilmerdtngS, 

 and a few Other kiudred spirit;. Willi these be was on terms of 

 closer intim.tev ' hi n will, the elders. Their companion in many a 

 day's fishing, or oh hunting "bound " or on a long tramp after "Boh 

 White," with 'i,.,_'s ,,f breed ami training unsurpassed, And then tire 

 dinners he seru-,1 forhiSguest?, retuniiiu:f.itii;ned from the hunt, but 

 refreshed by bath and hruflh. Boseate light she I by lamps, shrouded 

 in lace anil si utT ,.f Tyi i:>n .lye. suffusini; and softening the ntm..^. 

 phere of theeosyol,l,linine.,-..-.ni. attuned the guests i.. the mel- 

 lowing Influences thai snrrotmdcii them, ai dd»,l sharper zest to 



thc.repa.st: while the portly figure and bright face of the gonial bast 

 were everywhere. Intent that mine should overlook or lose his share 

 of the dainty viands, Ah: those were happy days, and the ufghts, passed 

 in song and story .ui.l wiih ihe music of tbe guitar, aud occasional 

 dunce anil "breakdown," worth} of the classic nice and I'liristy. 

 were nights Indeed; rtocfes rtitihroA/'Cino 



SHU imolher .lli.l a thii-.n-en, r.ilion of sportsmen who kii.-w him 



not as intimately as ihe insi in. i jrell enough ta admire and esteem 

 him and feel bis loss; the Redmonds, Benkard, Muilson, Curphej 



Nicholas, DeForest, and. indeed, well nigh el i Ired members oj 



the south Bide sp..i-is,„,.irs ( i„h 



Edrsome years Mr Sued rhnd been ffi failing Health and his 



immediate friends bad far months anticipate. I his demise, and yet it 

 came at lasl nol W Ithoul a shock. The void li has created is broad and 

 deep. Mr. Snedecor was a typical Long islander: qulei. never In a 

 hurry, cautious and noncommiiial in speech keen in lis.-enion-.it of 

 character, serene n ml undisturbed hj passim: events, loving the soil 



ufion which in- was i,.,in thi '■• I« ■■••''■' meadows and fields Of 



hisdearold I *r Isiaei. • f them a 



a gentleman hy mil lire ;■ I hi i-.-ditary host: a hunter, 

 shooter am) fisherman by taste and In practice, and Above arid beytind 

 all, one of Nature's noblemen, an hi an 



Thp twin Tlrolherlioo.l of Ihe Hun and Ancle' In.s l..a ,,,, 



m0StBkililiilan.|eoiis-ie.ni..iis ne tnhers and many, a friend n.ai-as a 



other. '•'•"-. fathj ashes, dear.gentle, ooasiderate whqle<souled 

 ohe Snedecor, D. 



Otn Ki-,.\i>r.i:- mill '■■■ntn-i: favor by tending "■- th ft<«/tfs 

 nfiiwh of tl.or ./";•-'./.</.« m are not now ammtg Hu vtfatribBrs 

 of the Foi(j>r \M. Stki. >m. t„,i ,rl„- ,r.,,,i,/ pmwiuiMy be 

 dfn tlti'jii'/H r. 



AROUND THE COAST OF FLORIDA. 



117 1>U. .1. A HKNSIIM I 



Eighth Paper. 



AS we (jailed into Tampa Bay we saw tbe-^feamer frpm 

 Kcv West suil in tliititiirli the main pass, near the 



lighthouse on Egmonl Key, and pro< 1 across the lower 



end of the bay to a small village near the mouth of Manatee 

 River, and then continuing up the bay met the steamer from 

 Tampa, where we lefj them transferring passengers nnd 

 cargo. "We anchored at sundown near the mouth of Little 

 Maimice River ami ilieiu-M morning sailed up lo the old 

 ii-« n of Tampa, which we found rather a neal villam-. with 

 some pretty residences surrounded by orange groves, The 

 barracjts consist of a. number oi well-arrangetl and commo 

 dious buildings, models of neatness and good order. The 

 "in mills an- tastefully laid "in wfth well Kept ptitarJe ground, 

 lawns and ilrivc-.. iimI mngniflcent water oaki and other 

 sbndetfees, rivaling our best parks in beautyand attract 

 Iveuess Several companies of artillery ari stationed here. 

 Then is not much attraction for the sportsman about 

 Tampa, onaccounl of the scarcity ©f gamej forthi invaUd 



anil Imiiisl. In, w ever, il i- D |ile||sanl place, HillsbOl'o' 



River, the third of thai n e I haveseen in Florida, empties 



iiiiu the bay ai Tampa, p small apd uninteresting stream. 



Tnmpn liav is .1 large body Of water some tbrtj milcslong 

 and lea milei wide, and ilotten cougherthan the Gulf itself 

 ■ need si treral flays of -iiiaih wi ither there, witb 

 Lhe wind continually shifting, so thai wi wcre.obllged to 

 skip from one lee to another in quick succession, VVelost 

 onr large unchor on the eaal side, but found it'againthe 

 nexi day (liirine- a Iflll in tlw wind, but a violent rain squall 

 comingon -we put across to Papys Bayou, joear the mouth 

 ol Old Tampa Bay, where we remained a day nr two. The 

 usual varieties of aqtitttic birds were here, and one daj I 

 L'laincil a siiiiirray jn sballOTi water while in the canvas 

 boat, and.had quite a tussle with it. We. sailed down the 

 baj i" Point Piuellfis, anchoring iu Big Bayou. Here were 

 plenty of line oysters and Bsh. The peninsula lying between 

 Old Tampa Bay nntt the Onlf ami ending in Point Pin silas, 

 is high and healthful clothed with pipe woods ami afew 

 liamaks. Quail are <|iii!e plentiful, andfinesport may in- 

 hud willi Hie dog and gnu in the open pine woods. Mr. W. 

 P. Xeihl has a tine orange grove near Big Bayou. The trees 

 are eight years old, in bearing, and look remarkably healthy 

 anil vigorous. There are a number of mango and alligai, r- 

 pear trees in thi grove, with limes, temdns, gnavas, shad- 

 docks, etc. 1 judge Point Pinellas lo ,)l ' one of the must 

 salubrious and healthful locations on the west coast, There 



:u'-a mimlieri.f aiit-icnl Innial and domiciliary mounds on 

 the peninsula, and il seems to have been B favorite resort or 

 dwelling place for the prehistoric tribes. & lake near the 

 point is famous for its large and numerous alligators. On 

 some of the keys near Point Pinellas are deer and other 

 game. 

 Rounding tbe point we left to pprl several large keys as 



Mullet. Arenosa. Pine and a number of smaller ones.' and 



stopped at Boca CeigaPasB. It -will be observed that this 



is (In- third or fourth pass of thai name, Boca Ceigfl (mean 



ing Blind Pass), that we visited on the wb«1 eoast, 'Phis 

 duplication "i names in Florida is often annoying and eon- 

 fusug. The early Spanish explorers smn 10 have been re- 

 markable for their paucity "I names. There are several 

 Boca Kiilimes. Boca Orandcs. Boca Sei as. BocaOhicas,etC, 



'while contiguous keys are big and little Gaflparilhi, big and 



little Sarasota,, upper and lewer Mullacombe, ele. And the 

 English settlers are not far behind iu this respect, for I 

 know of at least 1 went v Bird kevs. several Alligator keys, 

 a do/en Pelican Mauds, three liillshoro' rivets, two Sebas- 

 tian rivers, Bevera] Ball lakes, with Alligator .reeks, o u n 

 islands and Kaeco'.n keys iniiunicrnlile. AI this Boca CViga 

 Pass llieie is a line beach. Ihickly strewn with sliefls, 

 sponges, sea fans. cic. ami frequented by pelicans, herons, 

 cormorants, etc, We also saw here ;; few tlamingoes and 

 roseate spoonbills. 



Proceeding up Boca Ceiga Bay. we went out at. John's 

 Pas^ into the <!ulf with a light breeze. When within a few 

 miles of Little Clearwater Pass, we experienced a dead 

 calm. The boundless (itilf became as smooth aso sea df 

 molten gloss, while cfchs setting sun loomed up, a huge red 

 disc, in the soft yellow haze It was such a calm as is inva- 

 riably the forerunner of a storm, ami we resolved to reach 

 [sitae Clearwater Pass If possible thai night. Putting Jack 

 ashore, to walk up the beach to discover the inlet, we poled 

 slowly along in two fathoms of water, not far from the 

 shore' The sun then sunk into the bosom Of the sleeping 

 sea like a great globe of tire, sending up to the zenith broad', 

 fan like rays of molten gold, diffusing tints of amber and 

 aaffron through the dense and heavy 'atmosphere, while a 



uhereo'cr landorsea could I..- ..el, Hi, tremor of a wing or 

 the ripple of a iin; not the slightest movement wag discernible. 

 F.vcn the pelicans, gulls and ganneto had ceased ashing and 

 sat quiescent on the while beach, am nature had been 

 seemingly struck motionless as though by an enchanter's 

 wand. The swish of the poles as ihcy were -withdrawn, 

 and the water dripping nnd tinkling from 1 hem like drops 

 of amber, were the ordysoundsto be heard Finally the 

 veli.iw twilight seemed iosinkinto the sea thestdj began 

 to twinkle through the haze, and the murky night closed 

 around us. 



Jack returning toward the schooner t'rnin an unsuccessful 

 search for the inlet, set lire to the beach scrub as be walked 

 along, causing a loig lini of flame to shoot straight up into 

 the still night, easting a broad red glare far out upo" the 

 unruffled Waters, Alter supper we pm out a second anchor, 

 lengthened the cables, took in a double reef all 'round, 

 inri.-ii and stoppered the Bails, made everything snug and 

 turned in. Aboul two d*Clock I was awakened by themain 

 1 m lashing around furiously, and found the Rambler 



- d. l ■ uretbel n, and groping around 



i„ tho darkness for the nurin Ualyaird chat 1 caught hold of 

 Rkipper'B hand intent on the same office; il Was so lark I 



1 1 pot see nim. Welowcred the boom and furled sail to 



the deck antl&ecured it, and then looked out at themght, 



What a contrast to the calm, serene and beautiful -unset 

 of a few hours befdre! Then all natorc! emedasleep aoV 

 -he »:i- raging in a perfect frenzy. The waters were tossed 

 tumulluouslv. seething and aisaing before agalefommthe 

 Bouthwest, drenohing us to the skin with -pray The swell 

 was tremendous, n wnirlcd and tossed the Rambler like ■■> 



eockh- -hell, the cordage creaking, the slirouds shrieking 

 and the hnlvai'ds ,-alllin- madh' nirain-t lie ma-- I'h, 

 skv was black, ihc waters black, and the shore line still 

 blacker. Inky scuds flew across the sky, rrortlrwaTd at a 

 furious ran. The sombre sea beaved aid rolled as in agony, 

 with n sickly pallor, ,f phosjjhorescenOe thai onlv rendered 

 ihe darkness more visible. Th- breakers roared and Bum 

 dcied on ihc beach but Still yards away. Oh, bow we longed 

 fm day light : We were bound for an' inlet the exact where- 

 abouts of which we did not know, and were ignorant how 

 to enter it, it found, in the darkles-. Skipper was for 

 scudding before the gale uudcr tin- double-reefed foresail, 

 but us ihe anchors were still boldjng I counseled waiting for 

 daylight, or so long as the anchors continued to hold. 

 After paying on 1 mo re cable we wailed ami watched Ihe 

 eastern skv for the hr-i glimmer of the dawn. 



It se.-nieil as lh.iii",li the night would never pass irwav. but 

 grew eve,, blacker, wcr.- Dint possible, while the gale In 

 creased in violence Squirt ana Jack were sleeping peace 

 fully and calmly, perhaps dreaming of loved ones at hone, 

 Wedid no' wake them; weonlj marveled how they could 

 -hep so iioiidK willi 1 In; dements at war around them, 

 Bui .en '-an sleep tranquilly on the battle li.-ld. skipp. ■ 



and I sal in lUBCOCkpJi watchin,.. Ile-.a-i with eves uf fail h . 

 but, ohl would the day nevi r come. Wo could not -cc each 

 other, imi our pipes glowed fiercely red in the black night 

 —sparks of comfort, indeed. At last 1 saw a suspicion of 

 dim light paling the eastern beavefig, causing theflyine 

 scuds to assume a shade less black, Tien I heard n shore 

 bird twitter, 



"Skipper,'" said t, "the day is ccmlhgf 



s,,on ihe eastern sky showed a faint change; like the pass- 

 ing away of a dense mist, disclosing a heavy, dark curtain 

 agatnsl which could be indistinctly outlined the palmcttoes 

 on shore. Then a slight rosy tinge, like the delicate blush 

 ■ •I a sea shell, was perceived along Ihe edge of the horizon— 

 a narrow pink border In the dark gray curtain— and at last 

 came the glorious day We roused Bquire and Jack, hoist..,) 

 tie- ncfed foresail, hauled up the anchors, and fairly Hew 

 before the tierce gale. ]t was but a few minutes ere wc 

 sighted tin- inlet, ihe breakers dashing furiously over the 

 bar As wc neared 11 the day broke brighter. Then w< 

 rushed in between the lines of breakers, and over the nar 

 row liar, and through the narrow inlet, and a hundred yards 

 further we reached a sh,-h,. rand a harbor, wilh the water 



scarcely ruffled, under the lee of the beach ridge, while out 

 -idc the storm demons still raged and howled. 



After hreakfast a schooner earae flying in the pass under 

 :, -inail -ail rigged on a jurymast, her foremast having gone 

 by the board. "We sailed across to Dunedin and anchored, 

 Clearwater Harbor has a number of settlers, thoir houses ap 

 pairing to good advantage on the blulK surrounded by 

 vounir orange groves. This is one of the few desirable points 

 on Ihc west coast. The banks are higher than any place WI 

 had seen. The bay is a fine body of water, shut oul from 

 tlic Gulf by several large islands'. Clearwater, 8t. Joseph's 

 Hog and others, with passi - bt twei n, l-'ish and small game 

 are abundant. Al Dunedin is a store and post-office. Thi 

 next day wc sailed for Anelotc River, fifteen miles above. 

 Near the mouth of this river are two stores and a post-office, 

 and close by is an old Spanish well, where good water cat, 



l.e oiiiaincii. ThlSjr were expecting a railroad at this place, 

 and we found this -ame railroad expectancy and consequent 

 "boom" ai nearly evcrv place on the Florida coast; though 

 what benefit would accrue I" the railroads was nol apparent. 



for the transportation by sailboats seemed to be amply 

 Sufficient for the produce of the country. A few miles 

 up Anclote River is a large bayou, where good fishing 

 may be had. Still further' up Ihc stream will be found Salt 

 Lake and a -all spring, and near the source of the river a 

 sulphur s|>rius;. Off the mouth of the river lie the Anclote 

 Keys, behind which is a safe and deep anchorage, and where 

 we found a licet of fishing smacks driven in by the gale. On 

 Ihc fishing banks, .some twenty miles off-shore, these smacks 

 take red snappers for the Havana market. 



Prom Anclote we proceeded ten miles northward to Pilh- 

 lacb, -ti. o.-tic River, railed "Costie'' for short, a Small stream 

 with its mouth Completely blocked by oyster reefs; and ten 

 miles further north we came to Bavpori. at ihe. mouth of 

 Wt-ckawacliee River. The channels from Ihe (lull 10 the 

 iin ml lis ol these livers, and those above, are slaked. Near 

 the wharf at Bayportwe ran on Ihe broken mast of a sunken 

 blockade runner, bid got off without sustaining any dam- 

 age. Bayport is an old place of some note, formerly quite 

 important as a Shipping poihl I'm- cedar. It consists of a 

 store, post-office, and a few pleasant residences, it is a pretty 

 place, with some of the largest orange and lemon trees I ->n\ 

 in Florida. Mr. Parsons is proprietor of the More, and will 

 be found an agreeable aud intelligent gentleman. 



We wcni up ihc river some two miles with the schooner, 

 aud then proceeded to the head of the stream, about ten 

 miles further, in the small boats. The source of the river i- 

 a large spring, in a basin of an acre in extent, surrounded by 

 a rim or ridge of considerable elevation. This "White 

 Mountain Spline-." as it is called, is a subterranean river 

 bursting oul at 'this point with great force,- giying-to the 

 river below a very strong current until tide waicris reached. 

 The spring is fifty feet in depth and so clear that one's boat 

 -veins like Mahomel g coffin, suspended in mid-air. Great. 



I.he bottom, but, as uiiirht iji- 1.\ peeled, rein-' totakea bail 

 10 water so clear. Tin smallest object can be dearly defined 

 on tho bottom of pure while sand. The water boik 111 

 through great tents id the coralline rocks al the bottom, the 

 boil being plainly seen ai the surface, li is -aid that with a 

 heavy cannon-shot the largest rem has been sounded to a 

 depth of ninety feet. At the bottom of the spring, and for 

 a short distance down the stream, arc growing curious water 

 plants, whose small elliptic leaves exhibit tintsof red, pur- 

 ple and blue, which are reflected through the crystal waters 

 with a Strange and pleasing effect. He were w-ll repaid for 



our row up the river against the strong current, in viewing 

 the wonders of this spring, There is a store and a dwelling 

 on its bank-, and a large schooner was resting "il its bosomj 

 which had been built, and was being rigged, at thisplBce, 

 In the pin.' woodsnear the spring deer are nmuerou& 8nd 



1 no- rel tn wilh the cnrrenl was an easj 



la-k and vt ry enjoyable i'..r tno-l of Hie way i- through dense, 

 •ii -I. liamaks abounding in semi-tropical scenery. 

 Tajl cypresses and palmtuoes. swamp maples and Spanish 

 ash niid in each oiin-r across the narrow stream, while the 

 great white blossoms tx the sweet bay and magnolia gleam 

 like stars amid Ih.c dark and if lossy' leaves and till the aii 

 With delicious perfume. The osprey hovers, Bcrefimjng, 

 over its huge nest on some blasted cypress; llieswallow- 

 tailed kite soars gracefully overhead; the great blue heron 



