170 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



whacked him, he would only gently vibrate his ears and 

 wiggle his stumpy tail, so that it was very late in the after- 

 noon when we reached the lake. We found it a clear 

 sheet of water, nearly round, two miles in diameter, with 

 high, sloping pine covered banks. There are but few set- 

 tlers on the lake and these few living in a state of contented 

 happiness. 



Where we struck the lake was an old plantation, now 

 well covered with corn, bananas, and bene — the latter an 

 oil-Droduciug plant said to produce valuable crops. The 

 lake, as seen through the long avenue of bananas, which 

 Mr. Harrison, the proprietor, had planted, appeared like a 

 lake in the tropic*. Directly opposite us a little stream 

 made out, the source of Black creek, which runs into the 

 St. Johns river. The sun was near setting and we left the 

 lake, feeling that it might some day be surrounded by 

 houses and orange groves, so pleasantly sloped the land 

 and so sheltered was the spot. I rode the mare in return- 

 ing, and led the advance, the mule following. Soon the 

 rain came down and we jogged on with heads down, feel- 

 ing very uncomfortable. Darkness soon came around us 

 rendering the trail scarce discernable, so that it was late in 

 the evening when we reached the hospitable roof of our 

 friend Burrin, where a welcome supper and refreshing bed 

 awaited us. The next morning we arose at daylight, in 

 order to get a ride with the section master, who was going 

 down the road on a pole car. We were stealing cautiously 

 out of the house when a cheery voice bade us hold on. 

 "Wait," says our friend, the host, rattling a tumbler and 

 spqon together, "for a parting ceremony." The ceremony 

 having been gone through with, aided by two more spoons 

 and tumblers, we said good by and started off. It was my 

 first experience riding on a pole car and it was as delight- 

 ful a3 it was novel. Four negroes, two on each side, pro- 

 pelled the car — a small platform car for working purposes — 

 rapidly ahead. To sit on the front of that car and feel 

 yourself gliding swiftly over the rails, with your heels just 

 high enough to escape striking the sleepers, and the panor- 

 ama of swamp and forest gliding by you, was to experience 

 a new sensation. Groups of cows were constantly cro-siug 

 the track, and some of these would remain till the gliding 

 car got dangerously near. The section master related sev- 

 eral instances where workmen had been badly hurt by 

 coming in contact with cattle with these cars. 



We reached Temple's mills early in the morning and 

 after examing the large saw mills here turned our atten- 

 tion to something of greater interest to us then — an avenue 

 of bananas, tall, symmetrical and graceful, loaded with 

 fruit, attesting the adaptability of soil and climate to the 

 raising of tropical fruits. Mr. Temple then hitched up 

 his teams and conveyed us a few few miles into the woods, 

 to Fort Harlee, where grew the largest orange tree in the 

 State. All around was forest growth, this old tree stood 

 alone a deserted clearing. It was a magnificent tree, worth 

 miles of travel to see. It was over 30 feet in height and 

 nine feet in circumference close to the ground. It had 

 divided at the ground into three stems, and it was at the 

 base of these the measurement was taken. Its immense 

 solid head of green, with thousands of oranges gleaming 

 among the leaves, was a wonder of vegetation. Fiom the 

 tree last year, there were sold 0,500 oranges; besides these 

 many were eaten and stolen. There is much good land' 

 about here, available at low prices and near the railroad. 

 We returned to our pole car and sped on toward Waldo, 

 passing occasional groves of orange and cottages surrounded 

 by orange and fig trees. Waldo, at present, is not a very 

 attractive town, but it seems to be growing rapidly aud 

 trying to improve itself. A new hotel, in course of erec- 

 tion, faces an open square by the railroad, and bids fair to 

 be an attractive resort. At Waldo we procured a team for 

 famous Santa Fe Lake, five miles distant. There we visited 

 the grove of the oldest resident, Gen. Early, and shared his 

 hospitality. 



Lake Santa Fe is about seven miles in length, surrounded 

 by high land well adapted to orange culture. The soil is 

 good, the climate healthful, and there seems nothing lack- 

 ing to promote Uie welfare of those who may settle here. 

 The laud is held at a higher rate than laud along the rail- 

 road, as the owners here think that the beauty and salubrity 

 of this locality will more than compensate for the distance 

 from the line of travel. Gen. Early's orange grove is not 

 large, but the trees are large, well-formed, and the oranges 

 of excellent quality. Near his plantation is Balmoral, 

 where a large hotel of sixty rooms is being constructed. 

 It is a most delightful site for a hotel, overlooking the 

 whole lake, high and airy. The grounds are laid in excel- 

 lent taste by the proprietor, and avenues of bananas and 

 eucalyptus lead from the hotel to the shore of the lake. If 

 the entertainment provided us by mine host, Mr. Klee, and 

 his charming wife and daughters, was a foretaste of that 

 to be expected when the hotel is completed, happy, indeed, 

 will be his guests. We bade adieu with regret to the hos- 

 pitable residents of Santa Fe, and hastened back to Waldo, 

 again to essay a ride by pole car. By the way, there is a 

 chain of small lakes connected with Santa Fe which are 

 said to be well supplied with game. Our pole tar experi- 

 rencie was repeated to Gainsville, about a dozen miles from 

 WalJo where we stayed over night. Gainsville is a thriv- 

 ing and populus town, with churches, schools and a new 

 hotel, also in course of erection. In fact, it would seem 

 from the number of hotels going up that there was promise 

 of an unusually large number of visitors next winter. 



Though Gainsville may be interesting as a town, it was 

 the natural scenery that we were in quest of, and early 

 »ex£ morning hired a hack to convey us to the ' 'Prairie 

 ginks," three miles from town. According to report the 



sink wa3 one dry prairie, and this prairie, from five to seven 

 miles across once sustained herds of cattle. Suddenly it 

 began to grow wet, water accumulated, until now the once 

 dry prairie is several feet under water and forms an exten- 

 sive lake. On the border where we went was a deep "sink" 

 in the limestone substratum, and an immense cavern in the 

 rock had its outlet here. It was the choking of this outlet, 

 or the water belched from it— undetermined which? — that 

 caused the overflow of the prairie. The scenery about 

 this sink is peculiarly beautiful. Huge oaks tower into the 

 air, every limb heavily hung with moss. The limestone 

 crops out in fantastic shapes, supporting a vegetation wildly 

 grotesque. Deep dells and glens are formed along the 

 shore, where the gray moss heavily overhangs and shades 

 the deep water. Oranges grow wild on the banks and 

 grapevines grow to huge dimensions. The view from the 

 high shore is of an inland lake with green borders, on 

 which feed numberless cattle, and in the waters of which 

 sport heron, ibis and other water-fowl. We feasted our 

 eyes on the scenery, but though a beautiful place to see, it 

 was not healthful enough to justify a residence, so we jog- 

 ged back to Gainsville. Here my friend left me and I 

 pursued my way alone by the next train. 



At Bronson, 122 miles from Fernandina, or rather back 

 of the town, lies some excellent land, high pine land, with 

 beautiful clear water ponds— just the place for winter resi- 

 dence and for cultivation of fruit and vegetables. I left 

 the train at Otter creek on the eastern border of the great 

 Gulf Hammock, 'and again enlisted the services of a sec- 

 tion master with his car and workman. Here the scenery 

 assumes a more tropical appearance, and the palmetto ap- 

 pears mingled with the pines, singly and in picturesque 

 groups. Passing through this skirmish line of palmetto 

 and pine we strike the dense hammock, where the rank 

 vegetation comes down to the very track, forming a wall 

 of impenetrable solidity. Through this jungle the track 

 was cut, and I truce its straight lines till they appear to 

 to meet in the distance, swallowed up by the forest. This 

 is the most famous haunt of bear, deer and turkey in all 

 Florida. Full confirmation of the stories told of the 

 abundance was furnished before we had run a mile into 

 the dark woods. I saw a black speck far ahead and called 

 the section master's attention to it. "Turkeys!" said he, 

 and urged the darkeys ahead. With two stout negroes on 

 each side our little car, spinning it on with their whole 

 energies thrown into their setting poles, wt gained on 

 those turkeys with a rapidity that was astonishing. As 

 soon as they descried us they made their best tracks along 

 the road, never turning to the right or left. There were 

 fourteen of them, a huge old gobbler leading, with neck 

 outstretched and his family spread out behind him like the 

 tail of a comet. We got wiihin a hundred yards of them, 

 and I was anxiously noting the fast-decreasing distance 

 between us, when out darted an old deer dog from behind 

 our car and put those turkeys up with a celerity that was 

 as astonishing as unexpected. I cannot tell who was the 

 most disappointed, the section master, the sweating, puffing 

 workmen or myself. We beat the jungle for an hour, 

 calling vainly to the scattered flock, then pursued our way. 

 In returning, without me, that evening they secured three 

 turkeys from that same flock. Quite frequently they run 

 up on a bear on the track, or spot him as he is noisily 

 foraging in the woods. We reached the western edge of 

 the hammock late in the afternoon, and I stopped for the 

 night with Ford, a genial Yankee from Massachusetts. 

 Mr. Ford has a cosy house here at Rosewood, the name of 

 the station, and entertains sportsmen and wayfarers in ex- 

 cellent style. The soil here is good, and the water appa- 

 rently healthful. A large bear was killed here the night 

 before I arrived, and much damage had been done to corn 

 and sweet potatoes by bear and deer. In the morning I 

 went on to Cedar Keys where I refreshed myself with a 

 salt water bath, and passed tlje day pleasantly at the 

 Island House. 



After what has been written by "Al Fresco" upon Cedar 

 Keys and the coast south, little can be said except to en- 

 dorse his statements. The numerous inlets and lagoons 

 are actually alive with ducks and geese in the fall, and the 

 fishing, for extent and variety, would be hard to beat. 

 All along the shore and along the banks of the numerous 

 creeks and rivers are camping places prolific in game, 

 and these, with the populous Gulf Hammock, will make 

 the west coast the hunting ground of the future henceforth. 

 It can be reached more readily and easily than the St. 

 John's river, and at a great saving iu fare and transporta- 

 tion. The New York and Fernandina steamship line takes 

 one direct to Fernandina for $20, and the Florida Road 

 runs daily trains to the Gulf, making connection by rail 

 and steamboat with all parts of Florida. The field now 

 opened promises well, and if your correspondent does not 

 reach it next November he will be much disappointed. 



Fued Bevekly. 



„. rj «+»» -■ .. . 



Florida. — We shall begin the publication next week of 

 the journal of a 500-mile boat trip along the southwest 

 coast of Florida, to occupy eight or nine numbers of this 

 paper, and when completed these will be followed by an- 

 other instalment from "Al Fkrsco," who is having a boat 

 built to meet the requirements of the special mission which 

 he will undertake at the proper season. These letters will 

 render almost complete the history of the resources and 

 attractions of Florida which this paper has published, and 

 will form a very valuable addition to the volume entitled 

 "Camp Life in Florida," of which three editions have al- 

 ready been published, 



—The St. Augustine (Florida) Press says that, on the 

 26th ult. , while hunting near Pablo creek, Mr. Yulee Mick 



ler ran upon a large rattlesnake. The snake struck the 

 horse, and the dog running up to shake it, was also struck 

 dead. The horse was led a distance of about three miles 

 where he died late in the afternoon. The snake was a 

 large one, measuring about six feet in length, and had H 

 rattles. 



— Capt. E. E. Vail, of the St. Augustine Hotel, has add- 

 ed a steam elevator and other desired improvements to his 

 very commodious and attractive house in the Ancient 

 City. 



Cedar Keys and Tampa. — A much needed want has 

 been supplied at Cedar Keys — that of a hotel where a visi- 

 tor can obtain a square meal and good accommodations at 

 a reasonable figure. Dr. R. H. Mcllvaine has opened the 

 Island House, which he has enlarged, repaired and paint- 

 ed. The Doctor can comfortably accommodate forty 

 guests. The host pledges himself to "liberally supply the 

 table with fish, oysters, turtle and game in their season, 

 in a style to suit the most fastidious." Some weeks since 

 we tested the Doctor's table and beds, and found a marked 

 improvement upon the hotel accommodations of Cedar 

 Keys. The host intends "giving special attention to pro- 

 curing transportation for sportsmen and others who wish 

 to visit points along the coast." He owns two schooner 

 yachts, one of 5 and the other of 6 tons, which will be open 

 for charter for trips along the coast, at about $6 per day, 

 to include the services of captain and one man. The ser- 

 vices of a cook can be obtained at about $20 per mouth. 

 These vessels are nicely fitted up, and will comfoiiably ac- 

 commodate from six to eight persons. Necessary supplies, 

 such as coffee, condensed milk, pilot bread, flour, etc., 

 can be purchased in the town. Smaller boats with captain 

 can be chartered at from $3 to $5 per day. To ardent 

 sportsmen who havt never tested the sports of the south- 

 west coast, we can, without hesitation, assert that they 

 would enjoy the shooting and fishing south of Sarasota 

 Bay. 



Messrs. SfcKay and Miller, of Tampa, are building a 

 new propeller at Wilmington, Del. She will be large and 

 fast, and will have excellent accommodations. She will 

 make semi-weekly trips, beginning about the middle of 

 November, to Tampa, Manatee and Palmetto. 



The citizens of Tampa have been aroused from their Rip 

 Van Winkle sleep by Mr. Wall and a few other enterpris- 

 ing citizens, and are laying sidewalks, and other needed 

 improvements have become the order of the day. The 

 climate of Tampa offers many inducements to visitors, 

 but the residents have been too slow in the past to take ad- 

 vantage of their opportunity. 



The Orange Grove Hotel of Tampa will accommodate 

 forty guests, and is run by D. L. Crane & Co. From rep- 

 resentations of others we have reason to btlieve that visi- 

 tors will be better satisfied with the table and accommoda- 

 tions. The terms are, per day, $2; per week, $12; per month, 

 $40. The Tampa Hotel is kept by Dr. Isaac Craft, and we 

 have reason to believe that visitors will be pleased with 

 the accommodations. 



Homosassa. — "This paradise lost in a wilderness" was 

 ferreted out by "Al Fresco" during his cruise on the south- 

 west coast of Florida, and his notice of the place in our 

 columns turned the tide of sponing travei iu that direc- 

 tiuu. Then it was that Alfred P. Jones and his estimable 

 lady found themselves in trouble. Visitors poured in and 

 overflowed; they abandoned their ownroom, rilled "Liberty 

 Hall" and the "Den," elected bunks iu the meat h >use, 

 where Dr. F. and Mr. P. roosted lor weeks; and still ac- 

 commodations continued in active request. The house 

 was not constituted of India rubber, and sportsmen were 

 packed in the dining-room like sardines. Many of last 

 season's visitors have engaged rooms for the winter of '76 

 and '77; and to accommodate the press, Mr. Jones is now 

 erecting a wing 60 feet long and building a new dining- 

 room and kitchen. This will be good news for many. 

 Owing to the lack of accommodation, dozens 

 were prevented from visiting this attractive spot last 

 winter; but we are pleased to state the fact that en- 

 largement is the order of the day. From personal experi- 

 ence we are warranted in saying "May the shadow of this 



hospitable home never grow less." 



— «*-»«- 



The Aquarium. — This journal has watched with con- 

 stant interest the desire which has been growing in the 

 minds of the people of this city during the past rive years 

 for the establishment of an aquarium, aud has done every- 

 thing in its power both to stimulate this desire and to pro- 

 cure its satisfaction. The early efforts of Appl&ton's 

 Journal to persuade the people to invite Mr. Saviile Kent 

 of the Brighton Aquarium, England, to construct an aqua- 

 rium in Central Park were aided by us without stint, and 

 when this plan failed and Mr. Coup attempted to induce the 

 Legislature or city to put tanks for living fishes in the 

 Park, and afterwards when he pluckily undertook the en- 

 terprise alone, we gave him our influence, because we had 

 great faith in the educational value of such an institution 

 in this city. It is therefore with peculiar pleasure and 

 pride that we hear of the continued success and growing 

 favor of our new aquarium. The attendance is daily hi - 

 creasing, and the capacity of the building fully tested by 

 the crowds of visitors. The managers have received no- 

 tice of the shipment of 40,000 salmon eggs from Redding, 

 Cal., on October 8th, by Prof. L. Stone of the U. S. Fish 

 Commission. These will probably be placed in the hatch- 

 ing troughs in the Aquarium in a day or two. The lake 

 and brook trout eggs will not arriwe here until about tha 

 middle of November, and Prof. Baird of the U. S. Fish 

 Commission has promised to send at the same time 40,009 



