Jan. 3, 1890.] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



807 



MONTICELLO, FLORIDA, 



The Coming Mecca of American Sportsmen. 



WHERE shall we go for sports afield? Where can tbe 

 lover of rod and reel while the idle hours away, in- 

 dulging to satiety in his favorite fascinating pastime? Shall 

 he tuni again to the truly great Northwest? great in agricul- 

 tural and mineral wealth, great in rich development of 

 material resources, great in its ever-increasing population, 

 which but a decade or two past was numbered by scant 

 thousands, but which now spread over the face of the land 

 in teeming millions? Shall lie go to this once vast reservoir 

 of sport, whither the tide of an empire of millions of'active, 

 restless, enterprising American citizens has taken its flight? 

 Nay! The very greatness which is the proud boast of the 

 West of to-day has riseu as if by magic out of the ashes of the 

 game-seekers' West of ten and twenty years ago. What is 

 tbe history of the great Northwest? A few years since a 

 vast domain of uuexplored territory, where sectional land- 

 lines were unknown, and where the savage Indians con- 

 tested the right of homestead with the little more savage 

 bear, and the buffalo, elk, moose, antelope and deer roamed 

 the forest and tramped the plains ''with noue to molest 

 them or make them afraid," where every stream was a ver- 

 itable Izaak Walton's paradise, and where nature ruled and 

 reigned iu undisturbed simplicity. 



Such was the West in the days of our fathers; the ideal 

 land of every boy in whose bosom burned the ambitious 

 spirit of adventure; the veritable "happy hunting grounds" 

 of the red man. Alas for the sportsman of to-day! The en- 

 terprising sous of toil, those who till the soil, turn the 

 spindle, delve in the bowels of Mother Earth and span this 

 continent with scores of lines of steel rail and electric wires, 

 have stamped upon, this Mecca of the Fathers the inefface- 

 able "Ichabod," for to him the glories of the West "nave 

 departed," the red man and his contemporaries, the bear, 

 buffalo, elk, moose, antelope and deer, have yielded to the 

 superiority of the Anglo-Saxon. The vast forests have 

 melted away before the axe of the pioneer, the fertile plains 

 are turned by the thrifty ploughman, and yield a rich har- 

 vest of grain where once pastured the numberless herds of 

 wild animals, the course of every stream is a beaten foot- 

 path for the school boy, and the tourist sees "the desert 

 blossom as the rose." With a sigh the sportsman yields to 

 the inevitable and casts about for "green fields .and pastures 

 new." He realizes that it is only a question of short time 

 when wild game shall be a thing of the past, and individual 

 preserves a last lone semblance of what was once so plen- 

 teous and free. Indeed, he realizes that even now the scope 

 of territory open to the sportsman and worthy of his love, is 

 closely circumscribed. 



In view of this state of affairs, which must concern every 

 true sportsman, it must be a relief to know that there is 

 still one spot at least where the sportsman can revel in a 

 season's feast of sports afield, and angle, in the wilds of 

 nature, far away from the chill winds of the North, and 

 where the blizzard is experienced through the Associated 

 Press alone, there is a quiet little town, resting upon 

 beautiful hills and drained by pleasant valleys, little known 

 beyond its individual limits: a town which although settled 

 over sixty years ago has developed gradually, not rapidly, 

 and although substantially, is still a little town and not a 

 city. It is the home of a refined, hospitable, happy people, 

 who number fifteen hundred souls, and who have been 

 reared in the grace which bids the stranger welcome and 

 speeds the parting guest. It is the center of a rich agri- 

 cultural county, and surrounded by the country homes of 

 hospitable country gentlemen. It is distant from the 

 Miceossukie Lake on the west three miles, and the Aucilla 

 River on the east nine miles; from the Wacissa River on the 

 south fifteen miles, and the Gulf of Mexico on the south 

 twenty-five miles. It is easily accessible from Jacksonville 

 by the F., 0. & P. R. R., after five hours run, and from 

 Savannah, Ga., by the S., F. & W. upon a run of six hours. 

 From New Orleans it is approached directly through the L, 

 & N. R. R., and from the West by lines basing upon Atlanta, 

 Ga., or Montgomery, Alabama. 



It is the town of MONTICELLO, iu the county of Jeffer- 

 son and State of Florida. It has been the quiet home of a 

 limited number (limited by its capacity only) of Northern 

 visitors for ten years past, and their regular annual visits 

 have semi citizenized them, and they have really become 

 part and parcel of the community; they have proven such a 

 sati sf a c tory sam p le t h at th e " ol d t i m er " asks for a larger sup- 

 ply, and has built a large hotel to suit the tastes of the most 

 esthetic, and now that the ST. ELMO, under the manage- 

 ment of Mr. J. C. S. Timherlake, has thrown open its doors, 

 the town of Monticello bids the tourist welcome, and offers 

 to the sportsman the. finest quail shooting in the State. 

 With thousands of unbroken acres in cornfields, with an 

 aftergrowth of "beggar weed," rich in food seed, with here 

 and there a broom-sedge patch for cover at the first flight, 

 with running rills for water, and hedges to protect "the 

 young in breeding season, this country has more natural 

 advantages for the propagation of ttie quail, and more 

 attractions for the sportsman, than can be found elsewhere. 

 It is a matter of record that the Monticello Gun Club turned 

 out for a day, and dividing its fourteen members into pairs, 

 hunted in different parts of the county, and basged 406 

 quail, an average of 28 to the gun. The rules were, "noth- 

 ing but quail on the wing." This shoot was in February, 

 1888; the individual scores were from 1 to 66; one gentleman 

 with a good dog and fair chances but bad aim earned his 

 seat at the club dinner by scoring one. There is a larger 

 area of free shooting ground around Monticello, and a more 

 friendly hospitable class of land owners perhaps than can 

 be fouud in any community North or South. The "posted" 

 farm is the rare exception, and as a rule the least desirable 

 of all places to the sportsman. The best grounds are free. 

 The lakes and rivers abound in wildfowl, and they pass the 

 winter here almost without molestation. The mallard, teal, 

 raft duck, widgeon and others winter here. It requires 

 some extra preparation to shoot ducks with comfort any- 

 where, and the native and tourist as well neglect this rare 

 sport, preferring the more easily accessible quail. 



A ride of two and a half hours will reach the head of the 

 Wacissa River. This stream springs from the earth a full- 

 grown river, and flows a canoe day's journey into the Gulf 

 of Mexico. From start to finish it is one of the most typi- 

 cal pieces of wild tropical scenery imaginable. There is not 

 a human habitation to be seen from source to mouth, except 

 one hunter's cabin at the mouth. A whole clay's journey, 

 perhaps, without a sign of human life except that which 

 you carry in your boat. As one glides along the stream, 

 overhung by Spanish moss, pendant from the cypress, cedar 

 and live oak, and sees reflected iu tbe clear, crystal water 

 the stately palm, the evergreen myrtle, and fragrant wild 

 . rose, which fringe the banks, he may be excused if he. ' 1 sees 

 visions and dreams dreams." The time is propitious and 

 tbe place fit to worship God in nature; no sound sate the 

 whirring of the wild duek, ag flight after flight make way 

 for the intruder, and stir the still air with their fleet wings, 



or the chirp of the ivory-billed woodpecker as he calls to 

 his mate, or the rush of the deer which is startled from his 

 rest on the river bank, or perhaps the crash of a black bear 

 as he escapes through the cane brake. These sounds, with 

 the. cry of the heron, the bittern, the snake bird, and the in- 

 numerable host of the smaller members of the feathered 

 tribe, with the hoot of the great owl, or the whirr of the 

 flock of wild turkeys you have surprised near the water's 

 edge, are all that is' left to console you for the other world 

 you have left "so near and yet so far." 



East, or west from this river the sportsman will find ample 

 use for his Winchester or breechloader, as the country 

 for twenty miles from the Gulf inland, and lyiug west of 

 the Wacissa to Pinhook and St. Marks rivers, and east of 

 Wacissa to Aucilla and Econfena rivers, is nature's pre- 

 serve in this portion of the moral vineyard for the black 

 bear, deer and turkey. It is no exaggeration right here to 

 sa y that such game is very plentiful. Boats, guides, dogs 

 and complete camping outfits can be secured at very reason- 

 able rates from parties in Monticello. The celebrated bear 

 hunter, "Wid Medford," of the Balsam Mountains, a pro- 

 fessional woodsman and bear hunter of fifty years' experi- 

 ence, will spend the' winter and bring his_ famous pack of 

 bear dogs down with him, and any ambitious sportsman 

 who thinks he has lost a bear can safely come to Monticello 

 and find one, when "old coon skin" leads in the chase. Now 

 if open field shooting, where the find of quail in a day will 



run from twelve to twenty coveys, and deer, turkey and 

 black bear, mallard, teal and other wildfowl don't suit you, 

 take your rod and line and try for a ten-pound black bass or 

 the lively pickerel, the red breast perch or lucious bream. 

 Tbe rivers and lakes abound in these varieties, and rare 

 sport is within easy reach. Monticello is not limited to the 

 sportsman's fancy alone, but for pleasant drives and walks, 

 comfortable homes, rare flowers, good churches, fine schools, 

 first-rate horse flesh, nice vehicles, gallant men and lovely 

 women, the little town is squarely to the front. With its 

 new hotel and the boarding houses, all of which are worthy 

 of their town, it bids the stranger welcome. 



Adams Express Co., I 

 59 Broadway, N. Y., Dec. 16, 1889. )' 

 My Dear Mr. Timherlalve: 



You have asked my opinion and impressions regarding 

 sport afield uear Monticello, Florida. I can inform you as 

 to quail shooting only, for that to me is the sport, of sports, 

 and in my experience I have never found any locality to 

 compare with that section of Florida. I have' loved a dog 

 and gun for nearly thirty years, and I have enjoyed all the 

 pleasures their association brings, both North and South, 

 off and on, for that time. To a man not physically strong, like 

 myself, I can fancy no place to compare to this part of Florida 

 for quail shooting. I can ride or drive all over the adjacent 

 country, follow up my dogs without getting exhausted, as 

 the country is quite open, dismount or get out of the wagon, 

 when they find birds, and put in a full day's sport afield, 

 and reach Monticello in fair trim at night. Then again 

 there is less posted land there than any place that I have 

 ever visited, and even then a little courtesy will generally 

 be rewarded with permission to shoot over the most exclu- 

 sive plantations. I get but 50 per cent, of the birds I shoot 

 at ; and still I get a good bag. For hospitality and courtesy , 

 Middle Florida is indeed a favored land. To this, I who 

 have so long enjoyed its privileges, can heartily testify. 

 There is a gun club there too, well-known, and it'has gone 

 through the brunt of many a hard fought struggle, and 

 it has always been victorious. To one who enjoys shooting 

 for its true pleasure, the love of the fields, the good work of 

 one's dogs and wishes quail shooting in a true and sports- 

 manlike spirit, I know of no place like the surroundings of 

 Monticello, Florida. Sin cereiy yours, J. S. Hobv. 



Bristol, Pa., Dec. 20, '89. 

 J. C. S. Timber-lake, Monticello, Fla,: 



DEAR Sir— Having spent the last eight winters in Monti- 

 cello, Fla., and having hunted.quail in other States of the 



Union, I can say that I consider yours the best country that 

 I have ever shot in. Quail in abundauce iu all directions 

 from Monticello, hunting the easiest that can be found any- 

 where, an open country, well watered, and good traveling for 

 man, dog and wagon. First-class teams and careful drivers 

 are to be had at all times. I am, yours respectfully, 



R. F. Harnlit. 



"HAPPY HUNTING GROUNDS." 

 THE BEAUTIFUL WACISSA. 

 In asserting that a few miles below Monticello is located 

 the finest natural hunting park on our continent, we defy 

 challenge. A broad stretch of open pine woods, covering 

 over 200,000 acres, is filled with game of all sorts— partridges, 

 turkeys, deer, bear and foxes. It is free to all, and if there 

 is a "Hunter's Paradise" here it is. Hunting parties can 

 leave the St. Elmo in the morning and enjoy a day of pleas- 

 ure in the chase and return by; nightfall. Ample livery ser- 

 vice is at hand and every facility which huntsmen can 

 demand. Sometimes parties spend several days in the 

 woods and return with from three to a dozen deer, numbers 

 of turkeys and hundreds of quail. Numerous other kinds 

 of small game can be had iu a mile or two of the town. 

 The Wacissa, a beautiful river which has it source fifteen 

 miles below Monticello, is in the midst of the hunting park 

 referred to, and is one trf^he loveliest streams iu the South- 



A writer who visited it several mouths ago has this to say 

 about the drive to the place and about the river and its en- 

 vironments: 



"Here a hundred gushing springs mingle their waters, 

 clear as crystal and pregnant with mineral wealth, forming 

 a river over a hundred yards in width and teeming with 

 myriads of the finny tribe. The waters are as cold as moun- 

 tain springs, and as one quaffs its cooling draughts a thrill- 

 ing sensation seems to tingle the whole body with its invig- 

 orating refreshment. 



"Two large springs constitute attractions which no visitor 

 can afford to overlook. As one floats on the surface of these 

 immense pools and looks down into the fathomless depths 

 of their limpid waters, he feels as if he were suspended in 

 mid-air. On the craggy lateral surfaces of these streams, 

 and beyond the reach of 'measurement, lazy alligators can be 

 seen lying around in sluggish langiior. Fish of all sizes, 

 and some of them of immense proportions, loiter in these 

 azure waters, *nd the whole scene lends a peculiar enchant- 

 ment to the observer. The river grows broader as it proceeds 

 to the Gulf and schools of fresh water mullet and myriads 

 of trout and bream and blackfish can be seen all over it. The 

 entire stream is as clear as distilled water and deep enough 

 for large craft. The day cannot certainly be far distant 

 when this stream will be utilized for commercial purposes. 

 To the sportsman what more can he wish than the fish that 

 are here, the thousands of ducks that make this their winter 

 home, and hundreds of deer and turkeys that abound. We 

 doubt if the United States has a spot more favored than 

 this." 



T. B. Simpkins and John E. Turnbull returned from a 

 camp hunt in the flat woods on Wednesday. They killed 

 seven deer on the trip.— Monticello {Fla.) Tribune, Dec. SO, 

 1889. 



A Successful Hunt.— A party of hunters, consisting of 

 M. J. Nicholson, S. B. Love andT. R. Smith, of Quincy, and 

 J. J. Ch'aires and E. K. Moore, of this county, have just re- 

 turned from tb6 Pinhook valley, in the neighborhood of "the 

 so-called Florida volcano. They were out ten days aud 

 killed ten deer and several wild turkeys, besides numerous 

 smaller game.— Tallahassee Cor. Sav. Morning News. 



Note: The Pinhook valley above mentioned is but a few 

 miles south of Monticello, Fla. 



Parties desiring information concerning the agricultural 

 or horticultural interests of Middle Florida, price of lauds 

 etc., should address G. S. Van Buskirk So Sou, Monticello, 

 Fla. - 



Hotel St. Elmo. 



J. C. S. Timberlakh, Manager. Monticello, Florida. 



4 



