Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1839-05-03
FI0rida-A sketch.

Fiorida-A Sketch.
STEAMBOAT sASrEE, MosaUIro RIVER, f. F.
DEAR BROTHER March 18th, 1880.
! am again upon the waters! "Thc
Diue the fresh the ever free the ever ever freep'
After long confinement the land, il seems like
getting lease Of SOUL to be again bounding DER
the broad bosom Of the ocean. l have in vain at
tempted to define those feelings we experience nm
the SEA, which expand the heart, and cause such
joyous exultation Is it because we have dared the
dangers of the most grand and terrific object Of Gods
ereatIoR Or is it, that the soul has east its slough
upon the land, and leaving baser thoughts behind,
goes forth free to feel the gories Of the great
creators works? However it may be, certain ann
Of this-t is dull heart indeed, that feels more
strongly the might and majesty Of God, in the lone
submity of the sea!
Excuse this rhapsody. IL is not nv wont thus To
indulge, but ! have been travelling on horseback
these last seven weeks, through the pine barrens,
swanps, and forests Of Florida where my finger was
ever the trigger Of my pistol, and my eve ON the
stretch for the lurking Indan-bu now, again on the
open sea- with lfe's current unchecked by caution,
can afford greater latitude to the thoughts and
feelings
You will easily conceive that such travelling az
have experienced in Florida, has been none Of the
pleasantest. Such roads! (heaven save the marks
for they should be called))-thsres rarenthesis
within parenthesis That is something new under
the Solomon didn't think Of that, III bet. Such
roads then, had NcAdam seen Them he would
tainly have committed suicide in despair. And then
every bush passed, expecting it would belch forth
rifle bullets. Here i must pause to point TO your
notice the prettness Of the last concet 1t is in
humble imitation of Mr.. Poet Someone, who, most
POLITICALLY and most refinedly says-"The bowels OF
Ktna were so sorely troubled 1t belched forth flame
and thunder But to have done with trihing, and
to proceed.
tine with the intention Of proceeding to Key Bis
caipo which about 700 miles. Our object was, to-
convey stores and make our payment to the troops
gfa DAT SOFT 4
morning. The breeze came refreshing from the
ocean, tempering the atmosphere TO pleasant cool
ness. As we rounded the point of Amastasia Island,
the wide expanse OF waters burst upon the view
Far AS the eye could reach, il was alive with rip
ping waves dancing merrily in the sun. Our boat
glanced swiftly DER the water, and we run along
beautiful mark the difsren. features Of the nov
ing panorama. Now would come a bold cliff, and
had You noted all its beauties and turned the
head to what next, when the eye would be dax-
zed by sparkling beach. Then would come soft
green hill, looking as though il covered with .
light green velvet; and before you had finished a
wish Tor shady seat upon its tepmost height, it
would be melting away 10 misty blue. Now wosld
sunny bay make inroads in the lip Of the land bear
ing upon its bosom small whits-winged craft look
ing TO the eye in size bigger than that pretty
skif Of the fairies--the Nautilus. This would
change fer gloomy forest, with its frowniAg trees
" though hss sssd Of
ation-sueh as plunging headlong in the deep. So
passed the changing scene. Onward sped the boat,
Itwss4P. NJ We had dined some time
IL is astonishing how much more amicable we feel
after dinner. ALI the misty troubles Of life become
evanescent before the charming exhaations Of roast
and boiled The heart seems to have fed afre sh, and
throws around its superabundant feelings. We
better pleased with ourselves more tolerant to oar
neighbors and in good humor with all the world
Even treadiRg should not then be consider
ed a capital offence. ". Il. These remarks do not
hold good with those poor devils who troubled
with dyspepsia.
Twas lounsingat tho stern, looking with well
pleased eye upon the different scenes az they flew
past ssd nwardy blessing the invention Of steam for
the noisy rush Of waters from the paddles susk
into silence the wheels ne longer performed thsir
revelations. Immediately, the Imprisoned power
which, but a moment before, had been propelling Ne
onward, rushed with aeafenng noise through the
escape pipe; all hands were Immediately the
bounce. The captain ran 10 the engine TO
certain the cause. Alas steamboats, will have their
" quips and cranks" as well mortals; ours had
been playing her cranks perhaps too tghtly-the
shaft was broker! Captain - was not a man tn
sit and wall at accidents, bat Immediately ascer
tanning his loss, determined upon action. "Come
hustle, hustle lads, he shouted to the men, let out
the jib and hoist forssail" Then, RAINING to the
wheel himself, he turned her bows to sea- The small
foresaiI soon caught the breeze and slowly left
the land astern. IL took hour TO get rid Of our
broken machinery; during that time we had been
beating back again for the nearest bay Capt
said Lad the alternative of going further out tn
sea- trying To make the nearest port by down.
lie determised the latter course, as he wind had
been gradually freshcning ana we were ~ no Trim 10
meet a storm should proceed TO until the fol-
lowing morning. Mosquito Inlet, which we lad
passed some time before, was the nearest place OF
safety, and for that made with all the means IN our
power. Luckily, the wind was fair, but We had bat
email surface of canvass for il to play upon. Many
anxious glance cast towards the sun as sunk
lower to the horizon. Gradually its beams became
more faint, and sinking from our sight, ITS last
light mixed with the first advancing shades OF night
and left us but am uncertain twilight twas quite
dark before We reached Mosquito Inlet Now came
the tug Of anxiety. The wind was driving US upon
the shore and we feared il would be impossible to
make the inlet Every exertion was used that our
limited means allowed. Fortunately, at a critical
moment. the heavier clouds that had obscured the
moon broke sufic SILENTLY to allow dull light; il
was in the nick OF time, for we enabled TO
The break in the land, and the inlet was abreast Of
us The foresail taken IN and the boat being put
round we stood directly for the mouth OF the inlet
Again the clouds shut ost the light and We were
obliged TO trust to chance for success. We we're
now ged TO feel our way by soundngs Gradual
" we neared the bar. "Tweve-ten-nine--ei
-.sven!' were the successive responses from the
mas heaving the lead. AZ last we were startled ~
his shouting In quick sharp voice, six We
were drawing Ave and halfD All stood GREATNESS.
every second expecting she would strike, In an IN
slant the Captain at the wheel and varied ms
course little; soon the heaving the lead sung
f" ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS" We had passed tse
shoals and breatbsd again Crossing to Lagoon, we