Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1855-05-31


ny pony first. So taking aim to the
md Of the first erossway he went in
Up to the sides the first dash, but af-
Ter aoundering about a while he got
put. This jelly land extended about
q quarter Of mile and pony init q
tight sqaseze,' got over without as
sistanee; walking sometimes above
ground and sometimes below. Next
came the big tug, the hard tug, and
the long tug. Some Of them deemed
it entirely out of the question to ct
tempt taking the wagon and mules
over, but We concluded to try it any
how. White got sick at the ideaand
said he would not try it. All hands
were BOW in requisition, and it re-
quired quick work to accomplish the
feat. Capt. Brown and l were to go
before the mules and pull the brides;
two others followed on each side to
whip-up the mules, and the rest were
at the wheels. In crossing the bridge
On the first crossway, one of the
mules fell through: here we had to
take them out and get the wagon
over by hand. We then put them
in again and arrived at the end Of the
crossway where the pony first naired-
We had carried brush. and made a
sort of platform over this place, so
that We supposed it would passable.
We now had quarter of a mile Of
this jelly land to pass over, and it
had to be done in double quick time,
otherwise We would all go down. We
all stood at our post until Capt. B.
gave the word to start. Off We went
from the crossway, and down went
one Of the mules. Up and down,
pull and tug, hurra, every body
Away we went, Up and down, splash
and dash, till everybody's tongue was
! hanging out, and everybody painting
like a lizard. After considerable
number of mirings and great exer-
tons we at length got on another
crossway where we had to rest our
selves and our team. When we
reached the next bridge we had to
take out our team and take them
.. over first; then with considerable ex-
| ertions we got the wagon over. All
being now safe on terra Jfrma, once
l more we began to cheer up. Five Of
our party then took guns and went
to explore the island, which was about
Q half mile in diameter and had a
D growth similar to that of the main
: land. In the top of a tall pine they
a discovered large eagles nest, which
a almost filed the top of the tree: it
e was built of very large sticks, and
S was eight or ten feet in diameter
/ They discOveredalarge eagle sitting on
; one side of the nest, and Payne, with
l bis wager, killed it, thinking it wasan
e old one; but when he examined it, he
n found it to be a young one; but half
D, fledged and measuring eight feet
a from tip to tip. They cut down the
e tree and captured the other, which
u measured about seven; it being the
q female. We then strolled round on
q one side of the island, casting cur
't eyes ever and anon over the beauti-
I full espanse of waters, and admirine
v the almost innumerable quantity and
e variety of sea-birds which were con-
5 tinually passing to and fro. About a
1 quarter of a mile out In the Gulf We
e saw a large Flamingo standing half
: leg deep in the smooth water, locking
e for fish. A numerous fcck of Plo-
yer were chattering and swimming
a near us, and We killed several ofthem
: and cookedthem for supper that night.
Their flesh is considered the most
sweet and delicate of all the fowl Kind.
Now, we see swami of Peli-
cans, rising like white cloud over
towards Cedar Keys. The air is lit
} orally filed with birds of different
kinds, such as Eagles, Fish-Hagks,
: Pelicans, Wallcons, Plovers, Kerlieus,
| Sea-Gulls, Ducks, Water-Turkies, and
: different species of Cranes. Numc-
rous Porpoises were sporting about OF
pursuing their prey among the Oys-
ter-bars. They are a kind of sea-hog
in the shape of a whale, and generally
about the size of horse.
Yours respectfully,
ABIGAILMoRF GRINDsToNE SaNDnooTER-