The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1872-05-25


AT nine o'clock in the morning We walked
through the sand to the railroad depot, while an
old mule with pendant ears that looked as II he
had come with the first discoveries and dilapi-
dated cart brought down the baggage. At $50
we started. shall attempt no detailed descrip.
ton of the days journey. We were allowed
seven hours 10 make the 1O5 miles 10 Baldwin
This enabled us to stop at every station and dis.
charge and take on freight and still run slow
for safety. At Gainesville, approximately half
way, we met the first telegraph Office, where
sent some messages for rooms at Jacksonville
and to advise friends at home that we had ar
rived all we'll. The latter did not get through,
but they heard from me next day from Jack.
sonville.
Through the centre of Florida from north to
south there is an upheaval of fossliferous rock,
composed SO far as could see entirely of hi
valves, which are shown in beautiful perfection.
This seems to have served az a nucleous for the
accumulation of the drifting sculls On either
side, and SO has the peninsula been formed, with
the aid Of the corals and the immense beds of
shell fish Of species mostly ROW extinct. Sand
prevails throughout, except in the swa npy sinks,
where vegetable deposits, mixed with the drift.
ing sand, have covered up the bed below. Some
sugar and some long staple cotton are grown,
but l cannot report the agriculture of the
country as prosperous.
AT half past four we arrived at Baldwin,
where we had to change cars and take the Tai.
lahasse train for Jacksonville, eighteen miles
distant Our baggage was tumbled out upon
the platform where we landed. This had to be
transferred some hundred feet ON the other side
of the depot, where the baggage car of the other
train would stand, where also it must be re.
checked, for We were required to give up
our Cedar Keys and Fernandino checks here.
There were about twenty franks in the pile,
and we contented ourselves with the assurance
that they would be properly transferred, till the
Tallahassee train came in sight ten minutes be.
hind time, and not half the trunks were vet
moved. Mine were on the further side of the
pile, and became anxious. The train rushed
up and mine still stood there. 1 captured and
stimulated colored gentleman with truck
and rushed round the depot, turned the inter-
vening trunks out of the way and loaded mine
as quickly as possible, and when we got ronnd
the corner the train was under way. Il SOON
slackened speed and Turner jumped to the plats
form and made frantic gestures to back. winch
it did, and ! reached the point for loadiny IN.
baggage about the same time with the baggage
car. At the same instant the conductor umned
out and demanded excitedly who rang the bell
to stop. This completed Turner's rage. He
Strengthened himself up TO about six feet six
while mis- natural level il not more than SIX feet
four, and said he did it, and inquired if it wa
the conductor who was before him. He replied
that he was, and he would thank him IN mind
his own business and not interfere again with
the running of his train An explosion followed
that was terrific His eyes glared like balls Of
fire, his voice was deep and husky as if there
was not room for its escape, his face was pale
and then lvid in rapid succession, each indiyid.
ual hair of his sandy beard, which is twenty
three inches long, seemed to straighten like the
quilts OF porcupine and spread out like a fan
while the moustache became erect az if to on.
large the orifice of the face. while every muscle
seemed TO tremble with excitement. I wish
could quote that speech 1t was rapid-it was
ferce-it was terribly eloquent At first the
young fellow attempted to reply with spirit tina,
he did not propose to learn his duties from him
But lie was soon overborre and fairly crushed bx
the How OF earnest, yes, fierce words which Tur
ner poured upon him. He told him that h,
%,oold learn his duties from him, that he wonld
teach HIM his duties. and see that he performed
them that he was cut of place till he learned
his duties and was willing to perform them
The lad then lowered his tone and said h.
thought the trunks and passengers were all or
board when he started. His instructor told him
MS business was not TO suppose but TO know
while he had started the train without even q
word of warning. 1t was evident the condnc,o,
now suspected he WAS Il railroad nan, and fairly
caVec' saying he had the advantage of him and
he should decline further reply. The in.tsn,
ha yielded Turner'S wrath seemed :, ev.nor,,.
ana even an expression OF com p.. sion seemed "a
take the place of indi- n.'ion. I'd h- mad. SOM,
soothing reply. DO no, ,hut "a. whole .,.r,
oecui IeA NOR" than =, m'rur'. hut II, the me. n
Nme had got ny trunk. - 'unrd thouph II. n,
got checked, and stood cI"r ,u my friend /,
meet emergencies. We jumped ou no.,d ID.
conductor waved his h'nd, aud gin the ,r.,
started, while Buchanan wa- DR. peiuy hi. ,ruul
along and had got iu-, even with the hind ,ud
of tbs hind car. He was obliged to drop i, NJ 4
jump on board, leaving /, on ,hr p ,iorm. Tni,