The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1872-04-27
Che Trareller.
A Trip to Lake Winder.


from different States, north and west.
acetdenily met at Jacksonville, and as
each was intent upon the pursuit Of
knowledge Of u character which can
only be derived from actual observation.
We determined to extend our researches
into the upriver regions OF Florida.
Accordingly, we ayailed ourselves of
the Opportunity presented by Captain
l. IL. Payne, for an excursion trip ou
the steamer Silver Springs, to Lake
Ninder, aud, after making the neeessa.
ry preparations for week absence, we
took oar departure GU the lst day of
April. With flying colors the steamer
cast of her liues at 10 o'clock A NJ
The weather was pleasant, iast breeze
enough TO make it comfortable and all
on board 10 good spirits. We steamed
along very quietly, viewing the scenery
on the river; passed Mandarin. Iliber
MA, Magnolia, aud Green Cove Springs
The three last named places are popular
winter resorts for Northerners, and are
said to have first class hotel aceommo
dations, Passing on to rocoi, we added
a family Of seven to our number thev
hail from Indiana We proceeded from
thenca to Palatka, arriving n, 8o'elock
Palatka is town of considerable i'm
portance; it is the terminus of tho
Charleston and Savannah line of steam.
ers has two modest looking hotels.
said to be well kept Most of the hon
ses and stores are Of wood, white wash
ed From this place we proceeded TO
Enterprise, arriving at . o'clock p. NJ.
Tuesday Stroled through the banana
and orange groves, visited the Brock
Hotel, the proprietor of which treated
US very courteously; took great pleas
ure IN showing our party through the
house and grounds, kindly giving MS
the various points Of interest in the
vicinity, prominent among which we
iound, during pleasant ramble of some
tour mllcs along the beach of Lake
Monroe aud through the woods the
celebrated Blue Spring, This spring is
about seventy-live feet in diameter. sur
ronnded by live oaks, the wild orange.
IN full bloom, giving delightful fra.
srance the scenery around the Ike.
all IN its nat@ral condition, heichtens
the interest to beholdurs. As ali were
anxi-ns to test the medical qualities
OF this healing balm we were nonplus
scd for Time to fad drinking vessel.
but after close scrutiny, an old shoe
was discovered suspended from nail
lu tree, 1t having evidently been used
Tor such purpose before, aud being re
minded by one of the party of the old
adige, there is nothing like leather"
the shoe was brought into rcauisition
aud all quafled of this panacea for all
the ills that flesh is heir to, using the
heel for mouthpicce Speculation was
rlle as to who had WON the shoe. The
matter vas settled by Mr.. W.. from
Massachusetts, assuring Us it had been
worn by copper colored individual of
lndian extraction. Close to the spring
Is an Indian Shell Mound, about three
hundred feet long, eighty feet wide.
aud twenty feet high, from the top of
which can be had u magnificent view of
Lake Monroe, which seems, from this
point, to be nearly round and about fiyc
miles in diameter We here skinned
an alligator and bora off his hide as a
trophy. Remained long enough TO
gather boquets Of wild flowers and some
cnriositle-. We were formally notified
by the steamers whistle to collect on
board TO proceed further up the river.
Our evenings were passed pleasantly.
IN singing, relating anecdotes and in
various games, in which both sexes
participated. We passed through lake
Harvey at night aud arrived at Red
dicks Landing about daylight; tied up
the steamer to a stump; only remained
long enough to take on some passengers
from Indian river. We also took a
canoe in tow, in which was man. Af
ter proceeding a few miles, we were
startled by the cry Of man drowning.
Upon getting upon deck. soon found
that the canoe and the wheel had COLI.
ded, the result Of which was the canoe
was capsized the man being on expert
swimmer, made his way TO the shore !;
he was taken on board a wetter if not a
wiser man. After break fast, we came
to stand still on bank, where we
found, encamped, party of hunters.
Most Of our party were among them for
a trade 10 alligator teeth, plumes, birds,
wild turkey, venison, &c, in exchange
for tobacco, bacon, and greenbaeks.
After getting over the bank, we passed
on through Puzzle Lake, the name so
called, in consequence OF so many diff
ferent entrances no man ever did know
the right entrance, or whether he ever
went through the same one before. The
river is extremely narrow and winding.
SO much so, that at dark we had 70
anchor. Some of the gents sounded the
shore and found il safe to resort to in
case Of accident, which put the lady
passengers arrest, The country through
which this river runs is a low prairIe,
resembling the Northern prairie. Near.
ly all this land is deposit of vegetable
mould or muck, which, upon being
drained, would be among the most fer.
tile sections ia the country; itmay take
place at an carly day, as there is a com
pany organized TO connect Indian river
by canal with the upper st. Johns.
The feasibility Of this is demonstrated
by the fact that these lands are thirteen
feet higher, than the waters Of Indian
river. This completed, there is DO
doubt il will become the garden spot of
Florida.
Having spent a night among the ALI.
gators which was novelty Of itself