The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-07-08
OK ECH EE.
The Immense Dismal Inland Sea Of Florida
Partially Explored.
Dangers and Difficulties ncountered-Islands
and Cliff, Ruins Of Ancient Buildings
and Forests Discovered-Experi-
ences of Five Days Sail
Interesting Description.
FoRr LLOYD, Fla, June Is, 1879.

FORT LLOyD Fla, June Is. 1871
A party OF adventurous men have succeeded
recently in making their way to the shore OF Lake
sOkeechobee and in carrying out partial explora-
ton OF this great, dismal lake which lies In the
midst OF the gloomy swamps and sombre forests
OF Southern Florida. The exploration not having
been general. has not elected that full and accu
rate knowledge of the lake, which would have been
satisfactory; yet it has resulted, at least,
n giving much Information that is decidedly
curious and interesting and in opening new field
for discovery limited perhaps, but worthy OF being
followed up. Concerning Lake Okeechobee CON-
parativey little has been hitherto definitely
known. except in regard to its geographical posi-
ton and the peculiar character of its shores.
1t Is from twenty to forty miles wide,
and is supposed to be over sixty miles
In length, and TO cover an area OF more than two
thousand square mics. 1t is surrounded on every
side, except the north, by dense forests OF cypress
and pine and vast and almost impeDetrable swamps.
The great savannahs stretch away from the north
ern shore OF this lake, which upon this side is mac
cessible except at occasional points. The tall
reeds, which grow In marvellous proiusion upon this
shore, conceal the lake from view so that those
who approach it on that SIDE Judge of its prox-
unity only from the marshiness OF the land and
hazy appearance Of the sky Those who advance
onward toward the lake find that the rapidly in
creasing marshiness OF the soil renders II unsafe,
or rather impossible, to proceed far In that direc
ton, and that long before the margin OF the lake
could be reached the oozy mre would envelope
any creature SO unfortunate to venture into 1t.
Whus hemmed in by great
FORESTS, swAMPs AND MIREs
she shore OF this lonely lake can be reached at
comparatively few places. and even then only with
considerable difnculty, for the dense growth of
a nnQ moi mas n tan rlad innn Of
another impede every step. and in addition to this
the great possibility that each next step may pre-.
cipitate into the middle OF treacherous quick
sand, the coil OF deadly copper snake or the lair
OF some ravenOus wolf Is sufficient to deter any but
the more resOlute nom proceeding far. Few white
men ever visit the shore OF this dismal and isolated
lake, and even the Indians, In their various MI
grati0ns, leave 1t far to one side. All who have
visited it concur In their accounts OF its forbddng
aspect and say that an air of deathy stiffness and
OF oppressive solitude hangs like cloud around
and above the region of this great lake
OF the swamps. Some have returned from
their visits to the lake with exciting stories Of
midnight conflicts which they claimed to have had
with ferocious beasts OF peculiar species, to be
found only in this wonderful region; others tell
more modest but not less strange tales OF curious
forms OF animal1a which they have seen rise for
moment above and again disappear into the
sosom OF this mysterious water.
ADVENTUROUS SOLDIERS FEAR TO VENTURE.
Several United States forts are situated in this
portion OF Florida some in the very vicinity Of this
lake; but its uninv1ting character and the entire
absence OF suitable means for exploring have
combined to discouraged those who were stationed
there from making any extensive observations; so
that succeeding garrsons, from time to time, went
to and came away from there, and while each
wondered what this curious water contained, all
were compelled to leave without unveiling the
secrets Of this secluded lake.
AN INTERESTING ACCOUNT BY AN EXPLORER.
The following particulars OF the recent explora
Of San Marie seI FiS The EXPLORING party numbered
five, MIR. Allen being one OF the number. The most
serious obstacle which the explorers had to con-
tend with was the great difficulty which they eX
perenced in getting their boat, which was about
thirty-fve feet long, to the lake. They accom-
pllshed this by conveying their boat up the St.
Lucie River to point about fifteen miles from old
Fort Won Swearngen. The boat was then landed
and placed upon truck and conveyed in that man.
ner overland This undertaking was attended with
almost infinite difficulty for their way led across
the Alpatlokee swamp, and although they were less
they left the river they did not reach it until nearly
four weeks afterwards. Upon emerging from the
swamp they found that q wide quicksand, over
which it was impossible to pass, lay between them
and the lake; but. fortunately, they discovered at
no great distance from there small bayou leading
70 soi it, '"'' "A'| 'NN '''''' az '"'' pA''"s'
AS THEY SAILED OUT UPON TIE LAKE
they could see nothing to the west or northwest
but wide expanse OF water, while to the south
west an island was in sight, about five miles dis
tant from them. and apparently not lar from the
Shore To this island they directed their course.
Although they were now upon the lake, which they
had tSiie s,, for 80 long time and through SO
encs that keen sense OF pleasure which they
had expected they would, lor myrlads Of
whiring, singing and buzzing about their heads.
The party, however, were provided with wells and
although each particular insect was seemingly
actuated by an irresistible desire to innict dis
comfort upon the party to the fullest extent Of
endowed him. the explorers escaped compare
lively unscathed. When they were about two
miles from the shore the depth of the lake was
found to be but little five leet, and as they
approached the island 1t became much shalower,
SO much so that they were unable to bring their
boat nearer than about three hundred yards to the
island. This island they were disappointed to find
was very small, in TACT they were not able to tell
whether IL was really an island or simply a growth
OF reeds from the bed OF the lake. There were
mer0us other islands OF TINS same character in
and this was a small island and the trees small
Expresses The lake in the vicinity OF these islands
literally
swARMED WITH ALLIGAToRs,
many Of them being OF INDUSTRIOUS size and uncom-
iortably tame This TACT, In connection with the
insignificant appearance OF the islands, induced
the party to remain but short time in this
vicinity. and leaving them they sailed towards the
eight miles In that direction they were no
longer annoyed by their inseetlle enc.
Ss seem rhs wae Which, any near he shore
Is OF brOwnish color, now began 10 be very clear,
and, having dropped line into 1t, they found that
the lake was 10 ieet deep. At distance OF about
eighteen miles from the shore the party discovered
group oil three islands. The largest OF these
islands was about SIX miles long, from north to
south. and lully four miles wide. The northern
portion oil this island was barren rocky waste,
which extended back from the shore nearly mile
and a hall, TO the base OF line OF rocky cliffs,
about one hundred and fifty ieet high, which ex-
tended across the whole width OF the island To
the south OF these clit1s Is magnificent crest,
composed chiefly OF mahogany, palmetto and
laurel magnolia Many OF the latter trees reared
their grand heads to nearly level with the
SUBMITS OF THE CLIFFS,
and, being in full bloom, presented an enchanting
scene, in which wild beauty graced stately
lie foras ayfa tha xuhn