New Orleans Republican., 1873-07-27
OKEECROBkE.

out partial exploration Of this great, d is
NAL lake, which lies iD the midst Of the
gloomy swamps and sombre forests Of
southern E!orida. The exploration, not
having been general, has NOT elected that
full and accurate knowledge Of the lake
which would have been more satisfactory;
yet it has resulted, at least, IN giving US
much information that is decidedly curious
and interesting, and in opening a new field
tor discovery limited, perhaps. but worthy
of being followed UP. Concerning Lake
Okeechobee comparatively little has been
hitherto definitely known. except in regard
to its geographical position .Ht the pecu-
liar character Of its shores.
1t is from twenty to forty miles wide, and
is supposed to be over sixty mile. ia length,
and to cover an area OF more than two
thousand square miles. 1t is surrounded
on every side, except the north. by dense
forests Of cypress and pine ard vast and Al,
most impenetraole swamps. The great sa
vannahs stretch away from tue northern
shore of this lake, which upon this side :s
inaccessible, except at occasional p0lnts.
The tall reeds, which grow III marvellous
prOtusi0n upon this shore. conceal the lake
from view, 40 tnat those who approach "
on that side can judge o: :ts proximity only
from the mar shiness OF the land and hazy
appearance OF the eky. Those vino advance
ly-increasing marshiness OF the soil renders
it unsafe, or rather impossible, to proceed
far in that direction, ana that long be-
fore the margin OF the lake cclld oe reached
the OOzy mire wouli envelope any crea-
ture 80 unfortunate as 20 venture INTO 1t.
Thus hemmed in by grea. forests. swamps
and mires, the shOre OF this lonely lake can
be reached at comparatively few places,
and even then only with considerable diff
In In,, \, Of Ia NJ ny,a
point or masses OF tangled juniper at
another impede every step. and Ia addition
to this the great possibility that each next
step may precipitate one into the middle OF
= treacherOUS Iuicksand. the col. OF q
deadly coppersnake, or the lair cE come
rayenOus wolf, is sufficient - dete. any
but the more rssOlute from proceeding FAR.
Few white men ever visit .ce shore OF that
disma! and isolated lake, and even the In
dians, in their various Migratlons leave It
far to one side. All who have visited it
concur in their accounts Of i:s torbidding
aspect, and say that an air Of deathly still.
ness 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 60
the lake with exciting stories OF mindight
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 bu: not less strange
tales of curious forms of aniiIaiia which
they have seen rise for moment above
and again disappear into the bosom OF the
my sterious water.
Several United States forts are situsted
in this portion of Florida. some in the very
vicinity of this lake; bus its Ininviting
character and entire absence Of suitable
means for exploring have combined to dis
courage those who were stationed there
from making any extensive observations; so
that succeeding garrisoEs, from time to
time, went to and came away from there.
and while each wondered wha. this curious
water contained. all We're compelled to
leave without ulyeiilng the secrets OF this
secluded lake.
The following particulars Of the recent
exploration are given by Mr.. George X.
Allen, . resident Of San Marie, Florida.
The exploring party numbered five. Mr..
Allen being one of the number. The most
serious obstacle which the explorers had to
contend with was the great difficulty which
they experienced in getting their boat,
which was about thirty-ive feet long, to
the lake. They accomplished this by con
vey ing their boat up the st. Lucie river to
a point about fifteen miles from old Fort
Won Swealingen. The boat was then
landed and placed upon truck and coz
yeyed in that manner overland. This un.
dertaking was attended with almost infinite
difficulty, for their way lead accos, the Al
patiokee swamp. and. although they were
less than twenty miles fre,, Lake Okeecho-
bee, where they left the river. they did Eot
reach it until nearly four weeks atterward
Upon emerging from the swamp they found
that wide Quicksand, over which i. was
to PASS. lay between them and
the lake; but, fortunately. they discovered at
no great distance from there a sr.al. bayou
leading to the lake, aftord:ng them an easy
passage to it. As they sailed ont upon the
lake they could see nothing tG tie Yves: or
northwest but wide eXpausa OF water,
while to the southwest ar island was in
sight about five miles distan: from them,
and apparently not far from the shore. To
this island they directed their course.
they were now upon the lake.
which they had toiled for s, long a time
and through SO many difficulties 10 reach,
they did not experience that keen sense Of
pleasure which they had expected tie would,
tor myriads Of mosquitoes. gallinippars,
bugs, bees and flies were w.ivliny, sing
ing and buzzing about their heads. The
party. however. were provided with wells
and gloves, having anticipated suc!, en-
and although eac!: particu-
lar insect was seemingly ac.uated by
an Irresistible desire to intiic. discomfort
upon the party to the tul.es. eXtca. OF those
powers with wh!.h nature mas SD iavishiv
him. the explorers escaped CON-
paratively unscathed. When they were
about two miles from the shore the depth
If the lake was found to be bu. "A li.,le over
i've feet, and as they approached the island
It became much shailower. SO much 50 that
they were unable to bring their boat nearer
han about 800 yards to the island This
: IL snl fs,,1
very small; in fact, they were not able to
ell whether it was really an island or
simply a growth of reeds from the bed Of
5he lake. There were numerous other
Stands of this same character il sight. but
'niy one of them had any trees upon it,
md this was a small island and the trees
,mall expresses.
The lake in the vicinity OF these islands
iterally swarmcd with a,.igato.s, many of
hem being OF InonstrcuS siz. and lncum-
ortably tame. This fact. in connection
With TIE insignificant: appearance OF the
Stands, induced the party - remain but a
hort time in this vicinity. and leaving
hem they sailed toward the centre of the
axe. After they had sailed about eight
niles Ill tha, direction they were no longer
annoyed by their insec,lie enemies. nor
we're there any ailigatovs to be seen. The
water. which near the shore is Of a brown
sh color. now began to be very clear. and.
having dropped a line into ic. they found
hat the lake was 10 feet deep AT dist.
,nce OF about eighteen miles ;roui the shore
he party discovered \ group of three
sands. Iii. largest g. these Islands was
about six miles long irorl i.urth 10 south,
md fully four miles wide. TIE northern
portion OF this island wa. a barren. rocky
waste. which extended back from ,ha
hore nearly nile and half 20
h. base OF :. line OF rocky ciiAs about
30 feet high. which extended acros. the
whole width ot the island. 10 the south of
hese cllti. is ma gn!!ioent forest composed
'hietiy o: mahogany. palmetto and iaure!
magnolia. Many OF the latter trees reared
heir grand heads to nearly iaye. witt, the