Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1874-01-19
THE OLDER PORTIONS OF
AMERICA.


an expedition to Lake 0kechobee. a great
dismal body of water which hes in the
midst of the swamps and forests of south
ern Florida. Little has been hitherto
known of this lake, except in regard to
its geographical position, and peculiar
character of its shores. 1t is from twen-
ty 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 miles. 1t is surrounded on every
side, except the north, by dense forests
of pine, and vast and almost impenetra-
bic swamps. The exploring party were
over four weeks in moving their boats
to the shore of the lake, distance of
fifteen miles. They visited number of
islands of considerable extent, upon one
of which they discovered heaps of stones
lying in such position as to resemble
ruins of some kinds of structures. None
of the ruins were extensive, and the
structures must therefore have been of
small dimensions Similar ruins were
found in great numbers upon other small
islands lying to the north of this one.
Upon the summit of cliff which stands
upon the eastern shore of large island
was found large heap of stones lying
in semi circular form and facing the
east. The length of these ruins was near
| " 200 feet. In front of this semi-circle
and about fifty feet from it was large
heap of stones nearly twenty feet square.
The limited size of some of the ruins
found forbids the possibility of their
having been structures for the use of
persons of ordinary size At the same
time no bones of Lflliputians appear to
have been discovered, but some enormous
alligators were seen in the lake, which
in fact in the vicinity of the islands
swarmed with these creatures. In the
forest, spiders of gigantic species were
found. One was seen which measured
fully two feet in length 1t had long
and very strong limbs, and weighed be-
tween three and four pounds. Its head
was jet black and contained several eyes,
each surrounded by bright yellow and
scarlet circle Its body was encircled
by bands of scarlet, yellow and black.
Altogether it must have been a gaudy,
bilious looking insect. and the explorers
suspeetiEg it was of most venomous
nature, wisely made no experiments to
discover its habits. The party returned
home safely. highly pleased with the
success of their undertaking, and belieY.
ing that in the ruins on the islands may
be found the key to the early history Of
one of the lovliest portions of, America.
A QUEER LAwsUIT.-A funny sui
against an editor has been decided il
the circuit court at Waukesha. Wis
The Eays, proprietors of the La Bell
House at Oconomowoc, brought an action
to recover s97.O4 for meals and cigar
furnished Ashley D. Hargar. editor Q
the Oeonomowoe Times. Hargar set u
a counter claim of $50 for putting
: the La Belle House Judgment wa
rendered for the plaintiffs, and Harga
appealed to jury. The case excite
much interest, Hargar being well likeC
and having a solemn. earnest manner {
: making very witty remarks. He test
fed that Fay would say to him: ''Ha
gar. I've got nice dinner to-day-com
: in. No, [ thank you, I'm goin
home Fay would prevail on him
stay. aud after dinner the followin
: colloquy: Everything all right, Ha
e gar?' Everything excellent" DE
sert all rlght?" Excellent" IL
cream all right?" delicious, Mr.. Fay.
VERY we'll. remember this IN your p
r per. next week" In return for Dime
f and cigars, Hargar says that he told
great many lies-editorily-worth mo
than $1,000 He would never have pr
= sented bill for lies had not Fay fallc
out with him and wanted pay for Il
:, dinners. Hargar pleaded his own cas-
and the jury found verdict for hin
which threw the costs upon the hot
keepers
r a dispatch from Boston On Monda
'e announcing the death Of the infant vi
IN linist, James g. Speaight, well know
by the name Of ''Americus, was full
n pathetic significance. He was six yea
>, old. At time when he should ha
no been tucked away in his bed, he "
IN standing before large audiences playil
IA music which excited him, and thrill
through and through by noise and plau
It's that excited him tenfold moro. H
:. little store Of vital energy and nervo
:, power which should have been subje
10 no more exacting drafts than t
>, plays Of the nursery or the caress Of