Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1875-01-29
Letter from Florida.


uA1heo@> v Ai4lry II III, uuhs 40, lCft.
Mr.. EDITOR; have kept in mind
my promise to let you hear from me after
arriving at our place of destination in
the Sunny South" l must say that my
expectations are fully realized as to the
warm sunny days, For your benefit OF
any one who thinks of coming to this
country will give brief description OF
the journey and how it may be made.
There are several lines of steamers
among which are the New York and
Charlestown, New York and Savannah
and the New York and Fernandina,
Florida, and also the railroad line. You
can take steamer at New York almost
any day in the week on some of the
lines. The fare is S2775 delivered on
the wharf at jacksonville and boarded,
and on this last point the tables ON the
steamers are not excelled by any Of the
New York hotels. We took the steamer
Georgia for Charleston She is built of
iron, propeller and said to be the larg-
est and best steamship of the three lines.
We left Pier No. 80, North River, 81
P. NJ, Saturday, Jan, 8, with three other
steamers, one bound for Havana, one to
Savannah and one to Galveston, Texas,
with steam on and all sails spread, stiff
breeze from the west and lively race
for fewhours. The Georgia and Clyde,
bound for Savannah, left the other two
far behind The wind soon increased to
gale and broke our fore mast then
the Clyde left us and our fun was up.
/ will tell you how we had our table set
for that night. A long table ran through
the centre of the saloon, with racks
made of four stats of wood the outer
pieces are about four inches wide and fit
on the edges of the table and held by
straps, and the table cloth spread over
the rack makes something like crib for
the plates and dishes and with the tables
and seats fastened to the floor we feel
quite safe in taking our meals, but some
times cup Of coffee will go over. The
rocking and pitching however made a
good digester if the stomach does not
get too much bile with sweet things, in
which case there is war between the bit
ter and the sweet, and the sweet has to
retreat in the path it entered, and this
was the case that night with many Of
the passengers. But morning came and
we were all right in smooth sea.
Off the coast of Virginia it seemed as
though we were getting into warmer
latitude. Before it seemed as cold as
Greenland. We had smooth sea and
calm weather passing Cape Hatteras
but at Cape Fear and Cape Look Out ii
was ratherrough. We made Charleston
Bar Monday night but did not pass over
it till day light Passed the forts at s
o'clock Tuesday morning. All eyes
were strained to view Fort Sumter, the
most renowned spot in the United States
as being the place where the first CUR
was fred in the late rebellion.
CHARLESTON.
We made the wharf at Charleston a
8 o'clock. The remainder of the da,
we spent in looking at the rebellious city
Over we went into that part of the cit,
where the Yankee shells made sucl
havoc among the buildings. 1t is a DIES
olate looking place, and few building
have been erected there since Glove
was growing up green where building
once stood. We saw the ruins of a larg
and elegant church. Business is appa,
entity dull here and the buildings loo
old and messy and need scraping an
painting. She looks like doomed cit
with the curse of the rebellion still hang
ing over her. Here we were transferre
from the steamer Georgia to the Dicts
tor and left Wednesday morning, an
arrived at
SAVANNAH
at P. NJ. Had short time to look 8
Savannah. 1t is fine looking plac
The streets are wide, running at rigf
angles, with many fine parks nicely 81
with trees. 1t looks like beautifu
place in which TO spend the winter f
northern people. Business was livel
and large number of vessels at IL
wharf, taking in and discharging freigh
Lumber and rice are largely exporte
from this place.
JACKSONVILLE.
Thursday morning we steamed f
Jacksonville, crossing the bar into
Johns river and arrived at 81 o'clock
NJ. We enjoyed the trip much and hs
fifty to sixty passengers, all social al
lively. jacksonville has a populate
of 10,000,-it is built in New Englar
style and mostly by northern people.
contains some very nice stores and seve
al large and splendid hotels. Good a
commodations can be had at priva
boarding places and there are many Vi