The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1876-05-03

we met the hack which was to take us
to Lake Harvey.
The trip from Aurantia to Lake
Harvey was performed with the iden-
tical mule team that had taken US
from Enterprise to Sand Point, but
with different driver. This drive
was only sixteen miles, we we're a
light load, and this trip was not so
tedious as it might have been. A few
miles out Of Aurantia we discovered
a flock of quails alongside the road
In the twinkling of an eye our shot
guns were charged, being breech-load.
ers, and two quails bit the dust. Short.
ly afterward we saw the pigeon of
Florida, which is rather smaller than
our wild pigeon here. During the
ride we managed to shoot three Of
these, and sthese with our quails, "on
toast" that evening were splendid
grub. We also saw flock Of "whoop-
ing" cranes, a large bird, the flesh of
which is said to be equal to that of
turkey, and Belden endeavored to
shoot one, but failed.
We arrived at the landing at about
4 o'clock p. M, and Immediately
boarded the steamer "Volusia," Cap.
tain Lund. This is light draft boat,
calculated for navigating the Upper
ST. Johns. The accommodations were
not equal to those Of the "Sedgwick,"
the boat we came up on, but did very
WE'LL The amount of freight, consist.
ing mostly of oranges, was much lar.
ger than we had anticipated, but the
passengers were only our hack load,
and one DIR. Gillespie, of whom more
hereafter.
This landing, at the southern end of
Lake Harvey not being much frequent
ed by steamboats, and travellers,
abounds with alligators. During the
rest of the evening until dark, we had
lots of sport tickling up the gators
with buck shot, charge of which
would cause them to switch their tails
like COWS in fly time, and disappear
with such a vim that the water would
foam like soda water.
AS soon after dark as we could rec
orcile ourself to the idea, we went to
bed, but were disturbed during most
Of the night by the boat being stuck
on various bars, aud the emphatic
language Of the Captain and mate,
who endeavored to put more energy
into the negroes who were trying, rath-
er lazily, to shove her off 1t was day
light before we got off, and we found
ourselves in Lake Jessup, which is a
sort of side issue, not being directly
on the st. Johns, consequently out Of
the way of the regular route. Our
vessel went up IN the lake for the &C.
cOmmodation of one of our passen-
gers, Mr.. Herbert, and to land and re.
ceive freight. On this lake we're two
towns, or rather places for towns,
store, a couple of residences and
landing comprising each. On this
lake we saw several alligators, but
they were somewhat shy.
Nothing extraordinary occurred un.
til we arrived at Enterprise, about 2
o'clock p. m. Hero we went up to
the store, and laid in supply of to-
bacco, thence to the Brock House
Germs 81 per day. and INDUCED in a
glass Of soda water, which had been
cooled on ice. This was very refresh
ing, as it was the first cool drink we
had come across since we left this
point on our way down.
On board again we go across the
lake (Monroe) about five miles to a
place called Mellonvlle. This is a
nice, clean little town, and ships thou
sands Of barrels Of oranges annually.
Our next stop was ut Sanford, OH
the west side Of the lake, and here is
nothing to speak Of except terribly
large hotel, called the Sanford House.
If that house were moved to Philadel-
phia, and would furnish good acoomo.
dations to the public for s2 a day du,