The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1877-06-15
A VIVID soxHR IN FLORIDA.

a VIVID BC1NE IN FLORIDA.
The Feast Of the Sharks and the GuHs-. The
Battle Of the Sharks and the Auigators-
The. Water Reddened soith their Blood.
"A correspondent of the New York Sun
gives the following graphic description of
scenes witnessed on barren and nearly in
accessible point on the coast of Florida =
Ifyou will look at the map of Florida, away
down the eastern coast of the fnger.like
peninsula, you may see a spot marked "Ju-
piter," or Jupiter Inlet" Some maps
make it Juniper" This is wrong. It's
namesake was old Jupiter, the slave of an
army officer, who was stationed at this point
during the first Seminole war. JdBNgEsN
between latitude swenty-six and twenty
seven degrees. Although only 12O miles
north of Key West, it bulges to the east
nearly degree of longitude beyond Cape
Canaveral. It is probably the most inac-
cessible and barren nook on the whole Flori-
dian coast, and can be reached only in light
draught boats, sailing the whole length of
the Indian river. Sharp coral reefs fringe
its shore, and high hillocks of white sand,
sprinkled with thick sclumps of scrub and
cactus, rear their heads above the inlet
The lively sand crab catches frefies of{S
beach, and huge turtles deposit their sgSs
in the sand. This attracts scoresof bears
from the swamps and hammoeks .b5eas
the Everglades f5r to o'thep the tartls and
its eggs are toothsome delicacy. Spotted
tiger cats play among the sand hills by moon
light, and the fierce puma prowls along the
shore in quest of king crabs or more substap-
tial diet. The largestpuma ever seen in the
State was shot in this region by the keeper
of the lighthouse. 1t was as formidable
as royal Bengal tiger, and measured over
thirteen feet from snout to tip.
The shallow salt water swarms with fish.
Schools of mullet and pompino flash in the
sunlight, and cavallo, bonafsh, blue6sh, red
bass, drum, snappers and groupers are here
in myriads. Jewish have been caught
weighing over 500 pounds. Sawfsh, the
tlzs 5f young ~hzies;- hsssashh NJ
narrow channels, and ravenous sharks from
twelve to twenty feet in length keep a rigid
blockade outside As the tide rises they
come within the inlet in search Of prey
The bass and other fish that have been feed
ing upon the mullet, become in turn the
victims of the shark. The smaller fish dart
to and fro, making the water boil in their
efforts to escape. Millions are slowly but
surely driven into small bay by the sharks,
who whip the waves into foam in their hun
cry fury. Penued at last, the doomed fish
leap in the air with terror, and shoals Of them
run ashore. The sharks charge with rush.
Their jaws snap like pistol shots, and mutt
lated fish are scattered over the water
Schools Of porpoises join in the slaughter,
I aad,oceasie6a - = Mater shoyes Of
from ths sHSfes Gid : 36eif like subma1
rine battery, and steals bounteous meal.
Nor is an alligator the only free feeder
The airis Sled with thpusands Of lilac fsath,
cred terms and gulis Full well do they M
derstand the situation. Their Of their
wings is like breeze in forest Of pines
and their acreams are deafening. BY pla
.toons they dash into the agitated water and
soar off above the roaring surf each vithl'
fish in its bill The very air sparklos will
fish, for the gulls tossstheir victims up unit
they catch them by the head. Then the,
are easily bolted. High above the tern
float Aocks of gray pelicaus, larger thai
geese, and grave sHd d1Urnmawjudses. Th
wind whistles boneath their great wings, bu
they make no audible expression Of satisfac
tion. Dropping into the waves with grea
splash, aftor few lubberly maneuvers the
fll their pouches, and sail away as thoug
the, whole affair had been arranged for thei
own exclusive benefit. A party Of stalwal
sherons pace the strand in their Austria
uniforms, and pick up the tiny silver fis
slopping ashore during the general comm
ton. And last aud least, our little Nortl
ern kingasher, Glad in . sky blue sui
springs his,iittle rattle, and hangs on Il
rsok;ns, MI Hha abr