The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-02-19
Narratives of Those who Have Tried to
Thread the Wilderness.
THE HERALD'S EXPLORATION.
Encampment of the Party at
Sink O. PinhOOkS.
SINK O. PrSHooKs, Fla, Feb. 2, 1877.


purpose Of making the Wacssa River navigabc
canal was cut through the delta which formed
by tho stream before flowed into the Arcilla The
rocks OF the great belt of hinty debris which have
mentioned lay the course Of the operations OF the
engineers and a contract for their removal was
granted The gentleman who had charge of the work
became much interested in tho limited existence of
volcano aud SET about examining the characteristics
OF Of rock 1t is related that 1t turned the
edge OF every drill that used often as it was re-
sbarpencd. The mass full of pores and bub
blcs and detached portions were twisted into all man.
ner OF
GRoTEsQuE, PLuToNIC AND SINGULAR SHAPES
Some OF IL seemed to have dropped in molten
state from the air, while some had the appearance Of
having been dipped the veritable lake OF fire. With
some OF his sought TO follow the toward
the interior OF the swamp which was marked by these
scattered fragments His curiosity led HIM toilscmc
march, waist deep through slime and water. He says
that tho debris he advanced was moro and moro
plentiful. so that he his men frequently became
wcdged IN among 1t aud had difficulty IN exricatng
themselves In this region the jungle was terribly
wild and intricate. They reused pumas from their
lars and proceeded with the utmost for
fear that some of these animals would spring upon
Them from the towering Expresses They at length
lanccd that they heard singular sound in
the distance but were terrified by tho wild aspect OF
nature around them and wearied by their struggle
with tho They werc very hungry and so
from trepdation and necessity they turned their faces
away from the unknown which they were approach
Ing and withdrew with precipitation.
During the progress OF the work in the Wacissa
another person authorized TO seek the origin
Of the smoke. His plan to proceed In small boat
10 the point supposed to be nearest tho mystery and
thence to cut OF watery road canal through
n uta bnn,p IN find nvir
ton practicable nearly the object of his search He
abored four or 1--WE days until his provisions ex.
hausted. His experience similar to that which
have Iust narrated He with his party almost
DEAD with fatigue, dampness and hunger, and there
after never resumed the search
SERIES ATTEMPTS
These efforts were made about eighteen years ago.
The mystery was almost forgotten during the night
mare of civil conflict, but the war about hun
drcd attempts have been made to reach the unknown
and without success.
One OF the most enthusiastic, persevering and in.
trepd Of the explorers has been Judge James Bell Of
Monticello In March. 1875, accompanied BY Colonel
Samuel Hamblin, of Quincy, he started from the
summit of Linn HILL on a line of observation made
with the compass toward the smoke This line, how
ever, had not been projected with accuracy. Tho
smoke was visible The dav OF departure, and
the surveyor had relied on the memory Of persons
who pointed out to him the portion oil the horizon
from which IL The direction taken was fifteen
degrees west south. Correct observation has
placed the smoke from Linn Hill five do.
grecs west oil south The party prosecuted the
with vigor may be judged when II is stated
that they appalled, by the Evolutionary hor-
rors OF ..Feather- Bed Bay" and "rLTi swamp"
mile below the present camp OF the HERALD exploring
expedition they led as,ray by seeing smoke from
n fro roll
line In pursuit it, but found nothing crafty their
curiosity as murky cloud had evidently driitcd for
a long distance beneath the dense canopy of piney
needles
About six weeks aiterward the same party mado
another expedition Tor The object. The previous
line OF observation was continued. lookout was
built three miles below It's lower terminus, but no
volcanic smoke They upon great
fragments OF twisted rock, different portions OF which
rcscmbcd flint, porphyry and sllcous limestone.
They pushed forward until they emerged from tho
swamp the shore OF Appalachee Bay Their expo
dton had demonstrated where the smoke was not.
In the early part oil January, 1876, a party, com.
posed OF twelve white men and negroes, led
into the swamp by Judge Bell, who this time
accompanied by Colonel Hamblin and Mr. Andrews, OF
Vermont They sailed down the Wacissa River to tho
mouth OF tho Pinhook, and there encamped in a
very paradise OF fish and game They utilized
six days In exploration, following an imaginary
line based upon observation made from
moorlng in Appaachce Bay. The course
pursued, II continued long enough, would have led
them OF Sink o. Pnhooks through the region now
beng explored blythe HERALD party, and where the
mystery is most likely abide One Of the party was
lost in the lagoons the weather very severe, aud
OF tho became Ill with dyscntery aguo aud fever,
so that further progress was abandoned.
In February the Judge started from ST. Marks in q
boat ia order to obtain moro accurate observation
OF the "smokc' hut the weather was so stormy that
be was unsuccessful
WONDERFUL EXPLOSION.
In March he again started with "A corps of negroes In
a sailboaL They polling the craft through what
the Mississippi boitmen call n chute when suddenly
there was a tremendous explosion, which seemed TO
occur very them. Expresses aud live oaks shook
as with supernatural aguc, and the water heavcd IN
lurgling pillows. The boat quvercd and the sail
sal trcmor, as II it huge aspen leaf one oil
lhe negroes jumped up and flung his arms around the
mast; another, with dismal shrek, luneed nearly
pvcr the edge of the boat the aud was only
saved py the main strength of his employer, while
third calculated phrase peculiar to the spiritual fcas
Of his race and began to hum, IL want TO die like
Laz'rus died." evidently believing in the efficacy OF
musical prayer The same dctonaton was neayd ut ST
Marks and on board vessels in the Gulf The mos
probable explanation OF IT Is that 1t was caused by
sudden land-snk. II is related that years ago smi
lar noise startled the lahorcrs from their fields
mites distant. But some persons connect both 'hes
occurrences witA tho existence OF volcano
Tbe cxpIorcrs afterward landed and established
camp. They pushed their researches west of Dort
from the mouth OF the Pnhook River, but an eaIino'
tai storm came upon them; strong wind rose Iron
lie beast aud rolled the salt sea waves from The Gu
through her tents They were compelled 10 seoS re
ucc in .ncr boat and abandon for time the scare
for the mystery.
ia Nay, 1876, four men named Norcuc' cooo' 9on'
snd Douglas penetrated the PInhook mor"ss' Inc
declared mat they were near enough the mysterio'
wonder TO hear strange noise, which they lkcncd