The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-04-28
Jja1nteltigsneer.
Letter from n wheeling SOjOnrn.
err In Florida,

ARLINGTON,
4 NILES BELOW JACKSONVILLE, FLA,
April Goth, 1877.


April Goth, 1877.
flton Inlel!Seacer'
For the sake OF varying the manner OF
outing In our time In this land OF tow-
.f. / concluded to take u trip up the
J!hlswaha river. Accordingly ! left
jacksonville on the 10Th OF April, on the
steamer Starlight, and arrived at PalatEa
The same evening, After passing up the
Il, Johus q distance Of rs miles, we left
.hst point next morning on the small
steamer Turkanilla and % miles above
entered the mouth OF the Ochlawaha.
The day was beautiful, and the steamer
10 entering the river commenced to
lrosa from one side to the other, which
ave US an opportunity Of seeing the
scenes from different points. The clouds
s, times shifted the light 20 that we be-
Leld the deep coloring Of the green ioli-
lg9 dlrkly Swallowed in the water, and at
yGher times the bright beams OF the sun
added beautiful and variegated scenes TO
he view before us. Some OF the great cy-
press trees tower uplike huge landmarks.
Covered from the waters edge with creep.
ng vines, that seem trained by careful
hands, they keep their silent watch
midst jungles that are alive with crawl.
ing snakes and aportive alligators.
sould imagine that in the days OF slavery,
7hsH the blacks were hunted With blood.
bounds and took refuge in the swamps,
hat these grand old trees had heard the
ighi that were waited from many
heavy heart trying to escape from harsh
treatment in the cotton and cane bottoms
that skirt these streams.
Night found our little steamer still
,giling slowly up the river. At times
the water seemed TO widen and then when
We would 90 10 the other side We would
look At the email stream that winds itself
under the low branches Of overhsnging
rees and wonder how our little craft was
ever to find her way through such tan.
lied mass. But when light was struck
N the pilot house Of "iat pine" which
lights up the woods ike day The mystery
wa soon solved.
After tea we gathered on The bow oi
he boat, Tor there are no guards, some to
1Oke'( mot Wheeling siogiesl. some to
hInk OF iar-of relatives and friends who
Ssre shiverirg in the cold night air Of
he North. And this reminds me TO say
hat all visitors coming here in the win.
Ter should bring with them heavy
blanket, as such an article il always lig-
lie 10 be wanted.
As We journeyed along, thus seated on
!rck, We caught The fragrance OF the
range and wild jessamirc flowers, and
The air was SO balmy and delicious that
sc could imagine ourselves sailing
,ar1ugha land otdreams. Now and then
Iae negro hands Upon the boat broke in
GpOE the fascination OF the scene with
Tue sound OF banjo accompanied by
'1ue plaintive song, which made us
think Of steamboat days on our Own
beautiful Ohio river and lulled us into
thoughts Of home and country fSr away.
Towards midnight We went to our
CONS, and were soon piled mp on little
'he!Tes called berths, and ere long found
.e'i and iorgettulness in the arms OF old
Morpheus. Morning found us in the
Silver Spring Creek where the waters are
"a transparent rs glass, and We could see
The Gsh gliding about quite plainly, The
bed Of this stream ia white she'll Washed
Town from the springs nine miles above.
Vt the bottom OF the river were little
nounds OF fine green moss that looked
ike green velvet and often shaped as ii
hey were spread across the grave OF
'ome one who slept the sleep OF death
down there in their shell bed. Silver
Spring is truly wonderful stream and a.
We looked down iorty.fve feet into
10 depth We could see the water rushing
out from under the shelves OF the rock
carrying with il the small shells which
are washed down the river. The spring
furnished water sufficient TO boat the
steamer and make q rapid river. .Its sides
are covered with patches Of white shells
and green masses OF grass, and as we
look down into the water the Colors
aaaage like the scenes OF kaleidoscope.
Later IN the day, as the sun was inst
linking, the light shone on the water end
caught a passing breeze, and there Rp-
pearcl thousand stars that looked like
osaghtu! silver and gold spsngles.
The accommodations on the present
'hsls that ply the Ocklawahs are but
poor, but the day will come when larger
HJt's with better accommodations will
ply on in waters aud afford the visitor
more comfort Tor his money. than he can
now receive. It is in this river that You
'ee aIligStors Of immense size, and many
Q! them we're shot from the deck Of the
boat, Many species Of beautiful birds
WITH gay pluues are seen on the trip.
From the mouth to Silver Springs is l4O
miles, It wlllpay any visitor TO make the
Quincy You see in the orange groves
'lorng oranges the size OF pears and also
The ripe trui; still hanging on. I
made trip up to Enterprise, dis.
'ance Of two hundred and ten miles, and
passed through Lake George Ia body Of
r1'er Is miles By 10Y and then into the
d. Jo"G' river 1t here becomes mar.
row, and our boat in turning the poin,s
vas compelled to 20 ahead on one wheel
ana oscE on the other, 90 sharp were the
,IFns' Enterprise ia situated on Lake
Monroe, a lake Il miles by A. Sanford
Ae!onville and Enterprise are ali sim
A'ed OF the lake, ali having hotel, ard
boarding houses for sportnen. Thee
hey meet to fit out Tor their hunting az.
eaFsions after bears, deer and lureevs
all Of which are plenty. Green Spri61
back OF Enterprise, is a beautiful AMI,
palr spring OF pale green color and
quite fragrant. II Is nearly 100 f4et
~ diameter and 100 feet deep
tt'h cannot live in these waters. Here
,aeY are planting out an unusual mum.
oet Of orange orchards, and in n lew
'sat' The iruit will be reduced to a fair
Gf!ee, Nothing could be more beautiful
4an The locks Of white swans, white and
"ue cranes, heron and other water birds
had fowls that are constantly rising AZ
1nr boat passes along. Later in the dSy
%'se 1l!i8atorg, who come ont 10 sun
ISSsu'e'Vet on the banks, are to be seen,
ouI'ng the last two excursions I have
'Je E, most Of the large and beautiful birds
'''''a' J,H.