Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1877-04-05
Letter From Fler,d..
ST.. AUGUSTINE. March OF

ST.. AUGUSTINE, March 9th III.
MESsRs. EDITORS:
, As I promised to
write you from this place, I will give
| you a practical description of what we
saw and heard of Florida. We spent
one month at Lake Maitland and had a
E very pleasant time, fishing, boating,
and visiting Virginia friends and promi-
nent places. 1t was really pleasant TO
hear them tell their stories about huge
rattlesnakes, nine or ten feet long,
! killing horses, cattle and alligators, and
when animal food was not to be obtain
ed, swallowing pine knots. From the
lakes, we came to Sanford, remained
all night and next morning sailed for
Palatka, distance ofone hundred and
twenty-five miles. Palatka is very
pretty place, has fifteen hundred or two
thousand inhabitants. It has five
hotels and is the county seat of Putnam
county. Here we found five or six
hundred visitors, hailing from every
state in the Union, Canada and Europe,
seeking health and pleasure. These
northern gentlemen are all Generals or
Colonies, but there are no carpet-bag-
gers. The ladies claim to be million
aires. Of we could only be sure that it
was true, you can guess what we would
propose to do.) They are quite sociable
and many Of them enjoy the excursion
tours, up the st. Johns, and in shooting
! ducks, alligators, SC. One party brought
in tremendous gaiter, some thought he
might weigh one thousand pounds. 1t
was indeed a monster. When he opened
his mouth I was forcibly reminded of
Jonah's fate. Palatka is a beautiful
place-a vast orange grove ornamented
with fine hotels, churches and private
residences, and bordered with the tall
and beautiful magnolias and bedecked
with beautiful flower gardens. We re-
manned one week at Palatka and after a
very pleasant sojourn, took steamer for
this place.
st. Augustine IS the Oldest town In
the United States and is very attractive
to visitors or Florida tourists. While
it is noted for its antiquity, 1t is pictu-
rescue and grand for its outlook upon
the ocean with its towering silvery
waves dashing, and chasing each other
| to the shore.
On Saturday, we visited the old Span
ish fort which was commenced in 1914
and finished in 1917. 1t is built of
| Cokeno. This rock is composed purely
of small sea shells, washed up by the
sea in a great bed and then quarried
out in blocks. 1t makes a good wall.
Many Of the houses are built of this
rock and the high broad sea wall, in
front Of the city is built of Cokeno.
There is no other stone to build with,
for have not seen the smallest pebble,
since have been in Florida. This old
fort which was built more than two
hundred years, is quite curiosity. It
must have cost the Spanish government
a vast amount Of money. 1t is now
occupied by sixty Indians some ofthem
former chiefs of different tribes. The
United States have them under civlliza-
ton. and are teaching them to read
and write. One old chief. called White
Horse, had thirteen human scalps fas-
tened to his belt, when captured. They
have sea beans, bows, arrows. &C., to
sell. Each arrow has a bunch of In
dian HAIR fastened to it. The cathedral
is as old as the fort, and built of the
same material. From the ste eple we
had q fine view Of the city and of the
ocean. We attended service at the
cathedral on Sunday. They celebrated
Palm Sunday. Each person had a
bunch of palmetto in his hand. The
priest went through many strange
ceremonies before he drank the VINE.
There was quite mixed multitude
English, Irish, French, German, Indian
and African. With its narrow streets,
ancient houses, fine hotels, and grand
residences of modern style, st. Angus
tine is most charming and beautiful
place.
After remaining here while we will
go to Green Cove Springs and stay
there two weeks, thence to Jackson
vile, and to Salisbury, n. c. where we
will remain two weeks, and then by
permission ola kind Providence, we
expect to return to our native state to
greet our absent friends.
| S. G. S.