The New York herald., 1877-02-13

was sort Of iutox;cation in tho wtldness wcirdncss
| and uncertainty OF the hunt There was danger OF
ambush by wild beasts as well as by savag-s rncy
heard the srar Of the panther their heads fro
| quenty they passed into tho dense tangc OF tho
| palmetto hammocxs or eight cye' junges But they
who had cause thirst for the blood OF tho
Semnoes. and they knew during hours OF night
only OF tue now near, now distant, sound OF their
footsteps and hated voices; tho sobs OF the
qucruous squaws. sometimes tho dsfying yes OF the
dend-like warriors.
A PEOPLES SWAMP ISLAND
Old Msyuor that judging by tho position Of tho
moon. they went eastward from the 'sSnk O. Pm
hooks" where there stood few deserted wgwams,
crossed several streams aud "thicks," and finally
approached a large island in the midst Of great
expanse Of waier and forest The island was dcnse'y
and closely shaded magnolias bays and live oaks,
and great camp fire In about wonder
(uI glow which disclosed TO them q circle Of many
wgwams The Indians stood at bay and renewed tho
Gght But they surprised by the sudden appari-
ton OF pursucrs, who, they supposed, had been
bafiled by tho tortuous and tangled way
which they had led them. Tho soldiers
dashed In upon them and killed squaw,
but they quickly surrounded by more Indians
than they haa expected encounter. and could only
cut their way back the morass from which they
an occasional fire the 6gures which ven-
tured ou. OF tho wigwams They related that some Of
these we're negroes They then plunged backward tho
way that they had come. and about sunrise found
themselves at the Lower Pnhook Sink
ANOTHER WONDERFUL STORY.
This was the first time that ever white pene-
trated the outskirts Of tho great wacissa mo-
rass Berg Maynor, who is a lifelong hunter, never
was able 10 find again the pathway, It there was one
which led him and his companions 10 the Indian en-
campment
hScl1
a similar place in the morass visited by
a white man. and the story IN this case
rests upon the word OF dcsertcr from the Conieder-
acs and spy for the federals. His is Stanisland
Ho relates during the OF secession he had de-
serted from the rebel army, which he had been CON-
PEELED to join by conscription. To avoid capture ne
sought refuge In the aat piucy woods" and received
aid and sympathy from "corncracker," who had rc-
named ioyalis despite the infection of the lash by
the rebel 'chivary" Stanisand haunted tho country
near tho coast, where the fish and game both were
plentiful He stole boat from some fisherman and
sailed frequently from island IN the pinhook down
to the Appalachce Bay. Through the long sum-
mer days OF 1868 he used to observe
federal gunboat moor the mouth Of the
Oclla or Aucila River Alter a time he became
familiar with tho crew, that, in exchange for hsh,
yenison and Information about the affairs Of the Con-
iederatcs he obtained -four, tobacco and coffee. He
had not been many weeks leading this solitary liie
wnen, who sailing the bay or fishing there with
net he often observed the black pine country
dark, dense column OF smoke, which seemed to risc
very rapidly. Supposing that the fcderals had sta
toned gInboat In the Aucia River he inquired ono
day OF the lieutenant of the vessel In the bay why
was done, as therc we're no or torta-
cations capture in that quarter The commander de-
MED any knowledge OF tho OF the smoke and said
that he had taken observations of II for some time.
he told Stanisland that had been Informed that It's
origin natural, and his curiosity awakened
that he would give 500 to any man who would find
and report his discovery 10 him. Stansland had been
far up the Wacissa many times, and from rlangula-
tons made the gunooat thought that ho knew
exactly where the and enter the
In order to reach It, prolonged drought had caused
almost all the water to disappear from the swamps
and the wacssa, which is usually spread out among
the cypress which border its current had sunk
SO low between Its banks that he able 70 effect
dry landing.
AN INFERNO EARTH
We follow tho story OF Stanisland, upon which his
subsequent conduct threw much discrcdit He moored
his in a cove, and, taking only his gun and
scanty ration OF food started Immediately toward tho
west When he had gone little way no saw smoke in
the distance and directed his course toward it. On
approaching appeared and more dense, spread
tree tops AT tho same time he lIstened to strange
noisc-a combined kissing, roaring and rumbling A
ridge lay his way few feet above the floor of
the surrounding morass, seemed to be tho
of the smoke and tho uproar. Stansland as he drew
near ridge which would be island during season
ordinarily wet, felt awe and fear creeping through
him, and proceeded very cautiously The kissing be-
came louder and he saw smoke rising from long
beyond tho summit of the RIDGE When he set
loot upon island he felt IL Quaking under him. and
he stood still with suspended breath at the verge OF
this strange land OF shades HIS sensations must havc
been something like those Of Dante when he contem.
plated the "Inferno." A fearful possessed him.
as il some dabolical deity held rcvcl within few
yards Of the spot whore he stood He would have
been surprised TO have "palo Hccate's shaded
stalk about bcrating her hags while they tended
the boiling OF the black cauldron. such
ideas not defined IN his mind, but he
yielded to the spell of terror and hid
himself behind a distorted live oak which near
him in friendly attitude AS he waited there, specu-
ating on OF uproar and smoke, he could
not muster forttude enough to brave the pangs Of
go the opposite side Of the island whereby
he could have solved the mystery. In this emergency
be deplored tho lack OF companion who would have
shamcd him into moro thorough investigation.
EXPLORER DIsMAyED.
Ue determined that he would not return to the
river but would start for the woods the western
side, and returning by water TO the gunboat would
claim the reward, offer to lead the way to the smoke,
and in any recover hts boat He had
escaped from the swamp and was walking
ON the Newport road when he surprised
by troop OF Confederate cavalry, which arrested him
aud took him to Jacksonville. There he was set at
performing the work Of gunsmith. and, having con-
siderable liberty, escaped. He won't immediately to
the place where he had moored his boat the wacissa
River, but 1t was gone. Then he proceeded to the
mouth Of the Aucilla whero the gunboat had lain SO
long, but that too, was gone
IT DREAM?
Years aftcrward he wrote to gentleman who
interested in tho mystery OF tho smoke offering for
N m Ia In whi ha hah