The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-02-19

consumed many days, and as then the munitions OF
progress were exhausted the expedition returned
THE LAST REFUGE THE "sNoKE"
might mention many other abortve attempts to
obtain definite knowledge OF the significance OF the
mystery OF Pinhook forest but there has been about
most OF them a monotonous dearh Of enterprise and
perseverance. Judge Bell alone has shown the nde-
fatigabe zeal OF the true explorer When reached
Monticello saw and consulted him, and enlisted him
in the new project OF final search for the
myth or marvel which has so long puz-
zed all observers. The Judge holds that nc
mas beat up every unexplored portion OF the swampy
region excepting that which lies eastward OF this camp
aud extends not more than five miles north or SOUTH
Preliminary observations made by the HERALD ex-
plorng party lend con1rmatory PROBABILITY 10 TINS
theory This mysterious region is never entered by
the hunter, who breads its shadowy mazes and fears
the nvinclbe pumas icrocous algators that make
IL their haunt The stories Maynor and Stanisiand
would seem 10 indicate this the place they visited;
and acting upon principle that there Is grain OF
truth every romance, even the latters narrative
may be studied by the explorer with profit. The
HERALD has a lofty lookout at this camp, from which
the identical "smoke" which has become so famous
has been repeatedly deserted The compass has marked
1t seventeen degrees south OF east, and this IS the
most tangible Glow to the desired discovery and has
thus lar been the basis OF The exploration which
have directed.
ORGANIZATION THE EXPEDITION
The expedition organized in Monticello Now
Monticello is a struggling, inert looking village, and
dcsolae ruins still mutcy speak OF the incendiary
blight which swept two years ago. Its aspect
OF dulness and bitter grief does not belle the character
Of its Inhabitants. Doctor Ok might there lind mis-
sion, and Mark Taplcy might be able to ''comc out
strong' In tho midst Of depressing circum
STANCES But il Monticello looks drowsy and morbdly
ic,, hov., nj
tho odcn time Aaron Burrs project OF empire might
have buddcd and boomcd under their noses without
their knowledge but attempt to reach the Pinhook
volcano, which these people through three or four
generations have been too lethargic and unani-
bilious to investigate, could not BIO blessed with
good luck without tho gratuitous bestowa Of
their advice and their unsolicited inspection OF
all preparations Tor the exploration. Tho plan which
had formed contemplated very small party. The
chief engineer and three assistants formed the work.
ing corps which to defy The terrors of the
swamp while a hunter and woodsman were to at
tend to the needs Of the camp Aunt Hannah
| bright and "rght scrumptous" colored body,
! employed to 90 along cook, and she evinccd hcr
delight asa prospect Of camping once more In tho
woods 'sas Use used to do dc 'vva times tore do
Emancipation" Tho woodsmnn, Miller, was sent for
ward fine day with OK team attached 10 wagon
which was loaded with provisions for prolonged alb
from c1vilZ0ton. Miller massive negro win
| the animal cast OF features movements slow us
! those OF the saurian tribe, eyes like sauce
pans, feet like fiat bottomed fly boats and garments
han ng IN such tatters to like scales. The
custody OF the provender pleased him nightly,
and he said that he would "Inake those
thyer steers perceed right smart all do way
to ole Eph Williamsus" The latter To-
caly is In tho depths Of the pincy woods aud
is at present the last outpost Of civilization on the
bride path leading to Sink o. Pnhooks. Another load
OF the essentials OF camp lilo departed from the chief
inn OF Monticello, about ''the wichng hour on the
succeeding night Aunt Hannah cnsconced herself
among the baggage to enjoy a slumbrous nocturnal
ride to the camping ground The chief engineer took
charge Of the equipage with adventurous alacrity.
The gazcd with liquid light out of moonlcss
sky which promised the faircst OF weather for the
immediate future Jake Byrd. and Joe Dallas, TWO in
tclligcnt muattoes, who are much ut home In a
swamp u moccasin or IN alligator, and whose mis-
1t to cut pathway through the jungles and
tanglewood on the line of observation toward the
haunt OF the mystery set out to accompany the
loot. - the morning the remainder OF tho
party, among whom tho chief explorer, the
respondent OF the HERALD, followed. There
tedious of forty miles before arrived at the
base Of operations
IN THE WOODS
Soon otter descending from The upands entered
the dark and solemn visas Of the plncy forest Here
the rapidly became less clearly defined II pur.
sued a most tdruous in avoiding fallen trees,
boys and qungm and sometimes seemed utterly to
lose itself and make up its mind to go nowhere. We
passed several dccaying log huts whose topping Chin
ncys, constructed Of mud and sticks, grmy with
the accumulated SCOT OF epoch. The road lay
through deep and wide sloughs where horses and
vehicle were half immersed in the reddish water
| which had flowed through of '.snks" and
cypress marshes before 1t sluggishy flowed
way. These streams, fed by thousand generous
| springs that rise from the earth every few yards,
eventually roll into the Gulf volumes of known
as the wasssa and AnsIa rivers Bays, sweet
gums, expresses, tho tght-eye shrub, tangled
vines and vcxatous bramblcs and cancbrakes
veil tho inner precincts of the shadows, which
the paradises OF the crane and Its brethren and
cousins german AS one approaches them "the bit
terms boomn is heard from mis- sedgy haunt aud tho
broad wings of tho pelican often darken tho view as
he is disturbed in his pensvo angling from the
nit of a rotten and messy cypress bog
Where the purple rolls last and dim.
Pcrchance he may be blessed with glimpse Of tho
ivory bis. whose like plumage flashes tho
level rays OF tho setting might we'll have inspired
the saturnine Egyptian with supcrsti,ious love-
exalted than that which the Romans felt for Mother
Goose.
A wATERY WILDERNESS.
At last there only the fantest track OF man TO
guide u.s. Several times our dccrcpt caravan struck
upon n scypress knee" with force that a shlvcr
through its ancient FRAME and there we would be fast
locked, gazing disconsolately from the midst OF
isolation In tho chilly fen until devised for
our ex,ricaon. AS the poor beasts cilcd southwark
the dry earth became stranger and stranger to our
eyes. There was
Water, water everywhere,
and out OF the midst of 1t rose on every side giant
shapes Of cypress drapcd and bearded in drcary gray
while on the hummocks denscy grouped the ranb
and graceful palmettocs among whose stiff foliage tho
wind sang in a hollow whisper. We nearing tho
camping ground when three of our party ex
ciicdy standing In the edce of mornss. while ths