The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-10-24
OUR FLORIDA CORRESPONDENCE.
From Anderson to Florida Through tho
Country-Pleasures and Annoyances incl
dent to the Trip.
ALAr1A. Fla. Sept. 90, 1878.

Alfalfa, bh'J DePt' ~, Ao'o'
Editor Anderson hteNgcncer:
My route from Dublin, Georgia, and
the hospitable residence Of Mr.. Jones,
where my last letter to you left me, lay
directly south, via Jacksonville, Ga, but
owing to the bridge being down over
Gum Swamp my course was necessarily
turned west, by little town called East
man, throwing us about twenty miles out
of our way. Our spirits and courage are
refreshed, however, by the days (Sab-
bath) rest we have had, and we move on
without interruption or annoyance, ex-
cept some creeks to ford, which of course
gives my lady the tremors and set her
afoot again, but ne cross them all safely,
and camp at lonely-looking church
eight miles before reaching Eastman,
and twenty-three miles from Dublin.
This we consider fair days travel, as
it was ten O'Clock this morning before we
got q start. Next morning. the 26th
February, having had an uninterrupted
rights rest, we are off by seven o'clock,
and this day travelled twenty-seven miles,
passing Eastman, small place of about
two hundred inhabitants and FIVE or six
stores, near ten o'clock. The country
from few miles beyond Dublin is what
is known as the wire-grass lands, and ex-
tends the remainder of our journey. Is
sparsely settled, nothing but pines and
wire-grass as far as the eye can reach,
having to me very desolate and God
forsaken (excuse the irreverence) ap-
pearance, but which is not unadmired by
my lady. This night We stop with Mr..
Studstill, where the same kindness and
disposition to share the best with US
meets US as has all en- route. My lady
has had big scare, however, in crossing
Cyprus creek, which is deep enough to
run into the wagons, though not quite
swimming, and no way for her to cross
afoot, except over succession of very
high and dangerous-looking logs, as
frightful to her in appearance as the
stream. There is nothing so soothing to
weak and delicate nerves as the assur-
ance of safety, accompanied with kind
ness and sympathy, and once in the
house of the good people with whom we
stop, all is again bright and cheerful, and
after a night of refreshment and sleep,
we awake in the morning with renewed
energy for our journey, and the cry from
the boys, as they harness the team, and
US all is, "Hol for Jacksonville~ Here
we are to cross the Oakmulgee, and are
forewarncd of trouble in crossing the
swamp on the opposite side. My expe-
rience has always been that trouble is
bad enough when it comes, and 1 never
worry myself with exaggerated ideas of
its immeusity, but take it coolly, and
overcome it if / can. For three hours,
Impatient ones to US in our anxiety to
cross before night we are delayed at the
ferry for the want of ferryman and
guide through the swamp, the river hav-
ing been much out of its banks recently,
and through the swamp are lagoons, or
ponds, of water and bogs. Through the
kindness of Mr.. Jackson, however, who
voluntarily took it uporA himself to ride
two miles in search of ferryman, we at
last have the satisfaction of seeing him
approach, though he has to cross the
river in q skiHf for the fiat, which is on
the other side. Mr.. Jackson exhibits a
great deal of kind anxiety for our safe
passage, as the fat is very bad and leaky.
He makes the ferryman carry the family
over first, and return for each wagon and
the horses separately, making four trips,
and having all the water bailed out each
time as he has observed my lady's nerv-
business, and by his carefulness and
kindly interest contributes much to her
comfort and assurance of safety. Across
at last, we enter almost Immediately the
river swamp, our guides ahead pointing
out to us the most accessible points
through the ponds and bogs. Suddenly
We meet obstruction in stump under
water; one of my mules to the two horse
wagon becomes entangled, and down he
goes, almost under water; the other
makes plunge or two and gets across
the tongue. simultaneously there comes
a scream from Henry, who is on top of
the folded mattress in the wagon, and
my lady, who is in the one behind, but
our guides are to the rescue, and though
we have the water to take we get our
mules on foot again only to enter an
other Finally we bog down to the very
axles, and one mule actually wrings the
shoe off of her foot in her efforts to pull
out; but though we prize and encourage
all we can. it is of no avail. The wagon
has to be unloaded, and it is now night.
1 carry my lady across the mud and
water in my arms, and land her in dry
place, and start one of the boys Lewis
ahead with her to look for a house which
we are told is not more than mile ahead.
After tightening our wagon of its load,
we get out after some effort, reload and
have the satisfaction of hearing, Eve are
over the last bad place." AS We drive
out we meet Lewis with torch and Mr..
Robert Fussell, whose house he, with his
mother, had succeeded in finding, and had
anxiously importuned to go to our assis-
tance. Once at Mr.. Fussell's, we are
relieved, and feel thankful that this